MovieManifesto

Oscars 2021: Prediction Roundup

March 27, 2022March 26, 2022 Jeremy BeckOscars

Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Over the past week, MovieManifesto has analyzed all 20 feature categories (sorry, short subjects, no offense intended) at this year’s Oscars. In the interest of service journalism, we’re compiling all of our predictions and preferences into this omnibus post. Click on the links to access our write-up for a particular category.

Best Actor
Will win: Will Smith—King Richard (confidence: 4/5)
Should win: Benedict Cumberbatch—The Power of the Dog
Worst omission: Simon Rex—Red Rocket

Best Actress
Will win: Jessica Chastain—The Eyes of Tammy Faye (confidence: 1/5)
Should win: Olivia Colman—The Lost Daughter
Worst omission: Rebecca Hall—The Night House Read More

Oscars 2021: Best Picture and Best Director

March 25, 2022March 23, 2022 Jeremy BeckOscars

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Power of the Dog; Emilia Jones in CODA

And here we are. Our coverage of all 20 feature categories at this year’s Oscars wraps up today with the top two awards, one of which is virtually assured and one of which very much isn’t.

BEST DIRECTOR

NOMINEES
Paul Thomas Anderson—Licorice Pizza
Kenneth Branagh—Belfast
Jane Campion—The Power of the Dog
Ryûsuke Hamaguchi—Drive My Car
Steven Spielberg—West Side Story Read More

Oscars 2021: The Lead Actors

March 24, 2022March 23, 2022 Jeremy BeckOscars

Kristen Stewart in Spencer; Will Smith in King Richard

Let’s keep the suspense going! Even if the supporting actor races are fairly boring at this point, that isn’t true of the screenplays, and there’s also legitimate uncertainty in one of the lead races. The excitement is so contagious, it’s spreading across categories!

BEST ACTOR

NOMINEES
Javier Bardem—Being the Ricardos
Benedict Cumberbatch—The Power of the Dog
Andrew Garfield—Tick Tick Boom
Will Smith—King Richard
Denzel Washington—The Tragedy of Macbeth Read More

Oscars 2021: The Screenplays

March 23, 2022March 22, 2022 Jeremy BeckOscars

Meryl Streep in Don't Look Up; Olivia Colman in The Lost Daughter

Hey, you wanted intrigue at the Oscars? How about not one but two screenplay races where the winner remains legitimately uncertain? Let’s get to it.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

NOMINEES
Belfast—Kenneth Branagh
Don’t Look Up—Adam McKay
King Richard—Zach Baylin
Licorice Pizza—Paul Thomas Anderson
The Worst Person in the World—Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt Read More

Oscars 2021: The Supporting Actors

March 23, 2022March 23, 2022 Jeremy BeckOscars

Ariana DeBose in West Side Story; Troy Kotsur in CODA

There are quite a few competitive races at this year’s Oscars, including several in categories we’ve previously analyzed. They do not include the races for the supporting actors, which are virtually written in stone at this point. But who cares? After all, the whole point of this annual exercise isn’t to predict the winners but to officially log my own choices so that years from now, I can issue boastful statements like, “Sure, you all like Anya Taylor-Joy now that she’s earned her third Oscar nomination of the 2020s, but how many of you put her on your ballot in 2018 for Thoroughbreds??”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

NOMINEES
Jessie Buckley—The Lost Daughter
Ariana DeBose—West Side Story
Judi Dench—Belfast
Kirsten Dunst—The Power of the Dog
Aunjanue Ellis—King Richard Read More