Grant Darnell’s picks
Best Picture
Of the 10 nominees, Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” is the clear choice. No other film last year captured our historical moment quite so well while also indulging in crowd-pleasing genre elements from comedies, thrillers, and everything in between. It’s a story about passing down the fight against injustice from generation to generation, and as such, “generational” is the only way to describe it.
Best Actor
All five nominees this year are stunning performers in their own right, but none embodied their characters quite like Timothée Chalamet in “Marty Supreme.” The final scene alone — in which Marty tearfully embraces his inevitable future — is enough to earn him the win.
Best Actress
I found “Hamnet” to only partially succeed as a stirring historical drama, but Jessie Buckley delivers the performance of a lifetime. Rose Byrne would also be more than deserving.
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Best Supporting Actor
Competition is steep this year, but Sean Penn’s Colonel Lockjaw from “One Battle After Another” is the kind of cinematic villain you remember for the rest of your life. This is only partially due to his brilliantly executed “silly walks.”
Best Supporting Actress
Bear with me as I vouch for “One Battle After Another” once more. The film’s moving story of generational resistance is so powerful in large part due to Teyana Taylor’s passionate portrayal of Perfidia Beverly Hills.
Best International Feature
I confess I’ve only seen “It Was Just an Accident” and “Sentimental Value” in this category, but either would be great picks, seeing as Bi Gan’s “Resurrection” was snubbed.
Best Animated Feature
In a perfect world, indie gem “Boys Go to Jupiter” and international mega-hit “Ne Zha II” would have received nominations, but of the three picks I’ve seen this year, “Elio,” “KPop Demon Hunters,” and “Zootopia 2,” my Pixar bias directs me to “Elio.”
However, I’ll be very surprised if “KPop Demon Hunters” doesn’t ride its zeitgeist chokehold to victory.
Best Director
No one directed a movie this year quite like Ryan Coogler in “Sinners.” Try getting that one-take sequence out of your head — that’s right, you can’t.
Best Cinematography
There are images in “Train Dreams” that I can still recall in great detail months after my initial viewing. It’s the clear cinematography shoo-in.
Best Original Screenplay
Once more, “Marty Supreme” takes the cake with a layered, adrenaline rush of a screenplay that culminates in a perfect final statement.
Best Adapted Screenplay
The structure of “One Battle After Another” is so tight that it hardly feels like nearly three hours. Another dense screenplay with tons to chew on.
Best Original Score
“Sinners” is the clear pick, and not just because music composes the very soul of the film. Ludwig Göransson writes a score that, like Sammie’s, practically transcends the fabric of reality in its greatness.
Best Original Song
I’d be happy with “KPop Demon Hunters’” “Golden” or “Sinners’” “I Lied to You.” These are two films that live and die on their music, and the songs more than deliver.
Best Visual Effects
I’d vouch for “Sinners,” if for no other reason than its originality over its fellow nominees.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” deserves this recognition for its stunning work transforming Jacob Elordi into Mary Shelley’s famous creature.
Best Costume Design
The period costumes of “Sinners” – particularly those of Smoke and Stack – might be some of the best of any film in recent years.
Best Film Editing
Yes, “Marty Supreme” is that good, and that’s thanks in large part to its adrenaline-fuelled editing that makes the hefty runtime fly by.
Best Production Design
Del Toro has always been known for his lavish period depictions, and “Frankenstein” perhaps represents a new high in this regard. The film commits completely to this vision.
Best Sound
The action in “One Battle After Another” is accompanied by thrilling sound design, as are the music and horror sequences in “Sinners.” Either is a worthy selection.
Achievement in Casting
The clear choice for this new award is “Marty Supreme,” with its mix of unconventional acting picks like Tyler, the Creator, and longtime greats like Gwyneth Paltrow.
I unfortunately haven’t seen any nominees in the short film and documentary categories, so I’ll refrain from commenting.
Madisyn Hunt’s takes
Best Picture
Though I have watched “Frankenstein” over three times, “Sinners” definitely had the higher achievement.
Best Actor
Michael B. Jordan’s ability to mirror play the twins in “Sinners” so well that their smiles were
different was a trick I haven’t seen since “Liv and Maddie,” and haven’t seen fantastically played ever.
Best Actress
Rose Byrne of “If I had Legs I’d Kick You” displayed the high stress of being a mother in a way that made me worry as if it were my own life.
Best Supporting Actor
Jacob Elordi of “Frankenstein” portrayed such beauty and pain of not only being abandoned by your creator, your father, but being hated by everyone else around you. His stature and voice made me weep for the Creature every time he was on screen.
Best Supporting Actress
This one is a tie for me between Wunmi Mosaku from “Sinners” and Amy Madigan from “Weapons.” Both did a fantastic job.
Best International Feature
If you haven’t seen “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” I’d highly recommend it if you have a strong heart. Even though I already knew what had happened to her, hearing that little girl’s voice again broke my heart.
Best Animated Feature
Though I loved “Little Amélie or The Character Of Rain,” it’d be foolish of me to think that “KPop Demon Hunters” won’t win this section.
Best Director
Though it wasn’t my favorite of the movies nominated, “One Battle After Another” had such fantastically put together scenes.
Best Cinematography
“Sinners.” “Sinners” all the way, you can’t tell me it shouldn’t win for this.
Best Original Screenplay
I’ve said it a thousand times on this list, but “Sinners” should win and will, so long as everyone listens to me and does as I say.
Best Adapted Screenplay
A tie for me between “Hamnet” and “Frankenstein,” but I do lean toward “Frankenstein” with its take on the story.
Best Original Score
Who wasn’t in awe with the sound design of “Bugonia?” With the cascade of horror, anxiety, and buzzing bees zooming throughout the score, it was one of the best of this year.
Best Original Song
“I Lied To You” from “Sinners” made me cry, but again, I’d be foolish not to think that “Golden” might win instead.
Best Visual Effects
I may not like the “Avatar” series, but it would be wrong to say that “Avatar: Fire and Ash” did not have stunning visual effects.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
“The Ugly Stepsister” showcased gorgeously accurate hair and makeup from the era it is set in, some of which I have never seen done before in cinema.
Best Costume Design
I would say “Marty Supreme,” but I have a grudge against Timothée Chalamet. In that case, the dresses in “Frankenstein” were to die for. And I will die for them. I want them all.
Best Film Editing
“Sentimental Value” had such an organic kind of editing that it has to be my pick for this category.
Best Production Design
This out of many categories is where I wish “Wicked: For Good” was considered. However, whoever nominates the movies hates female friendship, so my pick is “Frankenstein.”
Best Sound
My feelings for Best Original Score when it comes to “Bugonia” are the same way in this category.
Achievement in Casting
No surprise here, but my choice is “Sinners.”
I won’t be commenting on short films or documentaries either since there won’t be a comparison.