And we are off to the races with my first Oscar predictions for the 99th Academy Awards.
We are not quite a month removed from the 98th ceremony so let us begin some ridiculously early speculation! These are my inaugural glimpses at the four acting derbies, Director, and Picture. I already posted my take in the acting fields and they can be found here:
That brings us to Best Director. When I did my first forecast in this race for the 98th ceremony, my projections yielded two of the eventual nominees: Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme) and Chloé Zhao (Hamnet). Eventual winner Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another) and Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value) were named in Other Possibilities. I had yet to mention Ryan Coogler (Sinners).
Let’s get some caveats out of the way… it’s early. Some movies listed are likely to be pushed back or simply not turn out to be awards contenders. Others will rise up through the festival system where the lineup for Cannes was revealed today.
This premiere post has Christopher Nolan back in the lineup three years after Oppenheimer dominated the 96th Academy Awards. His competitors include newcomers and former nominees like Martin McDonagh and Ryusuke Hamaguchi.
Here’s the first snapshot with Best Picture up next!
TODD’S FIRST OSCAR PREDICTIONS FOR DIRECTOR AT THE 99TH ACADEMY AWARDS
Ryusuke Hamaguchi, All of a Sudden
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Project Hail Mary
Martin McDonagh, Wild Horse Nine
Cristian Mungiu, Fjord
Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey
Other Possibilities:
Danny Boyle, Ink
Beth de Araújo, Josephine
Robert Eggers, Werwulf
Jesse Eisenberg, No One Cares
David Fincher, The Adventures of Cliff Booth
Tom Ford, Cry to Heaven
Greta Gerwig, Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, Digger
Pawel Pawlikowski, Fatherland
Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Three
All My Life... I Wanted To Be A Blogster 