18 March 2022

94th Academy Awards (Oscars 2022)


A year that started coming back to some sense of normalcy as the pandemic waned. The film fests again was a launching pad for many of what would be the year's biggest award contenders. Sundance had CODA, Cannes had Drive My Car, Venice had The Power of the Dog and Spencer and Telluride had Belfast. Foreign films continued to enchant with Drive My Car, The Worst Person in the World, L'evenement and even Titane picking up accolades and raves throughout. Streaming also had a good year, Netflix dominated with films like The Power of the Dog, The Lost Daughter, Don't Look Up, Tick Tick...Boom and Passing, AppleTV had the big hit CODA and even Amazon is in the running for Being the Ricardos. Musicals tried to connect with the audience but unfortunately as great as they were, films like West Side Story and Into the Heights failed to connect with the pockets of the general public. 

The nominees these years were a good bunch, all very deserving (especially given that that atrocious House of Gucci was mostly snubbed). Sure, as usual, some nods were overlooked - smaller films and less-known names overlooked for the big shiny marquee names. Nonetheless, it was still a good crop of nominees. 

As usual, remember, the winner may not always be the best of the year. Every time, it is about the narrative and sometimes who deserved (to finally) win.


*Winners are highlighted in red. 


BEST PICTURE


Who Should Win: Drive My Car
Who Will Win: The Power of the Dog
Who Could Win: CODA

The Power of the Dog was the most powerful film of the year. It had all the crafts going for it but also a layered, nuanced emotional story anchored by a phenomenal cast that brought layers and complexity to a relatively simple story (looking at you Dune). However, in my heart, Drive My Car was a cinematic achievement. Director Rysuke Hamaguchi spun a short story into a three-hours emotional epic into the human psyche the never - ever - felt wasted and so empathetic. CODA, on the other hand, is gaining steam and momentum for its well-liked cast and feel good sentimentality. Similarly, that also extends to King Richard. The Power of the Dog only has its Netflix-bias against it and of course Jane Campion's recent faux pas. 


BEST DIRECTOR

Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Drive My Car
Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog
Steven Spielberg, West Side Story

Who Should Win: Jane Campion 
Who Will Win: Jane Campion
Who Could Win: Steven Spielberg

As above, Campion's biggest obstacle will the HUGE faux pas she made at the Critics Choice Awards. Voters may turn away from her and in that case, Spielberg might be the safest bet. Everybody - but the paying audience - seemed to love and appreciate West Side Story, Hamaguchi may get his rewards from Best Adapted Screenplay and Best International Film, Branagh's Belfast is not as well-received as it thinks it is and Anderson's Licorice Pizza may just be too lightweight for the voters.


BEST ACTOR

Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick...Boom!
Will Smith, King Richard
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

Who Should Win: Benedict Cumberbatch
Who Will Win: Will Smith
Who Could Win: Benedict Cumberbatch

This is going to be a two-horse race between two very well-liked actors. Smith had a star-making turn in King Richard in which he effectively carried the film throughout. It was a transformative role for him and gave him a whole range of emotions to work with. Cumberbatch, on the other hand, had the more subdued role. Less showy than Smith but equally emotional. Nuanced and layered, sympathetic and detested. But I think Oscar voters will try their best to avoid #OscarsSoWhite again. Washington is barely campaigning and he has already won, Bardem was great and this is his recognition, and Garfield still got years ahead of him to really breakout.


BEST ACTRESS

Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
Penelope Cruz, Parallel Mothers
Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos
Kristen Stewart, Spencer

Who Should Win: Jessica Chastain
Who Will Win: Jessica Chastain
Who Could Win: Nicole Kidman

Unlike the actors, this is a tough race to call. Essentially a 3 to 4 horse race, sorry Cruz. Interestingly enough, as many have pointed out, none of the Best Actress nominees are in films nominated for a Best Picture. Given that all these five women were phenomenon in their roles, this lead me to believe that the winner will eventually be either the actress that voters most respect, i.e. Olivia Colman, most deserving, i.e. Chastain, or in a movie most actors supported, i.e Kidman. As long as there is no Lady Gaga, I am all for anyone to win this year.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Ciaran Hinds, Belfast
Troy Kotsur, CODA
Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog
J.K. Simmons, Being the Ricardos
Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

Who Should Win: Troy Kotsur
Who Will Win: Troy Kotsur
Who Could Win: Kodi Smit-McPhee

Smit-McPhee has been the front-runner in this race ever since The Power of the Dog screened. He gave an intense, indecipherable, meticulous performance that continued to haunt even after the film is over. However, Kotsur is having a late surge, and as the only acting nominee for the well-liked CODA, he may end up getting the award for his hilarious and heartwarming portrayal. And no doubt well-deserved too.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Jessie Buckley, The Lost Daughter
Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
Judi Dench, Belfast
Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard

Who Should Win: Ariana DeBose
Who Will Win: Ariana DeBose
Who Could Win: Aunjanue Ellis

Fantastic performances by all five women here. Although Caitriona Balfe should have gotten that Belfast nomination, even though Dame Dench had that one powerful final scene. Nonetheless, this award is DeBose's to lose. Her Anita was the absolute standout of West Side Story and based solely off America, her performance was seared into memory. Ellis and Dunst will be the close contenders. Both well respected veteran actresses who finally have films that showcased their talents and rewarded them both with nominations.


BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Who Should Win: Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
Who Will Win: Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
Who Could Win: Adam McKay, Don't Look Up

A surprise that Aaron Sorkin was not nominated here. Possibly his spot was taken by Norwegian hit The Worst Person in the World, although it is unlikely to win. Branagh's screenplay for Belfast may have been personal but it lacked the child-like innocence expected from a film told from a kid's POV. This may be the place to reward PTA for a simple screenplay that told a lovely, rather authentic, love story. Don't Look Up might just sneak it as the more politically correct choice - and the voters do love their Adam Mckay.


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY


Who Should Win: Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe, Drive My Car
Who Will Win: Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter
Who Could Win: Sian Heder, CODA

Again, this year seemed to be all about spreading the wealth. My vote goes to Hamguchi and Oe for their phenomenal work in spinning a Murakami short story out to a three-hour epic into the human psyche. However, Gyllenhaal has been sweeping the smaller precursor awards, and that momentum will likely lead her to score her first Oscar. Also, voters do love to reward their actors who triumphed outside acting. Hader remained the dark horse, but if she wins this, I don't see Kotsur getting his award then. 


BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM


Who Should Win: Luca
Who Will Win: The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Who Could Win: Encanto

Luca has the most heart, but The Mitchells vs the Machines is going to take the big prize here because - as an animation - it was just really well done. Encanto is insanely popular and as the advantage of recency and the catchy soundtracks, but it was, in my opinion, not a very good film (the animation was impeccable as one would expect from Disney). Flee was phenomenal, its animation was used to tell a story that otherwise could not have been told. However,  I think its best chance still lie with Best Documentary Feature. Mitchells had everything going for it, a good story, character depth and development, humour, pathos, innovative animation and design, and plain ol' fun.


BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

Flee, Denmark
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, Bhutan

Who Should Win: Drive My Car
Who Will Win: Drive My Car
Who Could Win: Drive My Car

This will be Drive My Car's to lose. Unless it is going to bring home the Best Picture award which is unlikely as it is less accessible that Parasite. Flee's only chance might be Best Documentary and The Worst Person in the World just does not seem to have the momentum.


BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Ascension
Attica
Summer of Soul
Writing with Fire

Who Should Win: Flee
Who Will Win: Flee
Who Could Win: Summer of Soul

Unfortunately, this is a blind spot for me, I will go with Flee since I was absolutely moved by it. And it being nominated in three categories should be a feat unto itself. But I hear Summer of Soul is wildly popular.


BEST ORIGNAL SCORE

Don't Look Up, Nicholas Britell
Dune, Hans Zimmer
Encanto, Germaine Franco
Parallel Mothers, Alberto Iglesias
The Power of the Dog, Jonny Greenwood

Who Should Win: The Power of the Dog, Jonny Greenwood
Who Will Win: Dune, Hans Zimmer
Who Could Win: The Power of the Dog, Jonny Greenwood

Dune - for all its narrative fault - was technically brilliant and Zimmer's score was one of the many under-the-line highlights of an otherwise 3-hour slog. Greenwood's tortured score for Power was one of the many memorable moments in a powerful film. Same too for Iglesias' eclectic score for Parallel Mothers and Britell's punchy jazzy track in Don't Look Up. 


BEST ORIGINAL SONG

"Be Alive", King Richard
"Dos Orugitas", Encanto
"Down to Joy", Belfast
"No Time to Die", No Time to Die
"Somehow You Do",  Four Good Days


Who Should Win: No Time to Die
Who Will Win: No Time to Die
Who Could Win: Be Alive

This is going to be Billie Ellish vs Beyonce and Ellis will take it. If Bruno was around, on the other hand (shhhhh....We don't talk about Bruno!).


BEST SOUND


Who Should Win: Dune
Who Will Win: Dune
Who Could Win: West Side Story

No more sound mixing and sound editing, and so this again will go to the sci-fi opera epic Dune. Although as a musical, West Side Story has a chance.


BEST PRODUCTION


Who Should Win: Nightmare Alley
Who Will Win: Nightmare Alley
Who Could Win: Dune

All five films have stunning production designs, but Guillermo del Toro's Nightmare Alley was really something. From the carnival in the first half to the art nouveau of the second half - and that Cate Blanchett's office (stunning!). Dune might also just take too just for its grandeur and expansive scope of world building.


BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Greig Fraser, Dune
Dan Laustsen, Nightmare Alley
Bruno Delbonnel, The Tragedy of Macbeth
Janusz Kaminski, West Side Story

Who Should Win: Bruno Delbonnel
Who Will Win: Ari Wegner
Who Could Win: Greig Fraser 

As always, my own personal favourite tech category. Delbonnel black and white filming of Macbeth was one of the standout. Those images still resonate. However, Wegner's gorgeous wide-angled lensing of New Zealand and her intimate caressing of the characters within the house are going to get her the award. Fraser might get it with Dune II but he is also getting some love with The Batman.


BEST FILM EDITING

Who Should Win: King Richard
Who Will Win: King Richard
Who Could Win: Don't Look Up

Those tennis scenes itself would surely sewed the win up for King Richard. Although Don't Look Up had some great editing especially towards the climax.


BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Cyrano

Who Should Win: Cruella
Who Will Win: Cruella
Who Could Win: Cruella

I mean for a film all about fashion, this sure has to be Cruella's to lose.


BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Coming 2 America
The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Who Should Win: The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Who Will Win: The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Who Could Win: The Eyes of Tammy Faye

The unrecognisable transformation of Jessica Chastain to Tammy Faye makes this the undeniable winner.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Free Guy

Who Should Win: Dune
Who Will Win: Dune
Who Could Win: Spider-Man: No Way Home   

Marvel is not going to win this unless they want to appease the fanboys. Dune's VFX was spectacular. 
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