List compiled by Eddie on 09/03/2023
Here it is once more, my completely uneducated guess at who will walk away king of the Oscars in 2023!
In the coming days cinemas night of nights will take place with what is one of the most unpredictable and on-point Oscar nights we’ve seen in some time.
While it would’ve been great to see some more love in the nominations for the divisive Babylon and the far better than many give it credit for The Batman, it’s hard to argue that the nominees this year aren’t deserving of their places in their respective fields.
Led by front-runners Everything Everywhere All at Once, Elvis, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Banshees of Inisherin and The Fabelmans, there’s a lot of intrigue about many of the key categories this year, even if it appears that Everywhere Everywhere All at Once is the most likely candidate to win in the big awards, with a groundswell of support following the film around since its successful release early in 2022.
The battle in both the Best Actor and Best Actress fields also sets to provide some of the highlights of the night with Brendan Fraser, Colin Farrell and Austin Butler strong and deserving chances in the Best Actor race while Best Actress is a neck and neck battle between multiple winner Cate Blanchett and Michelle Yeoh, with Yeoh likely to become one of the stories of the night if she wins.
Another aspect that was unthought of mere months ago will be Steven Spielberg’s heartfelt The Fabelmans likely to walk away empty handed from 7 nominations. It’s been sometime since Spielberg found large-scale success at the Oscars but despite being very good, the films around his semi-autobiographical tale are just that little more special and unique.
However the award cookies crumble, this years Oscars should make for interesting viewing.
Happy watching, see you at the movies!
Disclaimer – Bold denotes winner, * denotes dark horse.
Best Picture
The people’s favourite Everything Everywhere All at Once is likely to be the big winner
All Quiet on the Western Front*
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Tár
Women Talking
Best Director
The Fabelmans was another beloved Spielberg film but its looking less and less likely to win a single award
Martin McDonagh (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)
Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)
Steven Spielberg (“The Fabelmans”)*
Todd Field (“Tár”)
Ruben Östlund (“Triangle of Sadness”)
Best Lead Actor
One of the tightest Best Actor races in years. Austin Butler is a candidate to win for his performance in Elvis
Austin Butler (“Elvis”)*
Colin Farrell (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)
Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”)
Bill Nighy (“Living”)
Best Lead Actress
One of the surprise nominees this year, Andrea Riseborough doesn’t stand a chance against the major players here
Cate Blanchett (“Tár”)*
Andrea Riseborough (“To Leslie”)
Michelle Williams (“The Fabelmans”)
Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)
Best Supporting Actor
Brendan Gleeson is one of 4 main actors in The Banshees of Inisherin to be nominated this year
Brendan Gleeson (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)
Brian Tyree Henry (“Causeway”)
Judd Hirsch (“The Fabelmans”)
Barry Keoghan (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)*
Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)
Best Supporting Actress
Angela Bassett made history becoming the first Marvel actor to be nominated for an Oscar
Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”)
Hong Chau (“The Whale”)
Kerry Condon (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)
Jamie Lee Curtis (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)
Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)*
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Netflix hit All Quiet on the Western Front is a major contender in this category
“All Quiet on the Western Front,” Screenplay by Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson & Ian Stokell
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” Written by Rian Johnson*
“Living,” Written by Kazuo Ishiguro
“Top Gun: Maverick,” Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks
“Women Talking,” Screenplay by Sarah Polley
Best Original Screenplay
In another year Triangle of Sadness may have been a winner but is unlikely this time around
“The Banshees of Inisherin,” Written by Martin McDonagh
“Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Written by Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert*
“The Fabelmans,” Written by Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner
“Tár,” Written by Todd Field
“Triangle of Sadness,” Written by Ruben Östlund
Best Cinematography
In an otherwise forgettable film, Empire of Lights cinematography stood out
“All Quiet on the Western Front”, James Friend
“Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths,” Darius Khondji
“Elvis,” Mandy Walker*
“Empire of Light,” Roger Deakins
“Tár,” Florian Hoffmeister
Best Documentary Feature Film
Now available on HBO Max, All that Breathes is a moving documentary worthy of being seen
“All That Breathes,” Shaunak Sen, Aman Mann and Teddy Leifer
“All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, John Lyons, Nan Goldin and Yoni Golijov
“Fire of Love,” Sara Dosa, Shane Boris and Ina Fichman
“A House Made of Splinters,” Simon Lereng Wilmont and Monica Hellström
“Navalny,” Daniel Roher, Odessa Rae, Diane Becker, Melanie Miller and Shane Boris*
Best Animated Feature Film
It’s all about Pinocchio here
“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio,” Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, Gary Ungar and Alex Bulkley
“Marcel the Shell With Shoes On,” Dean Fleischer Camp, Elisabeth Holm, Andrew Goldman, Caroline Kaplan and Paul Mezey*
“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” Joel Crawford and Mark Swift
“The Sea Beast,” Chris Williams and Jed Schlanger
“Turning Red,” Domee Shi and Lindsey Collins
Best Film Editing
It would be a shame for Top Gun: Maverick to walk away empty handed after reaching the sky
“The Banshees of Inisherin,” Mikkel E.G. Nielsen
“Elvis,” Matt Villa and Jonathan Redmond
“Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Paul Rogers
“Tár,” Monika Willi
“Top Gun: Maverick,” Eddie Hamilton*
Best International Feature Film
The Quiet Girl is a beautiful film deserving of all the praise
“All Quiet on the Western Front” (Germany)
“Argentina, 1985” (Argentina)
“Close” (Belgium)
“EO” (Poland)
Best Original Song
RRR’s signature song and dance number could make history this year
“Applause” from “Tell It Like a Woman,” Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
“Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick,” Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga and BloodPop*
“Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; Lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler
“Naatu Naatu” from “RRR,” Music by M.M. Keeravaani; Lyric by Chandrabose
“This Is a Life” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; Lyric by Ryan Lott and David Byrne
Best Production Design
A loaded category this year, any film could win on the night
“All Quiet on the Western Front,” Production Design: Christian M. Goldbeck; Set Decoration: Ernestine Hipper
“Avatar: The Way of Water,” Production Design: Dylan Cole and Ben Procter; Set Decoration: Vanessa Cole
“Babylon,” Production Design: Florencia Martin; Set Decoration: Anthony Carlino
“Elvis,” Production Design: Catherine Martin and Karen Murphy; Set Decoration: Bev Dunn*
“The Fabelmans,” Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara
Best Visual Effects
A great blend of practical and CGI effects, The Batman would be a worthy winner
“All Quiet on the Western Front,” Frank Petzold, Viktor Müller, Markus Frank and Kamil Jafar
“Avatar: The Way of Water,” Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
“The Batman,” Dan Lemmon, Russell Earl, Anders Langlands and Dominic Tuohy
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Geoffrey Baumann, Craig Hammack, R. Christopher White and Dan Sudick
“Top Gun: Maverick,” Ryan Tudhope, Seth Hill, Bryan Litson and Scott R. Fisher*
Best Costume Design
Unlikely to win, Babylon deserves some love
“Babylon,” Mary Zophres*
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Ruth Carter
“Elvis,” Catherine Martin
“Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Shirley Kurata
“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,” Jenny Beavan
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Yes that is Brendan Fraser
“All Quiet on the Western Front,” Heike Merker and Linda Eisenhamerová
“The Batman,” Naomi Donne, Mike Marino and Mike Fontaine
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Camille Friend and Joel Harlow
“Elvis,” Mark Coulier, Jason Baird and Aldo Signoretti*
“The Whale,” Adrien Morot, Judy Chin and Anne Marie Bradley
Best Original Score
The haunting score for All Quiet on the Western Front was a major part of its success
“All Quiet on the Western Front,” Volker Bertelmann*
“Babylon,” Justin Hurwitz
“The Banshees of Inisherin,” Carter Burwell
“Everything Everywhere All at Once,” Son Lux
“The Fabelmans,” John Williams
Best Sound
Another hugely loaded category, all films here would be deserving of a win.
“All Quiet on the Western Front,” Viktor Prášil, Frank Kruse, Markus Stemler, Lars Ginzel and Stefan Korte*
“Avatar: The Way of Water,” Julian Howarth, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Dick Bernstein, Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers and Michael Hedges
“The Batman,” Stuart Wilson, William Files, Douglas Murray and Andy Nelson
“Elvis,” David Lee, Wayne Pashley, Andy Nelson and Michael Keller
“Top Gun: Maverick,” Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor
Wins Tally –
Everything Everywhere All at Once = 4
All Quiet on the Western Front = 4
Elvis = 2
The Banshees of Inisherin = 2
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
Our lists are very different. I believe there is only two or three few categories we agree upon. Looking forward to the Oscar’s ceremony. Great opportunity to not move from the couch mate. If you get the chance before tomorrow, I’ve include the link to my Oscar predictions here below. Interestingly, Ive taken a gamble with some of my choices. I’m hoping All Quiet On The Western odes what Dune did last year. Clean Up!
https://the-rearview-mirror.com/2023/03/12/beyond-the-slap-my-oscar-predictions-for-2023/
Hope you enjoyed mate. I knew Everything was going to sweep in the main categories but did not expect it to do as well as it did, especially Curtis winning her award, I feel like that was more for her body of work rather than the film itself.
E
Hey Ed, at the risk of repeating myself, this is what I said on my site in the comments on my Oscar predictions article: “Cocaine Bear, you my friend were the star of Oscars night! This was fun, right? Everything Everywhere All At Once made history tonight winning seven Oscars in a clean sweep of almost all the important awards. It puts it in the conversation as one of the best movies of all time, right? But I’m not so sure it deserves that distinction. I’m not shocked that it won but it’s not the best film of 2022. EEAAO is a winner like Coda last year where the changing nature of the Oscars race has opened up the field. Congrats to Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Yuan, who was just as excited to see Harrison Ford, as he was winning a Support Actor Oscar. All Quiet On The Western Front did very well with a handful of Oscars including Best International Film. I sincerely believed it would take home the prestigious Best Picture but when EEAAO started to clean sweep all the major awards I lost hope. I’m thrilled Brendan Fraser won Best Actor. He pushed me into the double digits. I got 10/16 in the categories I looked at. That said, I’m really thrilled for him. He looked visibly shaken, surprised and happy all at once. He threw in too many whale inspired metaphors during his acceptance speech but that’s all easily forgiven.”
As always there are things I loved about the night. Harrison Ford, Cocaine Bear and the donkey. Kimmel was boring. We both had a hit and miss night in some of the categories. While I’m thrilled Yeoh won, I was convinced Blanchett would win. I had hoped a dark horse would win in one of the categories, maybe Women Talking qualifies for Adapted Screenplay.
I was very surprised Women won to be honest mate. I never can understand how a film can win such an award and not even be in most other major categories. Agreed on Kimmel he was actually downright bad from what I caught. I am mostly happy with the night even if I will never recover from the fact The Batman wasn’t even in the cinematography race ha.
E
I read Roger Deakin’s was appalled The Batman wasn’t nominated for cinematography. I agree it was brilliant with all its noir elements.
By the way, I’m kicking myself for not locking in Naatu Naatu for Best original Song, when I knew I bloody should have.
https://ayodhyanagar.com/web-stories/naatu-naatu-song-impressed-the-jury-rrr-oscar-2023/ Naatu naatu web story