My Hope: Michael B Jordan (Sinners). When I saw Michael B Jordan in Sinners, I had the blood sucked out of me (pun intended). Playing a set of twins in Hollywood is no easy feat, especially when each role is incredibly distinct and nuanced. Jordan demonstrates immense range in this film, and co-star Hailee Steinfeld publicly praised his “inviting energy and leadership” on set.
Will Win: Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme). The amount of marketing that went into Marty Supreme is insane. It seems like everywhere I go someone is donning a Marty Mauser jacket or T-shirt. At the forefront of this legendary marketing campaign (which allowed Marty Supreme to surpass Everything Everywhere All At Once as the highest grossing A24 film) is Chalamet, who has become a cult icon in popular culture. The public is in praise of his electrifying energy and heart-breaking performance on screen, and they commend the 7 years he spent training Ping-Pong for his role. While Marty Supreme wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, I respect Chalamet as an actor, and his past performances in films like Dune and Call Me By Your Name prove that he is an Oscar-worthy actor.
My Hope/Will Win: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet). Raw, visceral, emotional–these are just a few words to describe Jessie Buckley’s incredible performance as Agnes, the dutiful wife of William Shakespeare in Chloe Zhao’s heart-breaking and faithful Hamnet. The Irish actress is relatively new to Hollywood, but is already in high praise for her “volcanically physical” portrayal of loss and motherhood in this film. She is receiving high Oscar buzz for her performance, and has already won a Critic’s Choice award this year. However, Buckley’s victory isn’t completely sealed, as she faces immense competition from Rose Byrne in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, a performance that many believe will upset Hamnet
My Hope/Will Win: Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another). “Our softness is not a liability. Our depth is not too much.” said One Battle After Another star Teyana Taylor as she accepted a Golden Globe award for her role as Perfidia Beverly Hills. Even though her character is considered to be supporting, Taylor’s performance is so strong that her presence is continually felt throughout the story, even when she’s not on screen. One Battle After Another director Paul Thomas Anderson described her performance in this film as the “perfect combo of mysterious, sexy, mischievous and sweet.” Taylor has received much praise coming into this year’s award season, and is heavily favored to win the Oscar.
My Hope: Sean Penn (One Battle After Another). Despite the amazing performances from Teyana Taylor, Leonardo Dicaprio and Chase Infiniti in One Battle After Another, Sean Penn’s caricature of the stiff Colonel Lockjaw beats them all. Penn immerses completely in this role, and transforms himself into a different beast. He delivers the lines of his cruel, ugly character with poetic accuracy, cementing himself as the greatest (and most hated) movie villain this year.
Will Win: Stellan Skarsgard (Sentimental Value). While the decision between Sean Penn and Stellan Skarsgard is extremely close, I believe that Skarsgard will walk home with the trophy. Sentimental Value is this year’s most acclaimed international movie, and Skarsgard has already won a Golden Globe for his role as the removed, despondent Gustav Borg.
My Hope/Will Win: K-Pop Demon Hunters. This one is pretty self explanatory. This Korean-American tale of love and self-acceptance became instant canon when it was released mid June, and the catchy lyrics of “Golden” and “How It’s Done” invaded every American supermarket and radio station from coast to coast.
My Hope/Will Win: One Battle After Another. Paul Thomas Anderson’s screenplay for One Battle After Another is like a Porsche 911: it moves with turbo speed, turns on a dime and seduces you with its heavenly sleekness. It is riddled with chaotic word play, interweaving lines that both complement and contradict one another. It’s a labor of love that took Anderson two decades to perfect.
My Hope/Will Win: Sinners. Sinners is a definite and well deserved winner in this category. Writer and director Ryan Coogler is a master of dialogue and dialect, and his work in Sinners is full of lines that capture a familiar feeling of the south and those who live in it.
My Hope/Will Win: Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another). PTA is a household name in Hollywood. From Boogie Nights to There Will Be Blood, he has continued to tell captivating stories through his unique visual lens. His work in One Battle After Another is no exception. Anderson perfectly captures the frenetic energy of this film with long shots that convey the grandeur of his story, and close takes that make you feel downright claustrophobic. Anderson has admitted publicly that many of his shots pay homage to older films, especially his infamous “rolling hills” scene, in which Anderson tried to capture the aesthetic of a “gritty 70’s noir film.”
My Hope: Marty Supreme. Marty Supreme casting director Jennifer Vendetti brings together a catalog of distinct actors and actresses, from Shark Tank host Kevin O’ Leary to American Hip-hop star Tyler Okonma (A.K.A Tyler the Creator).
Will Win: One Battle After Another. While Marty Supreme has the most eclectic ensemble, I could see the Academy favoring the ‘Best Picture’ frontrunner for this new award, making One Battle After Another a possible winner.
My Hope/Will Win: One Battle After Another. One Battle After Another fits every description of what makes a perfect movie. It has standout performances from both seasoned professionals and charismatic newcomers, a script that never fails to entertain and inspire, and a directing maestro at the forefront of it all. While it is not inherently political, and does not favor any agenda, One Battle After Another speaks an incredibly true message about the ever-swinging pendulum of power, and the constant fight between revolutionaries and rule keepers. It is one of the best films released in recent years, and is incredibly deserving of a Best Picture Oscar.
