The highly anticipated 97th Academy Awards are just days away, and this year’s awards season has been one of the wildest in recent memory.
The 97th Academy Awards are just days away, and this year’s awards season has been one of the wildest in recent memory. The Best Picture predictions have fluctuated significantly, and perhaps no campaign in history has imploded quite like Emilia Pérez.
The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, is a prestigious annual event that recognizes excellence in cinematic achievements.
The favorite to win an Oscar can be determined by analyzing past winners, current trends, and industry buzz.
According to recent statistics, 70% of Best Picture nominees have been directed by first-time directors.
Additionally, actors with prior Oscar wins tend to receive nominations more frequently.
By examining these factors, one can identify potential favorites for the upcoming Oscars.
While past years have seen dominant winners like ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’, none of this year’s nominees can claim that kind of blanket success. This unpredictability will make the Oscars all the more exciting, capping an entertaining (and occasionally exasperating) awards season.
The Battle for Best Picture
In December, Anora was the favorite to win Best Picture, but in January, it was The Brutalist that seemed like a sure bet. Now, with the big night almost here, it’s a battle between Anora and Conclave.
Anora, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, is a complex coming-of-age dramedy about a Brooklyn sex worker marrying a Russian oligarch’s son. It’s one of the funniest movies of the year while still providing a heartbreaking and poignant ending. The film has been on awards voters’ minds since its win at Cannes, and after getting shut out at the Golden Globes, it rapidly shot ahead in the Best Picture race.
Conclave, on the other hand, is the other major contender, thanks to its big wins at the BAFTAs and its SAG Award-winning ensemble. Writer Peter Straughan looks like the favorite to win Best Adapted Screenplay too, adding to the film’s potential haul. The PG papal drama could be a real beneficiary of the Academy’s preferential ballot for Best Picture as well.
The Fall of Emilia Pérez and The Brutalist
At one time, Emilia Pérez and The Brutalist were Best Picture favorites, but both films have fallen from grace in recent weeks. Emilia Pérez, an epic musical about a Mexican cartel kingpin transitioning, has been a controversial movie from the start. Critics from trans and Latino viewers abounded once it was released on Netflix, and star ‘Karla Sofía Gascón’‘s public statements only added to the controversy.
The Brutalist, on the other hand, is a film about artistic integrity and the human spirit, but its use of artificial intelligence has raised concerns. While director ‘Brady Corbet’ flatly denied the use of generative AI, production designer ‘Judy Becker’ has discussed working with it for the film. This he-said, she-said situation casts a shadow over the film.
Predictions for the Major Acting Categories
While no winner is set in stone, there are some names that are all but guaranteed to walk home with an Oscar on Sunday night. Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña have won at just about every major awards ceremony this season for their supporting performances.
The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, is a highly anticipated event in the film industry.
Each year, millions of viewers worldwide tune in to watch their favorite stars take home coveted awards.
But have you ever wondered how the winners are chosen? The voting process involves members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who cast ballots in various categories.
According to recent statistics, the most popular categories include Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Picture.
In 2020, 'Parasite' made history by becoming the first non-English language film to win Best Picture.
For Best Supporting Actor, Culkin became an awards favorite for his work in A Real Pain, where he plays off of his hyperactive persona to heartbreaking results. Having won the Golden Globe, the BAFTA, the Critics’ Choice Award, the SAG Award, and the Independent Spirit Award, he’s on track to nabbing his first Oscar.
Kieran Culkin is an American actor, born on September 30, 1982, in New York City.
He is the younger brother of Macaulay Culkin and Rory Culkin.
Kieran's acting career began with small roles in films like 'Igby Goes Down' (2002) and 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World' (2010).
He gained recognition for his portrayal of Ryan in the HBO series 'Succession,' earning multiple award nominations, including a Primetime Emmy nomination.
Saldaña‘s win for Best Supporting Actress in Emilia Pérez also seems like a lock, having won at the same ceremonies as Culkin. Initially it looked like ‘Ariana Grande‘ and her wonderful work in Wicked might snatch a few of those trophies, but Saldaña has remained a winner throughout.
The other major acting categories present some wiggle room, with Adrien Brody in The Brutalist and Demi Moore in The Substance looking like the likely winners at this point in the season.
