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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider FEARLESS FORECAST: Crystal ball-ing the 2021 Oscars

FEARLESS FORECAST: Crystal ball-ing the 2021 Oscars

Published Apr 24, 2021 08:00 am
In this file photo an Oscars statue is displayed on the red carpet area on the eve of the 92nd Oscars ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Feb. 8, 2020. (Photo by Mark Ralston/AFP)

(NOTE: This is a repost of an article that originally came out in March 2021)

Come evening of April 25th in Los Angeles (Monday morning Manila time); all will be revealed as the 93rd Academy Awards gets underway. Without argument, this is still the most prestigious of the Film Awards season, and just like most of the other industry awards shows, it’s been pushed back to this later date because of the COVID pandemic.

Would presume that at one time there was the hope that moving to this later date could mean holding the Oscars with a live audience. Unfortunately, it’s not to be. It’s set to be a virtual event, and as of the time of my writing this, no host has been announced - so it may follow the 2020 Oscars and be host-less.

What we can say with certainty is this year, thanks to the streaming services and indie films lording over the year when most cinemas were shut down, is that it’s a year when the nominations celebrate gender representation - two Best Director nominees are women; and ethnic diversity - so many African-Americans represented and even Koreans in the Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress categories.

So here’s a rundown of the major Awards, and my fearless predictions:

Best Picture - Nomadland to win, Mank to steal. Nomadland comes in a year when the restless and ‘houseless’ have struck a nerve in terms of questioning values and what to hold dear in America.

Best Director - Chloe Zhao for Nomadland to continue her winning way; and I’m happy that Lee Isaac Chung for Minari made the list.

Chadwick Boseman

Best Actor - Goes to the late Chadwick Boseman for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Note that Steven Yuen for Minari marks the first time an Asian-American Actor has been included. And I also like that Riz Ahmed (technically British) is in the list for Sound of Metal.

Best Actress - Carey Mulligan for Promising Young Woman, this one really showed us her range and versatility. Frances McDormand if the Academy plays old favorites.

Daniel Kaluuya

Best Supporting Actor - my bet was Daniel Kaluuya for Judas & the Black Messiah; but wondering if LaKeith Stanfield in the same film also being included would make them cancel out each other. If that does happen, Leslie Odom Jr. in One Night in Miami to steal.

Best Supporting Actress - I’ll predict it’s Maria Bakalova for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. But I love how 73-year old Korean actress Young Yuh-Jung is included here.

Best Adapted Screenplay - Chloe Zhao for the win, but I like that Ramin Bahrain for the wonderful The White Tiger got cited.

Best Original Screenplay - Aaron Sorkin for The Trial of the Chicago 7; with a possible steal by Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman.

Soul

Best Animated Feature - Soul wins.

Best International Feature Film - With Minari not included here, I see Another Round getting the statuette.

Best Cinematography - Watch Joshua James Richards of Nomadland win this.

Best Costume Design - Emma for the win.

Best Film Editing - the Trial of the Chicago 7 for this award.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Give this to Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Best Original Score - Soul should get this.

Best Original Song - From left field, watch Lo Sí (Seen) from The Life Ahead steal this award.

Mank

Best Production Design - Mank to bring home the gold.

Best Sound - I love Sound of Metal here and how sound production helped us empathize with what was happening as the protagonist/musician was going deaf.

Tenet

Best Visual Effects - Tenet

For Best Documentary (I’ve only watched Time), Best Documentary Short Subject, for Best Short Film Animated, and Best Short Film Live Action, I’ve not viewed the nominees, so don’t feel qualified to judge.

So there you have it, my bold predictions; and I’ll see you on the 26th of April, as I tally up just how well my crystal ball-gazing is this extraordinary year for Cinema.

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