2020 Oscars Preview

Best Visual Effects:
Avengers: Endgame
The Irishman
The Lion King
1917
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

I could see 'The Lion King' being a contender here, but I'm going with Avengers:Endgame. Being such a momentous chapter in the MCU, it deserves recognition.

Best Costume Design:
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood

We tend to see "costume design" go to period films, and I think Little Women fits that bill. The costume designing was just flawless.

Best Makeup And Hair:
Bombshell
Joker
Judy
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
1917

With how Charlize Theron so seamlessly transformed into Megyn Kelly, I'm giving this to Bombshell.

Best Original Song:
"I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away' - Toy Story 4 (Randy Newman)
"(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" - Rocketman (Elton John & Bernie Taupin)
"I'm Standing With You" - Breakthrough (Diane Warren)
"Into The Unknown" - Frozen II (Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez)
"Stand Up" - Harriet (Joshuah Brian Campbell & Cynthia Erivo)

You would think that "Into The Unknown" would be a leading contender, but I'm going with "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again". It's been the favorite throughout awards season.

Best Original Score:
Joker, Hildur Guonadottir
Little Women, Alexandre Desplat
Marriage Story, Randy Newman
1917, Thomas Newman
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, John Williams

Thomas Newman should be a contender here for '1917', but I'm leaning towards Hildur Guonadottir. She's been in front of the pack during this season.

Best Production Design:
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
1917
Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood
Parasite

This is where I think you see 1917 taking in some of the technical awards, potentially building momentum for its Best Picture chances.

Best Sound Mixing:
Ad Astra
Ford v. Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood

I'm going with 1917. The sound effects really immerse you into the experience.

Best Sound Editing:
Ford v. Ferrari
Joker
1917
Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Copy & paste from "Sound Mixing", 1917 sweeps the sound awards.

Best Film Editing:
Ford v. Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Parasite

This could be a key award, with 1917 being left out,of someone else emerging as a potential Best Picture contender. And I see that being Parasite.

Best Foreign Language Film:
Corpus Christi (Poland)
Honeyland (North Macedonia)
Les Miserables (France)
Pain and Glory (Spain)
Parasite (South Korea)

This is an absolute shoe-in, Parasite.

Best Live Action Short Film:
Brotherhood
Nefta Football Club
The Neighbors' Window
Saria
A Sister

This is where I start flying a bit blind. Judging off of the trailers, and their various accolades, I decided to go to Brotherhood.

Best Documentary Short Feature:
In The Absence
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)
Life Overtakes Me
St. Louis Superman
Walk Run Cha-Cha

I'm going with Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone. It's a fascinating subject.

Best Documentary Feature:
American Factory
The Cave
The Edge of Democracy
For Sama
Honeyland

With some surprising snubs, that opens the field for American Factory.

Best Cinematography:
The Irishman, Rodrigo Prieto
Joker, Lawrence Sher
The Lighthouse, Jarin Blaschke
1917, Roger Deakins
Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood, Robert Richardson

This seems to be a lock for Roger Deakins and 1917. "1917" is just a beautifully shot film.

Best Original Screenplay:
Knives Out, Rian Johnson
Marriage Story, Noah Baumbach
1917, Sam Mendes & Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino
Parasite, Bong Joon Ho & Han Jin Won

I can see an upset here with Parasite taking this home, furthering its Best Picture chances.

Best Adapted Screenplay:
The Irishman, Steven Zaillian
Jojo Rabbit, Taika Waititi
Joker, Todd Phillips & Scott Silver
Little Women, Greta Gerwig
The Two Popes, Anthony McCarten

This is a tight race. I could see either "Little Women" or "Joker" potentially taking this, but I'm leaning slightly towards Jojo Rabbit.

Best Animated Short:
Dcera (Daughter)
Hair Love
Kitbull
Memorable
Sister

"Kitbull" should be a contender, but I'm going with Hair Love. It tells an important story with some tremendous animation.

Best Animated Feature:
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
I Lost My Body
Klaus
Missing Link
Toy Story 4

Obviously "Toy Story 4" could take this, but with some key awards (Annie Awards & BAFTA's), I'm going with Klaus. It should be considered a Christmas classic for years to come.

Best Director:
Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
Todd Phillips, Joker
Sam Mendes, 1917
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon A Time In...Hollywood
Bong Joon Ho, Parasite

Bong Joon Ho should be a contender, but I'm going with  Sam Mendes. His "one-shot" aspect of "1917" really enhanced it and added an extra element.

Best Supporting Actress:
Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell
Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit
Florence Pugh, Little Women
Margot Robbie, Bombshell

Laura Dern has been cleaning up throughout awards season, and she absolutely deserves this Oscar.

Best Supporting Actor:
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

Early on it seemed like Joe Pesci was going to emerge as a favorite, but it's been all Brad Pitt this season, and that continues here.

Best Actress:
Cynthia Erivo, Harriet
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Saoirse Ronan, Little Women
Charlize Theron, Bombshell
Renee Zellweger, Judy

Perhaps the biggest lock of them all, Renee Zellweger is taking this home.

Best Actor:
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

Possibly the award that some are dreading, but this is going to Joaquin Phoenix. Awards season has been full of hot-takes on "Joker". Personally I haven't gotten around to seeing it, so I'll reserve my take (or not, because quite frankly, its gotten exhausting. Not every movie needs dozens of hot-take articles and essays. Okay, getting off my soap-box now).

Best Picture:
Ford v. Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time In...Hollywood
Parasite

I think this is a two-horse race between "1917" and "Parasite". I've been going back and forth. Literally 24 hours ago I was certain on one winner, but then I switched. Either of those two would be a perfect winner (considering "Green Book" last year...blech). Ultimately, I'm leaning towards Parasite. You just don't expect where "Parasite" takes you mid-way through, switching things up.

I'll also make a case for "1917". Its more than just a "war-move". It doesn't glorify war in the least. Its "one-take" nature gives you the full experience and horrors of war as you feel like you're on their journey. It fully enraptures the audience.