The Oscars is one of the biggest ceremonies of the year. It is an opportunity for people to celebrate the best in motion pictures for one night. While 2021 will be an unusual year for the Oscars, there are numerous things in the film industry to celebrate.
Here are the main categories to focus on for award season:
1. Best Picture
2. Best Director
3. Best Actor
4. Best Actress
5. Best Supporting Actor
6. Best Supporting Actress
7. Best Original Screenplay
8. Best Adapted Screenplay
With the ceremony fast approaching, let us explore the possible outcomes of each category.
The Nominees:
Best Picture
1. Nomadland
2. The Trial of the Chicago 7
3. Minari
4. Promising Young Woman
5. One Night in Miami
6. Soul
7. Mank
8. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Nomadland has won big at other ceremonies such as the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards. The buzz for this movie has not faded, and it is bringing more attention to director Chloe Zhao and actress Frances McDormand.
Aaron Sorkin’s Trial of the Chicago 7 is very prevalent in this era and is an easy Oscar pick. It has engaging and meaningful dialogue, a diverse and high-profile cast, as well as memorable scenes. However, based on previous victories, Nomadland has a higher chance of taking it.
While both movies examine humanity and understanding other peoples’ way of life, Nomadland appears to have struck a stronger chord. When executed in the right way, these kinds of films can cause a huge impact.
Mank is a good movie, and it deserves nominations for best picture, best cinematography, and other categories. However, it received the most support from the HFPA (Hollywood Foreign Press Association) at the Golden Globe Awards with six nominations. In the end, Mank did not win in any of the groups. The losses could signal that momentum and consideration are dying down for this feature. It is odd since, at one point, it was a high contender. But it looks like Mank will be this year’s The Irishman for snubbed films.
Best Director
1. Chloe Zhao (Nomadland)
2. Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7)
3. Lee Isaac Chung (Minari)
4. Regina King (One Night in Miami)
5. David Fincher (Mank)
If David Fincher’s Mank had secured this category at the Golden Globes, it could have caused more disarray for a prediction. It is already a tight lock between Chloe Zhao of Nomadland and Lee Isaac Chung of Minari. Chloe Zhao is on people’s radars as the latest up-and-coming filmmaker. But the stylistic touch of Minari is catching everyone’s attention.
Minari centers on a Korean family that moves to Arkansas to start a farm in the 1980s. Due to minimal conversation and not enough marketing, Chung’s chance for a victory seems slim. But who knows, Chung could upset Zhao and claim the best director’s achievement based on previous wins for the best foreign-language film. Minari could likely be the underdog that gains more momentum as time progresses.
Best Actor
1. Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)
2. Anthony Hopkins (The Father)
3. Stephen Yeun (Minari)
4. Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods)
5. Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal)
Chadwick Boseman gave a phenomenal performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. He should take the award for best actor. After receiving an award at the Golden Globes (Taylor Simone Ledward, his widow, delivered an emotional acceptance speech), it would be shocking if the Academy decided to snub him.
While Minari has gained attention for direction and young actors, Stephen Yeun has not received any big wins for best actor. He is on people’s watch list for exceptional actors, but he has not reached the Oscar-worthy level yet compared to his other contenders. At least Stephen Yeun received a nomination for his stellar performance.
Best Actress
1. Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman)
2. Frances McDormand (Nomadland)
3. Andra Day (The United States Vs. Billie Holiday)
4. Viola Davis (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)
5. Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman)
The Golden Globes shocked viewers when Andra Day won the Best Actress in a Drama Globe. She was in a category with numerous other contenders who seemed to have a higher chance due to buzz and previous achievements. This victory could be the tipping point for a triumph at the Oscars. Factors such as actual singing, drug addiction, and a dramatic death scene play a significant role in The United States Vs. Billie Holiday’s impact.
Carey Mulligan was poised to win for best actress. And Promising Young Woman has been predicted to steal for best screenplay or director. However, accounting for the loss to Andra Day, Mulligan’s odds appear very slim. She will continue to be nominated for her performance, though.
Best Supporting Actor
1. Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah)
2. Sacha Baren Cohen (The Trial of the Chicago 7)
3. Leslie Odom Jr. (One Night in Miami)
4. Paul Raci (Sound of Metal)
5. David Strathairn (Nomadland)
Daniel Kaluuya earned the award for the best supporting actor at the Golden Globes, beating out rivals. Based on this win and the praise from several critics, it looks like he has a good chance of winning at the Oscars. Even if Judas and the Black Messiah do not receive any other big nominations, this is still a great outcome.
Leslie Odom Jr. had a shot at two categories: best supporting actor and best original song in One Night in Miami. Odom Jr. did not win for either of these at the Golden Globes, but he deserves the acknowledgment. His acting and musical performances in the film were impressive.
Best Supporting Actress
1. Yuh – Jung Youn (Minari)
2. Olivia Coleman (The Father)
3. Amanda Seyfried (Mank)
4. Jodie Foster (The Mauritanian)
5. Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm)
Jodie Foster had an unexpected win for best-supporting actress, and the hype for her grows as the Oscars date gets closer and closer. While The Mauritanian has not gained numerous awards, this is a nice win for Foster. Her odds at the Academy Awards are looking bright.
Maria Bakalova seemed to have a great shot running in the Actress in a Musical/Comedy section at the Golden Globes, but she lost to Rosamund Pike in I Care A Lot. Further proving that it is hard to predict how things will go, Borat gained two other trophies that night. So, it appeared that it was a sure win for Maria in this category. Her chance at the Oscars has decreased somewhat.
Best Original Screenplay
1. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Aaron Sorkin)
2. Promising Young Woman (Emerald Fennell)
3. Minari (Lee Isaac Chung)
4. Judas and the Black Messiah (Will Berson, Shaka King, Keith Lucas, and Kenneth Lucas)
5. Mank (David Fincher)
If The Trial of the Chicago 7 does not win for best picture, it certainly has a high chance of winning for best original screenplay. The great dialogue, sensical plot progression, and relevance to societal issues have obtained immense praise. Considering that this movie clicks various buttons for the Academy on a visual and emotional scale, the best original screenplay is a tight lock for Sorkin.
David Fincher has received zero wins for directing or screenplay, but Mank has received a few nods for best-supporting actress (Amanda Seyfried) and technical achievements (cinematography). While this feature film will not win in any major categories, it is still a great contender.
Best Adapted Screenplay
1. Nomadland (Chloe Zhao)
2. One Night in Miami (Regina King)
3. The Father (Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller)
4. The White Tiger (Ramin Bahrani)
5. The Mauritanian (M. B. Traven, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani)
It looks like Nomadland and The Father will be tied for best-adapted screenplay. Both of these pictures have had moments in the spotlight at other awards ceremonies (ex. Independent Film Awards, Goya Awards). I will be watching to see which one edges out the other. Nomadland may have a slighter edge based on previous wins, but The Father has gradually appeared on more people’s watch list.
The White Tiger has received slight buzz, but it is not very close to the others in this category. While it has been acknowledged, it would not be a huge surprise to see other contenders beat it. The White Tiger centers on the journey of a poor Indian driver trying to break free from servitude to his rich masters. Based on this interesting concept alone, it is understandable why the Academy considers this movie a stellar pick for best-adapted screenplay.
Are the Oscars Rigged?
The Oscars are rigged in terms of specific content selection and how the Academy markets the ceremony. They pour so much money and attention into the most significant event for films. However, the Academy is trying to improve how things operate. More movies should have a chance for nominations and wins. Also, mass marketing and attention should apply to more than three or four features.
How Will the Ceremony Be Held This Year?
The Oscars ceremony will be at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Due to the pandemic, there will be no in-person attendance. The presenters and performers will have to distance themselves throughout the venue socially. The show has also changed from February 28 to April 25.
Comments:
Very well written, informative, and well structured. Not too many errors, I wasn’t sure if you wanted to stay consistent with keeping movie titles in italics, I would change all titles to italics, lets the reader know that it’s obviously a movie.
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