ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory
Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Adam Driver, Marriage Story
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes
Official Guess: Adam Driver, Marriage Story
ACTUAL WINNER: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes
Al Pacino, The Irishman
Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Official Guess: Joe Pesci, The Irishman
ACTUAL WINNER: Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Cynthia Arivo, Harriet
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Saoirse Ronan, Little Women
Charlize Theron, Bombshell
Renee Zellweger, Judy
Official Guess: Renee Zellweger, Judy
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell
Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit
Florence Pugh, Little Women
Margot Robbie, Bombshell
Official Guess: Florence Pugh, Little Women
ACTUAL WINNER: Laura Dern, Marriage Story
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I Lost my Body
Klaus
Missing Link
Toy Story 4
Official Guess: Toy Story 4
CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Irishman
Joker
The Lighthouse
1917
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Official Guess: 1917
COSTUME DESIGN
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Official Guess: Jojo Rabbit
ACTUAL WINNER: Little Women
DIRECTING
Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
Todd Phillips, Joker
Sam Mendes, 1917
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Bong Joon Ho, Parasite
Official Guess: Sam Mendes, 1917
ACTUAL WINNER: Bong Joon Ho, Parasite
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
American Factory
The Cave
The Edge of Democracy
For Sama
Honeyland
Official Guess: American Factory
DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
"In the Absence" -This almost feels like a found footage movie. There's something haunting about the entire experience while watching "In the Absence." There are videos online that just dump a bunch of footage at the screen and have the audience walk away with an emotional experience. "In the Absence" is genius in its minimalism. The message is clear and it treats the audience with a healthy balance between info and emotion.
"Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if You're a Girl)"
"Life Overtakes Me" -Okay, you hit me pretty hard on a topic that I am passionate about. I've been tuned into the plight of the immigrant and the refugee since Trump took office. There's actually something medical that happens to kids when they've been refugees and are at risk of being sent back. The first question that people have, because we live in a cynical world, is "Are they faking it?" While the short addresses this, it is something that lingers in the background of the story. I'm extraordinarily moved by this short, but I can see how someone could watch this short cynically.
"St. Louis Superman"
"Walk Run Cha-Cha" -This is touching, but also a little bit too long. I can see this being an interesting idea and an interesting experiment in storytelling. The film isn't really about dancing. It's about the role of the immigrant on the small scale. I think there's a little bit more effort put into connecting these ideas together than there really should be. It really wants the dancing to be a throughline for the piece, bu it doesn't always work.
Official Guess: St. Louis Superman
ACTUAL WINNER: "Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if You're a Girl)"
FILM EDITING
Ford v. Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Parasite
Official Guess: Parasite
ACTUAL WINNER: Ford v. Ferrari
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Corpus Christi
Honeyland
Les Miserables
Pain and Glory
Parasite
Official Guess: Parasite
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Bombshell
Joker
Judy
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
1917
Official Guess: Joker
ACTUAL WINNER: Bombshell
ORIGINAL SCORE
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Official Guess: Little Women
ACTUAL WINNER: Joker
ORIGINAL SONG
"I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away" -Toy Story 4
"[I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" -Rocketman
"I'm Standing With You" -Breakthrough
"Into the Unknown" -Frozen II
"Stand Up" -Harriet
Official Guess: "[I'm Gonna] Love Me Again" -Rocketman
BEST PICTURE
Ford vs. Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Parasite
Official Guess: 1917
ACTUAL WINNER: Parasite
PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
1917
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Parasite
Official Guess: Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
"Dcera (Daughter)" -Man, for a guy who loves everything about this, I have a hard time actually recommending this. It's got a very odd and unique visual style, which is up my alley. It's indirect and emotional. It plays in the fringes of understanding. But it's also all a bit too much. While a movie that explores the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, sometimes the metaphors are a bit too much. Animation can often be a balance between aesthetically challenging and worthy of content.
"Hair Love" -Conceptually, I adore this. It is such a small moment that I can only glimpse into. But the thing that holds it back is the quality of the animation. "Hair Love" takes a bit of a hit by how functional the animation is. It's light and airy, which is a step in the right direction. But in terms of taking risks, it feels very safe. I rarely advocate for a longer short, but the movie also feels very rushed. There's a lot of reveals that are powerful, but seem to rush to reveals that may not be earned. Regardless, there's a lot of good here.
"Kitbull" -Oh my. A pro-pitbull animated movie that shows up on Disney+. That's problematic. I think I'm anti-pitbulls as pets. I know. I've instantly alienated a very vocal subgroup of my readership. In terms of quality of animation, I love the style here. My wife commented that animated shorts are built for Academy Award nominations. That's probably true. The story is very simple here and it's meant to be a bit of a tearjerker by the end. But I've never been an animal person, so the movie does very little. It's fine and looks very cool.
"Memorable" -And this is what "Daughter" should have been. "Memorable" really understands how a cool visual aesthetic can only deepen an already challenging message. The filmmakers talk about something that I tend to see in the Academy Award shorts: dementia. But because art acts as a grounding element for the surreal elements of dementia, the story is only more painful while providing a gorgeous set of images. Honestly, I'm very impressed with everything going on here. I can't even think on that level.
"Sister" -I can't believe that this movie would be nominated. I'm going to caveat this in a second, but I want to stress that this movie is pro-life. But I also acknowledge that probably most people are against forced abortions. "Sister", however, is a reminder that the fetus is a person. Unequivocally, the uterus stresses the humanity of the person. Yeah, it gets a bit weird at times, but the imagery is powerful. The use of cloth creates this surreal visual aesthetic. Like "Daughter", there's some weird imagery, but I like it.
Official Guess: "Memorable"
ACTUAL WINNER: "Hair Love" (I didn't trust my gut!)
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
"Brotherhood" -There's a theme this year when it comes to the shorts. They're all named after family members. I don't get this one because the brotherhood seems to be the most important element of this story. Culturally, "Brotherhood" has a lot to offer. If international entries offer both cultural and universal themes, "Brotherhood" might be most stressed on addressing cultural issues. But at its heart, "Brotherhood" is about pride and fatherhood. It's about toxic masculinity and it works more than it doesn't.
"Nefta Football Club" -This is the one I heard about that people loved. I kind of feel like "Nefta Football Club" kind of acts like a newspaper comic strip. There's a beginning and middle, both well developed. Then the end hits with a dead stop. It is almost a joke and pun. While it has heart overall and some really clever stuff going on, the movie ends with a bit of a chuckle, which probably doesn't necessarily means I'm taking much away from the movie as a whole.
"The Neighbors' Widow" -This one has a prayer of getting the Academy Award because it's an American entry. American movies crush at the Academy Awards, even if they are undeserving. The bad news about "The Neighbors' Window" is that it feels like a short film. Limited by its format, it never really transcends the medium. It's a sad story overall, but it does offer some character development that speaks to long time married couples. Mind you, this married couple has a very specific moral code that doesn't align with ours, but that's another story.
"Saria" -Oddly enough, "Saria" was the most shocking of all the films. Last year's live action shorts were traumatizing tales about children. "Saria" would have fit well into last year's category. It's a painful story to watch, especially considering how seriously the filmmakers treat their subjects. There are moments where the phrase "Based on a true story" really matters. While "Saria" isn't a documentary, it is something that most people should be aware of.
"A Sister" -My favorite feeling while watching a short film is the thought that I would like to watch a feature length film about the same subject. Surrounding a pretty intense gimmick, the story is riveting. I never watch shorts passively, mainly because I end up writing these things. But the second the gimmick was revealed, I sat up straight and paid attention to every line. It is an extremely clever movie, again based on a true story. While it might not be the most important of the shorts, I would really like this one to win.
Official Guess: "Nefta Football Club"
ACTUAL WINNER: "The Neighbors' Window"
SOUND EDITING
Ford vs. Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Official Guess: Ford v. Ferrari
SOUND MIXING
Ad Astra
Ford vs. Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Official Guess: Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
ACTUAL WINNER: 1917
VISUAL EFFECTS
Avengers: Endgame
The Irishman
The Lion King
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Official Guess: 1917
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
The Two Popes
Official Guess: The Irishman
ACTUAL WINNER: Jojo Rabbit
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Knives Out
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Parasite
Official Guess: Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
ACTUAL WINNER: Parasite
Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory
Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Adam Driver, Marriage Story
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes
Official Guess: Adam Driver, Marriage Story
ACTUAL WINNER: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes
Al Pacino, The Irishman
Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Official Guess: Joe Pesci, The Irishman
ACTUAL WINNER: Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Cynthia Arivo, Harriet
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Saoirse Ronan, Little Women
Charlize Theron, Bombshell
Renee Zellweger, Judy
Official Guess: Renee Zellweger, Judy
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell
Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit
Florence Pugh, Little Women
Margot Robbie, Bombshell
Official Guess: Florence Pugh, Little Women
ACTUAL WINNER: Laura Dern, Marriage Story
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I Lost my Body
Klaus
Missing Link
Toy Story 4
Official Guess: Toy Story 4
CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Irishman
Joker
The Lighthouse
1917
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Official Guess: 1917
COSTUME DESIGN
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Official Guess: Jojo Rabbit
ACTUAL WINNER: Little Women
DIRECTING
Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
Todd Phillips, Joker
Sam Mendes, 1917
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Bong Joon Ho, Parasite
Official Guess: Sam Mendes, 1917
ACTUAL WINNER: Bong Joon Ho, Parasite
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
American Factory
The Cave
The Edge of Democracy
For Sama
Honeyland
Official Guess: American Factory
DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
"In the Absence" -This almost feels like a found footage movie. There's something haunting about the entire experience while watching "In the Absence." There are videos online that just dump a bunch of footage at the screen and have the audience walk away with an emotional experience. "In the Absence" is genius in its minimalism. The message is clear and it treats the audience with a healthy balance between info and emotion.
"Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if You're a Girl)"
"Life Overtakes Me" -Okay, you hit me pretty hard on a topic that I am passionate about. I've been tuned into the plight of the immigrant and the refugee since Trump took office. There's actually something medical that happens to kids when they've been refugees and are at risk of being sent back. The first question that people have, because we live in a cynical world, is "Are they faking it?" While the short addresses this, it is something that lingers in the background of the story. I'm extraordinarily moved by this short, but I can see how someone could watch this short cynically.
"St. Louis Superman"
"Walk Run Cha-Cha" -This is touching, but also a little bit too long. I can see this being an interesting idea and an interesting experiment in storytelling. The film isn't really about dancing. It's about the role of the immigrant on the small scale. I think there's a little bit more effort put into connecting these ideas together than there really should be. It really wants the dancing to be a throughline for the piece, bu it doesn't always work.
Official Guess: St. Louis Superman
ACTUAL WINNER: "Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if You're a Girl)"
FILM EDITING
Ford v. Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Parasite
Official Guess: Parasite
ACTUAL WINNER: Ford v. Ferrari
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Corpus Christi
Honeyland
Les Miserables
Pain and Glory
Parasite
Official Guess: Parasite
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Bombshell
Joker
Judy
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
1917
Official Guess: Joker
ACTUAL WINNER: Bombshell
ORIGINAL SCORE
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Official Guess: Little Women
ACTUAL WINNER: Joker
ORIGINAL SONG
"I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away" -Toy Story 4
"[I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" -Rocketman
"I'm Standing With You" -Breakthrough
"Into the Unknown" -Frozen II
"Stand Up" -Harriet
Official Guess: "[I'm Gonna] Love Me Again" -Rocketman
BEST PICTURE
Ford vs. Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Parasite
Official Guess: 1917
ACTUAL WINNER: Parasite
PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
1917
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Parasite
Official Guess: Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
"Dcera (Daughter)" -Man, for a guy who loves everything about this, I have a hard time actually recommending this. It's got a very odd and unique visual style, which is up my alley. It's indirect and emotional. It plays in the fringes of understanding. But it's also all a bit too much. While a movie that explores the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, sometimes the metaphors are a bit too much. Animation can often be a balance between aesthetically challenging and worthy of content.
"Hair Love" -Conceptually, I adore this. It is such a small moment that I can only glimpse into. But the thing that holds it back is the quality of the animation. "Hair Love" takes a bit of a hit by how functional the animation is. It's light and airy, which is a step in the right direction. But in terms of taking risks, it feels very safe. I rarely advocate for a longer short, but the movie also feels very rushed. There's a lot of reveals that are powerful, but seem to rush to reveals that may not be earned. Regardless, there's a lot of good here.
"Kitbull" -Oh my. A pro-pitbull animated movie that shows up on Disney+. That's problematic. I think I'm anti-pitbulls as pets. I know. I've instantly alienated a very vocal subgroup of my readership. In terms of quality of animation, I love the style here. My wife commented that animated shorts are built for Academy Award nominations. That's probably true. The story is very simple here and it's meant to be a bit of a tearjerker by the end. But I've never been an animal person, so the movie does very little. It's fine and looks very cool.
"Memorable" -And this is what "Daughter" should have been. "Memorable" really understands how a cool visual aesthetic can only deepen an already challenging message. The filmmakers talk about something that I tend to see in the Academy Award shorts: dementia. But because art acts as a grounding element for the surreal elements of dementia, the story is only more painful while providing a gorgeous set of images. Honestly, I'm very impressed with everything going on here. I can't even think on that level.
"Sister" -I can't believe that this movie would be nominated. I'm going to caveat this in a second, but I want to stress that this movie is pro-life. But I also acknowledge that probably most people are against forced abortions. "Sister", however, is a reminder that the fetus is a person. Unequivocally, the uterus stresses the humanity of the person. Yeah, it gets a bit weird at times, but the imagery is powerful. The use of cloth creates this surreal visual aesthetic. Like "Daughter", there's some weird imagery, but I like it.
Official Guess: "Memorable"
ACTUAL WINNER: "Hair Love" (I didn't trust my gut!)
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
"Brotherhood" -There's a theme this year when it comes to the shorts. They're all named after family members. I don't get this one because the brotherhood seems to be the most important element of this story. Culturally, "Brotherhood" has a lot to offer. If international entries offer both cultural and universal themes, "Brotherhood" might be most stressed on addressing cultural issues. But at its heart, "Brotherhood" is about pride and fatherhood. It's about toxic masculinity and it works more than it doesn't.
"Nefta Football Club" -This is the one I heard about that people loved. I kind of feel like "Nefta Football Club" kind of acts like a newspaper comic strip. There's a beginning and middle, both well developed. Then the end hits with a dead stop. It is almost a joke and pun. While it has heart overall and some really clever stuff going on, the movie ends with a bit of a chuckle, which probably doesn't necessarily means I'm taking much away from the movie as a whole.
"The Neighbors' Widow" -This one has a prayer of getting the Academy Award because it's an American entry. American movies crush at the Academy Awards, even if they are undeserving. The bad news about "The Neighbors' Window" is that it feels like a short film. Limited by its format, it never really transcends the medium. It's a sad story overall, but it does offer some character development that speaks to long time married couples. Mind you, this married couple has a very specific moral code that doesn't align with ours, but that's another story.
"Saria" -Oddly enough, "Saria" was the most shocking of all the films. Last year's live action shorts were traumatizing tales about children. "Saria" would have fit well into last year's category. It's a painful story to watch, especially considering how seriously the filmmakers treat their subjects. There are moments where the phrase "Based on a true story" really matters. While "Saria" isn't a documentary, it is something that most people should be aware of.
"A Sister" -My favorite feeling while watching a short film is the thought that I would like to watch a feature length film about the same subject. Surrounding a pretty intense gimmick, the story is riveting. I never watch shorts passively, mainly because I end up writing these things. But the second the gimmick was revealed, I sat up straight and paid attention to every line. It is an extremely clever movie, again based on a true story. While it might not be the most important of the shorts, I would really like this one to win.
Official Guess: "Nefta Football Club"
ACTUAL WINNER: "The Neighbors' Window"
SOUND EDITING
Ford vs. Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Official Guess: Ford v. Ferrari
SOUND MIXING
Ad Astra
Ford vs. Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Official Guess: Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
ACTUAL WINNER: 1917
VISUAL EFFECTS
Avengers: Endgame
The Irishman
The Lion King
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Official Guess: 1917
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
The Two Popes
Official Guess: The Irishman
ACTUAL WINNER: Jojo Rabbit
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Knives Out
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
Parasite
Official Guess: Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood
ACTUAL WINNER: Parasite
