It’s the most wonderful time of the year – awards season!
With the 2020 awards season coming to a close and the Academy Awards right around the corner, I am breaking down my hot takes of who will win and who should win the coveted Oscar for acting, directing and the best picture.
Now let’s get down to business.
Best Supporting Actor
Who Should Win:
If anything has been predictable this awards season, it has been the acting categories. Most of the frontrunners have been making clean sweeps, so it’s tough to really give you anything shocking at this point.
That being said, this bad boy should go to Brad Pitt for his performance as Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The character of Booth was a clear standout and fan favorite, winning the hearts of the critics and audiences.
Although I found Pesci and Pachino brilliant in The Irishman, this feels like Pitt’s time to win.
Who Will Win:
It’s Brad Pitt’s and there’s no doubt about it. The now four-time Academy Award-nominated actor has become the toastmaster of the awards season with charming acceptance speeches and full support from his peers. Plus, Pitt has seamlessly scored all precursor prizes.
Best Supporting Actress
Who Should Win:
There is such a collection of strong performances in this category, however, no one deserves this more than Laura Dern. Her performance as the fiery, smart and razor-sharp divorce lawyer is a scene-stealer in Netflix’s A Marriage Story. Her stand out feminist monologue about the injustice between parenting roles deserves an Oscar in itself. It’s so poignant and badass.
I am all aboard the Dern bandwagon and it appears everyone else is too. It’s Dern’s year. It’s Dern’s time and we’re lucky to be a part of it.
Who Will Win:
Our lord and savior, Laura Dern. She will not NOT win. (Some Big Little Lies humor, if you please.)
Best Actor
Who Should Win: Alright. Here’s where my hot takes become scolding.
I, along with the rest of the world, applaud Joaquin Phoenix’s unsettling and raw performance in Joker. Phoenix transforms into an emaciated psychopath and even dislocated his knee while filming, but does that mean it is a great performance?
Yes, he is haunting and talented. But, if I am to be honest, Phoenix has been far more impressive in other films such as Walk the Line and The Master. The more I think about the film as a whole, the more annoyed I am about him winning.
If there is anyone, I believe TRULY deserves this award and was shamefully snubbed, it is Taron Egerton for his performance as Elton John in Rocketman. Egerton adopted Elton John’s mannerisms, his singing voice, and transformed into the music legend. There were scenes where I didn’t know if I was watching Elton John or Taron Egerton.
Part of me thinks he was snubbed due to Rami Malek’s best actor win last year as Freddy Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, which infuriates me to no end considering the HUGE juxtaposition in performances. Can somebody just steal Rami Malek’s Oscar and give it to Taron Egerton already? Sheesh. Thanks.
Who Will Win:
Send in the clowns. It will be Joaquin Phoenix.
Best Actress
Who Should Win:
Since day one, I said that this award belonged to Renée Zellweger for her portrayal as Judy Garland in Judy. This still stands.
Although I found Scarlett Johannsson’s performance in A Marriage Story to be heartbreaking and raw, there is something so captivating about the way Zellweger transforms into Garland.
Between her vulnerability, her dynamic charisma, and tragic flaws, Zellweger embodies Garland in a very honest and fascinating way.
I’d also like to take a moment to point out that Lupita N’yongo was also shamefully snubbed this year for her performances as Adelaide and Red in Jordan Peele’s Us. Thank god the SAGS weren’t as blind to this brilliance.
Who Will Win:
Even if she isn’t wearing ruby slippers, Renée Zellweger is a shoo-in.
Best Director
Who Should Win:
In all honesty, I wish I could just give both Sam Mendes and Bong Joon-ho the Oscar. Both directors have crafted brilliant cinematic masterpieces — 1917 and Parasite.
Parasite is a work of genius. Bong Joon-ho is the one responsible for capturing all the intricacies and nuances that make it the masterpiece it is.
But when you look at a director who did it big, no one accomplished this task as grand as Sam Mendes.
Choreographing and organizing every single movement, effect and actor while attempting to achieve a one-shot storytelling style is a HUGE challenge. And Mendes did it.
Who Will Win: Already winning the Golden Globe, BAFTA and Directors Guild, it is leaning in Sam Mendes’s favor.
Best Picture
Who Should Win:
And yet again, the conflict remains. Will it be 1917 or will it be Parasite?
Both completely different pieces of that were astonishing in their own unique ways, however, if there is one film I have been raving about since day one, it’s Parasite.
The complexity of the storytelling. The sharpness of the cinematography. The authenticity of the actors. I will say it again — the film is a damn masterpiece.
I WANT Parasite to have the historic win. It is 100% the best picture of the year. And one of the best of our time. It deserves this recognition.
Who Will Win: Although I really just want to give Academy Awards to both films, my gut is telling me that 1917 will take the topprize.
Mainly because a foreign film has never achieved the top price. And as Bong Joon-Ho already said to Vulture, “The Oscars are not an international film festival. They’re very local.”
And there you have it.
Heather's Hot Takes 