Who’ll conquer the Oscars? Our man in LA’S predictions
This is going to be an Oscars ceremony of firsts, and not just because of the pandemic. For the first time in ages I’m going to not be on the red carpet! Tonight is the 93rd Academy Awards and Covid means the ceremony is going to be mostly clear of the pesky press – including me!
Yep, it’s going to largely be a night off for me, although I don’t know how well-earned it is. I’ll still be reporting from home but on the other hand I won’t need to press the tuxedo.
I’m quite enjoying my wee year off from awards season, and I’m aware of how lucky I am...i’m still working but it’s not as intense as being there. Of course I’m looking forward to getting back to it when things have a semblance of normality to them again.
There’s still plenty to do but at least I don’t need to elbow reporters from the Baku Daily Reporter out of the way this year.
At the Oscars we won’t be seeing people picking up awards via
Zoom, either. It’s just so 2020, darling!
The Oscars organisers looked at some previous awards shows – namely, the Golden Globes – and saw what a shambles they were.
The nominees will largely be in the room – or should that be rooms, given it’s been held in different locations?
If you’re putting money on the Oscars, and frankly what else is there to do, I’ve got some tips for you. Usual rules apply – bet at your own risk unless you win, in which case send your thank-you cheque on..!
It played out a bit like a documentary but I really enjoyed Nomadland. A woman in her sixties who, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.
I reckon it will just edge out Minari to win best picture.
Minari is about a Korean family who move to Arkansas to pursue the American dream. If that were to win, then it would be two victories in a row for movies with a strong connection to Korea in arguably the most prestigious category. Last year’s best picture winner Parasite was filmed in Seoul and in Jeonju and was directed by South Korean Bong Joon-ho.
Frances Mcdormand stars in Nomadland and I reckon she’s a stick-on to win best actress. If she does she’ll have three wins after she got one in 1997 for Fargo and in 2018 for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
That would make her more successful than Meryl Streep and only one Oscar behind the record holder in the category, Katharine Hepburn!
As for best actor, my favourite Sir Anthony Hopkins is going head to head with young contender Riz Ahmed.
But I expect the Oscar to go to the late, great Chadwick Boseman for his performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
The Academy loves a story and giving Chadwick a posthumous Oscar isn’t something I can see them resisting...