2022 Oscar Predictions

The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, evaluates and rewards the creative prowess of films through an artistic and technical lens. For many, the ceremony is regarded as the most prestigious and significant in terms of the film industry. Over the years, the ceremony has faced a lot of controversy, memorable pop moments, and a long-awaited countdown. After two years of postponements, audiences crave a solid, smooth-flowing ceremony. The Oscars have always held a special place in my film-loving heart. It should be a national holiday. As an aspiring filmmaker, writer, and actor myself, the Oscars are more than just an awards ceremony. It is a culmination of a year’s creative, artistic, and introspective thought. This year’s ceremony is taking place on March 27th, proving to be vastly long awaited. There are various predictions for each category’s winners, and here are my takes.

Best Picture:

Belfast

CODA

Don’t Look Up

Drive My Car

Dune

King Richard

Licorice Pizza

Nightmare Alley

The Power of the Dog

West Side Story

In my opinion, this was the hardest category to predict. I believe West Side Story will take the cake due to the film’s visual and aesthetic beauty. Cinematography is a vastly underrated portion of the filmmaking process, and this film excels at it. Although it bombed at the box office, I believe it will steal the show.

Best Actor:

Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos

Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog

Andrew Garfield, tick tick…BOOM!

Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

Will Smith, King Richard

It has been an interstellar year for Andrew Garfield. From Spider-Man: No Way Home to tick tick…BOOM! he has put on a stunning display in terms of his performances. Although Will Smith is the favorite to win, considering he has never won an Oscar before, I do believe Andrew Garfield takes the edge due to his surprisingly stunning singing, piano playing, and dancing in tick tick…BOOM!

Best Actress:

Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter

Penelope Cruz, Parallel Mothers

Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos

Kristen Stewart, Spencer

Watching Spencer was nothing short of a captivating, generation-defying experience. Kristen Stewart delivers a stunning performance as the late Princess Diana. Although the film has received mix reviews, it is worth noting that Stewart’s performance is the standout characteristic of the film. Any royal story is sure to grab audiences’ captivation, and Stewart portrays the Princess of our hearts in the most breathtaking manner possible.

Best Supporting Actress:

Jessie Buckley, The Lost Daughter

Ariana DeBose, West Side Story

Judi Dench, Belfast

Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog

Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard

In my humble opinion, Ariana DeBose is the likely winner for this category. West Side Story created a new definition for cinematic excellence. The film is stunning both visually and conceptually. This is largely in part due to DeBose’sperformance as well. Although a newcomer, she delivered the role of Maria perfectly. Her dedication to the character and the role at large is largely evident in the film’s output. Additionally, she has proven a fan favorite.

Best Supporting Actor:

Ciaran Hinds, Belfast

Troy Kostur, CODA

Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog

J.K Simmons, Being the Ricardos

Kodi Smit-Mcphee, The Power of the Dog

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I believe J.K Simmons delivered a beautiful performance in Being the Ricardos.Simmons as been a regular in the industry for decades upon decades, and I believe it is his time to get his hands on a second iconic golden statue. It was amazing to see him portray William Frawley in such an intricate, in-depth manner. Therefore, I believe he is best suited for the award this time around.

Best Director:

Kenneth Branagh, Belfast

Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Drive My Car

Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog

Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza

Steven Spielberg, West Side Story

You have probably noticed a pattern over the course of this prediction list. I am slightly biased toward West Side Story, as I found the film spectacular through a plethora of cinematic landscapes. Most prominently, the film’s cinematography creates a new definition of the word. It is quite possibly the most cinematically appealing film I have ever watched. Never have I seen such a beautiful medley of angles, color grading, lighting, and shot output in a film before. Spielberg delivers big with this production, and I look forward for what he has to offer in the near future.

Best Animated Feature:

Encanto

Flee

Luca

The Mitchells vs. the Machines

Raya and the Last Dragon

This category has three amazing nominees. Encanto, Luca, and The Mitchells vs. the Machines being the standouts for me. Although I prefer Pixar’s animated films, Disney stole the show this year with Encanto. It was an endearing, innocent tale conjoined with visually stunning representations of Colombian culture. Luca, another cultural phenomenon, demonstrated widespread appeal. However, the catchy songs of Encanto generated widespread buzz on a global scale. It is worth noting that The Mitchells vs. the Machines was an underrated masterpiece and deserves credit where it is due.