2020 Oscars Picks & Predictions

ILast year (2019) was an amazing year for film, in my humble opinion. Some really daring and creative stories told, in even more daring and creative ways. These movies also included some of my favorite film moments of the decade (the end of “Marriage Story”; the climax of “1917”; the turning of “Parasite”), and one of my favorite performances of the decade as well (Adam Driver in “Marriage Story”).

An exciting batch of new directors are showing us what they have, and what the future of cinema can holds (Bong Joon Ho, Taika Waititi, Greta Gerwig), and some of the old guard of directors are still holding their own in the age of streaming (looking at you, Scorsese).

While we should spend time talking about Gerwig’s directing nom snub, etc, etc, etc, there is still a lot to celebrate in this batch of the best of the best that 2019 had to offer. So let’s get to it.

As always here are my annual Oscars Picks (who I think should win) and Predictions (who I think will win),

Best Picture

Pick: 1917; Runner-Up: Marriage Story
Prediction: Parasite; Runner-Up: 1917

Best Director

Pick: Sam Mendes – “1917”; Runner-Up: Bong Joon Ho – “Parasite”
Prediction: Same as my picks.

Best Actress

Pick: Scarlett Johansson – “Marriage Story” – no contest.
Prediction: Renee Zellweger – “Judy”; Runner-Up: Scarlett Johansson – “Marriage Story”

Best Actor

Pick: Adam Driver – “Marriage Story”; Runner-Up: Joaquin Phoenix – “Joker”
Prediction: Joaquin Phoenix – “Joker”; Runner-Up: Adam Driver – “Marriage Story”

Best Actress in A Supporting Role

Pick: Scarlett Johansson – “Jojo Rabbit”; Runner-Up: Laura Dern – “Marriage Story”
Prediction: Laura Dern – “Marriage Story”; Runner-Up: Scarlett Johansson – “Jojo Rabbit”

Best Actor in A Supporting Role

Pick: Joe Pesci – “The Irishman”; Runner-Up: Brad Pitt – “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood”
Prediction: Brad Pitt – “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”; Runner-Up: Anthony Hopkins – “The Two Popes”

Best Original Screenplay

Pick: “Parasite”; Runner-Up: “Parasite”
Prediction: “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”; Runner-Up: “Parasite”

Best Adapted Screenplay

Pick: “Jojo Rabbit”; Runner-Up: “Joker”
Prediction: “Jojo Rabbit”; Runner-Up: “Little Women”

Best Animated Film

Pick: “Toy Story 4”; Runner-Up: “Klaus”
Prediction: “Toy Story 4” – no contest.

Best Cinematography

Pick: Roger Deakins – “1917” – no contest.
Prediction: Same as my pick.

Best Foreign Language Film

Pick: “Parasite” – no contest.
Prediction: Same as my pick.

Best Documentary Feature

Pick: “American Factory” – no contest.
Prediction: Same as my pick.

Best Film Editing

Pick: “Parasite”; Runner-Up: Jojo Rabbit”; Runner-Up: “Parasite”; Runner-Up: “Ford vs Ferrari”

Best Production Design

Pick: “1917” – no contest.
Prediction: “1917”; Runner-Up: “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”

Best Costume Design

Pick: “Jojo Rabbit”; Runner-Up: “Joker”
Prediction: “Little Women”; Runner-Up: “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood”

Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Pick: “Joker”; Runner-Up: “1917”
Prediction: “Bombshell”; Runner-Up: “Joker”

Best Original Score

Pick: “Joker”; Runner-Up: “1917”
Prediction: Same as my picks.

Best Original Song

Pick: “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away”, (Toy Story 4); Runner-Up: “Into the Unknown” (Frozen 2)
Prediction: “I’m Gonna Love Me Tonight” (Rocketman); Runner-Up: “Stand Up” (Harriet”

Best Visual Effects

Pick: “1917”; Runner-Up: “The Irishman”
Prediction: Same as my picks.

Best Sound Mixing

Pick: “1917”; Runner-Up: “Ford vs Ferrari”
Prediction: “Ford vs Ferrari”; Runner-Up: “1917”

Best Sound Editing

Pick: “Ford vs Ferrari”; Runner-Up: “1917”
Prediction: Same as my picks.

So there you have it, my picks and predictions for the 2020 Academy Awards!
Tune in Feb. 9 to find out how I score, and more importantly — who takes home gold!