What’s going to take Best Picture? How much will Black Panther actually win? It’s time to find out.
We’ve had the Golden Globes, the Guilds, and the BAFTAs, and now it’s time for the main event of awards season: the Academy Awards.
In just under a week, the lights will go on at the Dolby Theatre, the red carpet will be rolled out, and a couple of thousand actors, writers, directors, producers and so on will gather round to watch a number of A-listers hand out a bunch of awards, this time all without the supervision of a host – but to which movies is the big question.
The nominations for the 91st Academy Awards were dominated by Roma and The Favourite, which both picked up 10 nominations, followed by Vice and A Star Is Born with eight apiece, and then Black Panther with seven, including becoming the first comic book movie to be nominated for Best Picture.
Some of the gongs would appear to be locked in, but this has been an Oscars defined by things happening and then being reversed: there was going to be Best Popular Picture, then there wasn’t. Kevin Hart was going to host, then he wasn’t. Only two of the Original Song nominees were going to be performed, then it was all five. A few awards were to be given out during the ad-break – now they’ll be part of the show. With all of that, there is still room for a few surprises and plenty of injustices come February 24.[/nextpage][nextpage]
24. Actor In A Supporting Role
Nominees: Mahershala Ali (Green Book), Richard E Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?), Sam Elliott (A Star Is Born), Adam Driver (BlacKkKlansman), Sam Rockwell (Vice)
Who Should Win – Richard E. Grant
This is a strong category this year, and if you look past the two Sams, then it’s hard to begrudge any of the other three winning. Mahershala Ali elevates what’s around him in Green Book, and Adam Driver showcases great range in BlacKkKlansman. But there’s something particularly compelling about the balance Richard E. Grant brings to his character in Can You Ever Forgive Me?. Not only does he showcase superb chemistry with the also excellent Melissa McCarthy, but he expertly treads the line between caustic wit and searing tragedy, giving just enough of the latter to make the former even better.
Who Will Win – Mahershala Ali
Mahershala Ali is already an Oscar-winner, having picked up the same prize for Moonlight, and he’s still an Academy favourite (understandably so). Ali does a great job with what he’s given as Don Shirley in Green Book, with a performance that mixes charm, stuffiness, and a little pathos. What’s more, he’s largely been cleaning up during awards season, including the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild award, alongside various critics circles wins too, which means this should be well in the bag. Grant might have some support brewing, but it probably won’t be enough to topple Ali.[/nextpage][nextpage]
23. Makeup And Hairstyling
Nominees: Border, Mary Queen of Scots, Vice
Who Should Win – Mary Queen of Scots
It’s a close contest, but there’s some insane make-up and hairstyling work going on in Mary Queen of Scots, which hasn’t quite been getting the attention it deserves. It’s transformative, and yet very much in keeping with the period and characters, simply complementing the performances rather than enhancing them.
Who Will Win – Vice
If Christian Bale ends up winning Best Actor, he’ll owe a lot to the make-up team. There’s a lot of great work going on here to make the main players look like the people they’re portraying, and it’s the kind of showy work the Academy likes. It helps, too, that it’s nominated in a number of categories higher-up, guaranteeing voters will have seen it and might look to recognise it here to ensure it gets something.
(Excerpt) Read More at: WhatCulture.com[/nextpage]