It’s the ceremony everyone loves to hate. In fact, it’s astonishing how many anonymous posters on the internet feel compelled to share their vitriol about, or more puzzlingly, their alleged indifference to, the Oscars. They couldn’t care less, they say, yet they must let everyone know in the comments sections of even the most innocuous online articles about the Academy Awards.
Yes, I’ve gone on a few seething tirades myself in recent years, but only on my Facebook page, lamenting the decline in the quality of the offerings and certainly of the ceremony itself. I boycotted the broadcast for at least two years, but then last year, what do you know, I sensed a little bit of an uptick. Even an Oscars cynic like me had to admit that most of the winners were very satisfying.
So, like Al Pacino, just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. Or like a besotted cowboy in “Brokeback Mountain,” I just can’t quit Oscar.
I confess, for me, there’s a lot of baggage tied up with the Academy Awards. Watching the televised ceremony was always a happy time for my family when I was growing up, as we all gathered in the living room to chow down on shrimp and buffalo wings and cheese and veggies and dip in celebration of a medium we loved – the movies!
For years, I used to immerse myself in recordings of classic film scores from past Academy Award winners and view Oscar-winning movies in preparation for the main event.
But then the movies changed, the glamor evaporated, and the film scores got worse. It seems they can’t even get the “In Memoriam” segments right anymore.
But I have to say, on a whole, the nominees this year are the most interesting they have been in years, so I’m actually looking forward to watching tonight’s broadcast. Jimmy Kimmel is pretty much the best they can do for a host anymore. He’s witty and unobtrusive and he keeps the show rolling. Most of the hosts since Billy Crystal have been hideous, or at least not a good fit.
Needless to say, regardless of what occurs at the actual ceremony, there will be a constant, often wistful, running dialogue with my memories of Oscar, and of better, happier times at the movies. I’ll be sure to have plenty of Guinness and buffalo wings on hand to numb the pain.
Here are my predictions for a few of the major categories (with of course Best Original Score being one of them). Amazingly, I have seen every film listed this year, with the exception of “The Color Purple” and “May December.” There’s plenty of room for your unsolicited negativity in the comments section below.
Afterthought: What genius decided to schedule the interminable Oscars telecast for THE NIGHT AFTER EVERYONE’S LOST AN HOUR’S SLEEP?
BEST ACTOR
Nominees: Bradley Cooper, “Maestro”; Colman Domingo, “Rustin”; Paul Giamatti, “The Holdovers”; Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”; Jeffrey Wright, “American Fiction”
WILL WIN: Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”)
SHOULD WIN: Everyone else, except maybe Bradley Cooper
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN: Paul Giamatti
BEST ACTRESS
Nominees: Annette Bening, “Nyad;” Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon;” Sandra Hüller, “Anatomy of a Fall;” Carey Mulligan, “Maestro;” Emma Stone, “Poor Things”
WILL WIN: Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”)
SHOULD WIN: Everyone
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN: Everyone, but Emma least
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Nominees: Sterling K. Brown, “American Fiction;” Robert De Niro, “Killers of the Flower Moon;” Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer;” Ryan Gosling, “Barbie;” Mark Ruffalo, “Poor Things”
WILL WIN: Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”)
SHOULD WIN: Robert Downey, Jr.
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN: Robert Downey, Jr.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Nominees: Emily Blunt, “Oppenheimer;” Danielle Brooks, “The Color Purple;” America Ferrera, “Barbie;” Jodie Foster, “Nyad;” Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”
WILL WIN: Good buzz for Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”)
SHOULD WIN: Probably Da’Vine Joy Randolph
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN: I love Jodie in anything she’s in, but probably Da’Vine Joy Randolph (who also appears as Mahalia Jackson in “Rustin”)
SIDE NOTE: Again, I did not see “The Color Purple”
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Nominees: Justine Triet & Arthur Harari, “Anatomy of a Fall;” Celine Song, “Past Lives;” David Hemingson, “The Holdovers;” Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik, “May December;” Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer, “Maestro”
WILL WIN: “Anatomy of a Fall”
SHOULD WIN: “Past Lives”
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN: Either one of those is fine by me
SIDE NOTES: A disgruntled screenwriter just accused “The Holdovers” of plagiarism; I did not see “May December”
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Nominees: Cord Jefferson, “American Fiction;” Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer;” Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach, “Barbie;” Tony McNamara; “Poor Things,” Jonathan Glazer, “The Zone of Interest”
WILL WIN: “American Fiction” (and hopefully not “Barbenheimer”)
SHOULD WIN: “American Fiction” (it would have been even better if it had been a little edgier)
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN: “American Fiction”
SIDE NOTE: “Barbie” should not have been nominated in this category, but rather Best Original Screenplay, but because of its extraordinary success, they might be angling to reward it with something other than just Best Production Design
BEST DIRECTOR
Nominees: Jonathan Glazer, “The Zone of Interest;” Yorgos Lanthimos, “Poor Things;” Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer;” Martin Scorsese, “Killers of the Flower Moon;” Justine Triet, “Anatomy of a Fall”
WILL WIN: Christopher Nolan (“Oppenheimer”)
SHOULD WIN: Jonathan Glazer (“The Zone of Interest”)
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN: Martin Scorsese (“Killers of the Flower Moon”)
BEST PICTURE
Nominees: “American Fiction,” “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Barbie,” “The Holdovers,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” “Oppenheimer,” “Past Lives,” “Poor Things,” “The Zone of Interest”
WILL WIN: “Oppenheimer”
SHOULD WIN: It’s Nolan’s year
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN: I have my favorites, and they are not “Maestro,” “Barbie,” or “Poor Things”
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Nominees: Ludwig Göransson, “Oppenheimer;” Robbie Robertson, “Killers of the Flower Moon;” Laura Karpman, “American Fiction;” Jerskin Fendrix, “Poor Things;” John Williams, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”
WILL WIN: Ludwig Göransson (“Oppenheimer”)
SHOULD WIN: No one!
WHO DO I WANT TO WIN: I love you, Johnny… but no one!
ROOTING AGAINST: Hans Zimmer (even though he’s not nominated)
