ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Timothee Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle after Another
Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
Tim's Prediction: Michael B. Jordan
Lauren's Prediction: Michael B. Jordan
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Benecio del Toro, One Battle after Another
Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo, Sinners
Sean Penn, One Battle after Another
Stellan Skarsgard, Sentimental Value
Tim's Prediction: Jacob Elordi
Lauren's Prediction: Jacob Elordi
ACTUAL WINNER: Sean Penn
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue
Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
Emma Stone, Bugonia
Tim's Prediction: Jessie Buckley
Lauren's Prediction: Jessie Buckley
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan, Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
Teyana Taylor, One Battle after Another
Tim's Prediction: Elle Fanning
Lauren's Prediction: Wunmi Mosaku
ACTUAL WINNER: Amy Madigan
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Arco
Elio
KPop Demon Hunters
Little Amelie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
Tim's Prediction: KPop Demon Hunters
Lauren's Prediction: KPop Demon Hunters
Olivia's Prediction: Little Amelie or the Character of Rain
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Frankenstein, Dan Laustsen
Marty Supreme, Darius Khondji
One Battle after Another, Michael Bauman
Sinners, Autumn Durald Arkapa
Train Dreams, Adolpho Veloso
Tim's Prediction: Frankenstein
Lauren's Prediction: Frankenstein
ACTUAL WINNER: Sinners
COSTUME DESIGN
Avatar: Fire and Ash, Deborah L. Scott
Frankenstein, Kate Hawley
Hamnet, Malgosia Turzanska
Marty Supreme, Miyako Bellizzi
Sinners, Ruth Carter
Tim's Prediction: Frankenstein
Lauren's Prediction: Sinners
DIRECTING
Hamnet, Chloe Zhao
Marty Surpeme, Josh Safdie
One Battle after Another, Paul Thomas Anderson
Sentimental Value, Joachim Trier
Sinners, Ryan Coogler
Tim's Prediction: Ryan Coogler
Lauren's Prediction: Chloe Zhao
ACTUAL WINNER: Paul Thomas Anderson
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Alabama Solution
Come See Me in the Good Light
Cutting through Rocks
Mr. Nobody against Putin
The Perfect Neighbor
Tim's Prediction: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Lauren's Prediction: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
"All the Empty Rooms" -Yeah, this is the movie that should be out here. It works really well as a short because the film communicates how comfortable society has gotten with tragedy. Is there something performative about it? I suppose so. But at the same time, this feels like a guy using his specific talents to remind us that there is nothing normal about school shootings.
"Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud" -These are the kinds of movies that break my heart. Maybe this entire category is about feeling sad all of the time. It's inspiring to think how singularly focused Brent Renaud was to his pursuit of the truth. For a documentary short subject, it might overstay its welcome for a second, which feels heartless to write. But also, either make it a feature length or keep it to a tribute. Still, a knockout piece of work.
"Children No More: 'Were and Are Gone'"
"The Devil is Busy" -I almost wish that this was a longer movie because I think that both the film needs a bit more and I want to talk about it longer. My biggest frustration is that, because it offers little nuance, it's not going to change any minds.
"Perfectly a Strangeness" -You know how you shouldn't look at art and say "I could do that." The thing is, I kind of did something very similar to this in a photography class. The avant-garde makes and breaks this one.
Tim's Prediction: "All the Empty Rooms"
Lauren's Prediction: "All the Empty Rooms"
FILM EDITING
F1, Stephen Mirrione
Marty Supreme, Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
One Battle after Another, Andy Jurgensen
Sentimental Value, Olivier Bugge Coutte
Sinners, Michael P. Shawver
Tim's Prediction: Sinners
Lauren's Prediction: Senimental Value
ACTUAL WINNER: One Battle after Another
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
The Secret Agent (Brazil)
It Was Just an Accident (France)
Sentimental Value (Norway)
Sirat (Spain)
The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)
Tim's Prediction: Sentimental Value
Lauren's Prediction: Sentimental Value
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Frankenstein
Kokuho
Sinners
The Smashing Machine
The Ugly Stepsister
Tim's Prediction: Frankenstein
Lauren's Prediction: Frankenstein
ORIGINAL SCORE
Bugonia, Jerskin Fendrix
Frankenstein, Alexandre Desplait
Hamnet, Max Richter
One Battle after Another, Jonny Greenwood
Sinners, Ludwig Goransson
Tim's Prediction: One Battle After Another
Lauren's Prediction: Sinners
ORIGINAL SONG
"Dear Me" from Dianne Warren: Relentless
"Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters
"I Lied to You" from Sinners
"Sweet Dreams Of Joy" from Viva Verdi!
"Train Dreams" from Train Dreams
Tim's Prediction: "Golden"
Lauren's Prediction: "Golden"
BEST PICTURE
Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle after Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
Tim's Prediction: Hamnet
Lauren's Prediction: Sinners
ACTUAL WINNER: One Battle after Another
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle after Another
Sinners
Tim's Prediction: Sinners
Lauren's Prediction: Sinners
ACTUAL WINNER: Frankenstein
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
"Butterfly" - This is both gorgeous and mildly frustrating. The notion is that this is a painted animated movie telling the true story of a swimmer who participated in the German Olympic Games before ending up in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. It's pretty, but the use of paint as an animated medium sometimes makes it confusing to tell what is going on.
"Forevergreen" -If The Giving Tree had muddy messaging, this thematic version of The Giving Tree has even muddier messaging. Was the bear never supposed to leave home? Also, what were the odds that the fire started because of anything the bear did? At times, this looks gorgeous. At other times, it has some rough edges.
"The Girl Who Cried Pearls"
"Retirement Plan" -I almost shared this until it got a little bit sexual. This is one of those shorts that understands what a short is supposed to do. It is meant to get a kernel of something out there without overstaying its welcome. It is a good message, but ultimately feels a little low stakes considering that it a reflection on mortality.
"The Three Sisters"
Tim's Prediction: "Forevergreen"
Lauren's Prediction: "The Girl Who Cried Pearls"
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
"Butcher's Stain" -I watched three similarly toned movies that came out of the Middle East. For a second, I didn't quite know what "Butcher's Stain's" position was. But it is one of those complicated stories that reminds us that activism is complicated. Yeah, I got moved at the end. While I think that the divorce element is a hat-on-top-of-a-hat, the film hurt to watch.
"A Friend of Dorothy"
"Jane Austen's Period Drama" -I'm genuinely shocked that this is up for an Academy Award. It feels like a comedy skit that you would find on YouTube, only better produced. Don't get me wrong. I'm all for normalizing conversations about menstruation, especially when it comes to calling out dudes. But it's a lot of "tee-hee, isn't that fun?" versus anything all that moving.
"The Singers" -It's totally going to win, isn't it? Like, this feels like what the Academy loves. It's really well shot and I'll go as far as saying it's decently acted. But it is more emotionally manipulative than something that has a bit more weight to it. I'm still a fan of "Two People Exchanging Saliva."
"Two People Exchanging Saliva" -This one is straight up impressive. It's a French piece that has a bit of a Black Mirror vibe. I want to read criticism on this one because I love my interpretation, yet I feel like there's more to unpack. From my perspective, this is the fact that we rationalize violence every day, which should be horrifying while demonizing sex, which should be life-affirming. There's more there, but I adored a lot of this.
Tim's Prediction: "Two People Exchanging Saliva"
Lauren's Prediction: "Jane Austen's Period Drama"
ACTUAL WINNERS: "The Singers" and "Two People Exchanging Saliva"
SOUND
F1
Frankenstein
One Battle after Another
Sinners
Sirat
Tim's Prediction: F1
Lauren's Prediction: F1
VISUAL EFFECTS
Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Jurassic World Rebirth
The Lost Bus
Sinners
Tim's Prediction: Sinners
Lauren's Prediction: Sinners
ACTUAL WINNER: Avatar: Fire and Ash
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
One Battle after Another
Train Dreams
Tim's Prediction: Hamnet
Lauren's Prediction: Hamnet
ACTUAL WINNER: One Battle after Another
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Blue Moon
It Was Just an Accident
Marty Supreme
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Tim's Prediction: Sinners
Lauren's Prediction: Marty Supreme
BEST CASTING
Hamnet, Nina Gold
Marty Supreme, Jennifer Venditti
One Battle after Another, Cassandra Kulukindis
The Secret Agent, Gabriel Domingues
Sinners, Francine Maisler
Tim's Prediction: Sinners
Lauren's Prediction: Hamnet
ACTUAL WINNER: One Battle after Another
Timothee Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle after Another
Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
Tim's Prediction: Michael B. Jordan
Lauren's Prediction: Michael B. Jordan
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Benecio del Toro, One Battle after Another
Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo, Sinners
Sean Penn, One Battle after Another
Stellan Skarsgard, Sentimental Value
Tim's Prediction: Jacob Elordi
Lauren's Prediction: Jacob Elordi
ACTUAL WINNER: Sean Penn
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue
Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
Emma Stone, Bugonia
Tim's Prediction: Jessie Buckley
Lauren's Prediction: Jessie Buckley
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan, Weapons
Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
Teyana Taylor, One Battle after Another
Tim's Prediction: Elle Fanning
Lauren's Prediction: Wunmi Mosaku
ACTUAL WINNER: Amy Madigan
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Arco
Elio
KPop Demon Hunters
Little Amelie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
Tim's Prediction: KPop Demon Hunters
Lauren's Prediction: KPop Demon Hunters
Olivia's Prediction: Little Amelie or the Character of Rain
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Frankenstein, Dan Laustsen
Marty Supreme, Darius Khondji
One Battle after Another, Michael Bauman
Sinners, Autumn Durald Arkapa
Train Dreams, Adolpho Veloso
Tim's Prediction: Frankenstein
Lauren's Prediction: Frankenstein
ACTUAL WINNER: Sinners
COSTUME DESIGN
Avatar: Fire and Ash, Deborah L. Scott
Frankenstein, Kate Hawley
Hamnet, Malgosia Turzanska
Marty Supreme, Miyako Bellizzi
Sinners, Ruth Carter
Tim's Prediction: Frankenstein
Lauren's Prediction: Sinners
DIRECTING
Hamnet, Chloe Zhao
Marty Surpeme, Josh Safdie
One Battle after Another, Paul Thomas Anderson
Sentimental Value, Joachim Trier
Sinners, Ryan Coogler
Tim's Prediction: Ryan Coogler
Lauren's Prediction: Chloe Zhao
ACTUAL WINNER: Paul Thomas Anderson
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Alabama Solution
Come See Me in the Good Light
Cutting through Rocks
Mr. Nobody against Putin
The Perfect Neighbor
Tim's Prediction: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Lauren's Prediction: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
"All the Empty Rooms" -Yeah, this is the movie that should be out here. It works really well as a short because the film communicates how comfortable society has gotten with tragedy. Is there something performative about it? I suppose so. But at the same time, this feels like a guy using his specific talents to remind us that there is nothing normal about school shootings.
"Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud" -These are the kinds of movies that break my heart. Maybe this entire category is about feeling sad all of the time. It's inspiring to think how singularly focused Brent Renaud was to his pursuit of the truth. For a documentary short subject, it might overstay its welcome for a second, which feels heartless to write. But also, either make it a feature length or keep it to a tribute. Still, a knockout piece of work.
"Children No More: 'Were and Are Gone'"
"The Devil is Busy" -I almost wish that this was a longer movie because I think that both the film needs a bit more and I want to talk about it longer. My biggest frustration is that, because it offers little nuance, it's not going to change any minds.
"Perfectly a Strangeness" -You know how you shouldn't look at art and say "I could do that." The thing is, I kind of did something very similar to this in a photography class. The avant-garde makes and breaks this one.
Tim's Prediction: "All the Empty Rooms"
Lauren's Prediction: "All the Empty Rooms"
FILM EDITING
F1, Stephen Mirrione
Marty Supreme, Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
One Battle after Another, Andy Jurgensen
Sentimental Value, Olivier Bugge Coutte
Sinners, Michael P. Shawver
Tim's Prediction: Sinners
Lauren's Prediction: Senimental Value
ACTUAL WINNER: One Battle after Another
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
The Secret Agent (Brazil)
It Was Just an Accident (France)
Sentimental Value (Norway)
Sirat (Spain)
The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)
Tim's Prediction: Sentimental Value
Lauren's Prediction: Sentimental Value
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Frankenstein
Kokuho
Sinners
The Smashing Machine
The Ugly Stepsister
Tim's Prediction: Frankenstein
Lauren's Prediction: Frankenstein
ORIGINAL SCORE
Bugonia, Jerskin Fendrix
Frankenstein, Alexandre Desplait
Hamnet, Max Richter
One Battle after Another, Jonny Greenwood
Sinners, Ludwig Goransson
Tim's Prediction: One Battle After Another
Lauren's Prediction: Sinners
ORIGINAL SONG
"Dear Me" from Dianne Warren: Relentless
"Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters
"I Lied to You" from Sinners
"Sweet Dreams Of Joy" from Viva Verdi!
"Train Dreams" from Train Dreams
Tim's Prediction: "Golden"
Lauren's Prediction: "Golden"
BEST PICTURE
Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle after Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
Tim's Prediction: Hamnet
Lauren's Prediction: Sinners
ACTUAL WINNER: One Battle after Another
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle after Another
Sinners
Tim's Prediction: Sinners
Lauren's Prediction: Sinners
ACTUAL WINNER: Frankenstein
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
"Butterfly" - This is both gorgeous and mildly frustrating. The notion is that this is a painted animated movie telling the true story of a swimmer who participated in the German Olympic Games before ending up in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. It's pretty, but the use of paint as an animated medium sometimes makes it confusing to tell what is going on.
"Forevergreen" -If The Giving Tree had muddy messaging, this thematic version of The Giving Tree has even muddier messaging. Was the bear never supposed to leave home? Also, what were the odds that the fire started because of anything the bear did? At times, this looks gorgeous. At other times, it has some rough edges.
"The Girl Who Cried Pearls"
"Retirement Plan" -I almost shared this until it got a little bit sexual. This is one of those shorts that understands what a short is supposed to do. It is meant to get a kernel of something out there without overstaying its welcome. It is a good message, but ultimately feels a little low stakes considering that it a reflection on mortality.
"The Three Sisters"
Tim's Prediction: "Forevergreen"
Lauren's Prediction: "The Girl Who Cried Pearls"
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
"Butcher's Stain" -I watched three similarly toned movies that came out of the Middle East. For a second, I didn't quite know what "Butcher's Stain's" position was. But it is one of those complicated stories that reminds us that activism is complicated. Yeah, I got moved at the end. While I think that the divorce element is a hat-on-top-of-a-hat, the film hurt to watch.
"A Friend of Dorothy"
"Jane Austen's Period Drama" -I'm genuinely shocked that this is up for an Academy Award. It feels like a comedy skit that you would find on YouTube, only better produced. Don't get me wrong. I'm all for normalizing conversations about menstruation, especially when it comes to calling out dudes. But it's a lot of "tee-hee, isn't that fun?" versus anything all that moving.
"The Singers" -It's totally going to win, isn't it? Like, this feels like what the Academy loves. It's really well shot and I'll go as far as saying it's decently acted. But it is more emotionally manipulative than something that has a bit more weight to it. I'm still a fan of "Two People Exchanging Saliva."
"Two People Exchanging Saliva" -This one is straight up impressive. It's a French piece that has a bit of a Black Mirror vibe. I want to read criticism on this one because I love my interpretation, yet I feel like there's more to unpack. From my perspective, this is the fact that we rationalize violence every day, which should be horrifying while demonizing sex, which should be life-affirming. There's more there, but I adored a lot of this.
Tim's Prediction: "Two People Exchanging Saliva"
Lauren's Prediction: "Jane Austen's Period Drama"
ACTUAL WINNERS: "The Singers" and "Two People Exchanging Saliva"
SOUND
F1
Frankenstein
One Battle after Another
Sinners
Sirat
Tim's Prediction: F1
Lauren's Prediction: F1
VISUAL EFFECTS
Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
Jurassic World Rebirth
The Lost Bus
Sinners
Tim's Prediction: Sinners
Lauren's Prediction: Sinners
ACTUAL WINNER: Avatar: Fire and Ash
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Bugonia
Frankenstein
Hamnet
One Battle after Another
Train Dreams
Tim's Prediction: Hamnet
Lauren's Prediction: Hamnet
ACTUAL WINNER: One Battle after Another
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Blue Moon
It Was Just an Accident
Marty Supreme
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Tim's Prediction: Sinners
Lauren's Prediction: Marty Supreme
BEST CASTING
Hamnet, Nina Gold
Marty Supreme, Jennifer Venditti
One Battle after Another, Cassandra Kulukindis
The Secret Agent, Gabriel Domingues
Sinners, Francine Maisler
Tim's Prediction: Sinners
Lauren's Prediction: Hamnet
ACTUAL WINNER: One Battle after Another