Who should, could and will win at the 2020 Academy Awards

Is there anything more exciting for a film fan then predicting the Oscars?

Let’s be clear, winning an Oscar for any film or individual is an amazing form of recognition and they’ll forever have Academy-Award Winner added before their name. However, it we’re honest it doesn’t mean that much in the long run. This year was an incredible year for films and, naturally, there’s gonna be some very good films that walk away with no Oscars. Does that take away from their greatness? Never.

But, with that being said, it’s the biggest night in Hollywood and people will have their predictions ready to go. However, who will win vs who should or might be the upset are very different questions so let’s answer them all at the same time.

 

Best Actress

Should win: Renee Zellweger (Judy)
Could win: Scarlett Johnansson (Marriage Story)
Will win: Renee Zellweger (Judy)

The could win here is a big stretch and barring a spectacular upset, Zellweger will be going home with her second Oscar. She does deserve it too, Judy was one of my most surprisingly enjoyable films of the year. While Johnasson delivers a top notch performance – I fear in this case, she will be merely the glorified runner up in this category. The other three have absolutely zero chance but this race was virtually over since Judy came out. The Academy loves a story and that notion of Zellweger completing her comeback by playing a Hollywood icon such as Judy Gardland is too good for them to say no to. 

Best Actor

Should win: Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)
Could win: Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)
Will win: Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)

This is a sure bet. Are book makers still even taking bets on this? I don’t know, I don’t bet.

I haven’t seen Pain and Glory, but have heard Banderas is awesome. DiCaprio, Driver and Pryce are all absolutely amazing in their roles and loved their films respectively. But Joaquin is the man and this is his year. Joker was a cultural and financial phenomenon and juggernaut, and in a character study piece such as that Phoenix is its engine. I personally believe this is the best individual acting performance we’ve gotten since Daniel Day Lewis in Lincoln and I can’t wait to here Phoenix deliver another woke acceptance speech.

Best Supporting Actress

Should win: Scarlett Johnansson (Jojo Rabbit)
Could win: Laura Dern (Marriage Story)
Will win: Laura Dern (Marriage Story)

Sigh. Laura Dern in Marriage Story will 100% win this, but why? I don’t think its an Oscar calibre performance and, frankly, I feel a bit flat about her and this category. I still think J Lo should have won this, but she didn’t even get nominated. Scar-Jo should win, however, because she was awesome in Jojo Rabbit but I’ve come to terms with this not happening.

Best Supporting Actor

Should win: Joe Pesci (The Irishman)
Could win: Al Pacino (The Irishman)
Will win: Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood)

This category has some seriously heavy hitters. Each nominee has an Oscar already on their mantle piece. However, Brad Pitt doesn’t have one for acting (he’s got one for producing for 12 Years a Slave) – yet. He’s the prohibitive favourite and I really dug his performance. I think he was the best part of that film and he’d be a deserving winner. Pesci, however, stole the show for me in the best or second best film of the year. Pacino has an outside shot as I think some voters would love to see the old timer get up on stage. It’s hard to believe he only has one Oscar win to his name – might he have a second?

Best Film

Should win: Parasite
Could win: Parasite
Will win:1917 

 So seeing Parasite the day before the Oscars has swayed my thinking on this massively. In my opinion it’s an indisputable masterpiece worthy of the Best Picture prize. It is unlike anything I’ve seen before and it covers off a number of genres. For me, it deserves to win. 1917 has been winning in the UK and America meaning its the favourite. However, two things are worth noting. One: Parasite won best cast at the SAG Awards which is simply huge and suggests the acting voters loved the film. Two: over the last 4 or 5 years we’ve routinely gotten upsets in this category. Long may it continue!

Best Director

Should win: Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)
Could win: Martin Scorsese (The Irishman)
Will win: Sam Mendes (1917)

This seems like Sam Mendes’s award. 1917 really encapsulates how a Director’s vision or strategy can translate into a simply stunning film. The one take meant insane levels of planning and the attention to detail he offered is something to behold. I think Scorsese has a chance, albeit a tiny one, of being rewarded for other films and not necessarily this one. However, Bong Joon Ho directed the shit out of Parasite. The man takes us one direction and then says hold on and then throws us in a completely different one. If I’m honest, all 5 would be worthy winners but while my heart goes with Bong Joon Ho, my head is going with Sam Mendes.

Best Original Screenplay

Should win: Parasite
Could win: Parasite
Will win: Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood

Whilst this is by no means Tarantino’s best film, I certainly enjoyed it a lot. It’s a well crafted story with some funny and unforgettable lines. He’s a darling of the Academy and they love to show him some love. This is one of the categories Parasite has a chance of winning, if it takes this prize early – prepare yourself to see it win the big one.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Should win: Jojo Rabbit
Could win: Joker
Will win: Jojo Rabbit

I feel pretty certain we’ll see Taika Waititi win for his Jojo Rabbit screenplay. However, Joker’s 11 nominations are no joke and this is possibly one of the categories it could see some victories in.

Best Score

Should win: Joker
Could win: 1917
Will win: Joker

Hildur for the win on this one.

Best Cinematography

Should win: 1917
Could win: 1917
Will win: 1917

Wouldn’t this be the snub of the decade if 1917 didn’t win? The one shot was absolutely stunning and is a technical triumph. It made everything so immersive and gave the film a completely new dimension and feel to any War film ever made. Roger Deakins is a legend and aside from the one shot itself we get to see some of the most stunning visuals of the last few years in 1917.

Best Foreign Film

Should win: Parasite
Could win: Parasite
Will win: Parasite

No point discussing this one much.

Best Animated Film

Should win: Toy Story 4
Could win: Toy Story 4
Will win: Klaus

This wasn’t a great year for animated films if we’re all being real. Toy Story 4 was solid, but not much more. It’s an ok film, but doesn’t touch on the previous three in the franchise. It is, however, a lot better than Klaus which I thought sucked. However, for some reason its the favourite. I have no idea why, but that’s life baby.