2020 OSCARS: My Predictions in the Top 8 Categories

Here is my annual prediction post for the 2020 Oscars, i.e. the 92nd Academy Awards. I really just consider the Top 8 categories on the blog but I play the Oscar prediction game like lots of other people (on other websites) where I think about all 24 categories. Last year I predicted 4 of 8 categories correctly and 12 of 24 overall. This year I have only seen a few of the nominated pictures.

Best Picture:

• “Ford v Ferrari” 
• “The Irishman” 
• “Jojo Rabbit” 
• “Joker” 
• “Little Women” 
• “Marriage Story” 
• “1917” 
• “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” 
• “Parasite” 

SHOULD WIN: Parasite.
WILL WIN: 1917.

Director:

• Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”)
• Todd Phillips (“Joker”)
• Sam Mendes (“1917”)
• Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)
• Bong Joon Ho (“Parasite”)

SHOULD WIN: Bong Joon Ho, Parasite.

WILL WIN: Sam Mendes, 1917.

Lead Actor:

• 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”)

SHOULD WIN: Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory (Dolor y Gloria).

WILL WIN: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker.

Lead Actress:

• Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”)
• Scarlett Johansson (“Marriage Story”)
• Saoirse Ronan (“Little Women”)
• Charlize Theron (“Bombshell”)
• Renee Zellweger (“Judy”)

SHOULD WIN: Renee Zellwegger, Judy.

WILL WIN: Renee Zellwegger, Judy.

Supporting Actor:

• 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”)

SHOULD WIN: Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

WILL WIN: Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Supporting Actress:

• Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”
• Laura Dern (“Marriage Story”)
• Scarlett Johansson (“Jojo Rabbit”)
• Florence Pugh (“Little Women”)
• Margot Robbie (“Bombshell”)

SHOULD WIN: Laura Dern, Marriage Story.

WILL WIN: Laura Dern, Marriage Story.

Adapted Screenplay:

• Taika Waititi (“Jojo Rabbit”)
• Steve Zaillian (“The Irishman”)
• Anthony McCarten (“The Two Popes”)
• Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”)
• Todd Phillips and Scott Silver (“Joker”)

SHOULD WIN: Little Women

WILL WIN: Jojo Rabbit.

Original Screenplay:

• Rian Johnson (“Knives Out”)
• Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story”)
• Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns (“1917”)
• Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)
• Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won (“Parasite”)

SHOULD WIN: Parasite.

WILL WIN: Parasite.

MOVIE REVIEW: Where The Wild Things Are

The Other Half and MadProfessah decided to go see Where The Wild Things Are in the theaters last weekend before it disappears to a television, computer screen or DVD. The film is directed by Spike Jonze well-known for his trippy, unique filmic vision song apparent in Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation (2002) and several genre-defining music videos (Beastie Boys' "Sabotage," Björk's "It's So Quiet" to name a few).

Both Being John Malkovich and Adaptation were written by the even trippier Charlie Kaufman but the adaptation of Maurice Sendak's beloved children book was written by Jonze and Dave Eggers (who wrote the screenplay for Away We Go released earlier this summer directed by Mr. Kate Winslet, Sam Mendes--see MadProfessah's B/B+ review).

The movie got both rave reviews and indifferent responses but there was general consensus (rottentomatoes.com score of 70%) that it was a visually arresting, if emotionally harrowing and dark vision of the imaginary world of an 8-year-old named Max.

The Other Half liked the movie more than I did. I enjoyed trying to figure out who was playing the voices of the Wild Things. "Hey, is that Claire from Six Feet Under? I really think KW is the red-headed actress from HBO." I was correct that KW is voiced by Lauren Ambrose but did not figure out that James Gandolfini played the lead Wild Thing named Carol and Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine), Chris Cooper, Forrest Whitaker and Catherine O'Hara are in the amazing cast.

The film does look amazing, and there are some very fun visually uplifting sequences, but in the end the overall impact of the experience is somewhat emotionally draining because it is basically a depiction of the many ways adults use speech and emotional non-verbal communication to attempt to hurt and manipulate others. There is a lot of talking in this movie, and a lot of unrepressed rage displayed by little creatures and big creatures alike.

Running Time: 1 hour, 41 minutes. MPAA Rating: Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language.

Plot: C-.
Acting: A-.
Visuals: A-.
Impact: B-.

Overall Grade: B/B-.