The Library Vault

by Amy S.

The 97th Academy Awards air on Sunday, March 15th. To get ready, we asked Professor Michael Slowik, Vice Chair of the College of Film and the Moving Image at Wesleyan University, to give us his predictions for the top awards.

Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay:

Sinners and One Battle After Another
I don’t think there’s much doubt here.  Sinners and One Battle After Another are cleverly written and highly effective films that resonate with contemporary cultural topics.  They both have a lot of Oscar nominations, which indicates the Academy’s love for these films.  I expect Sinners to win Best Original Screenplay and One Battle After Another to win Best Adapted Screenplay

Best Supporting Actress:

Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another

This could easily go to Amy Madigan for Weapons, but I’m guessing that the popularity of One Battle After Another with the Academy will help push Taylor — who is terrific in a pivotal role — to a win.

Best Supporting Actor:

Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
This is another highly competitive race.  Stellan Skarsgård from Sentimental Value has a compelling narrative — he is a respected actor who has turned in strong performances for decades, has never been nominated for an Oscar, and overcame a stroke to play this role.  Penn’s performance, though, strikes me as one for the ages.  Even though Penn has already won two Oscars, does little Oscar campaigning, and often skips awards ceremonies, my hunch is that the Academy will want to reward his tour de force performance.

Best Cinematography:

Sinners
This race is close, with several worthy contenders, including Train Dreams and One Battle After Another.  The Academy tends to pick the most aesthetically pleasing film for this award, however, so I’m betting on Sinners’ beautiful rendering of the 1930s America.

Best Animated Film:

KPop Demon Hunters
This will surely go to the wildly popular KPop Demon Hunters, which is apparently the most-watched film in Netflix history and enjoyed a successful theatrical release. 

Best International Film:

Sentimental Value
The top candidates here are Sentimental Value (Norway) and The Secret Agent (Brazil).  Sentimental Value garnered four acting nominations, which indicates a lot of Academy love for the film, so I’m guessing it will win. 

Best Song:

“Golden,” KPop Demon Hunters
“Golden” is the clear favorite here.  This song is everywhere, topping charts around the world (it’s popular with my young kids, too!).  Equally important, it’s well integrated into the film — we see it performed multiple times in ways that further the plot, and its lyrics (no spoilers!) touch on the film’s key themes.

Best Actress:

Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
I think this one is clear cut.  Buckley has won this award from all groups with substantial overlap with Academy voters (Critics’ Choice Awards, BAFTA, Actors Awards), so it would be a shock if she lost.

Best Actor:

Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Here goes nothing—this is a wide-open race!  Timothée Chalamet is probably considered the favorite, and his extroverted performance is generally the type Oscar voters love.  I’m gambling, though, that the popularity of Sinners with the Academy will help propel Michael B. Jordan to a win for playing not one but two roles in the film.  But watch out also for Wagner Moura’s highly regarded performance in The Secret Agent.  Anything seems possible in this category!

Best Director:

Paul Thomas Anderson
Anderson—who I feel is our best modern-day filmmaker—has never won an Oscar despite many nominations.  I think the Academy will feel that he’s due after directing the superb, wildly original One Battle After Another.

Best Picture:

One Battle After Another
This seems to be a race between two Warner Bros. films: Sinners and One Battle After Another.  My bet is on One Battle After Another, which has won countless best film awards from various groups ahead of the Oscars.

Thanks to Dr. Slowik for his insights. Can you beat the expert with your own predications? Now’s the time to watch the films and come up with your own list. Many of the movies can be borrowed from Russell Library.

Also check out Russell Library’s Monday Movie film series, free in our Hubbard Room over the summer and during long school holidays. The next one will be on Monday, April 13th at 2:30pm.