By Jimmy Willden
2018 was an interesting year for movies, in general; but as it turns out — also an interesting year for the Oscars. This year marks the first time a comic book film was nominated for Best Picture (and honestly, has a good shot at taking home gold). It will also be only the second time in the history of the Academy Awards, that the ceremony will be hostless.
In my humble opinion, this year’s field of nominees range from worthy, to downright mediocre (at best). Some amazing films that should have been honored (I’m looking at you, Eighth Grade and You Were Never Really Here), were overshadowed by movies that should have had a lot to say, but their message was muddled by an unclear and indecisive execution (hello, Farrelly and Green Book) or…controversy (Bohemian Rhapsody).
All of that said, I think I’m going to take a cue from the producers of this year’s hostless ceremony, and keep things short and to the point.
So without further ado, here’s my picks and predictions.
Jimmy Willden’s 2019 Oscar Picks & Predictions
BEST PICTURE
PICK (who I think should win): Roma, Alfonso Cuaron; Runner-Up: A Star Is Born, Bradley Cooper.
PREDICTION (who I think will win): Roma, Alfonso Cuaron; Runner-Up: Green Book, Peter Farrelly.
BEST DIRECTOR
PICK: Roma, Alfonso Cuaron; Runner-Up: Blackkklansman, Spike Lee.
PREDICTION: Same as my picks.
I’m going with Roma, because it’s hard for me not to…but my gut is eating at me, telling me this is Lee’s year. We shall see on Sunday.
BEST ACTRESS
PICK: Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born; Runner-Up: Yalitza Aparicio, Roma.
PREDICTION: Glenn Close, The Wife; Runner-Up: Olivia Colman, The Favourite.
Close’s performance was great, but I honestly think she’s going to win this year only because the Academy owes her.
BEST ACTOR
PICK: Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody; Runner-Up: Christian Bale, Vice.
PREDICTION: Same as my picks, though Cooper’s performance in A Star Is Born was hard not to list here.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
PICK: Rachel Weisz, The Favourite; Runner-Up: Marina de Tavira, Roma.
PREDICTION: Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk; Runner-Up: Rachel Weisz, The Favourite.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
PICK: Sam Elliott, A Star Is Born; Runner-Up: Adam Driver, Blackkklansman.
PREDICTION: Mahershala Ali, Green Book; Runner-Up: Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
PICK: First Reformed, Paul Schrader; Runner-Up: Roma, Alfonso Cuaron.
PREDICTION: The Favourite, Deborah Davis & Tony McNamara; Runner-Up: Green Book, Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie, & Peter Farrelly.
Keep an eye out, if Green Book takes home gold here, then its chances of winning Best Picture will go way up.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
PICK: If Beale Street Could Talk, Barry Jenkins; Runner-Up; Blackkklansman, Spike Lee, Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, and Kevin Willmott.
PREDICTION: Blackkklansman, Spike Lee, Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, and Kevin Willmott; Runner-Up: Can You Ever Forgive Me, Nicole Holofcener & Jeff Whitty.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
PICK: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, no contest.
PREDICTION: Same as my pick – no contest.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
PICK: Roma, Alfonso Cuaron; Runner-Up: A Star Is Born, Matthew Libatique.
PREDICTION: Roma, Alfonso Cuaron; Runner-Up: Cold War, Lucasz Zal.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
PICK: Roma, Alfonso Cuaron, Mexico: Runner-Up: Cold War, Pawel Pawlikowski, Poland)
PREDICTION: Same as my picks.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
PICK: Minding the Gap; Runner-Up: RBG.
PREDICTION: Free Solo; Runner-Up: RBG.
BEST FILM EDITING
PICK: Vice, Hank Corwin; Runner-Up: Bohemian Rhapsody, John Ottman.
PREDICTION: BlacKkklansman, Barry Alexander Brown; Runner-Up: Bohemian Rhapsody, John Ottman.
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
PICK: Black Panther, Hannah Beachler & Jay R. Hart – no contest.
PREDICTION: Black Panther, Hannah Beachler & Jay R. Hart; Runner-Up: The Favourite, Fiona Crombie & Alice Felton.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
PICK: Black Panther, Ruth E. Carter; Runner-Up: The Favourite, Sandy Powell.
PREDICTION: Same as my picks.
BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING
PICK: Vice — no contest.
PREDICTION: Same as my pick — no contest.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
PICK: BlacKkklansman, Terence Blanchard, Runner-Up: If Beale Street Could Talk, Nicholas Brittel.
PREDICTION: BlacKkklansman, Terence Blanchard, Runner-Up: Black Panther, Ludwig Goransson.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
PICK: “Shallow”, A Star Is Born – no contest.
PREDICTION: GAGA – no contest.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
PICK: First Man — no contest.
PREDICTION: Avengers: Infinity War; Runner-Up: First Man.
BEST SOUND MIXING
PICK: First Man; Runner-Up: A Star Is Born.
PREDICTION: A Star Is Born; Runner-Up: First Man.
BEST SOUND EDITING
PICK: A Quiet Place; Runner-Up: Roma.
PREDICTION: First Man; Runner-Up: A Quiet Place.
So there they are, my 2019 Oscar Picks & Predictions! Disagree with any of my choices? Sound off below! And check back here this Sunday, Feb. 24 as we update this list with the winners, and release my Overall Report Card.
