Oscar voting begins today, Thursday. Here are some handy lists for the top categories. I’ll add some more during the day.
These are my choices. Journalists don’t get to vote in the Oscars. We suggest. We try to resist the enormous amount of publicity and marketing, but know that the nominees must come from movies the public has seen or been made aware of.
These choices differ in some respects to Gold Derby, which I don’t think really indicates anything and is rarely right. In Best Actress, I feel that these women were outstanding. Jennifer Hudson must be nominated for playing Aretha Franklin. How can she be omitted? Penelope Cruz’s work in
“Parallel Mothers” is extraordinary and must be seen. In Supporting Actor, Jamie Dornan is sublime in “Belfast.” Mike Faist in “West Side Story” is creating something memorable. In supporting actress, Kathryn Hunter in “Macbeth” is coming almost from a transcendental place.
In Foreign Film, “Drive My Car” has the lead. I felt that Pedro Almodovar’s “Parallel Mothers,” one of the director’s best films but not entered by Spain, should go in general Best Picture. It can also be in Foreign Film. “A Hero” also rates in this category.
BEST PICTURE
Belfast, CODA, West Side Story, The Power of the Dog, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Tick Tick Boom, Being the Ricardos, Parallel Mothers, King Richard, Dune.
BEST ACTRESS
Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Hudson, Jessica Chastain, Lady Gaga.
BEST ACTOR
Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Garfield, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Javier Bardem
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Kathryn Hunter, Kirsten Dunst, Aunjunue Ellis, Caitriona Balfe, Ariana DeBose
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Jamie Dornan, Ciaran Hinds, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Troy Kotsur, Mike Faist
BEST DIRECTOR
Jane Campion, Kenneth Branagh, Steven Spielberg, Joel Coen, Denis Villeneuve
BEST SONG
“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days”
“No Time to Die” from movie of the same name
“Here I Am Singing My Way Home” from “Respect”
“Be Alive” from “King Richard”
“So May We Start” from “Annette” (the only good thing about this movie)
I did not choose the song offered from “Encanto.” It’s not nearly as good as “Bruno,” which is a commercial hit. I think Disney blew it here.
MORE NOMINEES CHOICES TO COME…
