Despite 2020 being an absolute dumpster fire of a year, with movie theaters being open for maybe half the year, and the latter part at limited capacity, it wouldn't have seemed outside the realm of possibility to outright cancel the Oscars this year. But looking over the nominees, honestly, this is one of the strongest collection of films in a long time! Below, check out my predictions in each category, as well as my personal ranking of each film. I was able to watch every nominee this year, so by reading this blog, you just might win your virtual office Oscar pool!
BEST PICTUREMy Personal Ranking:
1. Minari
2. Sound of Metal
3. The Father
4. The Trial of the Chicago 7
5. Promising Young Woman
6. Judas and the Black Messiah
7. Nomadland
8. Mank
I think this is a two-way race. Minari and Nomadland seem like the frontrunners here, with Trial of the Chicago 7 just a little behind. Mank may have the most nominations but it's the least lovable - it's really only appealing to movie nerds. The rest are all fantastic films with wide appeal. Nomadland, the "unofficial" frontrunner this year, has been a beast this awards season, picking up Best Motion Picture at the Golden Globes and at BAFTA (the British Academy Awards).
Minari could follow the same trajectory as Moonlight for a win, though. It's the little A24 "movie that could", and it's a lot more of a crowd pleaser than Nomadland, which could give it an edge considering the Academy's preferential ballot where voters rank the movies (so not just #1 votes are counted). Plus in a year with anti-Asian hate on the rise, it could win, but I'm not getting my hopes up too much. I'd be overjoyed to be wrong!
