Thursday, March 28, 2024

Oscar Ballots Go Out, Academy Voters Must Be Returned By Tuesday: In a Wide Open Race, Here are Some Suggestions

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Oscar ballots are out for voting today, and they must be returned by end of the day Tuesday in Los Angeles.

In a perfect world, Best Picture nods would go to “The Irishman,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “Little Women,” “1917,” “Ford v Ferrari,” “Just Mercy,” “Richard Jewell,” “Marriage Story,” “The Farewell.” I loved two foreign language films, also: “Pain and Glory,” and “Parasite.” There two films I didn’t care for especially, despite their intentions: “Jojo Rabbit” and “Uncut Gems.”

Best Actor: Robert De Niro, Joaquin Phoenix, Adam Driver, Eddie Murphy, Jonathan Pryce. This is a crowded field. Leonardo DiCaprio was excellent, so was Antonio Banderas. The latter has an excellent shot if he unseats Pryce or Murphy.

Best Actress: There are three “locks”: Renee Zellweger, Charlize Theron, and Saoirse Ronan. I like Cynthia Erivo and Alfre Woodard for spots four and five.

Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, Laura Dern, and then…Jennifer Lopez? Maybe. Florence Pugh? Definitely. Scarlett Johansson? My secret wish: Zhao Shuzhen from “The Farewell.”

Best Supporting Actor: Wow. What a crowd: Al Pacino, Brad Pitt, Joe Pesci, Tom Hanks– must be Tom Hanks. Jamie Foxx? Yes.

Best Director: Tarantino, Scorsese, Mendes all in. Now what? Bong Joon Ho? Probably, for “Parasite.” And Greta Gerwig for “Little Women.” Noah Baumbach is the X factor here, for “Marriage Story.” He may take Bong’s spot.

This is going to be one big reveal when the votes are counted. I can’t remember such a wide open crazy year. And so many great choices1!

 

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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