Here are my 2023 Oscars predictions:
*Disclaimer: This is who I think will win, not necessarily who I want to win.
BEST PICTURE: Everything Everywhere All at Once
BEST ACTRESS: Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once
BEST ACTOR: Austin Butler, Elvis
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once
BEST DIRECTOR: Everything Everywhere All at Once, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Everything Everywhere All at Once, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Women Talking, Sarah Polley
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM: All Quiet on the Western Front
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar, and Alex Bulkley
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Elvis, Mandy Walker
BEST FILM EDITING: Everything Everywhere All at Once, Paul Rogers
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: Babylon, Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: Avatar: The Way of Water, Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, and Daniel Barrett
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ruth Carter
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Rihanna, Tems, and Ryan Coogler
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: The Fabelmans, John Williams
BEST SOUND: Top Gun: Maverick, Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon, and Mark Taylor
I don’t feel well-informed enough to make predictions for the other categories, but here are some other things to watch for:
For Best Picture, I see it as a four-way race between Fabelmans, EEAAO, Banshees, and All Quiet on the Western Front. I could easily see EEAAO coming in and basically sweeping everything it’s up for, which would likely lead to a Best Picture win, too. But we shall see. It’s my personal pick for sure.
The race everyone has been talking about is Best Actress in a Leading Role. Michelle Yeoh (EEAAO) v. Cate Blanchett (Tár) has to be one of the most epic battles we’ve seen in an acting category in a while. Both were spectacular, but I expect Yeoh to prevail here — becoming the first non-white winner in the category in over two decades. And given the news that Halle Berry (the last non-white Best Actress winner) was just announced as a presenter, it would be reaaaaally embarrassing for the Academy if she presented the award to… not Michelle.
On the other hand, Best Actor in a Leading Role is seemingly a three-way race between Austin Butler (Elvis), Brendan Fraser (The Whale), and Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin). My personal favorite performance of the year was Farrell in Banshees, but the Academy’s obsession with biopics will probably carry Butler to his first win (and obviously he was great and deserves).
Now, for the supporting actor categories… Ke Huy Quan (EEAAO) should have Best Supporting Actor locked up — he has practically swept the awards all season. Two weeks ago I would have said Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) would also have her win locked up, but following the BAFTAs and SAG Awards where Kerry Condon (Banshees) and Jamie Lee Curtis (EEAAO) won, respectively, it’s pretty wide open. Bassett is still my pick, but Curtis really might win… and I will scream. IMO, Curtis didn’t even give the best supporting performance in her own movie (hello, Stephanie Hsu).
What’s your take?