Oscar 2023 Predictions: Will Everything Everywhere All at Once Carry the Night?

In my previous posts on the Oscars, I’ve discussed the dismal ratings for the ceremony and the ongoing attempts by the Academy to improve them. Let’s not worry about all that this time. The Best Picture nominations this year run from blockbusters (Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water) to critical favorites that few people saw (Tar and Triangle of Sadness). Often by now many of the categories are sure things building an unstoppable momentum during the Awards season. That’s still the case, but there are some uncertainties this year. There should be a couple of surprises (let’s hope)!

Due to a combination of going to the theater, streaming, VOD, and good old DVDs, I was able to see nine of the ten Best Picture nominees. Still looking for On Demand or DVD options for Triangle of Sadness. Here’s my predictions for the major categories (I omitted the three short film categories).

• Best Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once. After sweeping the Directors, Producers, and Screen Actors Guild Awards, Everything…appears to be the sure winner. I couldn’t stand the non-stop frenetic visual overload, but its creative crazy experience complete with kung-fu and hot dog fingers has captivated many people. The movie is just as the title says. The other Best Picture nominees in addition to the four named above are: The Banshees of Inisherin, Women Talking, All Quiet on the Western Front, Elvis, and The Fabelmans.
• Director: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Everything…). After winning the Directors Guild Award it looks like the Daniels have it. I’m still hoping for Spielberg and The Fabelmas (The Fabelmans: Spielberg Tells Us How a Train Wreck Started It All).
• Lead Actor: Brendan Fraser (The Whale). This one probably comes down to Fraser or Colin Farrell (Banshees…). Austin Butler as Elvis is a performance for the ages and could pull off an upset (Elvis Movie Review: Austin Butler is Sensational, Tom Hanks Not So Much).
• Lead Actress: Michelle Yeoh (Everything…). I’m going with the momentum of Everything…and the Academy’s chance to reward Yeoh over yet another titanic performance by Cate Blanchett (Tar).
• Supporting Actor: Ke Huy Yuan (Everything…). After cleaning up on the pre-Oscars Awards circuit, Ke better have his speech prepared. His acceptance speeches are refreshing and heartfelt (he was a child actor in Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom and thanks Spielberg for believing in him.)
• Supporting Actress: Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever). Jamie Lee Curtis could sneak in here for her scene-stealing performance in Everything…but Bassett should win.
• Original Screenplay: Banshees of Inisherin. With nine nominations this is Banshees…best bet to take home a trophy.
• Adapted Screenplay: Women Talking: Sarah Polley’s screenplay has received high praise for capturing the horrific plight of an isolated community of Mennonite women.
• Documentary Feature: Navalny. I didn’t catch any of the best doc features this year. The poisoning of the Russian opposition leader must be quite a tale.
• Animated Feature: Pinocchio. This is a total lock. Guillermo del Toro has re-imagined the beloved story of the wooden puppet.
• Cinematography: All Quiet on the Western Front. Another clear-cut winner.
• Visual Effects: Avatar: The Way of Water. Ditto. Visual effects soar into a new dimension with the striking aqua blue wonderland of this film.
• Film Editing: Everything… It’s either fantastic editing in Everything…or utter chaos. I lean toward the latter and hope this is the category that Top Gun: Maverick wins an Oscar.
• International Film: All Quiet on the Western Front. No question here. This is a brutal, extraordinary film.
• Costume Design: Elvis. Elvis never looked better in his pink suit.
• Makeup and Hairstyling: Elvis. Brendan Fraser’s enormous transformation in The Whale could also win this one.
• Production Design: Babylon. This three-hour indulgence in Hollywood lore got some terrible reviews, but the sets look extravagant.
• Sound: Top Gun: Maverick. All Quiet…could come away with this, as well.
• Score: All Quiet… A toss up along with Babylon or Elvis.
• Original Song: “Naatu Naatu” (RRR)

The Academy Awards are on ABC Sunday, March 12th at 5:00 p.m. (repeated at 8:00). It’s back to a single host, as Jimmy Kimmel is back for the third time. Hours of the red-carpet parade precede the actual awards telecast. I don’t think I’ll match my 18/20 predictions for last year’s winners. I’ll report back after the ceremonies.

Trivia: When and where was the first Academy Awards ceremony?

Answer: 1929 at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood