You, Me & Tuscany Box Office Prediction

The Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey and Bridgerton lead Regé-Jean Page headline You, Me & Tuscany on April 10th. Universal hopes rom com fans check into the Kat Coiro (Marry Me) directed effort with a supporting cast featuring Marco Calvani, Lorenzo de Moor, Aziza Scott, Nia Vardolos, and Isabella Ferrari.

Tuscany could benefit from a lack of competition for genre fans. While The Drama with Zendaya and Robert Pattinson will be in its second frame, I certainly wouldn’t call that your traditional romantic comedy. A worst case opening might be in line with Coiro’s Marry Me with Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. It premiered to just under $8 million during a busy Christmas season.

This should fare better and I’ll say it manages to cross double digits.

You, Me & Tuscany opening weekend prediction: $11.2 million

Oscar Predictions: The Drama

Zendaya and Robert Pattinson bring The Drama to multiplexes this weekend with Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario) directing. As a couple whose wedding faces unanticipated challenges, the leads are looking for a large female audience over the Easter frame. Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, Hailey Gates, and Zoē Winters costar.

The two leads are gearing up for appearances over the next couple of years in their Spider-Man, Dune (they’ll appear in the third feature together), and Batman franchises. Despite various acclaimed performances in non-franchise fare, neither Zendaya or Pattinson have found an awards vehicle.

The Drama is unlikely to be that. While it has 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, the 59 on Metacritic indicates the mixed reaction that has greeted it. I’m not seeing a scenario where this becomes an Oscar player. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

April 3-5 Box Office Predictions

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie should play to domestic and worldwide domination over the Easter holiday as April dawns. Illumination Entertainment’s animated sequel debuts alongside Zendaya and Robert Pattinson in The Drama. You can peruse my detailed prediction posts on the newbies here:

Three Easters back, The Super Mario Bros. Movie blew past expectations with nearly $150 million from Friday to Sunday and over $200 million when counting Wednesday and Thursday. Galaxy is smartly following the same release pattern. While I don’t think the results will be quite as much, it should surpass Project Hail Mary as the year’s largest premiere.

Speaking of Mary, there’s something about its second weekend that was remarkable (more on that below). The sci-fi tale with Ryan Gosling should have no trouble being strong in the runner-up position after two weeks on top.

As for The Drama, it’s more of a question mark. It looks to draw upon the star appeal of its young leads. I have it earning a tad more than Zendaya’s Challengers from 2024 in the mid teens for a third place showing.

Holdovers Hoppers and Reminders of Him should round out the top five and here’s how I have it rolling out:

1. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Predicted Gross: $126.5 million (Friday to Sunday); $171.2 million (Wednesday to Sunday)

2. Project Hail Mary

Predicted Gross: $35.2 million

3. The Drama

Predicted Gross: $16.7 million

4. Hoppers

Predicted Gross: $8 million

5. Reminders of Him

Predicted Gross: $2.9 million

Box Office Results (March 27-29)

Amazon MGM had a banner sophomore frame with Project Hail Mary. After launching to $80 million, the acclaimed adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel declined a meager 33% to $54 million for a two-week haul of $163 million. Eclipsing my $44.8 million prediction, a domestic end run of over $300 million appears to be happening as the crowd favorite builds Oscar steam.

Hoppers remained in second with $12.1 million, right in line with my $12 million call. Disney/Pixar’s original story has risen to $138 million after four weeks.

Comedic horror entry They Will Kill You was DOA in its unveiling. With $4.9 million in third, the Warner Bros release failed to hit my $6.3 million forecast. Look for it to fade fast.

Reminders of Him was fourth with $4.7 million, on target with my $4.3 million estimate. The romantic drama has made a respectable $41 million after three weeks.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge was right behind in fifth with $4.6 million and I incorrectly had it outside of the high five. The total is $22 million after two weeks.

Also in its second outing, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come fell 54% to $4.1 million (I said $4.2 million). The underwhelming sequel sits at $16 million.

And that does it for now, folks! Until next time…

The Drama Box Office Prediction

Taking a break from their high profile franchises (albeit briefly), Zendaya and Robert Pattinson headline the relationship tale The Drama on April 3rd. Written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario) and described as both a dark comedy and romantic thriller, it will try and find a large female audience over the Easter holiday. Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, Hailey Gates, and Zoë Winters provide support.

The film’s leads will be seen together in the summer via The Odyssey and this December in Dune: Part Three. Those will certainly outgross this one. However, The Drama has breakout potential due to its star power and counter programming ability while The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Project Hail Mary dominate the charts.

A worst case scenario might be double digits or low teens and failing to match the $15 million that Zendaya’s Challengers opened with two years ago. A dream scenario would be anything beyond $20 million. I think that’s achievable, but I’ll project mid to higher teens.

The Drama opening weekend prediction: $16.7 million

For my The Super Mario Galaxy Movie prediction, click here:

97th Academy Awards: The FINAL State of the Best Actress Race

My final predictions for nominees at the 97th Academy Awards arrives this Wednesday, January 15th prior to the announcement on Sunday, January 19th. Before I make them, I’m taking a deeper dive into the six major categories (Picture, Director, the four acting derbies) with detailed thoughts on where I think each race stands.

Let’s begin with Best Actress as it might be the most tricky of all to figure out (though the supporting competitions are up there too). I believe there are three performers whose nominations you can write down in pen.

For months, I’ve had Mikey Madison (Anora) listed in 1st place for her work in Anora. She’s been nominated everywhere she needs to be – Golden Globes, SAG, Critics Choice, the BAFTA long list. The film is definitely in the top 5 of Best Picture hopefuls. In other words, she’s in.

That said, just yesterday, I slid her from 1st to 2nd in favor of Demi Moore in The Substance. That’s mainly because Moore was victorious over Madison at the Golden Globes in the Actress (Musical or Comedy) category. Furthermore, Hollywood loves a comeback story. That is present with Demi. She managed all the aforementioned precursors that Madison has and there’s a win in her favor. I do believe the Oscar could go to either of them, but this seems reminiscent of Best Actor in 2022. Austin Butler (Elvis) was the young upstart like Madison. Brendan Fraser (The Whale) was the once major movie star in a comeback vehicle that also involved heavy makeup work. Fraser got the gold.

I would put Moore and Madison’s chances of making the final five at 100% or at least 99.9999999%. The third “pen” pick is Karla Sofia Gascón in Emilia Pérez. She would make history as the Academy’s first trans nominee. Gascón also made the cut at the key precursors and shared a Cannes victory for Best Actress with her costars. Some prognosticators have started wondering whether she’s a guaranteed nominee. While she’s maybe not a total certainty like our previous actresses, I’d say it’s really close. After all, Emilia Pérez might get the most nominations of any picture this time around. I don’t see that occurring without Emilia Pérez being in contention.

And then… it gets complicated. Before we move to the several performers jockeying for two spots, let’s pour one out for these actresses whose campaigns never got off the ground. In some cases, the films underperformed significantly with critics and audiences. In others, their studios didn’t mount an offensive drive for their inclusion. Some examples are Florence Pugh (We Live in Time), Jodie Comer (The Bikeriders), Ryan Destiny (The Fire Inside), Daisy Ridley (Young Woman and the Sea), Regina King (Shirley), Lily-Rose Depp (Nosferatu), and Marisa Abela (Back to Black). Julianne Moore (The Room Next Door) and June Squibb (Thelma) received a little more attention. However, they failed to show up in any significant other awards lists.

After that lengthy group, there’s a next level. These are actresses who may have shown up in some precursors or long lists, but aren’t expected to materialize in the Oscar quintet. Their chances aren’t completely out of reach like those in the previous paragraph. Yet it’s close. I would put Julianne Moore’s The Room Next Door costar Tilda Swinton in this class. Same with Zendaya (Challengers) and Saoirse Ronan (The Outrun).

This leaves us with eight performances vying for two spots: Amy Adams (Nightbitch), Pamela Anderson (The Last Showgirl), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths), Angelina Jolie (Maria), Nicole Kidman (Babygirl), Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), and Kate Winslet (Lee). Let’s walk through them one by one, shall we?

Amy Adams has the narrative of being long overdue for an Oscar. Despite six nominations, she’s yet to hear her name called. On paper, this seemed like a strong possibility but so-so reviews for Nightbitch have not helped. Despite a Globe nod and being in the BAFTA long list, I have her 8th of these 8 possibilities.

I might be more inclined to put Anderson in my five if it weren’t for Demi Moore’s comeback narrative. The Baywatch starlet is getting career best notices for this indie drama even if the film itself is drawing more mixed reactions. Her Globe nomination in Actress (Drama) wasn’t a huge surprise. The SAG nod this week was and it does increase her viability. I have her 5th of these 8 possibilities.

Cynthia Erivo is starring in one of the year’s largest blockbusters with Globe, SAG, Critics Choice, and the BAFTA long list preceding a potential Oscar nod. If she were to win, Erivo would achieve EGOT status as she already has an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony on her resume. The only question mark is whether the amount of performers could squeeze her out. I doubt it. Erivo is ranked 1st of these 8 possibilities.

Marianne Jean-Baptiste is receiving plenty of critics prizes for her role in Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths. Critics Choice and the BAFTA long list are in her corner though she notably missed SAG and the Globes. Leigh has a history of getting his actors nominated. Seeing her in the eventual quintet would not surprise, but she’s 4th of my 8 possibilities at press time.

Angelina Jolie’s inclusion for Pablo Larrain’s Maria seemed assured at one point after the picture premiered in Venice. In hindsight, the troubling signs could have been evident immediately. She did not take Best Actress at that festival. Since then, she’s missed SAG and the BAFTA long list while competing for the Globe and being nominated for Critics Choice. Her most notable blow came at the Globes. She was favored to win Best Actress in a Drama but fell short to Fernanda Torres. I still think she could get in though I have her just on the outside looking in and 3rd of my 8 possibilities.

For her performance in Babygirl, Nicole Kidman did win Best Actress at Venice and Globe and BAFTA long list spots followed. The recent snubs at Critics Choice and SAG are hard to ignore. She’s 6th among these 8 possibilities.

Fernanda Torres in I’m Still Here had no major other precursors to her credit besides the Globe. No BAFTA long list. No Critics Choice. And no SAG attention this week. That win at the Globes, though, looms large and it occurred just as Academy voting was underway. That’s why she’s 2nd of these 8 possibilities.

Finally, Kate Winslet as Lee showed up at the Globes and BAFTA long list. Reviews for the project itself aren’t overly impressive. Winslet could get in because, well, she’s Kate Winslet. Nevertheless she’s 7th of these 8 possibilities.

Whew. OK. There you have it. My microscope analysis of Best Actress for the 97th Academy Awards. Let’s see how it shakes out Wednesday when I do my final picks. I’ll have a dive into Supporting Actor up next!

    82nd Golden Globe Awards Winner Predictions

    The awards season kicks into high gear this Sunday when Nikki Glaser hosts the 82nd Golden Globe Awards on CBS. In several categories, it could be our first clue as to what direction Oscar will go. Perhaps there will be thespians who begin their sweeps. It’s the Globes so surprises could certainly be in order.

    Looking over the nominees, there is a lot of uncertainty in many races. That’s befitting of a year in which there is no clear frontrunner (at least yet) for Best Picture and some acting derbies. Let’s run through each competition and I’ll give you my predicted winner and a runner-up.

    Best Motion Picture (Drama)

    Nominees: The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Nickel Boys, September 5

    The lack of a frontrunner begins at the top though this would appear to be between The Brutalist and Conclave (with perhaps Unknown as a spoiler). I’m giving the slight edge to the former, but Conclave emerging could easily occur.

    Predicted Winner: The Brutalist

    Runner-Up: Conclave

    Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy)

    Nominees: Anora, Challengers, Emilia Pérez, A Real Pain, The Substance, Wicked

    Logic would dictate that the acclaimed Anora stands out front. Yet I can’t escape the fact that the Globes love their musicals and that could benefit Pérez and the box office behemoth Wicked. With ten nominations, Pérez is the most nominated Musical/Comedy in ceremony history. Ultimately I’m playing it safe with Anora, but this is up in the air more than some other prognosticators may feel.

    Predicted Winner: Anora

    Runner-Up: Emilia Pérez

    Best Director

    Nominees: Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Sean Baker (Anora), Edward Berger (Conclave), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), Coralie Fargeat (The Substance), Payal Kapadia (All We Imagine as Light)

    While the Picture categories are tricky to project, I do feel relatively confident Corbet’s work prevails here.

    Predicted Winner: Brady Corbet, The Substance

    Runner-Up: Sean Baker, Anora

    Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama)

    Nominees: Pamela Anderson (The Last Showgirl), Angelina Jolie (Maria), Nicole Kidman (Babygirl), Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door), Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), Kate Winslet (Lee)

    If you go by my current forecasted quintet for Actress at the Oscars, I only have Jolie nominated among the six hopefuls here. That puts her out front in my view though Kidman and Torres could spoil.

    Predicted Winner: Angelina Jolie, Maria

    Runner-Up: Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here

    Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama)

    Nominees: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Daniel Craig (Queer), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)

    Ugh. This one is tough. Being that I’m predicting The Brutalist as Best Pic, Brody stands an excellent shot. It’s also worth noting that he did not win the Globe for 2002’s The Pianist in which he took the Oscar so this would be his first statue from this branch. Brody is probably the safer selection, but I have a strange hunch that Chalamet (who had a dynamite 2024) ultimately makes the podium walk.

    Predicted Winner: Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown

    Runner-Up: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

    Best Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy)

    Nominees: Amy Adams (Nightbitch), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofia Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance), Zendaya (Challengers)

    While Erivo, Gascón, and Moore are all feasible upset picks, this might be the easiest of the six acting races to project. Madison is the favorite.

    Predicted Winner: Mikey Madison, Anora

    Runner-Up: Demi Moore, The Substance

    Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy)

    Nominees: Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain), Hugh Grant (Heretic), Gabriel LaBelle (Saturday Night), Jesse Plemons (Kinds of Kindness), Glen Powell (Hit Man), Sebastian Stan (A Different Man)

    And this might be the toughest to project. All six nominees are long shots to make the cut at Oscar. Eisenberg is possible considering A Real Pain is contending elsewhere and he stars in the only film up for Best Pic. Powell is one of the buzziest leading men in recent years. Grant drew raves while Heretic being up in Musical or Comedy is a bit of a stretch. Stan is a double nominee and he’s got no chance in Drama so perhaps he emerges here. This is a four-way coin toss in my estimation.

    Predicted Winner: Sebastian Stan, A Different Man

    Runner-Up: Hugh Grant, Heretic

    Best Supporting Actress

    Nominees: Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), Margaret Qualley (The Substance), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)

    The Globes can provide shockers in this one – Jodie Foster in The Mauritanian, anyone? That’s why Rossellini taking this wouldn’t be a massive surprise. This could, however, come down to Grande vs. Saldaña and I’m leaning toward the latter ever so slightly.

    Predicted Winner: Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

    Runne-Up: Ariana Grande, Wicked

    Best Supporting Actor

    Nominees: Yura Borisov (Anora), Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice), Denzel Washington (Gladiator II)

    I wouldn’t put it past the Globes to honor Washington, but I have this between Culkin and Pearce. Culkin has picked up a lot of critics prizes and this could be the beginning of a sweep. The same could be said for Pearce if he picks up the hardware. I’ll say Culkin in a close one.

    Predicted Winner: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

    Runner-Up: Guy Pearce, The Brutalist

    Best Screenplay

    Nominees: Anora, The Brutalist, Conclave, Emilia Pérez, A Real Pain, The Substance

    This could be Conclave‘s strongest shot at a major award, but Anora is where you want to place your bets.

    Predicted Winner: Anora

    Runner-Up: Conclave

    Best Non-English Language Motion Picture

    Nominees: All We Imagine as Light, Emilia Pérez, The Girl with the Needle, I’m Still Here, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Vermiglio

    Especially considering its director Payal Kapadia is in contention, Light (which India did not select for International Feature Film at the Oscars) could win. Yet the safer pick is the nominations leading Pérez.

    Predicted Winner: Emilia Pérez

    Runner-Up: All We Imagine as Light

    Best Animated Motion Picture

    Nominees: Flow, Inside Out 2, Memoir of a Snail, Moana 2, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, The Wild Robot

    While Robot is the leading contender, I have a feeling the Globes may opt for Flow (which is racking up critics prizes left and right) in an upset.

    Predicted Winner: Flow

    Runner-Up: The Wild Robot

    Best Original Score

    Nominees: The Brutalist, Challengers, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, The Wild Robot

    Like Drama, I think this is between Brutalist and Conclave. Like Drama, I have the former victorious.

    Predicted Winner: The Brutalist

    Runner-Up: Conclave

    Best Original Song

    Nominees: “Beautiful That Way” from The Last Showgirl; “Compress/Repress” from Challengers; “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez; “Forbidden Road” from Better Man; “Kiss the Sky” from The Wild Robot; “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez

    This might be our first clue as to which Pérez tune is the odds on favorite over the season. This could also be “Kiss the Sky” if the Pérez songs split. This is some straight guesswork here.

    Predicted Winner: “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez

    Runner-Up: “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez

    Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

    Nominees: Alien: Romulus, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Deadpool & Wolverine, Gladiator II, Inside Out 2, Twisters, Wicked, The Wild Robot

    This sequel heavy lineup features 2024’s largest earner with Deadpool & Wolverine. It’s Wicked that likely ends up winning considering the nominations elsewhere.

    Predicted Winner: Wicked

    Runner-Up: Deadpool & Wolverine

    And there you have it! My predictions give win totals to these pictures:

    3 Wins

    Anora, The Brutalist, Emilia Pérez

    1 Win

    A Complete Unknown, A Different Man, Flow, Maria, A Real Pain, Wicked

    I’ll have a recap up Sunday evening with my take on the ceremony and how I did (spoiler: I’m nervous).

    82nd Golden Globes Awards Nominations Reaction

    Nominations for perhaps the most recognizable Oscar precursor show were unveiled this morning. We now know the pictures and personnel contending for the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, airing January 5th with Nikki Glaser hosting.

    There are always surprises to be found with unexpected additions and subtractions in the cinematic races and that held true. I went 74 for 92 in my predictions. Of the 15 feature film categories, I went 6/6 in five of them.

    As I projected, Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez led the way with 10 nominations followed by The Brutalist‘s seven and Conclave‘s 6. Let’s break down each competition with how I did and some commentary on where I see the races currently.

    Best Motion Picture (Drama)

    Nominees: The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Nickel Boys, September 5

    How I Did: 5/6

    September 5 gets in over Sing Sing. Perhaps the biggest shocker of the day is Sing Sing only generating one nomination for its lead Colman Domingo in Actor (Drama). Nickel Boys and September 5‘s noms mark their sole mentions. The Brutalist is probably out front but I wouldn’t sleep on Conclave.

    Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy)

    Nominees: Anora, Challengers, Emilia Pérez, A Real Pain, The Substance, Wicked

    How I Did: 6/6

    Pérez could emerge here considering the haul this morning though Anora and Wicked (to a slightly lesser degree) are possibilities.

    Best Director

    Nominees: Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Sean Baker (Anora), Edward Berger (Conclave), Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), Coralie Fargeat (The Substance), Payal Kapadia (All We Imagine as Light)

    How I Did: 4/6

    I did not have Berger (thought he was my runner-up) or Kapadia. Instead, I predicted Jon M. Chu (Wicked) and Denis Villeneuve for Dune: Part Two. The latter is a surprising omission three years after he missed the cut at Oscar. Corbet is the favorite in my estimation even if it doesn’t take Motion Picture (Drama).

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama)

    Nominees: Pamela Anderson (The Last Showgirl), Angelina Jolie (Maria), Nicole Kidman (Babygirl), Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door), Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), Kate Winslet (Lee)

    How I Did: 4/6

    Anderson (my runner-up) and Torres are in contention over Marianne Jean-Baptiste in Hard Truths and Saoirse Ronan in The Outrun. Jean-Baptiste is racking up critics awards and her omission is a bit unexpected. If Ronan can’t make it here, her Oscar odds are in serious trouble. This could come down to Jolie vs. Kidman. Fun fact: none of the pictures represented here are up for Best Drama (the only acting category where that is the case).

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama)

    Nominees: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Daniel Craig (Queer), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)

    How I Did: 6/6

    No surprises here as Brody, Chalamet, and Fiennes are vying for the statue.

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy)

    Nominees: Amy Adams (Nightbitch), Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofia Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore (The Substance), Zendaya (Challengers)

    How I Did: 5/6

    Runner-up Adams is in over June Squibb (Thelma). Madison has the edge though I wouldn’t discount Erivo, Gascón, or Moore for the upset.

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy)

    Nominees: Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain), Hugh Grant (Heretic), Gabriel LaBelle (Saturday Night), Jesse Plemons (Kinds of Kindness), Glen Powell (Hit Man), Sebastian Stan (A Different Man)

    How I Did: 4/6

    LaBelle and Plemons in with Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) and Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool & Wolverine) out. I don’t really think there’s a frontrunner though Eisenberg and Powell are maybe in the lead with Grant as a legit threat.

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

    Nominees: Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), Margaret Qualley (The Substance), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)

    How I Did: 6/6

    Frankly I’m a little shocked I went 6 for 6 as there’s lots of contenders in this derby. Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson) is a snub many are pointing out. As for the winner, this is Grande vs. Saldaña.

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

    Nominees: Yura Borisov (Anora), Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain), Edward Norton (A Complete Unknown), Guy Pearce (The Brutalist), Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice), Denzel Washington (Gladiator II)

    How I Did: 4/6

    Culkin is getting lots of critics prize love while Pearce and Washington are threats. I didn’t have Norton or Strong and instead went with Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing) and Stanley Tucci (Conclave). I still think both of those performers could get into the Oscar dance.

    Best Screenplay

    Nominees: Anora, The Brutalist, Conclave, Emilia Pérez, A Real Pain, The Substance

    How I Did: 5/6

    Had Sing Sing instead of A Real Pain as Anora looks to nab this one.

    Best Animated Motion Picture

    Nominees: Flow, Inside Out 2, Memoir of a Snail, Moana 2, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, The Wild Robot

    How I Did: 6/6

    This went as planned and The Wild Robot looks to capture this prize with Flow (a critics darling) looking to disrupt that plan.

    Best Foreign Language Motion Picture

    Nominees: All We Imagine as Light, Emilia Pérez, The Girl with the Needle, I’m Still Here, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Vermiglio

    How I Did: 5/6

    Logic says Perez, but Kapadia’s directing nod opens for the door for Light.

    Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

    Nominees: Alien: Romulus, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Deadpool & Wolverine, Gladiator II, Inside Out 2, Twisters, Wicked, The Wild Robot

    How I Did: 6/8

    Went with Despicable Me 4 and Dune: Part Two and not Romulus and The Wild Robot. Dune missing is head scratching. This would be a good place to honor Wicked though Deadpool is the year’s largest grosser.

    Best Score

    Nominees: The Brutalist, Challengers, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, The Wild Robot

    How I Did: 6/6

    This looks kinda wide open to me at the moment, but The Brutalist might be the slight favorite.

    Best Song

    Nominees: “Beautiful That Way” from The Last Showgirl, “Compress/Repress” from Challengers, “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez, “Forbidden Road” from Better Man, “Kiss the Sky” from The Wild Robot, “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez

    How I Did: 3/6

    The blasted Song category represents my worst performance as “Beautiful” and “Compress” and “Forbidden” make the playlist over “Harper and Will Go West” from Will & Harper, “Like a Bird” from Sing Sing, and “Piece by Piece” from the same titled feature. Betting odds favor Pérez and I’d go with “El Mal” though “Sky” is a possibility.

    I’ll have winner predictions shortly before the January 5th ceremony and here’s a breakdown of all the features nominated.

    10 Nominations

    Emilia Pérez

    7 Nominations

    The Brutalist

    6 Nominations

    Conclave

    5 Nominations

    Anora, The Substance

    4 Nominations

    Challengers, A Real Pain, Wicked, The Wild Robot

    3 Nominatons

    A Complete Unknown

    2 Nominations

    All We Imagine as Light, The Apprentice, Dune: Part Two, Gladiator II, I’m Still Here, Inside Out 2, The Last Showgirl

    1 Nomination

    Alien: Romulus, Babygirl, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Better Man, Deadpool & Wolverine, A Different Man, Flow, The Girl with the Needle, Heretic, Hit Man, Kinds of Kindness, Lee, Maria, Memoir of a Snail, Moana 2, Nickel Boys, Nightbitch, Queer, The Room Next Door, Saturday Night, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, September 5, Sing Sing, Twisters, Vermiglio, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

    82nd Golden Globe Awards Nomination Predictions

    The 82nd Golden Globe Awards will come our way in a month on January 5th with Nikki Glaser handling hosting duties. Nominations are out this coming Monday (12/09). Readers of the blog know that I do a whole lotta Oscar speculating. That’s not the case with the GG’s but I’m giving you take on who and what will be nominated.

    For the Globes, there are six nominees in each race with the exception of Cinematic and Box Office Achievement where there’s 8. I’ll give my picks along with a runner-up. Some quick notes: the Globes divide their Picture and lead acting derbies into Drama and Musical/Comedy. The designations below are the reported slots where films and performers are contending. Yes, there’s interesting choices with Heretic in comedy. On the flip side, if A Complete Unknown had submitted in Musical/Comedy, Timothée Chalamet might be the easy frontrunner in Best Actor.

    Next week I’ll have a recap up with how I did and my early frontrunners for winners!

    Best Motion Picture – Drama

    The Brutalist

    A Complete Unknown

    Conclave

    Dune: Part Two

    Nickel Boys

    Sing Sing

    ALTERNATE – The Room Next Door

    Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

    Anora

    Challengers

    Emilia Pérez

    A Real Pain

    The Substance

    Wicked

    ALTERNATE – A Different Man

    Best Director

    Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez

    Sean Baker, Anora

    Jon M. Chu, Wicked

    Brady Corbet, The Brutalist

    Coralie Fargeat, The Substance

    Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two

    ALTERNATE – Edward Berger, Conclave

    Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

    Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths

    Angelina Jolie, Maria

    Nicole Kidman, Babygirl

    Saoirse Ronan, The Outrun

    Tilda Swinton, The Room Next Door

    Kate Winslet, Lee

    ALTERNATE – Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl

    Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

    Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

    Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown

    Daniel Craig, Queer

    Colman Domingo, Sing Sing

    Ralph Fiennes, Conclave

    Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice

    ALTERNATE – John David Washington, The Piano Lesson

    Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comed

    Cynthia Erivo, Wicked

    Karla Sofia Gascón, Emilia Pérez

    Mikey Madison, Anora

    Demi Moore, The Substance

    June Squibb, Thelma

    Zendaya, Challengers

    ALTERNATE – Amy Adams, Nightbitch

    Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

    Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain

    Hugh Grant, Heretic

    Michael Keaton, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

    Glen Powell, Hit Man

    Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool & Wolverine

    Sebastian Stan, A Different Man

    ALTERNATE – Gabriel LaBelle, Saturday Night

    Best Supporting Actress

    Selena Gomez, Emilia Pérez

    Ariana Grande, Wicked

    Felicity Jones, The Brutalist

    Margaret Qualley, The Substance

    Isabella Rossellini, Conclave

    Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

    ALTERNATE – Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson

    Best Supporting Actor

    Yura Borisov, Anora

    Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain

    Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing

    Guy Pearce, The Brutalist

    Stanley Tucci, Conclave

    Denzel Washington, Gladiator II

    ALTERNATE – Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

    Best Screenplay

    Anora

    The Brutalist

    Conclave

    Emilia Pérez

    Sing Sing

    The Substance

    ALTERNATE – A Real Pain

    Best Animated Feature

    Flow

    Inside Out 2

    Memoir of a Snail

    Moana 2

    Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

    The Wild Robot

    ALTERNATE – Piece by Piece

    Best Non-English Language Film

    All We Imagine as Light

    Emilia Pérez

    The Girl with the Needle

    I’m Still Here

    Kneecap

    The Seed of the Sacred Fig

    ALTERNATE – Universal Language

    Best Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

    Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

    Deadpool & Wolverine

    Despicable Me 4

    Dune: Part Two

    Gladiator II

    Inside Out 2

    Twisters

    Wicked

    ALTERNATE – Moana 2

    Best Score

    The Brutalist

    Challengers

    Conclave

    Dune: Part Two

    Emilia Pérez

    The Wild Robot

    ALTERNATE – The Room Next Door

    Best Song

    “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez

    “Harper and Will Go West” from Will & Harper

    “Kiss the Sky” from The Wild Robot

    “Like a Bird” from Sing Sing

    “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez

    “Piece by Piece” from Piece by Piece

    ALTERNATE – “Beautiful That Way” from The Last Showgirl

    That means I have these movies generating these numbers of nominations:

    10 Nominations

    Emilia Pérez

    7 Nominations

    The Brutalist

    6 Nominations

    Conclave

    5 Nominations

    Anora, Sing Sing, The Substance, Wicked

    4 Nominations

    Dune: Part Two

    3 Nominations

    Challengers, A Real Pain, The Wild Robot

    2 Nominations

    Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, A Complete Unknown, Deadpool & Wolverine, Gladiator II, Inside Out 2

    1 Nomination

    All We Imagine as Light, The Apprentice, Babygirl, Despicable Me 4, A Different Man, Flow, The Girl with the Needle, Hard Truths, Heretic, Hit Man, I’m Still Here, Kneecap, Lee, Maria, Memoir of a Snail, Moana 2, Nickel Boys, The Outrun, Piece by Piece, Queer, The Room Next Door, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Thelma, Twisters, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Will & Harper

    97th Academy Awards Predictions: September 21st Edition

    The Venice, Telluride, and Toronto Film Festivals have all concluded and the Oscar landscape is looking a bit clearer for the 97th edition of the ceremony. Per usual with the festivals, there are films that rise and those that fall. No film rose more than Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist from Venice, but Toronto gave us a shocker in the form of Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck. The sci-fi flick based on a Stephen King novella took People’s Choice at the Canadian event. 15 of the last 16 victors of that prize have received a Best Picture nomination including the past 12 in a row. We still don’t know which distributor will buy Chuck and it’s not confirmed to be out this year. For that matter, we also don’t know for a fact that A24’s The Brutalist will make the ’24 calendar. For now I’m assuming both will. That means I’m elevating Chuck from unranked to #11 in my BP possibilities on the outside just looking in.

    There was a significant announcement that Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore will be both be campaigned in lead actress for The Room Next Door. That means Swinton enters my quintet in that category with Amy Adams (Nightbitch) dropping. With Swinton leaving supporting, Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez) resurfaces there. It has also been confirmed that Saoirse Ronan will vie for Actress with The Outrun and Supporting Actress in Blitz. I continue to list her a double nominee.

    We have a change in Supporting Actor as I’m putting Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice) in with Denzel Washington (Gladiator II) falling out of the projected five.

    For the last few months, I’ve included 25 BP contenders and 15 for Director, the four acting derbies, and the two screenplay competitions. As I typically do around this time of year, I will condense this to 15 BPs and 10 in the others. Got all that? Good!

    Best Picture

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. The Brutalist (Previous Ranking: 1) (Even)

    2. Blitz (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Anora (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Dune: Part Two (PR: 5) (+1)

    5. Sing Sing (PR: 4) (-1)

    6. Emilia Pérez (PR: 6) (E)

    7. Conclave (PR: 7) (E)

    8. Nickel Boys (PR: 9) (+1)

    9. Saturday Night (PR: 8) (-1)

    10. The Room Next Door (PR: 10) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    11. The Life of Chuck (PR: Not Ranked)

    12. A Complete Unknown (PR: 11) (-1)

    13. September 5 (PR: 16) (+3)

    14. The Seed of the Sacred Fig (PR: 12) (-2)

    15. A Real Pain (PR: 13) (-2)

    Dropped Out:

    Gladiator II

    Queer

    Nosferatu

    The Apprentice

    All We Imagine as Light

    Joker: Folie à Deux

    The Piano Lesson

    Wicked

    Juror No. 2

    His Three Daughters

    A Different Man

    Best Director

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Brady Corbet, The Brutalist (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Steve McQueen, Blitz (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Sean Baker, Anora (PR: 3) (E)

    5. Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Mohammad Rasoulof, The Seed of the Sacred Fig (PR: 7) (+1)

    7. Edward Berger, Conclave (PR: 9) (+2)

    8. RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys (PR: 6) (-2)

    9. Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing (PR: 8) (-1)

    10. Pedro Almodóvar, The Room Next Door (PR: 11) (+1)

    Dropped Out:

    Jason Reitman, Saturday Night

    James Mangold, A Complete Unknown

    Ridley Scott, Gladiator II

    Luca Guadagnino, Queer

    Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine as Light

    Best Actress

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Mikey Madison, Anora (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Angelina Jolie, Maria (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Karla Sofia Gascón, Emilia Pérez (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Saoirse Ronan, The Outrun (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Tilda Swinton, The Room Next Door (PR: Not Ranked) – moved from supporting

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Nicole Kidman, Babygirl (PR: 7) (+1)

    7. Amy Adams, Nightbitch (PR: 5) (-2)

    8. Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths (PR: 6) (-2)

    9. Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here (PR: 10) (+1)

    10. Demi Moore, The Substance (PR: 9) (-1)

    Dropped Out:

    Julianne Moore, The Room Next Door

    Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl

    Carrie Coon, His Three Daughters

    June Squibb, Thelma

    Zendaya, Challengers

    Florence Pugh, We Live in Time

    Best Actor

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Adrien Brody, The Brutalist (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Colman Domingo, Sing Sing (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Ralph Fiennes, Conclave (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Daniel Craig, Queer (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice (PR: 6) (E)

    7. Glen Powell, Hit Man (PR: 9) (+2)

    8. Sebastian Stan, A Different Man (PR: 7) (-1)

    9. Joaquin Phoenix, Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: 8) (-1)

    10. Paul Mescal, Gladiator II (PR: 10) (E)

    Dropped Out:

    Gabriel LaBelle, Saturday Night

    Jesse Plemons, Kinds of Kindness

    Ethan Herisse, Nickel Boys

    John David Washington, The Piano Lesson

    Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain

    Best Supporting Actress

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Saoirse Ronan, Blitz (PR: 4) (+1)

    4. Felicity Jones, The Brutalist (PR: 3) (-1)

    5. Selena Gomez, Emilia Pérez (PR: 6) (+1)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Nickel Boys (PR: 7) (+1)

    7. Lady Gaga, Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: 9) (+2)

    8. Isabella Rossellini, Conclave (PR: 11) (+3)

    9. Natasha Lyonne, His Three Daughters (PR: 8) (-1)

    10. Joan Chen, Dídi (PR: 10) (E)

    Dropped Out:

    Tilda Swinton, The Room Next Door – moved to lead actress

    Lesley Manville, Queer

    Elle Fanning, A Complete Unknown

    Toni Collette, Juror No. 2

    Fernanda Montenegro, I’m Still Here

    Best Supporting Actor

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Guy Pearce, The Brutalist (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Stanley Tucci, Conclave (PR: 5) (+1)

    5. Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice (PR: 6) (+1)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Denzel Washington, Gladiator II (PR: 4) (-2)

    7. Mark Hamill, The Life of Chuck (PR: Not Ranked)

    8. Adam Pearson, A Different Man (PR: 8) (E)

    9. Samuel L. Jackson, The Piano Lesson (PR: 10) (+1)

    10. Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown (PR: 7) (-3)

    Dropped Out:

    Drew Starkey, Queer

    Harris Dickinson, Blitz

    Mark Eidelstein, Anora

    Brian Tyree Henry, The Fire Inside

    Ray Fisher, The Piano Lesson

    John Lithgow, Conclave

    Best Original Screenplay

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Anora (PR: 1) (E)

    2. The Brutalist (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Blitz (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Saturday Night (PR: 5) (+1)

    5. A Real Pain (PR: 4) (-1)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Emilia Pérez (PR: 6) (E)

    7. The Seed of the Sacred Fig (PR: 7) (E)

    8. The Substance (PR: 9) (+1)

    9. Hard Truths (PR: 10) (+1)

    10. September 5 (PR: 13) (+3)

    Dropped Out:

    His Three Daughters

    Dídi

    Kinds of Kindness

    A Different Man

    Juror No. 2

    Best Adapted Screenplay

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Conclave (PR: 2) (+1)

    2. Sing Sing (PR: 1) (-1)

    3. Nickel Boys (PR: 3) (E)

    4. The Room Next Door (PR: 4) (E)

    5. The Life of Chuck (PR: Not Ranked)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Dune: Part Two (PR: 6) (E)

    7. Queer (PR: 5) (-2)

    8. Hit Man (PR: 7) (-1)

    9. A Complete Unknown (PR: 8) (-1)

    10. The Piano Lesson (PR: 9) (-1)

    Dropped Out:

    I’m Still Here

    Gladiator II

    Nightbitch

    Inside Out 2

    Nosferatu

    The Wild Robot

    Best International Feature Film

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Emilia Pérez (PR: 1) (E)

    2. The Seed of the Sacred Fig (PR: 2) (E)

    3. I’m Still Here (PR: 3) (E)

    4. All We Imagine as Light (PR: 5) (+1)

    5. Grand Tour (PR: 4) (-1)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Universal Language (PR: 6) (E)

    7. The Girl with the Needle (PR: 7) (E)

    8. Caught by the Tides (PR: 8) (E)

    9. Pedro Páramo (PR: Not Ranked)

    10. Kneecap (PR: 9) (-1)

    Dropped Out:

    Simon of the Mountain

    Best Animated Feature

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Inside Out 2 (PR: 1) (E)

    2. The Wild Robot (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Flow (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Memoir of a Snail (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Piece by Piece (PR: 6) (E)

    7. Moana 2 (PR: 7) (E)

    8. Savages (PR: 9) (+1)

    9. Orion and the Dark (PR: 10) (+1)

    10. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (PR: 8) (-2)

    Best Documentary Feature

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. No Other Land (PR: 2) (+1)

    2. Will & Harper (PR: 3) (+1)

    3. Daughters (PR: 1) (-2)

    4. Sugarcane (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Black Box Diaries (PR: 6) (+1)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (PR: 5) (-1)

    7. Union (PR: 7) (E)

    8. The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (PR: Not Ranked)

    9. Skywalkers: A Love Story (PR: 10) (+1)

    10. Apocalypse in the Tropics (PR: 8) (-2)

    Dropped Out:

    Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story

    Best Cinematography

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. The Brutalist (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Dune: Part Two (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Blitz (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Nosferatu (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Emilia Pérez (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Maria (PR: Not Ranked)

    7. Conclave (PR: 9) (+2)

    8. Anora (PR: 7) (-1)

    9. Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: 6) (-3)

    10. Gladiator II (PR: 8) (-2)

    Dropped Out:

    The Room Next Door

    Best Costume Design

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Dune: Part Two (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Nosferatu (PR: 4) (+2)

    3. Wicked (PR: 2) (-1)

    4. Gladiator II (PR: 3) (-1)

    5. Maria (PR: 7) (+2)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Blitz (PR: 5) (-1)

    7. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (PR: 6) (-1)

    8. Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: 8) (E)

    9. The Brutalist (PR: Not Ranked)

    10. Saturday Night (PR: 10 (E)

    Dropped Out:

    Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

    Best Film Editing

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Blitz (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Anora (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Dune: Part Two (PR: 6) (+3)

    4. The Brutalist (PR: 3) (-1)

    5. Saturday Night (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Emilia Pérez (PR: 7) (+1)

    7. Sing Sing (PR: 4) (-3)

    8. Conclave (PR: 9) (+1)

    9. Nickel Boys (PR: 8) (-1)

    10. Challengers (PR: 10) (E)

    Best Makeup and Hairstyling

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Dune: Part Two (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Nosferatu (PR: 2) (E)

    3. A Different Man (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Maria (PR: 5) (+1)

    5. The Substance (PR: 9) (+4)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (PR: 4) (-2)

    7. Wicked (PR: 6) (-1)

    8. Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: 7) (-1)

    9. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (PR: 8) (-1)

    10. Sasquatch Sunset (PR: Not Ranked)

    Dropped Out:

    Gladiator II

    Best Original Score

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Dune: Part Two (PR: 1) (E)

    2. The Brutalist (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Sing Sing (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Gladiator II (PR: 6) (+2)

    5. The Wild Robot (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Emilia Pérez (PR: 4) (-2)

    7. Conclave (PR: 7) (E)

    8. Saturday Night (PR: 10) (+2)

    9. The Room Next Door (PR: Not Ranked)

    10. The Life of Chuck (PR: Not Ranked)

    Dropped Out:

    Joker: Folie à Deux

    Queer

    Best Original Song

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez (PR: 1) (E)

    2. “Like a Bird” from Sing Sing (PR: 2) (E)

    3. “Harley and Joker Waltz” from Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: Not Ranked)

    4. “Piece by Piece” from Piece by Piece (PR: 4) (E)

    5. “Relentless” from Diane Warren: Relentless (PR: 3) (-2)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. “Harper and Will Go West” from Will & Harper (PR: 5) (-1)

    7. “Kiss the Sky” from The Wild Robot (PR: 6) (-1)

    8. “We’re Back” from Moana 2 (PR: 7) (-1)

    9. “Forbidden Road” from Better Man (PR: Not Ranked)

    10. “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez (PR: 8) (-2)

    Dropped Out:

    “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight

    “Why Am I Here” from Shirley

    Best Production Design

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Dune: Part Two (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Blitz (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Gladiator II (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Nosferatu (PR: 4) (E)

    5. The Brutalist (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Wicked (PR: 7) (+1)

    7. Maria (PR: 10) (+3)

    8. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (PR: 8) (E)

    9. Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: Not Ranked)

    10. Conclave (PR: 9) (-1)

    Dropped Out:

    Saturday Night

    Best Sound

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Dune: Part Two (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Blitz (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Gladiator II (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Emilia Pérez (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: 8) (+3)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Nosferatu (PR: 6) (E)

    7. Wicked (PR: 9) (+2)

    8. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (PR: 5) (-3)

    9. Civil War (PR: Not Ranked)

    10. The Brutalist (PR: 10) (E)

    Dropped Out:

    A Complete Unknown

    Best Visual Effects

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Dune: Part Two (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Gladiator II (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Twisters (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Here (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Blitz (PR: 6) (E)

    7. Wicked (PR: 10) (+3)

    8. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (PR: 8) (E)

    9. Deadpool & Wolverine (PR: 7) (-2)

    10. Better Man (PR: 9) (-1)

    That equates to these movies generating these numbers of nominations:

    10 Nominations

    The Brutalist, Dune: Part Two

    9 Nominations

    Emilia Pérez

    8 Nominations

    Blitz

    6 Nominations

    Sing Sing

    5 Nominations

    Anora, Gladiator II

    4 Nominations

    Conclave, Nosferatu

    3 Nominations

    Maria, The Room Next Door, Saturday Night

    2 Nominations

    Joker: Folie à Deux, Nickel Boys, A Real Pain, The Wild Robot

    1 Nomination

    All We Imagine as Light, The Apprentice, Black Box Diaries, A Complete Unknown, Daughters, Diane Warren: Relentless, A Different Man, Flow, Grand Tour, Here, I’m Still Here, Inside Out 2, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, The Life of Chuck, Memoir of a Snail, No Other Land, The Outrun, The Piano Lesson, Piece by Piece, Queer, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, The Substance, Sugarcane, Twisters, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Wicked, Will & Harper

    97th Academy Awards Predictions: September 14th Edition

    To say there’s been plenty of news since my last predictions post on 09/03 is quite an understatement. It’s been confirmed that Clint Eastwood’s thriller Juror No. 2 will release in this calendar year. You’ll see that reflected below though I don’t have the movie or Toni Collette (in Supporting Actress) or the screenplay actually projected for nominations.

    Then there is, of course, more screenings from the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals. While Nightbitch is probably out of Best Picture contention, TIFF screenings suggest Amy Adams could still be a threat to make the Actress quintet. She’s back in my five. I had to make room anyway since Lady Gaga (Joker: Folie à Deux) appears to be a supporting play and not lead. I hesitated to put Adams back in as Nicole Kidman (Babygirl) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths) are serious threats. For that, so are Julianne Moore (The Room Next Door) and Demi Moore (The Substance). It’s getting crowded in Actress.

    Speaking of Joker, the mixed reaction from Cannes causes it to drop from 11th to 20th in my BP rankings.

    There are gains for The Brutalist as it rises from 3rd to 1st in the BP derby. The announcement that A24 picked up it up for distribution might mean it’s now their #1 campaign. If so, that could have a detrimental effect on Sing Sing. That helps explain Adrien Brody getting to first in Best Actor over Colman Domingo. Clarence Maclin from Sing Sing stays at #1 in Supporting Actor over The Brutalist‘s Guy Pearce though I considered making that switch. And now Brady Corbet now sitting atop the charts in Director. Blitz had previously held the #1 positions in BP and Director but they slip to #2.

    In Supporting Actress, two changes as Felicity Jones (The Brutalist) and Tilda Swinton (The Room Next Door) are in and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Nickel Boys) and Selena Gomez (Emilia Pérez) are on the outside looking in.

    And for the one change in BP, Venice’s Golden Lion winner The Room Next Door is in the 10 with A Complete Unknown falling out.

    Please note that this update is the first time where Dune: Part Two is not the nomination leader. It’s now tied with 9 with Blitz and Emilia Pérez while The Brutalist sits with 10.

    You can read all the movement below!

    Best Picture

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. The Brutalist (PR: 3) (+2)

    2. Blitz (Previous Ranking: 1) (-1)

    3. Anora (PR: 5) (+2)

    4. Sing Sing (PR: 2) (-2)

    5. Dune: Part Two (PR: 4) (-1)

    6. Emilia Pérez (PR: 6) (E)

    7. Conclave (PR: 7) (E)

    8. Saturday Night (PR: 10) (+2)

    9. Nickel Boys (PR: 9) (E)

    10. The Room Next Door (PR: 15) (+5)

    Other Possibilities:

    11. A Complete Unknown (PR: 9) (-2)

    12. The Seed of the Sacred Fig (PR: 13) (+1)

    12. A Real Pain (PR: 11) (-1)

    14. Gladiator II (PR: 16) (+2)

    15. Queer (PR: 14) (-1)

    16. September 5 (PR: 23) (+7)

    17. Nosferatu (PR: 17) (E)

    18. The Apprentice (PR: 22) (+4)

    19. All We Imagine as Light (PR: 19) (E)

    20. Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: 11) (-9)

    21. The Piano Lesson (PR: 18) (-3)

    22. Wicked (PR: 21) (-1)

    23. Juror No. 2 (PR: Not Ranked)

    24. His Three Daughters (PR: Not Ranked)

    25. A Different Man (PR: 25) (E)

    Dropped Out:

    Nightbitch

    Maria

    Best Director

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Brady Corbet, The Brutalist (PR: 3) (+2)

    2. Steve McQueen, Blitz (PR: 1) (-1)

    3. Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two (PR: 2) (-1)

    4. Sean Baker, Anora (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Jacques Audiard, Emila Pérez (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys (PR: 7) (+1)

    7. Mohammad Rasoulof, The Seed of the Sacred Fig (PR: 8) (+1)

    8. Greg Kwedar, Sing Sing (PR: 6) (-2)

    9. Edward Berger, Conclave (PR: 9) (E)

    10. Jason Reitman, Saturday Night (PR: 11) (+1)

    11. Pedro Almodóvar, The Room Next Door (PR: Not Ranked)

    12. James Mangold, A Complete Unknown (PR: 10) (-2)

    13. Ridley Scott, Gladiator II (PR: 15) (+2)

    14. Luca Guadagnino, Queer (PR: 13) (-1)

    15. Payal Kapadia, All We Imagine as Light (PR: 14) (-1)

    Dropped Out:

    Todd Phillips, Joker: Folie à Deux

    Best Actress

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Mikey Madison, Anora (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Angelina Jolie, Maria (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Karla Sofia Gascón, Emilia Pérez (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Saoirse Ronan, The Outrun (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Amy Adams, Nightbitch (PR: 7) (+2)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Hard Truths (PR: 6) (E)

    7. Nicole Kidman, Babygirl (PR: 9) (+2)

    8. Julianne Moore, The Room Next Door (PR: 10) (+2)

    9. Demi Moore, The Substance (PR: 8) (-1)

    10. Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here (PR: 12) (+2)

    11. Pamela Anderson, The Last Showgirl (PR: 15) (+4)

    12. Carrie Coon, His Three Daughters (PR: 11) (-1)

    13. June Squibb, Thelma (PR: 13) (E)

    14. Zendaya, Challengers (PR: Not Ranked)

    15. Florence Pugh, We Live in Time (PR: Not Ranked)

    Dropped Out:

    Lady Gaga, Joker: Folie à Deux – moved to supporting

    Ryan Destiny, The Fire Inside

    Best Actor

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Adrien Brody, The Brutalist (PR: 3) (+2)

    2. Colman Domingo, Sing Sing (PR: 1) (-1)

    3. Ralph Fiennes, Conclave (PR: 2) (-1)

    4. Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Daniel Craig, Queer (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice (PR: 6) (E)

    7. Sebastian Stan, A Different Man (PR: 8) (+1)

    8. Joaquin Phoenix, Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: 7) (-1)

    9. Glen Powell, Hit Man (PR: 10) (+1)

    10. Paul Mescal, Gladiator II (PR: 12) (+2)

    11. Gabriel LaBelle, Saturday Night (PR: Not Ranked)

    12. Jesse Plemons, Kinds of Kindness (PR: 11) (-1)

    13. Ethan Herisse, Nickel Boys (PR: 13) (E)

    14. John David Washington, The Piano Lesson (PR: 14) (E)

    15. Jesse Eisenberg, A Real Pain (PR: 15) (E)

    Dropped Out:

    André Holland, The Actor

    Best Supporting Actress

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Felicity Jones, The Brutalist (PR: 7) (+4)

    4. Saoirse Ronan, Blitz (PR: 3) (-1)

    5. Tilda Swinton, The Room Next Door (PR: 6) (+1)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Selena Gomez, Emilia Pérez (PR: 5) (-1)

    7. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Nickel Boys (PR: 4) (-3)

    8. Natasha Lyonne, His Three Daughters (PR: 8) (E)

    9. Lady Gaga, Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: Not Ranked) – moved from lead Actress

    10. Joan Chen, Dídi (PR: 9) (-1)

    11. Isabella Rossellini, Conclave (PR: 10) (-1)

    12. Lesley Manville, Queer (PR: 11) (-1)

    13. Elle Fanning, A Complete Unknown (PR: 12) (-1)

    14. Toni Collette, Juror No. 2 (PR: Not Ranked)

    15. Fernanda Montenegro, I’m Still Here (PR: 15) (E)

    Dropped Out:

    Kathy Burke, Blitz

    Elizabeth Olsen, His Three Daughters

    Best Supporting Actor

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Guy Pearce, The Brutalist (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Denzel Washington, Gladiator II (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Stanley Tucci, Conclave (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice (PR: 6) (E)

    7. Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown (PR: 8) (+1)

    8. Adam Pearson, A Different Man (PR: 7) (-1)

    9. Drew Starkey, Queer (PR: 12) (+3)

    10. Samuel L. Jackson, The Piano Lesson (PR: 9) (-1)

    11. Harris Dickinson, Blitz (PR: 10) (-1)

    12. Mark Eidelstein, Anora (PR: 11) (-1)

    13. Brian Tyree Henry, The Fire Inside (PR: 13) (E)

    14. Ray Fisher, The Piano Lesson (PR: Not Ranked)

    15. John Lithgow, Conclave (PR: 15) (+1)

    Dropped Out:

    Stephen Graham, Blitz

    Best Original Screenplay

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Anora (PR: 1) (E)

    2. The Brutalist (PR: 5) (+3)

    3. Blitz (PR: 2) (-1)

    4. A Real Pain (PR: 3) (-1)

    5. Saturday Night (PR: 4) (-1)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Emilia Pérez (PR: 6) (E)

    7. The Seed of the Sacred Fig (PR: 9) (+2)

    8. His Three Daughters (PR: 8) (E)

    9. The Substance (PR: 12) (+3)

    10. Hard Truths (PR: 7) (-3)

    11. Dídi (PR: 10) (-1)

    12. Kinds of Kindness (PR: 14) (+2)

    13. September 5 (PR: 11) (-2)

    14. A Different Man (PR: 15) (+1)

    15. Juror No. 2 (PR: Not Ranked)

    Dropped Out:

    Challengers

    Best Adapted Screenplay

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Sing Sing (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Conclave (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Nickel Boys (PR: 3) (E)

    4. The Room Next Door (PR: 5) (+1)

    5. Queer (PR: 6) (+1)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Dune: Part Two (PR: 4) (-2)

    7. Hit Man (PR: 7) (E)

    8. A Complete Unknown (PR: 9) (+1)

    9. The Piano Lesson (PR: 8) (-1)

    10. I’m Still Here (PR: Not Ranked)

    11. Gladiator II (PR: 13) (+2)

    12. Nightbitch (PR: 10) (-2)

    13. Inside Out 2 (PR: 12) (-1)

    14. Nosferatu (PR: 15) (+1)

    15. The Wild Robot (PR: Not Ranked)

    Dropped Out:

    Joker: Folie à Deux

    The Fire Inside

    Best International Feature Film

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Emilia Pérez (PR: 1) (E)

    2. The Seed of the Sacred Fig (PR: 2) (E)

    3. I’m Still Here (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Grand Tour (PR: 4) (E)

    5. All We Imagine as Light (PR: 7) (+2)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Universal Language (PR: 8) (+2)

    7. The Girl with the Needle (PR: 5) (-2)

    8. Caught by the Tides (PR: 10) (+2)

    9. Kneecap (PR: Not Ranked)

    10. Simon of the Mountain (PR: Not Ranked)

    Dropped Out:

    The Count of Monte Cristo

    Cloud

    Best Animated Feature

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Inside Out 2 (PR: 1) (E)

    2. The Wild Robot (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Flow (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Memoir of a Snail (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Piece by Piece (PR: 8) (+2)

    7. Moana 2 (PR: 7) (E)

    8. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (PR: 10) (+2)

    9. Savages (PR: 6) (-3)

    10. Orion and the Dark (PR: 9) (-1)

    Best Documentary Feature

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Daughters (PR: 1) (E)

    2. No Other Land (PR: 4) (+2)

    3. Will & Harper (PR: 5) (+2)

    4. Sugarcane (PR: 3) (-1)

    5. Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (PR: 6) (+1)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Black Box Diaries (PR: 2) (-4)

    7. Union (PR: Not Ranked)

    8. Apocalypse in the Tropics (PR: 10) (+2)

    9. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (PR: 9) (E)

    10. Skywalkers: A Love Story (PR: 8) (-2)

    Dropped Out:

    The Remarkable Life of Ibelin

    Best Cinematography

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. The Brutalist (PR: 5) (+4)

    2. Dune: Part Two (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Blitz (PR: 1) (-2)

    4. Nosferatu (PR: 4) (E)

    5. Emilia Pérez (PR: 7) (+2)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Joker: Folie á Deux (PR: 3) (-3)

    7. Anora (PR: 8) (+1)

    8. Gladiator II (PR: 6) (-2)

    9. Conclave (PR: Not Ranked)

    10. The Room Next Door (PR: Not Ranked)

    Dropped Out:

    Queer

    Maria

    Best Costume Design

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Dune: Part Two (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Wicked (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Gladiator II (PR: 4) (+1)

    4. Nosferatu (PR: 3) (-1)

    5. Blitz (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (PR: Not Ranked)

    7. Maria (PR: 6) (-1)

    8. Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: 7) (-1)

    9. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (PR: 8) (-1)

    10. Saturday Night (PR: 10) (E)

    Dropped Out:

    Queer

    Best Film Editing

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Blitz (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Anora (PR: 3) (+1)

    3. The Brutalist (PR: 7) (+4)

    4. Sing Sing (PR: 6) (+2)

    5. Saturday Night (PR: 4) (-1)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Dune: Part Two (PR: 2) (-4)

    7. Emilia Pérez (PR: 8) (+1)

    8. Nickel Boys (PR: Not Ranked)

    9. Conclave (PR: 5) (-4)

    10. Challengers (PR: 10) (E)

    Dropped Out:

    Joker: Folie à Deux

    Best Makeup and Hairstyling

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Dune: Part Two (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Nosferatu (PR: 2) (E)

    3. A Different Man (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (PR: 7) (+3)

    5. Maria (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Wicked (PR: 6) (E)

    7. Joker: Folie á Deux (PR: 4) (-3)

    8. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (PR: 8) (E)

    9. The Substance (PR: 10) (+1)

    10. Gladiator II (PR: 9) (-1)

    Best Original Score

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Dune: Part Two (PR: 1) (E)

    2. The Brutalist (PR: Not Ranked)

    3. Sing Sing (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Emilia Pérez (PR: 4) (E)

    5. The Wild Robot (PR: Not Ranked)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Gladiator II (PR: 5) (-1)

    7. Conclave (PR: 6) (-1)

    8. Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: 2) (-6)

    9. Queer (PR: 7) (-2)

    10. Saturday Night (PR: Not Ranked)

    Dropped Out:

    Challengers

    Blitz

    Nickel Boys

    Best Original Song

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez (PR: 1) (E)

    2. “Like a Bird” from Sing Sing (PR: 3) (+1)

    3. “Relentless” from Diane Warren: Relentless (PR: 4) (+1)

    4. “Piece by Piece” from Piece by Piece (PR: 5) (+1)

    5. “Harper and Will Go West” from Will & Harper (PR: 6) (+1)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. “Kiss the Sky” from The Wild Robot (PR: Not Ranked)

    7. “We’re Back” from Moana 2 (PR: 7) (E)

    8. “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez (PR: Not Ranked)

    9. “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight (PR: Not Ranked)

    10. “Why Am I Here?” from Shirley (PR: 8) (-1)

    Dropped Out:

    TBD from Joker: Folie à Deux

    “Compress/Repress” from Challengers

    “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” from Twisters

    Best Production Design

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Dune: Part Two (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Blitz (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Gladiator II (PR: 4) (+1)

    4. Nosferatu (PR: 3) (-1)

    5. The Brutalist (PR: 5) (E)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Saturday Night (PR: 10) (+4)

    7. Wicked (PR: 6) (-1)

    8. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (PR: 7) (-1)

    9. Conclave (PR: 9) (E)

    10. Maria (PR: Not Ranked)

    Dropped Out:

    Joker: Folie à Deux

    Best Sound

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Dune: Part Two (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Blitz (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Gladiator II (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Emilia Pérez (PR: 7) (+3)

    5. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (PR: 9) (+4)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Nosferatu (PR: 8) (+2)

    7. A Complete Unknown (PR: 5) (-2)

    8. Joker: Folie à Deux (PR: 4) (-4)

    9. Wicked (PR: 6) (-3)

    10. The Brutalist (PR: Not Ranked)

    Dropped Out:

    Civil War

    Best Visual Effects

    Predicted Nominees:

    1. Dune: Part Two (PR: 1) (E)

    2. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (PR: 2) (E)

    3. Gladiator II (PR: 3) (E)

    4. Twisters (PR: 5) (+1)

    5. Here (PR: 4) (-1)

    Other Possibilities:

    6. Blitz (PR: 10) (+4)

    7. Deadpool & Wolverine (PR: 7) (E)

    8. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (PR: 6) (-2)

    9. Better Man (PR: Not Ranked)

    10. Wicked (PR: 8) (-2)

    Dropped Out:

    Alien: Romulus

    And that equates to these movies generating these numbers of nominations:

    10 Nominations

    The Brutalist

    9 Nominations

    Blitz, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez

    7 Nominations

    Sing Sing

    5 Nominations

    Anora, Gladiator II

    4 Nominations

    Conclave, Nosferatu

    3 Nominations

    The Room Next Door, Saturday Night

    2 Nominations

    Maria, Nickel Boys, Queer, A Real Pain, The Wild Robot, Will & Harper

    1 Nomination

    All We Imagine as Light, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, A Complete Unknown, Daughters, Diane Warren: Relentless, A Different Man, Flow, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Grand Tour, Here, I’m Still Here, Inside Out 2, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Memoir of a Snail, The Outrun, Nightbitch, No Other Land, The Piano Lesson, Piece by Piece, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, Sugarcane, Twisters, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Wicked