The 97th Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, is happening this Sunday, March 2nd, at 7pm. It will honor the best film-making of 2024 in the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It’s always a big bet to see who will win each category. But, the Oscars are my Super Bowl, so here’s my best predictions for some of the categories.
Best Actor Via The New Yorker
The category for Best Actor is a tight race this year. Many times, the results of other awards shows are clear indicators of who will win categories. At the start of award season, it seemed like Adrien Brody would win for his role in The Brutalist with no competition. He swept the BAFTAS, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice Awards. However, the Screen Actors Guild brought a formidable competitor to the forefront, Timothee Chamalet for his transformative role of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. Unfortunately, the Oscars have never given a Best Actor nod for anyone under 30 years of age, except Adrien Brody’s previous win at 29 for The Pianist. Due to this, it’s likely that Adrien Brody will win. I personally think Chamalet is so much more deserving, as his performance was such a vivid and the entire focus of A Complete Unknown. I’m not Brody’s biggest fan, I feel like he’s a great one-note actor but his Brutalist role wasn’t very challenging for him.
Who Will Win: Adrien Brody
Who Should Win: Timothee Chamalet
Best Actress Via NPR
Best Actress is also a two person race this year, between industry legend Demi Moore and newcomer Mikey Madison. It’s been an incredibly shaky awards season for this category, with awards being scattered. Mikey Madison won the Palm Spring Breakthrough Performance Award, Independent Spirit Award, the BAFTA for her titular role of Anora. Demi Moore, who played the transformative Elizabeth Sparkle in The Substance, won the Critics Choice Award, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actress. Moore’s moving Golden Globes speech about her career not valued, coupled with her role about female aging makes her journey inspiring to vote for. I adored both of the actresses performances, and was stunned by their versatility in emotions. I must say, I have been a big Mikey Madison fan since the start of her career, even surviving the namesake “Mikey Madison Drought” ( a period in which Madison was in no films, had no press, and had no social media presence). So I was elatedly awaiting her role in Anora, and she absolutely blew it out of the park. Moore is just as deserving, taking on an indie film style coupled with such strong facial acting.
Who Will Win: Demi Moore
Who Should Win: Mikey Madison or Demi Moore
Supporting Actress Via Deadline
This race has an obvious winner, with some Oscar predictors even pitting her chance of winning at a whopping 90%. It’s Zoe Saldaña for her role of Rita in the infamous Emilia Perez. Despite the amount of scandals that Emilia Perez has fallen into this awards season, Saldaña appears to have steered clear of the shrapnel from that disaster. She absolutely dominated this awards season with a BAFTA, Critics Choice Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Cannes Best Supporting Actress win. I did not like Emilia Perez at all, but I did think that Saldaña was a standout performance in it. You can truly see how hard she tried in the film; mastering acting, dancing and rapping for the role. Out of the nominees, I really don’t find myself gravitating towards someone who deserves it. Off of the nominee list, Margaret Qualley was absolutely snubbed for her role of Sue in The Substance. She was able to mesh perfectly with Moore, and created such a moving performance about female aging that is so ever present now in society. Unfortunately, there is absolutely no way Qualley can win since she’s not even on the list. But, we can yearn for another universe where she is.
Who Will Win: Zoe Saldaña
Who Should Win (not even on the list.): Margaret Qualley
Supporting Actor Via Collider
Once again, Supporting Actor is probably the most obvious, shoo-in category. Kieran Culkin will win, in about 85% of scenarios. He had an excellent, perfectly awkward and moving performance in A Real Pain as Benji. His awkward charm have also wooed much of the internet, so I assume this has also occurred to some of the members of the Academy. He’s already won the BAFTA, Critics Choice, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild awards. For who I think should win, I am so incredibly conflicted. Every single nominee in this category is so incredibly deserving, it was a very competitive year. Guy Pearce and Jeremy Strong had strong performances of playing truly evil people; you will have nightmares for days after you watch The Brutalist and The Apprentice. Yuriy Bursov and Edward Norton produced tear-jerking performances in Anora and A Complete Unknown. This is an award that really just needs to go to every nominee.
Who Will Win: Kieran Culkin
Who Should Win: All the Nominees
Best Director Via LA Times
There is a cutthroat race between two independent film directors, Anora’s Sean Baker and The Brutalist’s Brady Corbett. It’s been a very interesting awards season. Baker won the Independent Spirit Award, and Directors Guild Awards for Best Director. Corbett won the Golden Globe. John M. Chu of Wicked and the disgraced Jacques Audiard of Emilia Perez have also won a couple. Baker winning the DGA says a lot, as that is who will be voting for him at the Academy. The sheer love he put into this film must be recognized. He wrote, produced, edited and directed the film. It’s a true labor of love from Baker, and he is able to direct his awesome ensemble perfectly.
Who Will Win: Sean Baker
Who Should Win: Sean Baker
Best Picture Via WBUR
It’s a race between Anora and Conclave. Anora won the coveted Palm D’or at the Cannes Film Fest, and is the favorite to win tonight. However, Conclave is fresh off a win of the “Best Ensemble” award at the SAG Awards. It’s a true coin toss between the two. However, Anora was my personal favorite film of 2024, so I’ve got to support them here. It’s a very uncertain category however, and could even go to The Brutalist.
Who Will Win: Anora
Who Should Win: Anora
The Oscars are on ABC at 7pm tonight, 3/2. Make sure to tune in to see who wins!