The Academy Awards, better known as The Oscars, are the annual artistic awards honoring films. Starting in 1929, The Oscars award the creators of film based on the voting from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The nominations for this year’s ceremony, held on March 10, have been announced. Here are The Stinger’s picks on who will win.
Best Picture
Stinger Pick – Oppenheimer
Barbinhimer was one of the biggest events of last summer – allowing Barbie to become the highest grossing movie of the year. While Barbie seems like the popular choice, Oppenhimer was the critical darling of the event. The three hour long film, directed by Christopher Nolan, is considered to be one of the best films of the decade, so a Best Picture win may be in the near future for Oppenheimer.
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Stinger Pick – Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers
Last year was the year for seasoned actors to get their deserved awards. Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis all won acting awards decades after their careers began. If this trend continues, it is predicted that The Holdovers’ star Paul Giamatti will win. The seasoned actor was praised for his role in the film – earning accolades along the way. Giamatti has already won Best Actor for the film at the Golden Globes and Critic’s Choice Awards, so an Oscar win doesn’t seem that far-fetched.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Stinger Pick – Lily Gladstone – Killers of the Flower Moon
While most of the actresses nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role received a great deal of praise, one nominee stands out the most – Killers of the Flower Moon star Lily Gladstone. Only starring in 10 movies before this role, Gladstone has earned her nomination with her fantastic performance. If Gladstone wins, she will be the first Native American and Indigenous woman to win Best Actress.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Stinger Pick – Robert Downey Jr. – Oppenheimer
Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr. is nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role this year, and he just might win for the first time. He has already won for his Oppenhimer role at the Golden Globes and Critic’s Choice Movie Awards, so it is possible that Downey could win the Oscar – with his third nomination.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Stinger Pick – Da’vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers
First time Oscar nominated Da’vine Joy Randolph might win the award this year for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The actress has already won numerous awards for her role in the film, so an Oscar win would not be surprising.
Best Animated Feature Films
Stinger Pick – The Boy and the Heron
The “last” film from Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki is deserving of the Best Animated Feature Film award. The new film is one of the highest rated movies from the famed studio, so it is understandable that the film is nominated. The film has already won a BAFTA and Golden Globe, so only time will tell if it can become the second Studio Ghibli film to win Best Animated Feature Film.
Music (Original Song)
Stinger Pick – What Was I Made For? – Barbie
The Barbie soundtrack has an advantage in this category – with two songs nominated for the Original Song award. But do we really
think I’m Just Ken is going to win? If any nominations from Barbie win, it will most likely be for What Was I Made For? The Billie Ellish track has already received many accolades – including a Grammy. What Was I Made For? Is deserving of the win.
The Biggest Snub?
Like mentioned previously, Barbie was the most popular movie of 2023, but does that mean it would win a great deal of awards – most likely not. The public has already announced their displeasure with the nomination snubs for Barbie herself, Margot Robbie, and Director Greta Gerwig. Only time will tell if Barbie can achieve any Oscar awards.
What films do you think are going to win? Comment down below with your ideas.