Best Picture
Will & Should Win: “Roma”
Making history, the Academy will more than likely award the first foreign language film the coveted best picture prize, giving this award to Netflix — making it a major contender in the future of award-worthy film distributions. “Roma” is the best film out of all the nominees by far, films like “Green Book” and “The Favourite” not being able to contend with such a stunning film. Alfonso Cuarón will most likely have six Oscars to his name by the end of the night, having previously won best film editing and director for “Gravity” and has a likely chance of winning best director, best cinematography and best foreign film. This may be the night for “Roma.”
Best Director
Will & Should Win: Alfonso Cuarón (“Roma”)
Alfonso Cuarón’s beautiful and moving masterpiece “Roma” is a visual poem with the touch of a talented director evident in every arresting frame. He has won every single award leading up to the Oscars and is a lock for this category.
Best Actor In a Leading Role
Will Win: Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”)
Should Win: Bradley Cooper (“A Star Is Born”)
Rami Malek impersonated Freddie Mercury very well, but Bradley Cooper brought to life the soul of a tortured and overwhelmed man whose struggle with addiction and sorrow made his character of Jackson Maine one of the year’s best film characters.
Best Actress In a Leading Role
Will Win: Glenn Close (“The Wife”)
Should Win: Lady Gaga (“A Star Is Born”)
While Glenn Close is dramatic and strong in “The Wife,” her lock in this category is simply due to her long career after being nominated six previous times. However, Lady Gaga gave a soulful and earth-shattering performance that defined her as not just an already gifted ,musician, but a tremendously talented and lively actress.
Best Actor In a Supporting Role
Will Win: Mahershala Ali (“Green Book”)
Mahershala Ali has won every award leading up to the Oscars and will without question win his second Oscar, his first from two years ago for his career-defining role in “Moonlight.” Everyone in this category gives good performances, yet none seem very worthy of winning an Oscar for these particular roles, thus avoiding any controversies over snubs.
Best Actress In a Supporting Role
Will Win: Regina King (“If Beale Street Could Talk”)
Again, none of these performances are worthy of an Oscar despite being strong. While very deserving of nominations, none stood out like the past supporting performances in recent years. With a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award for her performance and Emily Blunt (the Screen Actors Guild Award winner) not nominated, it’s a safe bet that Regina King will take home the prize for her portrayal as a loving and strong mother.
Best Original Screenplay
Will Win: “The Favourite”
Should Win: “First Reformed”
“The Favourite” is a clever and creative take on history, yet “First Reformed” was a masterfully written drama from the great Paul Schrader (“Raging Bull,” “Taxi Driver”). It examines the major issues facing 21st century modern society and the personal struggle of a pastor — the result being a masterpiece of dramatic storytelling.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Will & Should Win: “BlackkKlansman”
Spike Lee’s stylish true story is a refreshing and entertaining premise for a film that is written with tremendous wit and intelligence. It properly relates the subject of the film to contemporary race issues in America.
Best Cinematography
Will & Should Win: “Roma”
Alfonso Cuarón shoots “Roma” in gorgeous black and white and makes this human drama come to life with expressive imagery and stunning visual depth. They should just send him his award for this category now.
Best Film Editing
WIll & Should Win: “Vice”
This is the most snubbed category of this year's awards, ignoring the films I thought were best edited such as “You Were Never Really Here” and “A Star Is Born.” Of the nominated films, Vice had the most kinetic style, which is largely thanks to its creative editing.
Best Production Design & Best Costume Design
Will & Should Win: “The Favourite”
The realistic and gorgeous sets and costumes that depict Great Britain in the 18th century are superb, one of “The Favourite’s” biggest strengths as a film.
Best Original Score
Will Win: “Black Panther”
Should Win: “BlackKlansman”
“Black Panther” has an unfresh musical score in which every song sounds the same, whereas “BlackKlansman” puts a refreshing jazz score that sets the mood of the film timelessly.
Best Original Song
Will & Should Win: Shallow (“A Star Is Born”)
Lady Gaga will for sure be an Oscar winner for her tremendous song that puts a vibrant heart into “A Star Is Born” — her and Bradley Cooper’s musical performance astounding.
Best Makeup & Hairstyling
Will & Should Win: “Vice”
The transformation of Christian Bale into Dick Cheney is one of the best works of makeup in recent memory.
Best Visual Effects
Will & Should Win: “Avengers: Infinity War”
The blockbuster event of 2018 was filled with epic action-sequences that were a thrill to behold in this mega superhero craft of fun.
Best Sound Mixing
Will Win: “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Should Win: “A Star Is Born”
The music in “A Star Is Born” is not only beautiful, it’s executed in a way that works with the actors on screen. It does a stellar job of creating a terrific array of musical sounds, far better than its rival in Bohemian Rhapsody.
Best Sound Editing
Will Win: “Black Panther”
Should Win: “A Quiet Place”
While “Black Panther” has the traditional sound effects of every other modern superhero movie, “A Quiet Place” succeeded in its suspense largely due to its effective use of sound that set the terror of each beautifully executed scene.
Best Foreign Language Film
Will & Should Win: “Roma”
Not only is it the best film of the year, “Roma” has been one of the most popular foreign language films in history, giving it a secure grip in this category, as it deserves. However, “Cold War” from Poland may win, for the Academy may want to diversify its winners and not give the foreign language award to the best picture film.
Best Animated Film
Will Win: “Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse”
I personally have not been up to date on animated films as I should be, yet with its victory at every other awards ceremony, it’s a safe bet that this animated Spiderman feature will be victorious.
Best Documentary
Will Win: “Free Solo”
Again, I haven't been as up-to-date on documentaries as I’d like to be, so I’ll make an educated guess based on recent award victory at the BAFTAs.
