Oscar Picks 2024
Thank God Oscar season is upon us. Whether you like movies or not, it will help relieve us of the political depression caused by Donald Trump’s run for President. So here it is!
Actor in a Leading Role
The Favorite: Cillian Murphy
Lurking in the Weeds: Paul Giamatti
My Pick: Paul Giamatti The Holdovers
Actor in a Supporting Role
The Favorite: Ryan Gosling Barbie and Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Lurking in the Weeds: Mark Ruffalo Poor Things
My Pick: Mark Ruffalo Poor Things
Actress in a Leading Role
The Favorite: Lily Gladstone Killers of the Flower Moon
Lurking in the Weeds: Emma Stone Poor Things and Annette Bening NYAD
My Pick: Lily Gladstone Killers of the Flower Moon
Actress in a Supporting Role
The Favorite: Da’Vine Joy Randolph The Holdovers
Lurking in the Weeds: Da’Vine Joy Randolph The Holdovers
My Pick: Da’Vine Joy Randolph The Holdovers
Best Picture
The Favorite: Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon
Lurking in the Weeds: The Holdovers, Barbie and Poor Things
My Pick: Oppenheimer
Writing (“Adapted Screenplay”)
The Favorite: Oppenheimer
Lurking in the Weeds: Barbie and Poor Things
My Pick: I’m hoping for Greta Gerwig since she has denied a Director nomination for Barbie, but I think it goes to Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer
Writing (Original Screenplay)
The Favorite: All five nominees
My Pick: David Hemingson The Holdovers
Costume Design
The Favorite: Barbie
Lurking in the Weeds: Poor Things and Napoleon
My Pick: Barbie
Directing
The Favorite: Killers of the Flower Moon and Oppenheimer
My Pick: Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer, over Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon. Tragically, both films needed editing to shorten their length.
Film Editing
The Favorite: Despite some poor editing, both Killers of the Flower Moon and Oppenheimer
Lurking in the Weeds: The Holdovers and Poor Things
My Pick: The Holdovers
Sound
The Favorite: Oppenheimer
Lurking in the Weeds: Maestro
My Pick: Though it was a disappointing film I’ll go with Maestro. The music saved the film.
Visual Effects
The Favorite: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Napoleon
Lurking in the Weeds: Godzilla Minus One
My Pick: Godzilla — I loved that film!
Cinematography
The Favorite: Oppenheimer
Lurking in the Weeds: Killers of the Flower Moon
My Pick: Oppenheimer
Makeup and Hairstyling
The Favorite: Golda and Poor Things
Lurking in the Weeds: Kate McKinnon in Barbie and it wasn’t even nominated!
My Pick: Poor Things
International Feature Film
The Favorite: Godzilla Minus One and it didn’t get nominated!
Lurking in the Weeds: The Zone of Interest and I disliked this overrated film.
My Pick: Society of the Snow
Animated Feature Film
The Favorite: The Boy and the Heron and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
My Pick: The Boy and the Heron
Music (Original Score)
The Favorite: A tough call. All the nominees had great music.
My Pick: Oppenheimer by Ludwig Göransson
Music (Original Song)
The Favorite: All the songs deserve to win in the category!
My Pick: “What was I Made For” from Barbie, music and lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell.
Production Design
The Favorite: Barbie and Oppenheimer
Lurking in the Weeds: Napoleon
My Pick: Oppenheimer
Animated Short Film
My Pick: A guess! War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko
Live Action Short Film
My Pick: Another Guess! The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar by Wes Anderson and Steven Rales
Documentary Feature Film
My Pick: 20 Days in Mariupol
Documentary Short Film
Your Call, not mine. Sorry!
So, there you have my selections. As noted over the years, my friend, Dr. Paul Peterson, sees few films and annoys me with his picks. Tragically, every year he is more accurate than me!
