The 92nd Academy Awards: Picks and Predictions

Ethan’s Best Picture Film Scores

1. Parasite – 96%
2. The Irishman – 94%
3. 1917 – 92%
4. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – 90%
5. Little Women – 89%
6. Marriage Story – 84%
7. Ford v Ferrari – 84%
8. Joker – 78%
9. Jojo Rabbit – 75%

Best Picture

Ethan’s Pick – Parasite (Bong Joon-ho)

Ethan’s Prediction – 1917 (Sam Mendes)

Category Winner – Parasite (Bong Joon-ho)

The biggest, most prestigious prize of the 2020 Oscars is none other than the Best Picture award. It is the goal of every director and casting crew to reach the top of the mountain and enter the hallowed halls of film history. The film this year that gave me the most enthusiastic “wow” as the credits hit the screen was Bong Joon-ho’s Korean, foreign language film Parasite. The movie is a twisted and dark roller coaster of ingenuity and brilliance. The movie showcases the true reason why we go to the theaters to watch a two hour suspenseful, yet beautifully crafted piece of art. Parasite, overall, is the film that I would appreciate getting the best picture award the most. However, the movie that stands in its way is a strong contender for the gold. It is 1917, the film is a stunning depiction of the perfect action movie. While being a masterly created idea by director Sam Mendes, 1917 utilizes a unique shooting technique that complements the aroma given by the movie to a tee. Furthermore, the film is shot in a viewing sense to make it look like one take. It is a fascinating viewing experience that is unique and so technically complex. In conclusion, these are two of the definite top accomplishments in the film industry this year and they deserve all the recognition they’ve gotten.

Best Actor

Ethan’s Pick – Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)

Ethan’s Prediction – Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)

Category Winner – Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)

Although the film in its entirety did not get ranked high on the best picture list, Joaquin Phoenix’s work as the Joker is quite astounding. I’m not going to go as far as to see his job lapped the marvelous work of Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight; however, Joaquin Phoenix carries on the legacy of the villainous character the Joker incredibly. He is the shining star that stands out the film by far. Moreover, he paints a perfect picture of what playing the character of the Joker entails. In my opinion, he overshadows the film’s plot too much to the point that he was all I was entertained by from the start of his character development to the final cut. Overall, the character of the Joker is so superbly played by Phoenix, there is truly no one else who deserves this academy award more.

Best Actress

Ethan’s Pick – Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story)

Ethan’s Prediction – Renée Zellweger (Judy)

Category Winner – Renée Zellweger (Judy)

This was another fantastic year for actress’ roles in films. So many familiar faces stood out among the rest and solidified their true skill; also, there was the appear off some more esoteric actresses. This all played out into a competitive race leading up to the academy awards. And, my pick to win the best actress award is Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story. Above all, Marriage Story definitively stood as the movie that contains some of the best acting out of a film. Moreover, Johansson’s job within the movie is marvelous. She possesses such a pure and genuine attitude that is shown over the two hours that she is pictured in the film. However, the film that I predict to take the award of the best actress is Renée Zellweger in the film Judy. This decision mainly derives from the fact that Zellweger won that the award at the golden globes. And, the film seemed to have been very successful in the eyes of the academy throughout the past award ceremonies.

Best Supporting Actor

Ethan’s Pick – Joe Pesci (The Irishman)

Ethan’s Prediction – Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

Category Winner – Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

The Irishman is a film that defines the collaboration of brilliant minds to make an incredible product. Joe Pesci’s role in the film is by far the most stunning; he shows that even though he has not been under the brilliant filmmaking mind of Martin Scorcese for some time, he still that incredible acting flair. His work in the film is extremely impressive; although his acting might not beat out his work Goodfellas, he has truly a knack for finding the rich and flavorful cores of his roles in these magisterial mob stories. On the other hand, we have my prediction, and I predict for Brad Pitt’s role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood to take the cake. Furthermore, Pitt won this award at the golden globes, and it did not bother me because he has an incredibly likable role in the film’s plot. He is a friendly, compassionate sidekick to the shining star Rick Dalton, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Although I believe Joe Pesci deserves this prize, Brad Pitt’s role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a well-played, pleasant person that can put a smile on any viewer’s face.

Best Supporting Actress

Ethan’s Pick – Laura Dern (Marriage Story)

Ethan’s Prediction – Laura Dern (Marriage Story)

Category Winner – Laura Dern (Marriage Story)

This decision for the best supporting actress was one of the easier choices I had to make because Laura Dern is just a fantastic actress, and her work in Marriage Story is simply a testament to this fact. Laura Dern plays the role of a tough-talking, sheath dress-wearing lawyer named Nora in the film. Dern is so full of emotion when she has those personal and poignant conversations with Scarlett Johansson. Another unique thing about Dern’s character is how she is only a supporting actress, but she is such a complex mind that adds so much to the plot’s inner circle. In conclusion, Laura Dern acting adds so much to the film itself that she easily stood out for me as the next winner of the academy award for the best supporting actress.

Best Original Screenplay

Ethan’s Pick – Bong Joon-ho, Han Jin-won (Parasite)

Ethan’s Prediction – Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

Category Winner – Bong Joon-ho, Han Jin-won (Parasite)

For the category of the best original screenplay, I debated hard on who I thought truly deserved the coveted prize. But, when it came to the final inch of the wire I give it to the movie that I respected the most the day I viewed it. Parasite is the film that stole the show in the film industry this year. The brilliance of the plot, screenplay, and cast were all a special combination that meshed into what I would consider a masterpiece of a picture. Although it takes the award in my eyes, I can see the academy having different thoughts. It seems to me like they are going the eat up the brilliance that stands within all of Quentin Tarantino’s stories and screenplays. And, the film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is so ingenious, yet it’s so out of left-field. Tarantino always seems to have the knack to put audiences worldwide on the edge of their seats to any of his exquisite dramedies. Therefore, I’m to make the prediction that Quentin Tarantino’s screenplay for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will win the award for best original screenplay.