My 2023 Oscar Predictions

If you want to fill out an Oscar ballot so you can make predictions too, you can download a printable one HERE (from The Seattle Times), which also gives you what their film critic chose for each category. If you beat me I’ll owe you… something.

Here we go…

BEST PICTURE (Watched 10/10)

I WANT TO WIN: I PREDICT TO WIN:

I wouldn’t say take my recommendation to see this movie. Many hate it, many love it. I just happen to be the latter. I’ll rank these 10 against each other later. 

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (4/5)

WANT: Austin Butler ()PREDICT:Brendan Fraser (The Whale)

These are who I think deserve it most, though I didn’t see Living. Farrell is definitely a strong possibility. 

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE (4/5)

WANT: Michelle Yeoh ()PREDICT:Michelle Yeoh ()

Up until today I was choosing Cate Blanchett for my “predict to win.” She could easily take this, but so could Yeoh. I believe this is a very tight race.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (5/5)

WANT: TIE: Barry Keoghan () and Brian Tyree Henry (Causeway)PREDICT: Ke Huy Quan ()

This is the one category where just about everyone is my favourite. Quan’s performance and his story are so wonderful. I would be thrilled if any of the actors listed wins. 

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (4/5)

WANT: Jamie Lee Curtis ()PREDICT: Jamie Lee Curtis ()

I chose her from the very beginning. The others are all great, but JLC better win this!

ANIMATED FEATURE (3/5)

WANT: Guillermo Del Toro’s PinocchioPREDICT:

I think this one’s a shoo-in, but perhaps Marcel the Shell will pull an upset. And word on the street is that the Puss in Boots one is really good.

ANIMATED SHORT (4/5)

WANT: Ice MerchantsPREDICT: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

CINEMATOGRAPHY (3/5)

WANT: PREDICT: Tár

COSTUME DESIGN (3/5)

WANT: PREDICT:

DIRECTING (5/5)

WANT: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert ()PREDICT: Todd Field ()

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE (3/5)

WANT: All That BreathesPREDICT:

Navalny is definitely one to watch. Remember a couple of years ago when a political opponent of Putin’s was poisoned? Well, it’s about that. It’s so good! 

DOCUMENTARY SHORT (4/5)

WANT: PREDICT: Stranger at the Gate

And I have to say, Hallout was pretty powerful. Sobering too.

FILM EDITING (5/5)

WANT: PREDICT:

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE (2/5)

WANT: PREDICT:

LIVE-ACTION SHORT (2/5)

WANT: Le PupillePREDICT: Le Pupille

Sadly, as you can see, I’d only watched two of the contenders. Maybe if I got to see more of them my picks would be different. Also, Night Ride was a lot of fun.

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING (5/5)

WANT: PREDICT:

BEST ORIGINAL SONG (listened to 5/5)

WANT: “Naatu Naatu” ()PREDICT: “Naatu Naatu” ()

Listen to these on Spotify or YouTube and I think you’ll agree. Still can’t believe “Ciao Papa” from BDT’s Pinocchio wasn’t nominated, though…

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (listened to 5/5)

WANT: PREDICT:

I have actively listened to this soundtrack as well as the ones from All Quiet… and Elvis. It’s a good year for movie scores.

PRODUCTION DESIGN (5/5)

WANT: PREDICT:

SOUND (5/5)

WANT: PREDICT:

WRITING, ADAPTED SCREEPNLAY (5/5)

WANT: PREDICT:

I love both of these films and really I hope either one gets it.

WRITING, ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (5/5)

WANT: PREDICT: Tr

TOS is another movie that I liked but wouldn’t recommend to everyone I know. One thing that is clear, it was pretty cleverly written.

VISUAL EFFECTS (4/5)

WANT: PREDICT:

If you see this movie, it’s pretty hard to argue that any other could beat it in this category.

Congratulations Elvis. You may or may not win, but according to us, this is your week.

And to close, here is how I would rank this year’s Best Picture nominees:

1. Tár

2. Triangle of Sadness

3. Avatar: The Way of Water

4. Top Gun: Maverick

5. The Banshees of Inisherin

6. The Fabelmans

7. Women Talking

8. All Quiet on the Western Front

9. Elvis

10. Everything Everywhere All At Once