I want to preface this by saying the “L” key on my laptop doesn’t work. Every time I type a word with an “L” in it, I have to paste it in. And re-copy and re-paste depending on capitalization. Has it been like this for months? Why yes of course. I’m nothing if not consistent in my ability to address and overcome all obstacles in the least efficient way possible.
The best day of the year is here. As in the Oscars are today, February 9th, and I think it is becoming clear that not only must I post these predictions day of, but must wait until the very last minute to even write them. Or think about them. No no, that’s not all true. I’ve had lively discussions with co-workers and listened to a few podcasts and wave every time I’m in an AMC and they thank the A-Listers during the previews because I am one. This all makes me more than qualified to be your favorite film critic. Also the Oscars came v early this year (not that it would’ve changed anything if they were weeks later). Did I see The Irishman or Ford v Ferrari? No. Who has the time? Did I pay to see Cats on two separate occasions? Yes. Am I sorry? HeLL no.
Sooooooooo let’s just get into it, shall we?
^ denotes favorite nominee according to personal emotional appeal
* denotes who I think most deserves to win (and therefore who I would vote for if I were a member of the Academy)
Bolded nominees are those I think will win.
Best Picture
- 1917
- Ford v Ferrari
- The Irishman
- Jojo Rabbit^
- Joker
- Little Women^
- Marriage Story
- Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood
- Parasite*
As previously noted, the only ones I did not see of these nominees were Ford v Ferrari and The Irishman. Tbh I don’t know if I’ll ever watch them. The ones that made me cry the most were Jojo Rabbit (the two young boys in this movie deserved noms because they are so damn good but we’ll get to the garbage fire of the acting nominees shortly) and Little Women for obvious reasons but mostly because Greta Gerwig is my God.
Parasite is one of the best executed films I have ever seen and I would be absolutely over the moon to see it win. 1917 was brilliant. It was. But…there’s just something…like…*sigh* another war movie? Really? I’m tried of what we consider an “Oscar” movie. It’s inherently white and cis and male and showy and I’m done with it. I really really loved 1917. But I want new stories.
Also we might as well get this out of the way now, I hate Joker and I hate that it’s nominated. I think after I first saw it I thought it was ok and since I have grown to severely dislike it (thought “hate” might have been too strong of a word but I’m not gonna delete it sooo).
If 1917 doesn’t win, Parasite will.
Directing
- Bong Joon Ho, Parasite*^
- Sam Mendes, 1917^
- Todd Phillips, Joker
- Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
- Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood
Could not really care less about the last three. Tarantino’s movie was a big to-do and was good but not as good as a lot of the movies I saw last year. I could probably easily replace the last three directors with others. Gerwig? Wang? The Safdie Brothers? Shults? Aster? Anyway I’ll just go now. Thought Parasite was phenomenal, would love to see Joon Ho win. I think the Academy will give him Screenplay ~as a treat~ but not give him Directing or Best Picture.
We all know and love what Mendes did with 1917. Mesmerizing and awe-inspiring. As with Best Picture, if he doesn’t win, Joon Ho will.
Actress in a Leading Role
- Cynthia Erivo, Harriet
- Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
- Saoirse Ronan, Little Women*^
- Charlize Theron, Bombshell
- Renee Zellweger, Judy
Didn’t see Harriet or Judy. I love Cynthia Erivo and always will and she has the best Tony performance of all time and you can watch it here. As with, I think, every acting category this year, the nominees to me are just kinda meh. I don’t have a lot to say about them and, frankly, am running out of time.
As always, Saoirse is my everything.
Actor in a Leading Role
- Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory
- Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood
- Adam Driver, Marriage Story*^
- Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
- Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes
I’m realizing now that because of the time issue (your girl’s gotta get to church), I cannot name all the other people and movies I thought should’ve been nominated. But I’ll choose one. Where the hell is Adam Sandler for Uncut Gems?
Actress in a Supporting Role
- Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell
- Laura Dern, Marriage Story*
- Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit
- Florence Pugh, Little Women^
- Margot Robbie, Bombshell
You are supposed to hate Amy in Little Women and Pugh is so wonderful though with her tiny feet and her mannerisms that an audience member can empathize with Amy. What?! I love Dern though and I’m a little torn with the who’d I vote for but again, we’re on a time crunch.
Actor in a Supporting Role
- Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
- Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes
- Al Pacino, The Irishman
- Joe Pesci, The Irishman
- Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood
The only one I saw was Once Upon a Time so, uh, yeah.
Writing (Original Screenplay)
- 1917
- Knives Out
- Marriage Story
- Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood
- Parasite*^
Really glad Knives Out got a nom here. Just a great fun movie.
As I said, Bong Joon Ho’s ~treat~.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
- The Irishman
- Jojo Rabbit*^
- Joker
- Little Women*^
- The Two Popes
I was feel like I have to choose but this is MY post so I’m not going to. #reckless #helpme
Maybe I’ll make more predictions in the moment on IG, who knows, but I think this is the shortest one yet and I’m going to leave it like that because as Judy Garland would sing, “I don’t care!”
Here are the 2019 films I did really care about (besides Cats obvi) in no particular order:
- Booksmart
- Little Women
- Jojo Rabbit
- Midsommar
- Uncut Gems
- Honey Boy
- 1917
- Waves
- Hustlers
- Knives Out
- Parasite
- Good Boys
- The Last Black Man in San Francisco
- The Farewell
xoxo and see you tonight,
C.W.
Write | Wright 