This isn’t the usual February award show window.  Movie theaters have been closed for the majority of the last year.  Yet, here we are, with Hollywood ready to take center stage.  We are days away from the 93rd Academy Awards.  Sure, THE WIFE and I haven’t heard of most of the nominated films.  We haven’t touched a greasy tub of popcorn or stared down a 96 ounce, ten-dollar canister of soda in months.  Big names and films are shifting to streaming services.   Despite that, this remains an annual post – and an annual watch – for us.  Our 2021 Oscars Predictions are locked and loaded!

Considering our lack of full-on viewing of the majority of these films, I’ll tackle my 2021 Oscars Predictions in the usual way, which includes the following strategies:

KP’s Painfully Mediocre Tips for your 2021 Oscars Predictions

  • Animation: When it comes to animated films, Pixar almost always wins.  For when a Pixar film is nominated, I can only remember Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse topping Pixar in recent years.  Of course, there are two Pixar films nominated this year, so… yeah, good luck with that.
  • Costume Design: Focus on the period pieces, and if there are multiple ones nominated, check photos from the film and look for the option with more intricate detail.
  • Original Score: Don’t pick the music you like the best.  Instead, focus on the score that really sets the mood and tone for the movie.
  • Major Awards: Actors that win key awards often portray characters going through extreme adversity
  • Sneak Peak: Finally, for films you haven’t seen, watch the trailers and get a feel for the story.  This won’t give you every last detail, but think of an Oscar-worthy storyline.  Ignore the fact that quite often these films can be either weird, quirky, or downright boring.
  • Previous Awards: Often, the SAG and Golden Globe award winners can indicate trends and whether certain nominees could pull off a sweep for the year

Good advice?  I have no idea!  These tips have worked for me throughout the years.  I’m not out there viewing every single film.  I am entertained by the event and appreciate a good flick – especially one I can watch over and over again.

Popcorn Time!

Get your popcorn ready and enjoy the show.

Regular visitors to The Wife Hates Sports will know that this is a sports site with a tendency to dabble in the entertainment world from time to time.

And nothing symbolizes Hollywood (and entertainment) more than the Oscars, which is why yours truly will go head-to-head against THE WIFE in hopes to achieve bragging rights for one evening.  That and maybe a friendly bet surrounding dishwashing or household chores.

Although, that never seems to pan out when I win.

Anyway, here are our 2021 Oscars Predictions for the major awards.  Feel free to chime in with your own picks, thoughts and opinions.  We also accept (and encourage) movie recommendations.

93rd Annual Academy Awards: 2021 Oscars Predictions

Music (Original Song)

The Nominees Are:

  • “FIGHT FOR YOU” from Judas and the Black Messiah; Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
  • “HEAR MY VOICE” from The Trial of the Chicago 7; Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
  • “HUSAVIK” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga; Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Goransson
  • “IO SI (SEEN)” from The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se); Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
  • “SPEAK NOW” from One Night in Miami…; Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth

KP’s Prediction: “HUSAVIK” from Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga; Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Goransson

The Wife’s Prediction: “HEAR MY VOICE” from The Trial of the Chicago 7; Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite

KP’s Take: This was a tough call.  Cycling through the songs, my gut took me towards “Hear My Voice” immediately.  However, the chorus in “Husavik” grabbed me and made me think of past winners in this category.  All the nominees have great potential and that also includes “Speak Now”, with its powerful lyrics.  Also, “Io si” won the Golden Globe.  Overall, for me, Savan Kotecha’s voice was just too powerful for me to pass up.  She gave me chills.  Winner-winner-chicken-dinner!

 

Music (Original Score)

The Nominees Are:

  • DA 5 BLOODS (Terence Blanchard)
  • MANK (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross)
  • MINARI (Emile Mosseri)
  • NEWS OF THE WORLD (James Newton Howard)
  • SOUL (Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste)

KP’s Prediction: SOUL (Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste)

The Wife’s Prediction: NEWS OF THE WORLD (James Newton Howard)

KP’s Take: Despite the fact that he won a decade ago with The Social Network, it’s still weird to see Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) nominated for films.  Reznor is clearly finding a new niche and is nominated twice this year.  While News of the World tempted me (and THE WIFE) ended up picking it, I think Reznor snags another Oscar with the effort put forth on Soul, which really just captures you and makes you appreciate the story more.  That’s what you really want in a movie score.  Something that grabs you and sucks you right into the movie and makes you feel it.

 

Directing

The Nominees Are:

  • ANOTHER ROUND (Thomas Vinterberg)
  • MANK (David Fincher)
  • MINARI (Lee Isaac Chung)
  • NOMADLAND (Chloe Zhao)
  • PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN (Emerald Fennell)

KP’s Prediction: NOMADLAND (Chloe Zhao)

The Wife’s Prediction: NOMADLAND (Chloe Zhao)

KP’s Take: As quirky as she is, everything Frances McDormand touches, turns to gold.  While I haven’t seen Nomadland, the story covers so much ground that it would have to take supreme directing to pull all that off.  That’s what it appears that Chloe Zhao has done with this picture.

 

Costume Design

The Nominees Are:

  • EMMA (Alexandra Byrne)
  • MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (Ann Roth)
  • MANK (Trish Summerville)
  • MULAN (Bina Daigeler)
  • PINOCCHIO (Massimo Cantini Parrini)

KP’s Prediction: MANK (Trish Summerville)

The Wife’s Prediction: MANK (Trish Summerville)

KP’s Take: With Mank, the additional challenge is capturing great costume design in black-and-white.  While the other films can infuse all sorts of color, this movie needs to pull off its image meticulously while not having the ability to pepper in color.  It does so brilliantly.

 

Cinematography

The Nominees Are:

  • JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (Sean Bobbitt)
  • MANK (Erik Messerschmidt)
  • NEWS OF THE WORLD (Dariusz Wolski)
  • NOMADLAND (Joshua James Richards)
  • THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (Phedon Papamichael)

KP’s Prediction: NOMADLAND (Joshua James Richards)

The Wife’s Prediction: MANK (Erik Messerschmidt)

KP’s Take: Cinematography is loosely defined as “the art and technology of motion-picture photography”.  Camera angles, movements and more.  Thinking of this from the most general sense, my gut immediately narrowed this list down to either News of the World or Nomadland.  That’s considering the nature of the storyline itself (and the travel).  With all the Oscar-buzz that Nomadland has been carrying in tow, this is my pick.  Whether that theory pans out, I guess only a nomad would know?

 

Animated Feature Film

The Nominees Are:

  • ONWARD (Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae)
  • OVER THE MOON (Glen Keane, Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou)
  • A SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE: FARMAGEDDON (Richard Phelan, Will Becher and Paul Kewley)
  • SOUL (Pete Docter and Dana Murray)
  • WOLFMAKERS (Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young and Stephan Roelants)

KP’s Prediction: SOUL (Pete Docter and Dana Murray)

The Wife’s Prediction: ONWARD (Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae)

KP’s Take: My theory on animated feature films has always been the same – and that’s to go with the Pixar film.  It only failed the year that Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse won.  In this case, it would be Onward vs. Soul.  While I enjoyed both films, Soul is the more powerful and creative picture and deserving of this year’s Oscar.  In fact, this seems like a slam dunk.

 

Actress in a Supporting Role

The Nominees Are:

  • MARIA BAKALOVA (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan)
  • GLENN CLOSE (Hillbilly Elegy)
  • OLIVIA COLMAN (The Father)
  • AMANDA SEYFRIED (Mank)
  • YUH-JUNG YOUN (Minari)

KP’s Prediction: YUH-JUNG YOUN (Minari)

The Wife’s Prediction: GLENN CLOSE (Hillbilly Elegy)

KP’s Take: Again, I have not seen each of these films.  In the trailers, no character stands out over another.  Each appears to have an equal shot to win.  Olivia Colman has been on quite a run recently and while this is a sidebar, if you haven’t seen her in Broadchurch (Netflix), you should check it out.  Tremendous!  As for the award, while I wouldn’t be shocked to see Colman snag another victory, my gut is leaning towards Yuh-Jung Youn.  Minari is receiving a lot of acclaim and that makes me think it’ll find a way to bring home at least one major victory.  I’m making it this one.

 

Actor in a Supporting Role

The Nominees Are:

  • SACHA BARON COHEN (The Trial of the Chicago 7)
  • DANIEL KALUUYA (Judas and the Black Messiah)
  • LESLIE ODOM, JR. (One Night in Miami…)
  • PAUL RACI (Sound of Metal)
  • LAKEITH STANFIELD (Judas and the Black Messiah)

KP’s Prediction: DANIEL KALUUYA (Judas and the Black Messiah)

The Wife’s Prediction: LAKEITH STANFIELD (Judas and the Black Messiah)

KP’s Take: Like the other supporting award, there are a lot of strong options.  Again, I have not seen every film, so assessing the collective group is difficult.  However, after watching the trailer for Judas and the Black Messiah, I was immediately taken with the performance by Daniel Kaluuya.  That’s in a three-minute trailer and my gut says he’ll walk away as the winner.

 

Actress in a Leading Role

The Nominees Are:

  • VIOLA DAVIS (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)
  • ANDRA DAY (The United States vs. Billie Holiday)
  • VANESSA KIRBY (Pieces of a Woman)
  • FRANCES MCDORMAND (Nomadland)
  • CAREY MULLIGAN (Promising Young Woman)

KP’s Prediction: VIOLA DAVIS (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)

The Wife’s Prediction: ANDRA DAY (The United States vs. Billie Holiday)

KP’s Take: Is it me or are the picks more difficult this year?  No runaway winners.  Maybe it has to do with a lot of the streaming films or similar roles and performances?  McDormand has multiple wins with Three Billboards… and Fargo.  Davis and Day deliver powerful performances in a similar space.  Kirby’s performance appears to be gut-wrenching and filled with emotion.  Mulligan comes through in a dark way.  All could bring home the win.  I’m going with Viola Davis, who also won the SAG award.

 

Actor in a Leading Role

The Nominees Are:

  • RIZ AHMED (Sound of Metal)
  • CHADWICK BOSEMAN (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)
  • ANTHONY HOPKINS (The Father)
  • GARY OLDMAN (Mank)
  • STEVEN YEUN (Minari)

KP’s Prediction: CHADWICK BOSEMAN (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom)

The Wife’s Prediction: ANTHONY HOPKINS (The Father)

KP’s Take: I first narrowed my options down to Hopkins and Boseman.  THE WIFE is going with Anthony Hopkins for his role in The Father.  On my end, Boseman has pieced together a number of exquisite acting performances, all while hiding major health issues.  Gone way too soon, this would be a fitting tribute to Boseman’s career – one last award that can be accepted by his friends and family.

 

Best Picture

The Nominees Are:

  • THE FATHER (David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi and Philippe Carcassonne, Producers)
  • JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (Shaka King, Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, Producers)
  • MANK (Cean Chaffin, Eric Roth and Douglas Urbanski, Producers)
  • MINARI (Christina Oh, Producer)
  • NOMADLAND (Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloe Zhao, Producers)
  • PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN (Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell and Josey McNamara, Producers)
  • SOUND OF METAL (Bert Hamelinck and Sacha Ben Harroche, Producers)
  • THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (Marc Platt and Stuart Besser, Producers)

KP’s Prediction: NOMADLAND (Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloe Zhao, Producers)

The Wife’s Prediction: NOMADLAND (Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloe Zhao, Producers)

KP’s Take: I cut the list from eight to four films, leaving “Chicago 7”, “Promising”, “Minari” and “Nomadland” in my final four.  Then, I cut that list to two, leaving The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Nomadland as my finalists.  I honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see Minari follow in the footsteps of a foreign film like Parasite (that surprised many).  I snubbed “Chicago 7” in all my key categories above and feel I should consider it.  In the end, I do know the acclaim that has come with Nomadland and how well films with Frances McDormand perform.  Like THE WIFE, I’m sticking with the film that many consider the frontrunner in this category – and that’s Nomadland.  This is your best picture of 2021.

Enjoy the Oscars!  As always, thank you for visiting The Wife Hates Sports!

Image Credit: Pixar | Soul | Image customized w/ Oscar statue by The Wife Hates Sports

For all award nominations, see Oscars.org

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