So these are my picks.
Tried not to overthink them too much this year, but I have a feeling that the awards will end up being distributed a little over the place, I don't know.
Also FYI, regarding all of my picks, the only ones that I have actually seen are:
Roma, The Favourite, First Reformed, Shoplifters, A Quiet Place, Ready Player One, and Bao (animation short).
----------------------------------
Best Picture/Best Director/Best Cinematography/Production Design/Sound Mixing ->
Roma
I didn't really super enjoy the film, but considering that I've only seen Roma and The Favourite out of all the Best Picture nominees this year (and hardly believe that the rest deserved to be nominated), I feel like Roma has earned those.
Best Costume Design/Film Editing ->
The Favourite.
Best Actress -> Olivia Colman. I would like to see her win, but this year none of the nominees makes me go "she absolutely has to win". I also don't think Yalitza Aparicio deserved a nomination. Good for her and all that, but there just wasn't much at all to her character in Roma. That might've been the point, I don't know, but in my opinion it wasn't worthy of a nomination. Toni Collette should've been on there...
Supporting Actress -> between Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone, I picked
Emma Stone, because I feel like there was more development/action surrounding her throughout the film, but if Weisz wins that's fine as well, obviously. I also feel like the nomination for Marina de Tavira (Roma) was not earned.
Best Actor -> Viggo Mortensen, because I like Viggo. I'm ok if
Willem Defoe wins as well, but I don't think any of the rest deserve it. Bale did the usual (but hard to achieve) transformation, but the movie is ass from what I hear. Same thing with Rami Malek; if he wins, that's good for him, but I hardly think that the film has enough merit to be nominated for the Oscars. Just my opinion.
Supporting Actor - >
Richard E. Grant, only because it seems like the most likely choice. I would be ok/happy if
Adam Driver wins, because he's cool.
Adapted Screenplay ->
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, for no real reason, although I seriously can't imagine the Coen brothers winning when they don't have a film this year that's also running for the top awards, so I don't know...
BlacKkKlansman, maybe? I don't think any other has a chance, honestly. A Star is Born has been what, adapted like 4 times already?
Best Original Screenplay ->
First Reformed. At first I was going to leave it with either Roma or The Favourite, but after seeing both films, I'm sorry Yorgos, I love you buddy, but First Reformed is without a doubt the most original screenplay out of all of those. When I first saw the film, I was super intrigued and taken aback (in a good way) because I honestly could never tell where the next scene would go. It's a shame that First Reformed didn't get any other nominations, like Best Actor, for instance, so this is one of the few categories where I really hope my pick wins.
Animated Feature ->
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Haven't seen it, probably won't, but given all the hype and praise it's pretty much a lock at this point, in my opinion.
Foreign Language Film ->
Shoplifters. After much debating, I decided to stick with the film I liked the most. I feel like Cold War has the best chances if Roma doesn't win, but if Roma wins Best Picture it might not win Foreign Language as well... I don't know, it's such a mess and there's so many variables, I just said screw it, Shoplifters it is, enjoyed it 100% more than Roma because it actually has an entertaining and surprising plot.
Best Documentary ->
Free Solo. Another one I haven't seen and probably won't, but from what little I've seen it seems to be the best contender.
Makeup and Hairstyling ->
Border. I'll only be able to see it after the Oscars, but I don't mind at all betting on a foreign film, makes me happy to see one in there.
Original Score ->
Isle of Dogs, heard one song and really liked it, plus the composer is pretty dope. Haven't seen the film.
Original Song -> "
Shallow" (A Star is Born), because it's probably the most likely (haven't even heard it).
Sound Editing ->
A Quiet Place. Initially had my vote for Roma as well, but I honestly didn't feel like the sound was as great as so many people had said... maybe my theater just wasn't well equipped for the 7.1 sound (although they said they were), but yeah, I feel like A Quiet Place could be taking this one home. Didn't love the film, but I feel like it deserves it.
Visual Effects ->
Ready Player One, only because it's a film that relies (mostly) on virtual reality and stuff, so I feel like it's the best contender. Like, sure, Avengers might have super dope effects, but pretty much all the Marvel films do, nothing super groundbreaking about that, but with Ready Player One it's integral to the story, so yeah that's what I think.
Documentary (Short Subject) ->
Period. End of Sentence. Just a hunch
.
Short Film (Animated) ->
Bao. Seen it, thought it was cute/alright.
Short Film (Live Action) ->
Mother. Just a hunch.
----------------------------------
So that's 5 picks for
Roma, and 4 for
The Favourite.
I'd be ok if any of the two cleans house, I really don't think any of the other films deserves the awards as much (or at all...
...)
. If only there was a money prize... oh well.
