Today we’re talking screenplays and other feature film categories.
ANIMATED FEATURE
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul
Wolfwalkers
This goes to Annie champ Soul, but it’s too bad Wolfwalkers can’t get some love too. The Pixar or Disney favorites always win though. No contest.
Winner: Soul
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher
Time
The movie that should win this category hands down is Collective, but the sentimental Netflix favorite My Octopus Teacher (the worst reviewed movie in this bunch) has been mounting a surprise campaign of winning precursor awards, including things like the PGA and Bafta. The problem is that the whole Academy votes on this category, when once upon a time it was only the documentary branch that did, and the mood of voters these days is to embrace escapism and not real world issues, etc. I think that movie will win this, but it puts a sour taste in my mouth when all four other films are far superior.
Winner: My Octopus Teacher
Alternate: Collective
Dark Horse: The Mole Agent
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
Another Round (Denmark)
Better Days (Hong Kong)
Collective (Romania)
The Man Who Sold His Skin (Tunisia)
Quo Vadis, Aida? (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Denmark’s Another Round will take this one and Thomas Vinterberg’s surprise Best Director nomination is the giveaway (whenever a foreign film also makes it into Picture and/or Director, that’s the hint). So no chance for Collective here either, sadly. But Another Round is great too.
Winner: Another Round
Alternate: Quo Vadis, Aida? (has won some other prizes this season)
FILM EDITING
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
This one is kinda tough, with the Best Picture heavies pitted against each other. Sound of Metal took Bafta, but the powerful editors guild went with Chicago 7. I kind of think Trial will win something and this is its most likely place, so I’m going to go with that. But it’s close.
Winner: The Trial of the Chicago 7
Alternate: Sound of Metal
Dark Horse: The Father
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Judas and the Black Messiah
Minari
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Emerald Fennell won both the Bafta and the WGA over Chicago 7, so the industry seems to have agreed this is the place to award Promising Young Woman. I will go with it as well.
Winner: Promising Young Woman
Alternate: The Trial of the Chicago 7
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
The Father
Nomadland
One Night in Miami
The White Tiger
Oooh, a tough one. Nomadland wasn’t nominated at WGA, where Borat won (won’t happen here). And then Bafta went for The Father in a somewhat surprise win, but I think that could happen here too. Usually the Best Picture winner does win this award, but I happen to think Nomadland could still win the top prize with just director and cinematography, so I’m gonna go ahead and predict The Father for this.
Winner: The Father
Alternate: Nomadland
