2019 Oscar Nomination Choices and Predictions, Part I

            Tomorrow, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces the 2019 Oscar nominations. There was no stand out film of the year; in fact, no film I saw received five reels. However, there were still plenty of great movies. If I was a member of the Academy, here’s what I would vote for:

Best Picture

Fighting with my Family

Frozen II

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Hobbs and Shaw

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part

Love and Mercy: Faustina

Marriage Story

Overcomer

Unplanned

Best Actor

Adam Driver, Marriage Story

Jacob Tremblay, Good Boys

Leonardo DeCaprio, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Melvil Poupaud, By the Grace of God

Robert DeNiro, The Irishman

Best Actress

Ashley Bratcher, Unplanned

Charlie Theron, Bombshell

Diasy Ridley, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Florence Pugh, Fighting with my Family

Scarlett Johanson, Marriage Story

Best Supporting Actress

Laura Dern, Marriage Story

Lena Headley, Fighting with my Family

Margaret Qualley, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Priscilla Shirer, Overcomer

Vanessa Kirby, Hobbs and Shaw

Best Supporting Actor

Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Brady Noon, Good Boys

Cameron Arnett, Overcomer

Al Pacino, The Irishman

Oscar Isaac, Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

Best Director

Fighting with my Family

The Irishman

Love and Mercy: Faustina

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Unplanned

Best Screenplay

Fighting with my Family

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part

Marriage Story

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Unplanned

Best Cinematography

Bombshell

The Irishman

Love and Mercy: Faustina

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

Best Art Direction

Bombshell

The Irishman

Marriage Story

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Costume Design

Fighting with my Family

The Irishman

Long Shot

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Tolkien

Best Visual Effects

Avengers: Endgame

Captain Marvel

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Spider-Man 2

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Editing

Bombshell

Fighting with my Family

Love and Mercy: Faustina

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Unplanned

Best Score

Avengers: Endgame

Frozen II

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part

Marriage Story

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

Best Sound

Avengers: Endgame

Captain Marvel

Fighting with my Family

Frozen II

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part

Bright Spot – The Bright Spot award goes to unique aspect of a film that stood as especially excellent, unexpected, or delightful.

1. The catchy and amazing songs “Not Evil” and “Gotham City Guys” from The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part

2. The outstanding ensemble cast of Fighting with my Family

3. Unplanned for handling the important ethics of abortion with courage and grace

4. The main three actors Good Boys, all outstanding performances from child actors

5. The music and visuals for “Lost in the Woods” from Frozen II for just being hilarious and epic.

            Of course, things don’t usually work out perfectly. Here are my predictions for the actual nominations:

Best Picture

1917

The Irishman

Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Marriage Story
Little Women

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Parasite

Best Actor

Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Taron Egerton, Rocketman
Adam Driver, Marriage Story
Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory
Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems

Best Actress

Renee Zellweger, Judy
Charlize Theron, Bombshell
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Saoirse Ronan, Little Women
Awkwafina, The Farewell

Best Supporting Actress

Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Margot Robbie, Bombshell
Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers
Florence Pugh, Little Women
Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell

Best Supporting Actor

Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Tom Hanks, Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Al Pacino, The Irishman
Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes

Best Director

Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Sam Mendes, 1917
Bong Joon-Ho, Parasite
Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
Todd Phillips, Joker

Best Original Screenplay

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Marriage Story
Parasite
Knives Out
Uncut Gems

Best Adapted Screenplay

The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Little Women
Joker
The Two Popes