“Our minds are big enough to contemplate the cosmos but small enough to care about who wins an Oscar” – Dean Cavanagh
“Nothing can take the sting off the world’s economic problems like watching millionaires present each other golden statues.” – Billy Crystal
The Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, April 25th and we now have a bit more clarity on the true contenders based on the recent results of the Golden Globes. The big difference between the two award shows is that the Golden Globes signifies the start of the award season and is voted on by approximately 90 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, essentially film critics, while the Academy Awards are voted on by a body of over 7000 peers in the industry which makes the latter a more prestigious event and the Oscar the most coveted trophy in film.
However, as much as the Hollywood elite would like to believe that the Golden Globe results have no bearing on their thinking, it often does. In a world where perception is reality, and being in lockstep with the cool crowd is everything if you want to be considered as such, having the Golden Globes as a road map as to what’s been deemed elite, can be quite influential and serve as a bellwether.
While the official list of nominees won’t be released until March 15th, we will gaze into our crystal ball and predict who and what will take home the hardware in the following categories: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director. And remember, every betting site worth its salt has odds on the Academy Awards so if you’re inclined to put your money where your mouth is then there’s a place for you to do so!
Best Actor
Anthony Hopkins – “The Father”
Riz Ahmed – “Sound of Metal”
Kingsley Ben-Adir – “One Night in Miami”
Chadwick Boseman – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Steven Yeun – “Minari”
Gary Oldman – “Mank”
Riz Ahmed should be the leading contender for this award after his spectacular performance in which he plays a rock drummer who is losing his hearing. Yet, there is always the venerable Anthony Hopkins to consider whenever his name is bandied about for the industry’s most prestigious awards. However, the actor who won the Golden Globe in this category is the late Chadwick Boseman whose scintillating portrayal of Levee Green in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will catapult him to the top of anyone’s list.
Oscar Prediction: Chadwick Boseman
Best Actress
Frances McDormand – “Nomadland”
Viola Davis – “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Yeri Han – “Minari”
Carey Mulligan – “Promising Young Woman”
Andra Day – “The United States vs Billie Holiday”
Andra Day won the Globie but we believe she will come up short, through no fault of her own, as this category is stacked with outstanding performances. The one actress who will get more buzz than most due to the film in which she starred and her own sublime resume is Frances McDormand. She already has two Best Actress Oscars on her mantle and it would surprise no one if she walked off the stage with number three this year.
Oscar Prediction: Frances McDormand
Best Director
Chloé Zhao (Nomadland)
Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7)
Regina King (One Night in Miami)
Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman)
It’s nice to see female directors getting their just due this year as three of our four contenders qualify. Chloé Zhao won the Golden Globe in this category but we will tap Regina King and her spellbinding depiction of a fictionalized meeting between civil rights leader Malcolm X, legendary football player Jim Brown, musical artist Sam Cooke, and the iconic boxing world champion, Muhammad Ali.
Oscar Prediction: Regina King
Best Picture
Nomadland
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
One Night in Miami
Minari
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Judas and the Black Messiah
Director Chloé Zhao won Best Director while her film, Nomadland, won Best Picture at the Golden Globes, and it wouldn’t be a complete shock if it was a trifecta at the Oscars with Zhao, McDormand, and Nomadland completing the sweep. And while Nomadland will have plenty of competition, particularly from One Night in Miami and The Trial of the Chicago 7, it’s too compelling a tale to be ignored.
Oscar Pick: Nomadland