Operation Oscar, 2021

Tonight is the 93rd annual Academy Awards and for the 13th year in a row I've completed Operation Oscar -- watching all the films nominated in the major categories. Here is my recap of the movies along with my predictions and what I'm rooting for.

Best Picture

Unlike the rest of the categories where Academy members vote for one winner, the Best Picture category is determined by a preferential ballot where each choice is ranked. Here is my personal ranking of each of the nominees with a brief review.

1. Promising Young Woman
This film has a brilliant script and brilliant direction. I love that you never really know where it's going. It's unpredictable and captivating with a stellar ending. Easily my favorite of the eight films nominated for Best Picture.

2. The Trial of the Chicago 7
Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin -- so it's almost impossible for it to be bad. It's amazing how many parallels can be made from the events surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention 50 years ago, to today. Another great script and a wonderful ensemble cast.

3. Minari
Not to take away from any other parts of this beautiful film, but the acting is the highlight of the movie -- Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Alan Kim, Noel Kate Cho, and Youn Yuh-jung all did an incredible job. It's a unique take on the American Dream.

4. The Father
A heartbreaking movie about the ails of dementia and growing old -- one that was is all too familiar for many families. 

5. Sound of Metal
This film makes great use of silence, sound, and music. Great performances from Riz Ahmed, Olivie Cooke, and Paul Raci.

6. Nomadland
The cinematography and feel of this movie were excellent -- in any other year this would've been ranked higher.

7. Judas and the Black Messiah
I really like the story, but the film wasn't put together well. Martin Sheen was great and Daniel Kaluuya was superb.

8. Mank
I thought this movie could've been much more entertaining and interesting based on its subject matter.

Prediction: Nomadland
There's not a lot of suspense in the Best Picture race this year -- Nomadland seems to have it wrapped up.

Best Director

Prediction: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
My Pick: Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
I would've nominated Aaron Sorkin for The Trial of the Chicago 7 over David Fincher for Mank. Fincher is a great director, but this isn't his best work. It's so wonderful that two women are nominated this year -- that shouldn't be a rarity.

Best Actor

Prediction: Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
My Pick: Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
This is a really incredible lineup -- Riz Ahmed, Boseman, Anthony Hopkins, and Steven Yeun all gave strong performances. I'd be happy with any of them winning.

Best Actress

Prediction: Viola Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
My Pick: Viola Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
This race is so up in the air this year -- I haven't seen anything like it in the last decade or so. It seems to be pretty much down to Viola Davis and Carey Mulligan. They were both wonderful in their films and either of them winning would excite me. Frances McDormand and Andra Day seem to have slipped in the waning days of Oscar voting (but wow at Andra Day in The United States vs. Billie Holiday). Vanessa Kirby seems to be solidly in the fifth place slot, but her portrayal of a grieving mother in Pieces of a Woman was gut-wrenching. 

Best Supporting Actor

Prediction: Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
My Pick: Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Daniel Kaluuya as Fred Hampton was the best performance of the year.

Best Supporting Actress

Prediction: Youn Yuh-jung, Minari
My Pick: Youn Yuh-jung, Minari
Glenn Close and Olivia Colman aren't out of the running -- but if my predictions hold true, it would be the first year in the Academy's history that actors of color sweep the four acting categories.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Prediction: Chloé Zhao, Nomadland
My Pick: Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller, The Father

Best Original Screenplay

Prediction: Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
My Pick: Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

I'm also really rooting for Diane Warren who is nominated for the 12th time in the Best Song category!

Check out my full picks: www.goldderby.com/my-predictions/jordan_pittman/oscars-2021-predictions/

---