If I Picked The Winners: The 96th Academy Awards
With the Oscars nearly here, we film lovers brace ourselves for the heartwarming speeches, the deserved wins and the puzzling snubs of all of our favorite films from the previous year. While some Academy Awards ceremonies have had nominations that I have found puzzling, this year’s Oscars were actually pleasing to me. With the exception of a few people that I would have like to have been nominated, most of the nominees are well-deserved and I sincerely wish them luck at the ceremony.
But this is not the time to be fair. This is the time to draw lines and to make choices. Specifically, I will be pointing out who I would like to win the golden statues at this year’s awards and, as per usual, spotlight films and specific elements of those films that I think should have gotten a nomination. So, without further adieu, here are my personal picks for who I want to win at the 96th Academy Awards.
Best Picture: “Oppenheimer”
Most years I pick a couple of films that I would like to win Best Picture because it’s just too hard to decide. This year however, there was only one answer. “Oppenheimer” is a true cinematic achievement that, along with “Barbie”, not only made for one of the most engaging cinematic premieres of the year, but also went above and beyond with every element of its production. “Oppenheimer” was my favorite film of 2023 and I sincerely hope that the Academy feels the same way.
Best Director: Christopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer”
It’s hard to believe that a filmmaker with the resumé of Christipher Nolan was only nominated for Best Director once before for 2017’s “Dunkirk”. Well, in the case of “Oppenheimer”, Nolan’s methodical direction and sense of scale have earned him the Oscar this year. We all know that Nolan is one of the supreme filmmakers of our time and it’s time that the Academy recognizes this as well.
Best Actor: Cillian Murphy for “Oppenheimer”
Given his past history with Christopher Nolan, it was to be expected that Cillian Murphy would deliver a good performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer. However, Murphy’s performance went above and beyond to be the most captivating acting I saw this past year. His performance had me hooked for the entire runtime of “Oppenheimer” and it’s one of those roles that I just can’t believe exists.
Best Actress: Lily Gladstone for “Killers of the Flower Moon”
While Emma Stone is deservedly a strong contender for this award as is Sandra Hüller, Lily Gladstone’s captivating turn in “Killers of the Flower Moon” is who I would pick for the Oscar. Sometimes with nominal dialogue, Gladstone’s performance can move mountains with how much she commands every scene she’s in. Even going up against heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro, Gladstone comes out on top every time and her turn as Mollie Burkhart is truly remarkable.
Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr. for “Oppenheimer”
Hollywood loves a good comeback story and Robert Downey Jr. has been riding the ultimate comeback wave for just shy of two decades. While Downey Jr. has turned in amazing performances in the last two decades in films like “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”, “Zodiac”, “The Judge”, “Tropic Thunder” (which got him an Oscar nomination) and his legendary turn as Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, nothing can compare to his dynamic turn as Lewis Strauss in “Oppenheimer”. While essentially serving as the film’s villain, the pathos Downey Jr. brings to the role is unbelievable and it’s still hard to believe that after so many years in the industry that Robert Downey Jr.’s best performance is probably still ahead of him.
Best Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph for “The Holdovers”
Da’Vine Joy Randolph was a treasure in the heartwarming magic of “The Holdovers”. Her warmth and good spirit was perfectly juxtaposed with the intense grief of her character and made for a truly moving performance alongside two other strong actors. Nothing can quite compete with those entertaining conversations she and Paul Giamatti share on screen.
Best Original Screenplay: Celine Song for “Past Lives”
With a wonderful set-up and excellent payoff, Celine Song kept me guessing the entire time with how “Past Lives” was going to end. The charming characters she wrote felt so authentic and that bar scene near the end of the film pretty much cements why her script is deserving of this award.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Christopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer”
With the unique idea of writing his script primarily in the first-person mindset of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan set the tone for how his film would be structured as well as crafted intriguing characters from the rich folds of history. The dialogue is biting, the scenes are magic and the writing is so strong that cinema’s most famous writers (like Paddy Chayefsky and Aaron Sorkin) are probably in awe of the might of this film’s script.
Best Cinematography: “Oppenheimer”
After being unfairly snubbed last year for his work on “Nope”, Hoyte van Hoytema absolutely deserves the gold for his massive vision for “Oppenheimer’s” cinematography. Along with the film’s actors and visual effects team, Hoytema was able to capture some of the most remarkable images screened in a theater this past year and made such strong use of IMAX technology and of 65MM film stock. Everything about “Oppenheimer” has this gargantuan feel to it, like you’re viewing a spectacle, and Hoytema is a big contributor towards that success.
Best Editing: “Oppenheimer”
I said it back in July of 2023 and I’ll say it again now, Jennifer Lame deserves to win. Her editing took a three hour film and made it feel like two hours. Condensing an entire man’s life into a film can sometimes run the risk of feeling rushed but Lame bypasses those traps by playing with the timeline (as per Nolan’s script) and making an intensely edited film that never lets you go. The scene depicting the detonation of the Trinity bomb alone should nab her the gold statue.
Best Sound: “The Zone of Interest”
By never showing the horrors of The Holocaust and having us only hear the atrocities instead, “The Zone of Interest” has a sonic landscape that almost had me sucked into a nervous breakdown. The sound of this film is unforgiving and beyond cruel but, like the film itself, is necessary to remind us of the past’s worst times.
Best Original Score: “Oppenheimer”
In a year with both John Williams and the late Robbie Robertson delivering incredible work, it still was a no-brainer that I chose Ludwig Göransson for his work on “Oppenhiemer”. With the traditional sweeping score combined with more out-there sounds, the music composed for this picture is able to relay both the wonders of science and the terror of what can come from trying to play God.
Best Original Song: “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie”
“I’m Just Ken” is a wonderful song and is quite funny but Billie Eillish and Finneas O’Connell’s hit song from a soundtrack full of great tracks is what deserves to win. The existential lyrics and soothing melody perfectly align with one of the film’s most emotionally powerful scenes. The song is not only a true gem but it’s impact on “Barbie” cannot be underplayed.
Best Visual Effects: “Godzilla Minus One”
With a budget a fraction of American blockbusters, “Godzilla Minus One” had some of the year’s most impressive visual effects that took the brutality of the original Godzilla and spruced it up with state-of-the-art technology.
Best International Film: “Perfect Days”
Wim Wenders’ film, made in Japan, is a true marvel with very little in terms of story but so much in character, themes and good cassette tapes full of rock-and-roll. It’s the kind of inspiring, slice-of-life film we all need.
Best Animated Film: “Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse”
While “The Boy and the Heron” is slated to win, this fast-paced and emotionally powerful animated superhero film showcased all of the strengths of a genre that some are saying we’re fatigued by. In the case of “Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse”, this is one of those films where I can find so little wrong with it that I would dare call it a masterpiece.
Best Documentary: “20 Days in Mariupol”
This harrowing documentary about the struggles of Ukraine amidst the current Russian invasion is a powerful call to stand up to Putin’s totalitarian state and showcases the brutal cost of freedom.
Best Live-Action Short: “Invincible”
Heartbreaking, intense and passionate are the three words that I would use to describe this 30-minute short that went by so fast and had me in tears by the end.
Best Animated Short: “War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko”
With gorgeous animation and one of the most inspirational peace songs at the film’s center, this short is a prime example of why peace is what we must all strive for. With several high-profile wars and genocides being currently held around the world, this film shows why we should give peace a chance.
Best Documentary Short: “Nâi Nai & Wài Pó”
Heartwarming every step of the way, the friendship of the film shows how becoming older and wiser is worth it when you have a marvelous friend to share in your life.
Best Make-Up and Hairstyling: “Poor Things”
With the categories that define the film’s visual style, it’s a competition between historical films and fantasy films. In my book, fantasy wins this year. The make-up applied to Willem Dafoe alone should make “Poor Things” the winner but so much time and care was taken to give this film such a surreal edge and it more than paid off.
Best Costume Design: “Barbie”
With incredible dream outfits, “Barbie’s” clothes were exceptionally stylish but, more importantly, served as a great visual storytelling device. Seeing Ken shed his Stallone-inspired mink coat after realizing his folly gave me one of my biggest laughs and you bet I now own an “I am Kenough” sweatshirt.
Best Production Design: “Poor Things”
Twisted, weird and unrealistic, the world of “Poor Things” was delightfully artificial in its steampunk, gothic, fantasy land. There are films that can resemble “Napoleon”, “Oppenheimer” and even “Barbie” but “Poor Things” is in its own league.
Films That Deserved More:
And now, as I have done the past few years, here are films that I felt either weren’t nominated enough or never even got Academy recognition. Ultimately, the purpose of this section is to get you to check out or even revisit these films and to pay specific attention to the elements that I think warranted an Oscar nomination.
Barbie: Best Director
Past Lives: Best Actress (Greta Lee), Best Director
The Iron Claw: Best Supporting Actor (Jeremy Allen White), Best Original Song
Suzume: Best Animated Film
May December: Best Supporting Actor (Charles Melton)
Beau is Afraid: Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Best Production Design, Best Sound
Dream Scenario: Best Actor (Nicolas Cage), Best Original Screenplay
Priscilla: Best Actress (Cailee Spaeny), Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design
Inside: Best Actor (Willem Dafoe), Best Production Design, Best Editing, Best Original Screenplay
Air: Best Original Screenplay
Talk To Me: Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Sound
