The 92nd annual Academy Awards are upon us! As per usual, Nick & Katy had a lot to say about the movies and actors up for awards, and want to share! So take some time and read on, here are our 2020 Oscar Picks!
THE BALCONY IS NOW OPEN!
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Nominees:
"CORPUS CHRISTI" Poland
"HONEYLAND" North Macedonia
"LES MISÉRABLES" France
"PAIN AND GLORY" Spain
"PARASITE" South Korea
NICK: I have not seen everything in this category, but I have seen the films from Spain, France and South Korea. In fairness, this is a category that is a forgone conclusion in my eyes. I thought "Les Miserables" was good, and seeing a French version seemed more authentic. However, the two movies that really struck me were "Pain and Glory" & "Parasite." I've been a long admirer of Pedro Almodóvar, and this is his best film in a long time. It seemed like an homage to Fellini's "8 1/2."
South Korea's "Parasite" is so relevant. It conveys a reality that is underlying in most of the world right now. It was just spectacular, and I'd want it to win every award it is nominated for. I think it will, and should, win.
KATY: I only saw two of these films: "Pain and Glory" and "Parasite." I really liked both of them, and unlike Nick, I am not a huge fan of foreign films. However, they're both outstanding and even though I found "Parasite" to be a revelation, I think "Pain and Glory" will win, for reasons I will discuss later in the podcast!
Nick: SHOULD WIN: "Parasite" WILL WIN: "Parasite"
Katy: SHOULD WIN: "Parasite" WILL WIN: "Pain and Glory"
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Nominees:
"THE IRISHMAN" Screenplay by Steven Zaillian
"JOJO RABBIT" Screenplay by Taika Waititi
"JOKER" Written by Todd Phillips & Scott Silver
"LITTLE WOMEN" Written for the screen by Greta Gerwig
"THE TWO POPES" Written by Anthony McCarten
NICK: I've seen every movie in this category, and unlike Kathryn, my least favourite was "Jojo Rabbit." I feel like it was somewhat redundant. I absolutely loved "The Two Popes." I liked "The Irishman," and found it to be beautifully written. I thought "The Joker" was great. If I had my way, I'd like to see the Award go to "The Two Popes," as it is quite an unusual story and beautifully written.
KATY: Oh, Nicholas, you silly Rabbit! "Jojo Rabbit" was probably the best, most creative, clever movie I've seen this Oscar season. I loved everything about it and think it should win in this category, but moreover, I think it WILL win because it is unlikely to win any thing else, and that's how the Academy operates.
Nick: SHOULD WIN:"The Two Popes" WILL WIN: "The Irishman"
Katy: SHOULD WIN: “Jojo Rabbit” WILL WIN: “Jojo Rabbit”
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Nominees:
"KNIVES OUT" Written by Rian Johnson
"MARRIAGE STORY" Written by Noah Baumbach
"1917" Written by Sam Mendes & Krysty Wilson-Cairns
"ONCE UPON A TIME...IN HOLLYWOOD" Written by Quentin Tarantino
"PARASITE" Screenplay by Bong Joon Ho, Han Jin Won; Story by Bong Joon Ho
NICK: Going through this list: "Knives Out" I didn't see but it doesn't seem to be a head contender like the other films. "Marriage Story" was like a Woody Allen movie without the humour. "1917" looked incredible but wasn't necessarily my kind of movie. "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" really captured the period, I thought it was a great movie, and I'd be very happy if it won. I do think "Parasite" was the most unique and remarkable movie of the year, and would love for it to win.
KATY: I loved "Knives Out," but agree with Nick it doesn't have the gravitas the other films have. However, it was very clever and well-written. "Marriage Story" was really great, a special movie that made me cry many times. "1917" didn't really speak to me. I liked "Once Upon a Time..." better than I thought I would, but you had to sit through a lot of Quentin 'stuff' to get to the big pay off. "Parasite" was an incredible movie: shocking, creative, funny, sad, and well-plotted. I think it will, and should, win this award.
Nick: SHOULD WIN: "Parasite" WILL WIN:"Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood"
Katy: SHOULD WIN:"Parasite" WILL WIN: "Parasite"
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The Nominees:
"HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD" Dean DeBlois, Bradford Lewis and Bonnie Arnold
"I LOST MY BODY" Jérémy Clapin and Marc du Pontavice
"KLAUS" Sergio Pablos, Jinko Gotoh and Marisa Román
"MISSING LINK" Chris Butler, Arianne Sutner and Travis Knight
"TOY STORY 4" Josh Cooley, Mark Nielsen and Jonas Rivera
NICK: I love animated films but since I don't have a small person in my life, I haven't seen any of these movies! However, I did see the other 3 Toy Story movies, and they were all amazing.
KATY: Nicholas, you can borrow one of my small people!
I only saw three of these movies actually. I really want to see "Missing Link," which won at the Globes. I did see "Klaus," which picked up a BAFTA, and I am shocked that "Frozen 2" wasn't nominated, even though it was no where near as good as the first "Frozen." For me, there is no other choice than "Toy Story 4," which picked up so beautifully after a 9 year break.
Nick: SHOULD WIN: “Klaus” WILL WIN: “Toy Story 4”
Katy: SHOULD WIN: “Toy Story 4” WILL WIN: “Toy Story 4”
CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Nominees:
"THE IRISHMAN" Rodrigo Prieto
"JOKER" Lawrence Sher
"THE LIGHTHOUSE" Jarin Blaschke
"1917" Roger Deakins
"ONCE UPON A TIME...IN HOLLYWOOD" Robert Richardson
NICK: I haven't seen "The Lighthouse," and I am sorry that I can't give an educated opinion on this film. I have seen the other four though, and I liked the cinematography in all of them. It's a tough category! I loved the look of "Joker," it brought a whole different mood to the Batman franchise and it captured the darkness that was pervasive in the film. I thought "Once Upon..." looked exactly how it was supposed to, and it captured the time so elegantly. However it seems that "1917" will win; the movie looks particularly good, plus Roger Deakins has worked with Duran Duran, so I'd be very happy for him to win.
KATY: This is way more Nick's category than mine, but I will say, while I wasn't alive during the time frame that "Once Upon a Time..." was set in, I literally felt like I was there, that I was undoubtedly seeing it as it would have been. For that reason, it's my "should" win, but agree with Nick, Roger D is pretty unbeatable.
Nick: SHOULD WIN: "Joker" WILL WIN: "1917"
Katy: SHOULD WIN: "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" WILL WIN: "1917"
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
The Nominees:
"JOKER" Hildur Guðnadóttir
"LITTLE WOMEN" Alexandre Desplat
"MARRIAGE STORY" Randy Newman
"1917" Thomas Newman
"STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER" John Williams
NICK: I am not really sure who will win this one. These were all good, and though I didn't see "Star Wars," John Williams never goes wrong. I thought "Joker" was the best, personally. That will get my vote.
KATY: My husband is in to film scores, so it has opened my mind to them a bit more. As Nick said, you can't ever go wrong with John Williams, and who doesn't love Randy Newman's work? For me, the score in "Joker" enhanced the film.
Nick: SHOULD WIN:"Joker" WILL WIN: "Joker"
Katy: SHOULD WIN: "Joker" WILL WIN: "Joker"
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
The Nominees:
"I CAN'T LET YOU THROW YOURSELF AWAY" from Toy Story 4; Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
"(I'M GONNA) LOVE ME AGAIN" from Rocketman; Music by Elton John; Lyric by Bernie Taupin
"I'M STANDING WITH YOU" from Breakthrough; Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
"INTO THE UNKNOWN" from Frozen II; Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
"STAND UP" from Harriet; Music and Lyric by Joshuah Brian Campbell and Cynthia Erivo
NICK: From my outside view on the isle of the UK, it's usually the same "suspects" in this category as it is with the best original score nominees: it's often Diane Warren, or Elton John, or Randy Newman, all well-deserved. I kind of love that Elton and Bernie are up for it though, he has had an extraordinary career, and I want him to win... and I think he will, too.
KATY: Well, I always find this category to be a bit odd. I can't understand their criteria, if I am honest. I think Elton and Bernie have the edge here, because Taron wasn't nominated for acting as one may have expected, BUT I loved "Into the Unknown" from Frozen 2, especially when my 5-year-old daughter sings it!!
Nick: SHOULD WIN:"(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from Rocketman WILL WIN:"(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from Rocketman
Katy: SHOULD WIN: "Into the Uknown" from Frozen 2 WILL WIN:"(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from Rocketman
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
The Nominees:
KATHY BATES "Richard Jewell"
LAURA DERN "Marriage Story"
SCARLETT JOHANSSON "Jojo Rabbit"
FLORENCE PUGH "Little Women"
MARGOT ROBBIE "Bombshell"
NICK: I'd love to see Margot Robbie win, she was so great in "Bombshell." That being said, Laura Dern will win for "Marriage Story," and she deserves it.
KATY: This is the one category that I could see an upset in. As great as Laura Dern was in "Marriage Story," I felt like she's played this role before. I thought Margot Robbie was terrific in "Bombshell," but the movie didn't have momentum. I think Scarlett J should win for "Jojo Rabbit," I don't typically like her, but I liked her in both this, and "Marriage Story," very much.
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Laura Dern for "Marriage Story" WILL WIN: Laura Dern for "Marriage Story"
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Scarlett Johansson for "Jojo Rabbit" WILL WIN: Laura Dern for "Marriage Story"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
The Nominees:
TOM HANKS "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood"
ANTHONY HOPKINS "The Two Popes"
AL PACINO "The Irishman"
JOE PESCI "The Irishman"
BRAD PITT "Once upon a Time...in Hollywood"
NICK: I wish I'd seen "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," because everyone tells me Tom Hanks was great in it. This is a really tough category. I loved Joe Pesci and Al Pacino's performances in "The Irishman." For me, the Tarantino movie was spectacularly good and it is time for Brad Pitt to win an Oscar, so I think it's going to be him.
KATY: Brad Pitt could win "Hottest Actor in a motion picture" but Best Supporting? No. He is being awarded for his body of work (or just his body??), and I hate when the voters do that. I didn't think he was anything special in "Once Upon a Time..." but am certain he will win. The best supporting actor award should go to Tom Hanks.
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Brad Pitt for "Once upon a Time...in Hollywood" WILL WIN: Brad Pitt for "Once upon a Time...in Hollywood"
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Tom Hanks for "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" WILL WIN: Brad Pitt for "Once upon a Time...in Hollywood"
BEST ACTRESS
The Nominees:
CYNTHIA ERIVO "Harriet"
SCARLETT JOHANSSON "Marriage Story"
SAOIRSE RONAN "Little Women"
CHARLIZE THERON "Bombshell"
RENÉE ZELLWEGER "Judy"
NICK: Scarlett Johansson was it for me. She and Adam Driver were perfect casting, they were so believable. I think she would be winning if this movie came out in any other year. I loved Charlize Theron in "Bombshell" as well. Renée Zellweger does have a particular strength and ability to tap in to roles somewhat like Meryl Streep, and she did that in "Judy." When she sets her mind to a character and pulls it off, she is unbeatable. She was as good as you're going to get.
KATY: I agree with Nick that Scarlett was fab, but Renée can't be beat for her turn as Judy Garland in "Judy."
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Renée Zellweger for "Judy" WILL WIN: Renée Zellweger for "Judy"
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Renée Zellweger for "Judy" WILL WIN: Renée Zellweger for "Judy"
BEST ACTOR
The Nominees:
ANTONIO BANDERAS "Pain and Glory"
LEONARDO DICAPRIO "Once upon a Time...in Hollywood"
ADAM DRIVER "Marriage Story"
JOAQUIN PHOENIX "Joker"
JONATHAN PRYCE "The Two Popes"
NICK: In this category, there isn't a single performance that doesn't deserve to win. I don't remember ever saying that about every actor in a category before. Antonio gave the performance of his career, Leonardo was great in "Once Upon a Time...", Adam Driver really deserves an Oscar for "Marriage Story" and I loved Jonathan Pryce in "The Two Popes"...but Joaquin Phoenix will win for "Joker." There was a lot for Joaquin to work with in this role, dealing with sadness, madness and manic behavior. Whatever he did, it was great, and he will win.
KATY: Totally agree, Nicholas. All of these actors were amazing in their roles. There isn't one that is "lucky" to be in the category. I was not a fan of Adam Driver, I didn't 'get' him at all, until I saw "Marriage Story." If it wasn't for Joaquin, Adam would be up there collecting all these awards, in my opinion.
Nick: SHOULD WIN: All the other four actors should win too WILL WIN: Joaquin Phoenix for "Joker"
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Adam Driver "Marriage Story" WILL WIN: Joaquin Phoenix for "Joker"
BEST DIRECTOR
The Nominees:
"THE IRISHMAN" Martin Scorsese
"JOKER" Todd Phillips
"1917" Sam Mendes
"ONCE UPON A TIME...IN HOLLYWOOD" Quentin Tarantino
"PARASITE" Bong Joon Ho
NICK: This is a tough category, I will be interested to see how people voted. I think "Parasite" is the best movie, so, in many ways, Bong Joon Ho should also win Best Director. It has an edge the other movies don't have, and they're all good. I don't think it will happen though. I am a Sam Mendes fan, but war movies, unless they're incredibly unique, are not my favourite category. Scorcese should have won 10 times over, but "The Irishman" isn't going to do it for him. Todd Phillips made a beautiful looking movie in "Joker," but not feeling it's his year either. Sam Mendes definitely does have a chance to win, though it wouldn't be my choice. I'd love to see Quentin Tarantino win, he has been largely overlooked, it was my favorite movie before I'd seen "Parasite," AND it was about Hollywood. I think he will win.
KATY: I still can't understand how a film can win BEST PICTURE but not BEST DIRECTOR. So with that in mind, I'd love to see Bong Joon Ho win for "Parasite," but I think it's unlikely he will. Since I didn't think much of "The Irishman," I thought "Once Upon a Time..." was just too long, and "Joker" was great but not a BEST PICTURE, that leaves me with "1917" - no - or "Parasite," to which I say "yes, please."
Nick: SHOULD WIN: Bong Joon Ho for "Parasite" WILL WIN: Quentin Tarantino for "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood"
Katy: SHOULD WIN: Bong Joon Ho for "Parasite" WILL WIN: Sam Mendes for "1917"
BEST PICTURE
The Nominees:
“FORD V FERRARI"
"THE IRISHMAN"
"JOJO RABBIT"
"JOKER"
"LITTLE WOMEN"
"MARRIAGE STORY"
"1917"
"ONCE UPON A TIME...IN HOLLYWOOD"
"PARASITE"
NICK: I think the fact that a South Korean movie is in the same category as all of these English language movies says it all to me. It is absolutely deserved of that position. The artistry, madness and unpredictability made it beguiling and beautiful. I must give Best Picture to "Parasite." I felt it had everything a movie should have, and it would be a complete triumph if it won. I'd be happy if "Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood" won as well, but I have a feeling that Best Picture is going to go to "1917."
KATY: I am going for it! I don't know that this will be a major upset if it happens, but I think "1917" is losing steam and "Parasite" is gaining. I don't know what makes a "Best Picture," really, but in my mind "Parasite" has all the right ingredients. "1917" fell short for me and I'd be super bummed if it won. And you know what? I don't think it will!
Nick: SHOULD WIN: "Parasite" WILL WIN: "1917"
Katy: SHOULD WIN: "Parasite" WILL WIN: "Parasite"
How will we do? Tune in to the The 92nd annual Oscars, airing on February 9 at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT
