It’s that time! Oscar Time! My high holy day! As award season has gone on its become pretty clear to see the trends. There could always be a surprise here and there but those usually happen in the supporting actor and actor categories not the top 5 or 6 awards. It’s been a very good year for film! There are at least 4 or 5 nominated and another couple that weren’t that I would be good with winning Best Picture. So here is what I think will win on Sunday.

Best Supporting Actor

Tom Hanks in A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Anthony Hopkins in THE TWO POPES

Al Pacino in THE IRISHMAN

Joe Pesci in THE IRISHMAN

Brad Pitt in ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD

This is Brad Pitt’s time to shine! He’s been giving some really entertaining acceptance speeches this season so I’m looking forward to hearing what he’ll have to say about winning his first Oscar.

Best Supporting Actress 

Kathy Bates in RICHARD JEWELL

Laura Dern in MARRIAGE STORY

Scarlett Johansson in JOJO RABBIT

Florence Pugh in LITTLE WOMEN

Margot Robbie in BOMBSHELL

Laura Dern seems to have it all sewn up! But if there’s going to be a surprise it usually happens in this category. So keep your ears open when the winner is announced and don’t act surprised if you hear the name ‘Florence Pugh’!

Best Actor

Antonio Banderas in PAIN AND GLORY

Leonardo DiCaprio in ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD

Adam Driver in MARRIAGE STORY

Joaquin Phoenix in JOKER

Jonathan Pryce in THE TWO POPES

This one is in the bag for Joaquin Phoenix. There will be no surprise here. Whether you liked the film or not, Phoenix was undeniably on top of his game. Adam Driver would probably be my personal choice just for the scene where he sings “Being Alive”. He’ll get another shot.

Best Actress

Cynthia Erivo in HARRIET

Scarlett Johansson in MARRIAGE STORY

Saoirse Ronan in LITTLE WOMEN

Charlize Theron in BOMBSHELL

Renée Zellweger in JUDY

Another sure thing! Rene Zellewgger is an odd fuck, indeed and perhaps why she was the perfect choice to play a Judy Garland at the end of her career and life. She’s swept awards season and it won’t stop here.

Best Director

THE IRISHMAN

Martin Scorsese

JOKER

Todd Phillips

1917

Sam Mendes

ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD

Quentin Tarantino

PARASITE

Bong Joon Ho

What a tough category! These are 5 men at the top of their game. Scorsese has won his do the pressure to honor him is not so urgent. Tarantino has yet to win in this category which seems like that should be corrected but not this year. He says he’s only directing one more film , Ever! He better pick the right project if he wants this Oscar. Maybe a film about John Cassavetes with Daniel Day Lewis as Cassavetes and Cate Blanchett as Gena Rowlands? Todd Phillips created the kind of film every director longs to make; one that everyone is talking about and has an opinion about whether they’ve seen it or not. It continues to cause a stir and arouse great emotions from its fans and detractors and that’s why he won’t win. Just as many yeas as nays.

Phillip’s Spot is the one that a lot of people thought should have gone to Greta Gerwig. I found out that though she is a member of the academy, she could not vote for herself during the nominating stage because she is in the Actors Branch. One way to give women more of a chance at a nomination is to get more women in the Directors Branch. If you’re a woman who acts and directs you should be able to vote in both categories! Come on, Academy!

This leaves us with Bong Joon Ho and Sam Mendes and rightfully so, as they have directed the two best films of the year. But the amazing filmmaking that went into making 1917 should give the edge to Mendes

Best Picture

FORD V FERRARI

THE IRISHMAN

JOJO RABBIT

JOKER

LITTLE WOMEN

MARRIAGE STORY

1917

ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD

PARASITE

So many quality films nominated! But since Parasite will win Best International Film this baby is going to go to 1917! The last film about WWI to win Best Picture was All Quiet On The Western Front 1930. There you have it!

Pour the champagne and enjoy your chips and dip! It should be a fun show! And maybe we’ll all have a few surprises in store for us!