Oscar Predictions

The Oscars are a few weeks out. So it is time for us to go through and give our critiques on the nominees and who we think will win for each category.

Editor’s Note: These predictions not only took place on February 8, 2022, after The Oscars announced the nominees but also before we were able to watch a lot of the films nominated

Actor in a Leading Role

Syndi: I'm going to go with Benedict Cumberbatch in The Power of The Dog, the film has the most nominations this year. I wouldn't be surprised if he won, it'd be kind of a surprise if Will Smith would get it but I don't think that's gonna happen.

Dale: Probably Andrew Garfield. There's a difference between theater acting and film acting, And for him to step into that role with limited experience doing that to absorb himself in it, emoting and singing. I have to give to him for that ability to adapt to an environment like that.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Syndi: I think who should get it is Kodi Smit -McPhee for The Power of The Dog. Do I think he's gonna get it? No. Because the Oscars have like a vendetta against young people winning things. So that's okay. So I think yeah, Troy Kotsur would probably be the one to win the award, which is fine. I think he did a really good job in Coda

Dale: Same here, Troy Kotsur for Coda. His portrayal and his delivery of that father of trying to be supportive of his children and at the same time fighting with the fact that he really can't have that some assembly of independence because this father with a disability trying not to burden his daughter.

Actress in a Leading Role

Syndi: I thought Kristen did a great job, I'm happy she's nominated. I think it's way past due she's been pretty consistent in the independent movies that she's done. And she's been acting since she was like 12 or even before that, maybe she was like nine. I'm proud that she's in the category, do I think she's gonna win? Probably not. I think the person to win is Nicole Kidman mainly because I know some people in the Academy like to reward people for portraying people in Hollywood.

Dale: Kristen Stewart. I like you said, the Oscars have this thing of giving young actors their proper due, and they kind of wait until you're the Twilight or a bit later on a career. Last year, I think it was a bunch of young actors were nominated and this year there is little to no youth here. Especially considering how people only think of her as you know the girl from Twilight, I think that her performance was amazing, Her portrayal of Diana with a dash of naivete, fighting FOR HER independence in the middle of all that loneliness, on the edge of a mental breakdown.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Syndi: Ariana DeBose. She's been winning most of the awards for this category. So she is the current front runner to win. It's funny that Rita Moreno won when she played the same role years ago, and now the person who kind of reincarnated the character is also nominated for the same award. Ariana did a fabulous job, she was the highlight of the movie.

Dale: I'm going to give it to Ariana DeBose. To be honest I think she did the most amazing job. Her performance drew me in, especially the scenes where she is opposite Rachel Zegler. For a secondary character to have an impact like that to the point where the lead actress feels like a footnote in most scenes is astounding.

Animated Feature Film

Syndi: I would love to give it to Luca because that was my favorite movie last year, Even though Flee was good, I think Encanto probably is going to be the one to win. I think Flee deserves it more, but I think we will get it in the documentary.

Dale: We spoke the other day about Flee and how it was being shortlisted to make it on here, I'm happy it did because it gives this category a lot more variety. The Animated Film category is usually just kids' movies, very rarely are adult movies here and it's good to see a documentary picture up there. So I'm going to go to Flee even though it might not get it.

Cinematography

Syndi: All of these movies have great cinematography. So this is a good category, I am going to give it to Dune. It was one of the best-looking movies I've seen in a long time. And hard to adapt a story that vast into a movie and the visual language is super important to that so it was phenomenal. Like all the choices that were made were just right on the money.

Dale: I'm gonna probably have to go to Dune. People for some reason don't think of cinematographers if the movie looks good they think 'oh, it cause of the director'. Greg Fraser did an amazing job the intentionality with a lot of the decisions, especially when Paul is being tested.

Costume Design

Syndi: I'm giving it to Dune. If you just look at the design of some of them, especially for the designs of the Bene Gesserit, those huge headpieces. Also if you're looking at the different Houses, all the costumes align with the environment. In the desert, it's more flowy fabrics and even the construction of the stillsuits are so cool. House Atreides, and their whole water thing, you can see that reflected in the costumes of the Army. The costumes are fire.

Dale: I give it to Cruella because they had to replicate those fashion choices and looks from the 70s and 80s, while also having to make things original and fit the period.

Directing

Syndi: I have an issue with this because where's Denis Villeneuve? How does that make any sense? That you're not gonna nominate Dune for Best Picture but you won't nominate the director? That doesn't make any sense. Me and the Acadamy are gonna fight because they do this every year. (.Laughs) Anyway, I think it's going to be Jane Campion. I think she already won with The Piano but she's probably gonna win it again.

Dale: For me, it's Kenneth Branagh. I don't think he gets enough credit as a director and most people only know him as Gilderoy Lockhart from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. his vision in Belfast worked and also the fact that it was also a little more of a personal tale to him. You always see a director's best work when they are connected to their projects in some personal way.

Documentary (Feature)

Syndi: I'm going to give it to Flee on for this category.

Dale: Finally....of course, it goes to Flee. It's l heart-wrenching tale. Even though it's animated, to hear and see what he and his family went through not just as a child but how it affected him as an adult.

Documentary (Short Subject)

Syndi: I haven't seen or heard much about a single one of these movies, have you?

Dale: I've heard about The Queen of Basketball. It's about Lusia Harris, the first and only woman drafted into the NBA. it's a shame this category doesn't get seen by many people but hopefully, between Shaq's involvement and the Oscar nomination, this project will be seen by more people.

Film Editing

Syndi: I'm giving it to Dune. I think on technical levels that movie was perfect. So that's my choice.

Dale: I'm going to have to go Tick Tick Boom for this. Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum I think did a wonderful job crossing like two different mediums back and forth. They match the ebb and flow of the songs and emotions the characters were giving.

International Feature Film

Syndi: I don't know, I think it's probably gonna go to either Flee or Drive my Car because I've heard the most about these two films. I've seen Flee, but I've heard a lot about Drive my Car too

Dale: I have heard about The Worst Person in The World and would love to see it. But, based on only seeing one of these movies so far, I'm having to have to go to Flee. international film is a hard category because it's harder to get a lot of these films to be played over here. And I would love to have the opportunity to have easier access to watching these kinds of films, stateside.

Syndi: Same.

Makeup and Hairstyling

Syndi: The Eyes of Tammy Faye. From the makeup to the prosthetics everything was good in that movie. So I'm gonna give it to them for doing that. Dune really didn't do any makeup, it did some hairstyling, but not enough to talk about.

Dale: This is harder because House of Gucci and Cruella have somewhat of the same styling and fashion choices. But you're right with The Eyes of Tammy Faye, especially replicating those outrageous hairstyles and makeup she had. No disrespect to Coming to America, but it felt like the Academy realized they need a black film in the nominees and threw it in there. I would be a little more ok if it was in the Costume category.

Music (Original Score)

Syndi: Hans Zimmer. Honestly, Don't Look Up's soundtrack was good, but it doesn't touch Dune at all. I still listened to that score. That score is good, really good. Hans makes music that sounds foreign and for a specific movie, but the ability to listen to it by itself.

Dale: It sounds repetitive, but I'm gonna have to go to Hans Zimmer too. The music syncs up perfectly with cinematography. It just puts you in that element and flows with the sound effects going on in the scenes blending in so perfectly. Hans Zimmer is a master.

Music (Original Song)

Syndi: Be Alive by Beyonce, our queen. I mean, I knew the song was fire, and the fact that it's here just proves me, right. Like this song is fire! Um, will she win? Probably not, because you know, they just go for the James Bond thing. because it's easy. I don't believe that Billie Eilish didn't do a good job, but I also don't feel it when I heard it, I haven't, it's not a song that stuck with me personally. I'm sure I stuck with other people, When I think of a James Bond theme, I'm thinking like Adele, Skyfall. Like, that song was iconic to me. Honestly, I'll kind of want to be Beyonce to win an Oscar because she deserves it. I'm going to just root for her. Always.

Dale: (Laughs) Well Im going for the easy cop-out and picking Billie Eilish and No Time to Die. Look it's James Bond and James Bond music is always iconic and stays with you. I can't even remember hearing Be Alive anywhere in King Richard.

Syndi: It played during the credits.

Dale: Oh, that's a horrible placement for an original song.

Best Picture

Syndi: I think The Power of The Dog is probably going to win Best Picture. I would love Dune to win, it probably won't. The Power of The Dog will win because it's the most nominated thing here.

Dale: Coda for me. Thought it was a wonderful story. The performances, and the decision to cast actors who are deaf. And to put us in their world by not having any subtitles for in the sign language.

Production Design

Syndi: Dune, of course!

Dale: The Tragedy of Macbeth. I love how they intentionally made things look, claustrophobic, even though everything wasn't going to be seen on screen.

Sound

Syndi: Dune.

Dale: Same, pretty much the same reasons I gave when talking about the Score and how things blend.

Visual Effects

Syndi: I'm giving it to Dune. I thought the special effects environment was good.

Dale: Me too. Dune had that perfect balance of visual and practical effects.

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Syndi: I would like Belfast to win. However, I think Paul Thomas Anderson will probably win for Licorice Pizza.

Dale: I'm giving it to Coda. Even though I think the favorite to win is, probably Licorice Pizza too.

Final critique

Syndi: On the whole, I think I'm okay with the nominations here. There should be more black people, but if I recall there weren't that many black films that came out last year. So I'm a give them a pass this year, one pass, and then we need to get back on it.

Dale: Why is Cyrano nominated for stuff when it hasn't even been released. I know it met the Oscars qualifications because of its one-week limited engagement but the movie's not coming out until like February 25th. So why is it here?