Here's my bold predictions and wishes for this year's Oscars. Truth be told, I am not sure why I do this when I haven't even watched the show since the year Heath Ledger won (further truth be told I only watched half of that year). To me the ceremony is fun to watch but is also bo-ring. That sinking feeling you get when it's, like, 10:30 and they're just up to Sound Editing (why this is separate than the other Sound category is a mystery, and no, I don't really care enough to actually know). Plus, the "death montage" is only interesting to gauge who gets the most applause and the "outrage" when someone is inevitably left out (my friend Darren points out this montage ALWAYS includes some forgotten cast member of How Green Was My Valley and/or The Best Years Of Our Lives).
The nominations have only just been announced so the "Will Win" predictions below are subject to change--the interesting thing is there's not really a clear front-runner in many of the categories (and there's no "Front Runner" at all since that movie tanked commercially and critically).
I stayed away from picking as "Should Wins" people not nominated, so in some categories I am picking people based on the choices I am provided. How Eighth Grade didn't get one single nomination is a disgrace.
VISUAL EFFECTS
Should Win: Ready Player One
Will Win: Avengers Infinity War
SOUND MIXING
Should Win: First Man
Will Win: Bohemian Rhapsody
SOUND EDITING:
Should Win: A Quiet Place
Will Win: A Quiet Place
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
Should Win: Who Cares?
Will Win: Nobody Cares
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Should Win: Nobody Cares
Will Win: Who Cares?
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Should Win: The Favourite
Will Win: Roma
ORIGINAL SCORE
Should Win: Black Klansman
Will Win: Mary Poppins Returns
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Should Win: Vice
Will Win: Vice
FILM EDITING
Should Win: Bohemian Rhapsody
Will Win: Vice
COSTUME DESIGN
Should Win: Black Panther
Will Win: Mary Queen Of Scots
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Should Win: The Favourite
Will Win: Roma
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Should Win: The Favourite
Will Win: Green Book
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Should Win: Black Klansman
Will Win: A Star Is Born
ORIGINAL SONG
Should Win: Shallow
Will Win: Shallow
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Should Win: zzzzzzzzzz
Will Win: Cold War
DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
Should Win: Bathroom Break
Will Win: Time To Make Ice Cream
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Should Win: We all know what should win. It's not even nominated
Will Win: RBG
DIRECTING
Should Win: Spike Lee, Black Klansman
Will Win: Alfonso Cuaron, Roma
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Should Win: Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
Will Win: Isle Of Dogs
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Should Win: Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Will Win: Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Should Win: Sam Elliott, A Star Is Born
Will Win: Mahershala Ali, Green Book
ACTRESS
Should Win: Olivia Coleman, The Favourite
Will Win: Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born
ACTOR
Should Win: Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
Will Win: Christian Bale, Vice
BEST PICTURE
Should Win: Black Klansman
Will Win: A Star Is Born