Posters for movies nominated for various categories of the 95th Academy Awards are shown. With the Academy Awards, which will take place on March 12, approaching, Variety Editor Isabella Westrich made predictions for this year’s winners. “While many of the films from the year came in strong, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is a pretty clear leader in the race for Best Picture. It was one of the biggest breakout films of the year, earning numerous awards and nominations and delighting critics and the public alike. It has been especially lauded for its unique, genre-bending plot, its touching message and its representation of Asian-American families,” Westrich wrote. Graphic by Isabella Westrich
With the 95th Academy Awards approaching on March 12, Variety Editor Isabella Westrich shares her predictions for this year’s winners.
2022, the first year in recent history where production and releases were relatively unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, brought many strong pieces to the big screen; some were new and boundary-breaking, some returned to roots with sequels to old fan favorites, many were deeply emotional, and plenty were Oscar-worthy. With the 95th Academy Awards coming up on March 12, take a look at a few predictions for the most anticipated categories.
Best Picture
Nominees:
“All Quiet on the Western Front”
“Avatar: The Way of Water”
“The Banshees of Inisherin”
“Elvis”
“Everything Everywhere All at Once”
“The Fabelmans”
“Tár”
“Top Gun: Maverick”
“Triangle of Sadness”
“Women Talking”
Predicted Winner: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Honorable Mention: “The Banshees of Inisherin”
While many of the films from the year came in strong, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is a pretty clear leader in the race for Best Picture. It was one of the biggest breakout films of the year, earning numerous awards and nominations and delighting critics and the public alike. It has been especially lauded for its unique, genre-bending plot, its touching message and its representation of Asian-American families. The film follows protagonist Evelyn Quan Wang, a woman living the worst possible version of her life, until she is forced to step up as the unlikely hero of the multiverse. It combines just the right amount of heartbreak, hope and humor into a beautiful and moving story that will leave audiences crying, laughing, hugging their families and unanimously rooting for it for Best Picture.
Best Leading Actor
Nominees:
Austin Butler – “Elvis”
Colin Farrell – “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Brendan Fraser – “The Whale”
Paul Mescal – “Aftersun”
Bill Nighy – “Living”
Predicted Winner: Brendan Fraser
Honorable Mention: Colin Farrell
In this race, Brendan Fraser stands out from the pack for his extraordinary performance in “The Whale” as Charlie, a reclusive and morbidly obese English teacher desperate to reconnect with his daughter. This film was absolutely heartbreaking, and Fraser carried much of the emotional weight. The deeply human nature of his performance is haunting and will stick with viewers long after they leave theaters.
Best Leading Actress
Nominees:
Cate Blanchett – “Tár”
Ana de Armas – “Blonde”
Andrea Riseborough – “To Leslie”
Michelle Williams – “The Fabelmans”
Michelle Yeoh – “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Predicted Winner: Michelle Yeoh
Honorable Mention: Cate Blanchett
Even within a cast of fantastic actors and actresses, Michelle Yeoh still sparkled in “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” The earnestness and realness in her performance made it one to remember, and was exactly what the film needed to carry its story. Seeing as Yeoh’s role involved many different versions of her character, the way she was able to bring them all to life is even more impressive and definitely deserving of an Oscar.
Best Supporting Actor
Nominees:
Brendan Gleeson – “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Brian Tyree Henry – “Causeway”
Judd Hirsch – “The Fabelmans”
Barry Keoghan – “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Ke Huy Quan – “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Predicted Winner: Brendan Gleeson
Honorable Mention: Ke Huy Quan
The Supporting Actor class was very competitive, with many impressive performances that helped carry their respective films. Brendan Gleeson was especially instrumental in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” in which he played the role of a fiddler who abruptly decided to cut ties with his best friend, sending both of them into a rather dark spiral. This film had a weird, almost creepy tone, and Gleeson’s performance played into that perfectly while still bringing some humor. However, many of the other nominees, especially Ke Huy Quan, also gave extraordinary performances, making this race hard to predict.
Best Supporting Actress
Nominees:
Angela Bassett – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Hong Chau – “The Whale”
Kerry Condon – “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Jamie Lee Curtis – “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Stephanie Hsu – “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Predicted Winner: Angela Bassett
Honorable Mention: Stephanie Hsu
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” had heavy themes of grief and loss, which Angela Bassett conveyed wonderfully through her role as Queen Ramonda. While this wasn’t her first time in the beloved role, the emotional element she brought to the film made this performance especially moving. While the other nominees also gave stand-out performances, Bassett would still be well-deserving of this Oscar.
Best Director
Nominees:
Todd Field – “Tár”
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Martin McDonagh – “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Ruben Östlund – “Triangle of Sadness”
Steven Spielberg – “The Fabelmans”
Predicted Winner: Steven Spielberg
Honorable Mention: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Steven Spielberg, a veteran director with multiple Oscars already under his belt, is known for his heartfelt and touching films. “The Fabelmans” is no exception. With extraordinary cinematography and well-developed characters, this film, fittingly based on Spielberg’s own passion for film as a child that led him to directing, could absolutely win him a Best Director. However, relative newcomers Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert could give him a run for his money with their breakout film, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
