Ramsey: Oscar predictions 2019

Not only does the new year bring resolutions and fresh starts to everyone, but it brings film fanatics the one event that initially excites, yet usually disappoints them: the Academy Awards.

Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday and, surprisingly, did not reveal as many alarming nominations as in years past. Some of the year’s most critically-acclaimed were snubbed, but this did not come as a huge surprise as many were either left out of the Golden Globes or did not have the same Oscar buzz as they deserved.

2018 was peculiar for movies, as it was perhaps one of the most accessible years, with countless acclaimed movies either produced by or streaming on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.

The list of firsts, surprises, and snubs could undoubtedly go on and on, but without further ado, here are a few of my predictions for this year’s Academy Awards, accompanied by who I think should win. The ceremony will take place on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m.

Best Picture
Nominees: A Star is Born, BlacKkKlansman, Black Panther, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite, Green Book, Roma, and Vice

Who will win: Green Book
2018 was such a prolific year in the film industry, it is hard to choose a front runner, especially after surprises at other award shows. Peter Farrelly’s story of an African American pianist (Mahershala Ali) accompanied by an Italian-American chauffeur/bodyguard (Viggo Mortensen) as he tours through the south in the 1960s, underperformed in the box office. After a surprising night at the Golden Globes, however, it took home the award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Amidst controversy surrounding the director and screenwriter, critics are still not warm to the idea that it could take home the award.

Who should win: BlacKkKlansman
In 1989, director Spike Lee released the renowned Do the Right Thing, depicting race relations and police brutality in Brooklyn. When the Oscars rolled around, however, Lee lost to Driving Miss Daisy, which tells the story of an elderly woman who hires an African-American chauffeur. Directed by Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman once again shows racism in America as a black police officer goes undercover to take down the Ku Klux Klan. The film is comical and stylish, but most importantly reveals some urgent, long-buried truths about American bigotry. Despite his film’s complexity and importance, Lee could once again lose the Best Picture award to a movie about an interracial chauffeur and client conquering their differences.

Best Director
Nominees: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma), Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite), Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman), Adam McKay (Vice), and Pawel Pawlikowski (Cold War)

Who will win: Alfonso Cuarón (Roma)
In his semi-autobiographical film, Cuarón tells the heartbreaking story of a family living in Mexico City in the 1970s, focusing on their housekeeper (Yalitza Aparicio) and the trials she faces. The film is black and white and entirely spoken in Spanish, perfectly encapsulating the authentic, dark tones of its topics. After directing Gravity and Children of Men, Cuarón is well-known for his artistic ability, providing him a great opportunity to take home the award.

Who should win: Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman)
As aforementioned, I feel passionately about Lee deserving recognition for his work on BlacKkKlansman. His characters are extremely well-developed, and he tells the story effortlessly. Despite Cuarón’s magnificent work, I think he could have done better in developing Yalitza Aparicio’s character. She did a wonderful job, but her performance could have improved with more direction from Cuarón.

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominees: Christian Bale (Vice), Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born), Willem Dafoe (At Eternity’s Gate), Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), Viggo Mortensen (Green Book)

Who will win: Christian Bale (Vice)
Christian Bale might be most well-known for his physical transformations in each of his parts. He does this once again in his portrayal of former vice president Dick Cheney in Adam McKay’s Vice.

Who should win: Unfortunately, I have not seen enough of the performances represented in this category to make an informed decision about who deserves the recognition.

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Nominees: Yalitza Aparicio (Roma), Glenn Close (The Wife), Olivia Colman (The Favourite), Lady Gaga(A Star Is Born),  and Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)

Who will win: Glenn Close (The Wife)
With this movie not receiving any other nominations, Glenn Close will come as a surprise to many, but after she secured the Golden Globe, she seems to be the frontrunner in this category.

Who should win: Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade)
If we lived in a perfect world, Fisher would have received a nomination for her stellar performance of an anxiety-ridden middle schooler just trying to survive middle school. Although the snub was expected, it is still extremely unfortunate.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominees: Mahershala Ali (Green Book), Adam Driver (BlacKkKlansman), Sam Elliott (A Star Is Born), Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?), Sam Rockwell (Vice)

Who will win: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)
Again, Green Book continues to gain traction, and Mahershala Ali’s portrayal of Don Shirley facing adversity will most likely trump the others in the category.

Who should win: Adam Driver (BlacKkKlansman)
Obviously, I am rooting for BlacKkKlansman to beat out Green Book in almost every category, but Adam Driver truly deserves it as he plays a Jewish police officer trying to take down the Ku Klux Klan from the inside. He gives a compelling performance and should receive the recognition.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominees: Amy Adams (Vice), Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk), Emma Stone (The Favourite), Marina de Tavira (Roma), Rachel Weisz (The Favourite)

Who will win: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)
This is the first prediction on this list that I actually think should win. In my favorite movie of the year, King gives one of the most truthful, urgent performances I have recently seen as she struggles to help her daughter liberate the future father of her child.

Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominees: A Star Is Born, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, BlacKkKlansman, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, If Beale Street Could Talk

Who will win: BlacKkKlansman
With a fluent, coherent story, accompanied by sharp wit, the screenwriters truly deserve this award, even it is not my personal first choice.

Who should win: If Beale Street Could Talk
As it was unfortunately snubbed from the Best Picture category, I think If Beale Street Could Talk deserves all the recognition it can get. Barry Jenkins adaptation of James Baldwin’s renowned novel is nearly flawless, as it conveys feelings that many writers usually are not capable of.

View the full list of nominations and cast your own prediction ballet here.