By now, we have known the result of the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, SAG and BAFTA honoring the best of films in 2020. These are 4 of the 5 major annual Hollywood film awards which ends with the most prestigious Academy Awards, or famously known as the Oscars. The 93rd Academy Awards will be held on 25th April 2021 and is now only a week away.
The race in certain categories remain wide open (particularly best actress category) despite the conclusion of 4 major precursor awards and that will make up for an interesting night at the Oscars. There is not a single clear frontrunner for best actress winner this year. The five nominees in this category are Viola Davis from ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’, Andra Day from ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’, Vanessa Kirby from ‘Pieces of a Woman’, Frances McDormand from ‘Nomadland’, and Carey Mulligan from ‘Promising Young Woman’.
I have only watched ‘Nomadland’ and hence couldn’t really choose my pick. Viola Davis won the SAG, Andra Day won the Golden Globes, Frances McDormand won the BAFTA and Carey Mulligan won the Critics’ Choice. Vanessa Kirby is the only one left out, but she did won at Venice Film Festival. Now, everyone is cracking their head. It is very rare that all the 4 major precursor awards picked different person for the win. No frontrunner at all. If Frances wins it again, she would have won a total of 3 times which is a bit too much. Andra and Vanessa are a bit too new to the scene and Viola had won best supporting actress before. I would place my bet on Carey Mulligan then.
As for best actor, I’m actually rooting for Anthony Hopkins. His performance in ‘The Father’ is fantastic. Many people felt that the award should be given to Chadwick Boseman out of respect (he passed away not long ago) and that he performed well in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Although I didn’t watch that film, but I had this feeling that Hopkins acted the best out of the five nominees (the other nominees are Riz Ahmed from ‘Sound of Metal’, Gary Oldman from ‘Mank’ and Steven Yeun from ‘Minari’). There is hardly any more chance for Hopkins to be nominated again in the future too (and win) since he is now already 83 years old. Hopkins did won at the BAFTA, perhaps due to the home advantage. Can’t we have two winners on the Oscar’s night?
Not much comment on best supporting actor and actress categories. Daniel Kaluuya is expected to take supporting actor from ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ (he won all the 4 precursor awards) and Yuh-jung Youn from ‘Minari’ is the frontrunner now for supporting actress (after winning at SAG and BAFTA). The film ‘Soul’ is 100% certain to take home the best animated film and best original score (and I agree). Best director is going to be handed to Chloe Zhao from ‘Nomadland’ since she won all the 4 precursor awards too in this category. Her film ‘Nomadland’ is expected to win the coveted best picture too although I find the movie boring (has beautiful scenery but lacks drama). My personal choice would be ‘The Father’; a simple yet astounding and heartbreaking film. But I’m sure it won’t win. Films need momentum and publicity to win awards, and not depend solely on the quality of the film itself. That’s the sad truth in Hollywood.
(Images in this post are from various online sources)
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