Oscar voting is officially over for the 98th Academy Awards, and now we are just patiently waiting until the awards are handed out on March 15th. As we do every year, Will Mavity and I spoke with several Academy voters about what they are voting for and why. We’ll be posting some of those thoughts for your amusement in the lead-up to the Oscars (because that’s all this is at the end of the day). Remember, as you read these, they represent only a tiny fraction of the 11,000+ people who vote on the Oscar winners. While these may help provide some insight into how voters make their selections, they are far from the be-all and end-all of what will eventually win and should always be taken with a grain of salt.
Best Picture:
“One Battle After Another” was, for me, just the most extraordinary event of the year, probably of the decade at the cinema. It was a total and complete package of memorable characters, thrilling moments, comedy, emotion, and something to say about the times we’re living in. Not to mention, the VistaVision, 70mm, IMAX, or however you chose to see it, just made the whole experience feel that much more special.
Best Director:
Paul Thomas Anderson. “One Battle After Another.” No question. He deserves it. He made yet another great film in a filmography full of them. He’s had like, how many nominations at this point? Yeah, it’s time.
Best Actress:
Jessie Buckley for “Hamnet.” Just broke me several times throughout.
Best Actor:
Leonardo DiCaprio was my favorite of the year. Then I’d say Timothée Chalamet in “Marty Supreme,” but Michael B. Jordan is going to win “Sinners,” which I’m ok with. I just feel we take DiCaprio for granted and he’s excellent in that film whether he’s asked to be funny or dramatic, he always delivers. I’d like to see him win a second Oscar someday, wouldn’t you? It feels like it’s going to happen at some point so why not now?
Best Supporting Actress:
I think Teyana Taylor will win for “One Battle After Another,” but Amy Madigan was my favorite of the year. Just a scene-stealer and completely out of left-field. She was terrifying but in a can’t-look-away kind of way that was just fun to watch.
Best Supporting Actor:
Sean Penn is so transformative in “One Battle After Another.” He’s on a whole other level compared to most actors on the planet. A despicable villain in every sense of the word. Nobody comes even close.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
“One Battle After Another” should win just for coming up with all the names and terms it had. Christmas Adventurer’s Club? Greyhawk 10? I mean, c’mon. So many nutty ideas, yet they all worked.
Best Original Screenplay:
“Sinners” will win, but I went with “Marty Supreme.” I just that film’s energy and how it brought you into the character’s headspace and world.
Best Animated Feature:
“KPop Demon Hunters” hands down. Features three badass women, mixed with Korean mythology, demons, and all done in a breathtaking animation style. That movie was awesome.
Best Documentary Feature:
I have to abstain this year, as I didn’t get a chance to see all the nominees.
Best International Feature Film:
It will be “Sentimental Value,” but it should be “The Secret Agent.” I know a lot of people who love both films but “The Secret Agent” feels more unique, special and relevant to what we’re going through right now.
Best Casting:
Look, “Sinners” is going to win, but “Marty Supreme” or “The Secret Agent” should win. The miracle of “Marty Supreme” is how they were able to craft it the way they did with the budget they had, and that includes getting the names they did, mixed in with the non-professional actors.
Best Cinematography:
“Sinners” should win this, not because she’s a female cinematography, though, I know that has been the message they’ve been trying to get out there but because it was the one that I feel had the strongest images that are etched into your brain long after you leave the theater. The work stays with you and that has to count for something.
Best Costume Design:
I wasn’t a huge fan of everything “Frankenstein” was doing but the costumes were stunning throughout and definitely the most deserving of the nominees.
Best Film Editing:
I think “One Battle After Another” is going to win, and should. That’s the one to beat. “Marty Supreme” was close for me here though for similar reasons.
Best Makeup & Hairstyling:
Obviously “Frankenstein.“
Best Production Design:
I think “Sinners” or “Frankenstein” is going to win, but “Marty Supreme” got my vote. What do we have to do to get Jack Fisk the recognition he deserves? I feel his work is only appreciated by a certain type of moviegoer, which is a shame because he’s one of the best to ever do it.
Best Original Score:
“Sinners” is going to win, but “One Battle After Another” is my personal favorite. It set the tone early on and helped the storytelling giving it a kind of chaotic, frantic, anxiety inducing energy that matched Leo’s paranoia while calling back thrillers of the 70’s. Ludwig already has two, right? So why not give Greenwood his first win?
Best Original Song:
“Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” 100%. My kid has seen it well over 100 times and loves the music so much, and shockingly, I did too.
Best Sound:
“F1” was insane to watch in the theater. The mix on that blew me away.
Best Visual Effects:
Far and away the best one is “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” Objectively, it’s the best regardless of whether we’ve rewarded the franchise twice or twenty two times before that. If you’re the best, you’re the best. And that’s it.
**This voter, who wished not to reveal their branch, abstained from voting in the shorts as they didn’t get around to them in time this year.**
Please let us know your thoughts on our X account and be sure to listen to our final Oscar predictions podcast episode coming this Sunday. Please click here for more important upcoming dates this awards season, here for our most recent Oscar predictions, and here for the most recent tally of awards season winners for the current year.
You can follow Matt & Will and hear more of their thoughts on the Oscars & Film on X at @NextBestPicture & @mavericksmovies
