2023 OSCAR PARTY!!!!

For many years I used to predict the Oscar winners each year, even though I hadn't watched the movies.  I've take the last couple of years off, but I figured this would be a good year to get back into practice.  Full disclosure, I have seen four of the nominated films this past year.  Wakanda Forever, Causeway, Elvis and Top Gun Maverick.  Don't worry though; this won't in any way influence my decisions.  As always, I am blindly guessing.

But here's the thing.  My predictions were crazy accurate.  I went several years where I predicted the top 7 correctly.  They are:

Picture
Actor
Actress
Supporting Actress
Supporting Actor
Director
Song

Even better though, is I tend to get the smaller winners right too.  How?  I have no idea.  It's just fun.  This year I'm even going to try and not follow trends.  I'm going to step out on a few limbs and try to pick upsets.  As always, I'm going to give you who should win, and who will win, because they aren't always the same thing.  That being said, here we go!

Actor:  There's a lot being said about Brendan Fraser in The Whale, and let's be honest, people tend to win when they make great physical transformations for the sake of art.  That being said, Brendan, although he did gain weight for this movie, wore a "fat suit".  He's not really that big.  But, you know who did make an amazing transformation for us?  Austin Butler, as Elvis.  He didn't "play Elvis".  He was Elvis.  He sang every note, spot on.  He was so dedicated to sounding like Elvis that he still sounds like him when he talks.  

Should win:  Austin Butler
Will win:  Austin Butler

Actress:  Cate Blanchett has been nominated seven times for an Oscar, including this year.  She's won twice.  Once as a leading actress, and the other as a supporting actress.  She's phenomenal in every role she plays on TV and the movies.  She's simply one of the best there is.  That being said, the talk this year is about Everything Everywhere All At Once (EEAAO), and that means we need to pay attention to Michelle Yeoh.  History says that in Hollywood, minority nominees win the Supporting Actress award.  Rarely do they win the Best Actress.  Let's be honest, Haley Berry won Best Actress 22 years ago.  So, history says Cate Blanchett will win it, and quite honestly she probably had the best performance.  But it's the year of EEAAO, and Michelle Yeoh will win this trophy.  

Should Win:  Cate Blanchett
Will Win:  Michelle Yeoh

Supporting Actor:  Honestly, this should be one category, and shouldn't be separated by sex.   But since the choices are what they are, here's my decision.  Brian Tyree Henry was just amazing in Causeway.  I would have turned off the TV if he hadn't of been there with Jennifer Lawrence.  She was good, but he was just great.  However, let's be honest here, we have all been in love with Ke Huy Quan since he played Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Data in The Goonies.  The guy was 13 then though.  He's now 51.  To be clear, I'm not even considering him being in EEAAO. I just love the guy and hope without hesitation that he wins this award.  

Should Win:  Brian Tyree Henry
Will Win:  Ke Huy Quan

Supporting Actress:  I'm not even going to waste time discussing anyone else.  Angela Bassett is one of the top 3 actresses on the planet, and she was screwed over for What's Love Got To Do With It in 1993, and then ignored in amazing roles ever since, until this year with Wakanda Forever, and they need to give this brilliant actress the recognition she deserves.  Not gonna even risk jinxing her by discussing anyone else.  WAKANDA FOREVER!

Should Win:  Angela Bassett
Will Win:  Angela Bassett

Director:  How the best director doesn't direct the best picture every year is beyond my comprehension.  That being said, I probably just gave away my choice for best picture.  Steven Spielberg directed his autobiography with The Fableman.  Some other people directed some other movies.  Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert had to work together to direct EEAAO.  It's the most talked about movie in years, and quite honestly will finally be one that recognizes the person the directed the best picture.

Should Win:  Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Will Win:  Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

Best Picture:  Yeah, I told you already.  Of all the movies nominated this year, Everything Everywhere All At Once is the only one that I haven't seen that I want to see.  It's coming to Showtime this month, and then to a streaming service I have.  I will see it.

Should Win:  Everything Everywhere All At Once
Will Win:  Everything Everywhere All At Once

Original Song:  All the talk this year is about Lift Me Up, by Rihanna, from Wakanda Forever.  It has everything needed to win the award.  

 "Drowning in an endless sea
Take some time and stay with me
Keep me in the strength of your arms
Keep me safe, safe and sound"

I get it, they are beautiful lyrics.  But have you listened to the song?  I tried, but kept falling asleep.  It's a boring song.  But it is sung by Rihanna, meaning she'll perform it on the show, meaning people will tune in, so there it is nominated.

Meanwhile, there's a little unknown movie out there called RRR.  You read that right. I'm not using code. That's the movie's name.  It has a little song called Naatu Naatu.  


"Na Pata Soodu, Natu Natu Natu, Natu Natu Natu Veera Natu,

Listen to my song. Naatu Naatu Naatu, Crazy Naatu."

You read that right.  Feel free to go listen. 


And then for the rest of the day and night you'll be singing along.  

Should Win:  Naatu Naatu
Will Win:  Lift Me Up

OK, here's the rest. Please watch Sunday and enjoy.  Jimmy Kimmel is hosting, and I guarantee he'll walk out with boxing gloves and head gear for protection so he can make the Will Smith slapping Chris Rock joke. 

Animated Feature:  

Should Win:  Puss In Boots
Will Win:  Pinocchio

Adapted Screen Plan:  

Should Win:  Top Gun Maverick
Will Win:  Glass Onion

Original Screen Play:

Should and Will Win:  Everything Everywhere All At Once

Editing:

Should Win:  Top Gun Maverick
Will Win:  Everything Everywhere All At Once

Makeup:

Should and Will:  Wakanda Forever

International Feature Film:  I bring this up, only because it's a silly award.  The only International Feature Film nominated for Best Picture is All Quiet on the Western Front.  It's from Germany.  So it has to win this award.  There's zero chance the other 4 nominees have a chance to win.

Musical Score:  RRR and Wakanda Forever have a song.  Babylon has a complete score that flows throughout the movie.  Babylon for the win.

Costume Design:  Have you seen Wakanda Forever?  Amazing costumes.

Animated Short Film:  The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse.  Only because An Ostrich Told Me The World Is Fake And I Think I Believe It won't fit on the trophy.

Live Action Short Film:  The Red Suitcase.  Because I liked the picture from the advertisement.

Documentary Feature:  Navalny.  Because it's a big F.U. to Russia and Putin, and Hollywood loves that.

Enjoy the show! 

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