The team at SpoilerFreeReviews reacts with our takeaways from some of the major nominations. We’re saying what we think will win, what should win, and our thoughts on the nominations for the category.
Best Adapted Screenplay
“BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM 🤩.” Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Peter Baynham, Erica Rivinoja, Dan Mazer, Jena Friedman, Lee Kern; Story by Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Nina Pedrad
“THE FATHER 🤩” “THE FATHER 😊” Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller
“NOMADLAND 😊,” Chloé Zhao
“ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI…😊,” Kemp Powers
“THE WHITE TIGER 😊,” Ramin Bahrani
Aaron Goldstein
I love that BORAT got the nomination and shocked that THE WHITE TIGER got in.
What will win: NOMADLAND 😊
What should win: BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM 🤩
David Freedman
What will win: NOMADLAND – why, I do not know. I was so bored that the remote actually dropped out of my hand mid-way through the film as I dozed off.
What should win: ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI – in a very weak year of movies, this script crackled.
Esta Rosevear
Please not BORAT. Anything but…
What will win: NOMADLAND 🙂
What should win: ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… 🤩
Jami Losurdo
Would be great to see Sacha Baron Cohen take it home here, but I don’t think he will. Expected FIRST COW to get a nom here and it didn’t.
What will win: NOMADLAND 😊
What should win: BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM 🤩 or ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI…🤩
Mike Manalo
I would love for BORAT to win SIMPLY for the hilarious impossible image of Giuliani joining them on stage, though he will probably end up at Academy Acres Landscaping Company in Knoxville, TN instead.
What will win: NOMADLAND 😊
What should win: BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM 🤩 (just for the reasons above)
Tavish Mohanti
Disappointed that THE WHITE TIGER got a nomination over FIRST COW, which I felt was a far better film.
What will win: NOMADLAND 🤩
What should win: NOMADLAND 🤩
Best Original Screenplay
“JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH 🤩.” Screenplay by Will Berson, Shaka King; Story by Will Berson, Shaka King, Kenny Lucas, Keith Lucas
“MINARI 🤩,” Lee Isaac Chung
“PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩” “PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩” Emerald Fennell
“SOUND OF METAL 🤩.” Screenplay by Darius Marder, Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder, Derek Cianfrance
“THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 🤩,” Aaron Sorkin
Aaron Goldstein
SOUL is the most original screenplay of the year and missing from this list. 😡
What will win: PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩
What should win: SOUL 🤩
David Freedman
What will win: PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN. The most original of original screenplays.
What should win: PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN. See above.
Esta Rosevear
This is an easy category for me. Loved PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN. I thoroughly enjoyed the unexpectedness.
What will win: PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩
What should win: PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩
Jami Losurdo
The Oscars will want to give Sorkin an award and I don’t think that film comes close to winning anything else.
What will win: THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 🙂
What should win: MINARI 🤩
Mike Manalo
Hard to kill your darlings since I’m rooting for JUDAS, MINARI, and PROMISING, but hands down PROMISING blew me away.
What will win: MINARI 🤩
What should win: PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩
Tavish Mohanti
No surprises here, all are incredibly deserving films.
What will win: THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 🤩
What should win: THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 🤩 OR PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩
Best Original Score
“DA 5 BLOODS 😊,” Terence Blanchard
“MANK 😊,” Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
“MINARI 🤩,” Emile Mosseri
“NEWS OF THE WORLD 😊,” James Newton Howard
“SOUL 🤩” “SOUL 🤩” Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste
Aaron Goldstein
SOUL is the most inventive and empathy-producing score in 2021 and I am glad to see it nominated.
What will win: SOUL 🤩
What should win: SOUL 🤩
David Freedman
What will win: SOUL. Trent and Co. kick it.
What should win: SOUL.
Esta Rosevear
Oh, the music of jazz and SOUL captured my heart.
What will win: SOUL 🤩
What should win: SOUL 🤩
Jami Losurdo
I wasn’t bowled over by any of these. Ludwig Göransson’s TENET score got snubbed.
What will win: 🤷♀️ Reznor/Ross may cancel each other out to let anyone else get it.
What should win: TENET 🤩
Mike Manalo
SOUL was my favorite movie of last year. Nothing else to say there.
What will win: SOUL 🤩
What should win: SOUL 🤩
Best Original Song
“Fight for You,” (“JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH 🤩”). Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
“Hear My Voice,” (“THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 🤩”). Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
“Húsavík,” (“EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 🤮”). Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson
“Io Si (Seen),” (“THE LIFE AHEAD 😊”). Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
“Speak Now,” (“ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI…😊”). Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
Aaron Goldstein
I am disappointed that Janelle Monáe’s TURNTABLES from ALL IN didn’t make the cut and shocked that EUROVISION got a nomination!
What will win: “Fight for You” (JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH) 🙂
What should win: “Turntables,” (ALL IN 🤩)
David Freedman
What will win: “Speak Now” (ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI….)
What should win: “Io Si (Seen)” (THE LIFE AHEAD) – Dianne Warren’s beautiful ode to life.
Esta Rosevear
FIGHT FOR YOU made me want to stand up, wear my old black armband and go out and march.
What will win: “Fight for You” (JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH) 🤩
What should win: “Fight for You” (JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH) 🤩
Jami Losurdo
No love for Wyld Stallyns’ “Face the Music”?
What will win: “Speak Now” (ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI….) 🤩
What should win: “Húsavík” (EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 🤩)
Best Supporting Actor
Sacha Baron Cohen (“THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 🤩”)
Daniel Kaluuya (“JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH 🤩”)
Leslie Odom Jr. (“ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI…😊”)
Paul Raci (“SOUND OF METAL 🤩”)
Lakeith Stanfield (“JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH 🤩”)
Aaron Goldstein
I am so excited that both performers from JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH received nominations!
What will win: Daniel Kaluuya 🤩
What should win: Daniel Kaluuya 🤩
David Freedman
What will win: Daniel Kaluuya – spot on.
What should win: Sacha Baron Cohen – spot on but far less flashy.
Esta Rosevear
I was blown away by Daniel Kaluuya’s intense, strong performance in JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH.
What will win: Daniel Kaluuya 🤩
What should win: Daniel Kaluuya 🤩
Jami Losurdo
I hope both noms from JUDAS don’t cancel each other out with voters.
What will win: Daniel Kaluuya 🤩
What should win: Lakeith Stanfield 🤩
Mike Manalo
Why the hell is Lakeith in Supporting?
What will win: Daniel Kaluuya 🤩
What should win: Lakeith Stanfield 🤩
Tavish Mohanti
Daniely Kaluuya far outshines Lakeith Stanfield in this film, so I’m surprised and disappointed that he was chosen over Delroy Lindo in DA 5 BLOODS or Kingsley Ben-Adir in ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI.
What will win: Daniely Kaluuya 🤩
What should win: Daniely Kaluuya 🤩
Best Supporting Actress
Maria Bakalova (“BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM 🤩”)
Glenn Close (“HILLBILLY ELEGY 🤮”)
Olivia Colman (“THE FATHER 🤩” “THE FATHER 😊“)
Amanda Seyfried (“MANK 😊”)
Yuh-jung Youn (“MINARI 🤩”)
Aaron Goldstein
This category has me all kinds of surprised seeing Maria Bakalova and Yuh-jung Youn make the cut – it’s “very nice!”
What will win: Maria Bakalova 🤩
What should win: Maria Bakalova 🤩
David Freedman
What will win: Maria Bakalova. How difficult is it to outperform BORAT?
What should win: Maria Bakalova.
Esta Rosevear
I cannot stand Borat movies, so Maria Bakalova is not in my view.
What will win: Olivia Colman 🤩
What should win: Olivia Colman 🤩
Jami Losurdo
Historically this category feels like the biggest toss-up of the ceremony.
What will win: Olivia Colman 🤩
What should win: Yuh-jung Youn 🤩
Mike Manalo
Glad Yuh-jung and Maria got nods, but think MINARI will be a safer bet than BORAT cuz the Academy loves prestige.
What will win: Yuh-jung Youn 🤩
What should win: Maria Bakalova 🤩
Tavish Mohanti
Yuh-jung Youn’s performance in MINARI was heartbreakingly perfect, and I hope she gets the recognition she deserves.
What will win: Olivia Colman
What should win: Yuh-jung Youn🤩
Best Director
Thomas Vinterberg (“ANOTHER ROUND 🤩”)
David Fincher (“MANK 😊”)
Lee Isaac Chung (“MINARI 🤩”)
Chloé Zhao (“NOMADLAND 😊”)
Emerald Fennell (“PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩” “PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩”)
Aaron Goldstein
I love seeing Emerald Fennell on this list and I am disappointed that Shaka King didn’t make the cut.
What will win: Chloé Zhao 🙂
What should win: Lee Isaac Chung 🤩
David Freedman
What will win: Chloé Zhao (NOMADLAND) – Can someone kindly explain to me the allure of this snoozer?
What should win: Emerald Fennell (PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN)
Esta Rosevear
I loved the fact that there are two women directors nominated. It’s a shame Regina King did not make the cut. She deserved it as well.
What will win: Chloé Zhao 🤩
What should win: Chloé Zhao 🤩
Jami Losurdo
Both Shaka King and Regina King were snubbed here, but still happy to see a list with 2 women directors. Baby steps.
What will win: Chloé Zhao 🤩
What should win: Emerald Fennell 🤩
Mike Manalo
Shaka was definitely snubbed, but doesn’t matter, cuz it’s Chloe’s to lose.
What will win: Chloé Zhao 🤩
What should win: Emerald Fennell 🤩
Tavish Mohanti
While I’m excited that Emerald Fennell and Lee Isaac Chung made the cut, I feel that both Aaron Sorkin and Shaka King deserved the nomination over David Fincher.
What will win: Chloé Zhao 🤩
What should win: Emerald Fennell 🤩 or Shaka King 🤩 or Aaron Sorkin 🤩
Best Animated Feature
“ONWARD 😊” (Pixar)
“OVER THE MOON 🤩” (Netflix)
“A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” (Netflix)
“SOUL 🤩” “SOUL 🤩” (Pixar)
“WOLFWALKERS 🤩” (Apple TV Plus/GKIDS)
Aaron Goldstein
Outside of best actor, this is the other sure thing at the Oscars.
What will win: SOUL 🤩
What should win: SOUL 🤩
David Freedman
What will win: SOUL. Broke the mold.
What should win: SOUL.
Esta Rosevear
Nothing to talk about.
What will win: SOUL 🤩
What should win: SOUL 🤩
Jami Losurdo
Even with Pixar competing against itself, I can’t imagine SOUL not winning here.
What will win: SOUL 🙂
What should win: WOLFWALKERS 🤩
Mike Manalo
Again SOUL was my favorite movie last year. It’s way more deserving than ONWARD, and should have also gotten a Best Picture nod.
What will win: SOUL 🤩
What should win: SOUL 🤩
Best Actor
Riz Ahmed (“SOUND OF METAL 🤩”)
Chadwick Boseman (“MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM 😊 🤩”)
Anthony Hopkins (“THE FATHER 🤩” “THE FATHER 😊“)
Gary Oldman (“MANK 😊”)
Steven Yeun (“MINARI 🤩”)
Aaron Goldstein
Anthony Hopkins and Gary Oldman both turned in two of the toughest performances in their career, yet this is the only sure thing at the Oscars as Chadwick Boseman will win.
What will win: Chadwick Boseman 🤩
What should win: Chadwick Boseman 🤩
David Freedman
What will win: Chadwick Boseman. Swan Song.
What should win: Anthony Hopkins – a great performance in a middling movie is in itself an achievement.
Esta Rosevear
This is a done deal. It is written in the stars.
What will win: Chadwick Boseman 🤩
What should win: Chadwick Boseman 🤩
Jami Losurdo
This is Chadwick’s to lose and I’m hoping he’s honored here one more time.
What will win: Chadwick Boseman 🤩
What should win: Chadwick Boseman 🤩
Mike Manalo
Happy Zombie killer Glenn got a nomination, but Wakanda Forever, baby!
What will win: Chadwick Boseman 🤩
What should win: Chadwick Boseman 🤩
Tavish Mohanti
Chadwick Boseman’s performance was the highlight of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and while Riz Ahmed and Steven Yeun did incredible jobs, I hope they honor Boseman one last time.
What will win: Chadwick Boseman 🤩
What should win: Chadwick Boseman 🤩
Best Actress
Viola Davis (“MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM 😊 🤩”)
Andra Day (“THE UNITED STATES V. BILLIE HOLIDAY 🤮”)
Vanessa Kirby (“PIECES OF A WOMAN 😊”)
Frances McDormand (“NOMADLAND 😊”)
Carey Mulligan (“PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩” “PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩”)
Aaron Goldstein
If Frances McDormand wins the Oscar, I will boycott next year’s telecast.
What will win: Andra Day or Viola Davis 🤩
What should win: Carey Mulligan 🤩
David Freedman
What will win: Carey Mulligan (PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN) – such an unpredictable performance.
What should win: Carey Mulligan (PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN)
Esta Rosevear
I thought Viola Davis was incredible and inspiring. She is a force to be reckoned with.
What will win: Viola Davis 🤩
What should win: Viola Davis 🤩
Jami Losurdo
I wish Andra Day had a much better film to back-up her wonderful performance.
What will win: Frances McDormand 🙂
What should win: Carey Mulligan 🤩
Mike Manalo
People love NOMADLAND for whatever reason, but Mulligan blew me away.
What will win: Frances McDormand 🙂
What should win: Carey Mulligan 🤩
Tavish Mohanti
Carey Mulligan gave one of the most powerful performances this year, and I really want Promising Young Woman to walk away with at least one award.
What will win: Carey Mulligan 🤩
What should win: Carey Mulligan 🤩 OR Frances McDormand 🤩
Best Picture
“THE FATHER 🤩” “THE FATHER 😊” (David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi and Philippe Carcassonne, producers)
“JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH 🤩” (Shaka King, Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, producers)
“MANK 😊” (Ceán Chaffin, Eric Roth and Douglas Urbanski, producers)
“MINARI 🤩” (Christina Oh, producer)
“NOMADLAND 😊” (Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloé Zhao, producers)
“PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩” “PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩” (Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell and Josey McNamara, producers)
“SOUND OF METAL 🤩” (Bert Hamelinck and Sacha Ben Harroche, producers)
“THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 🤩” (Marc Platt and Stuart Besser, producers)
Aaron Goldstein
I’m crushed that SOUL and PALM SPRINGS didn’t make the best picture cut but excited to see SOUND OF METAL sneak in.
What will win: MINARI 🤩
What should win: PALM SPRINGS 🤩
David Freedman
What will win: NOMADLAND. It has the momentum.
What should win: PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN.
Esta Rosevear
I don’t agree with what the buzz is about this movie, but it is a moving train set to come in first.
What will win: NOMADLAND 🙂
What should win: PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 🤩
Jami Losurdo
TENET, FIRST COW, & ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI… all snubbed here.
What will win: NOMADLAND 🙂
What should win: JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH 🤩
Mike Manalo
Again, agreed with Aaron, SOUL and PALM SPRINGS were my favorites last year, but there’s no room for the stuffy, conventional unimaginative Academy to choose anything outside the comfort of conventional Oscar bait prestige films.
What will win: NOMADLAND 🙂
What should win: BAD BOYS FOR LIFE 🤩 – just kidding. PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN/SOUL/PALM SPRINGS 🤩
Tavish Mohanti
All of these films, except for MANK, were beautiful, incredible, moving works of art, but I wish I CARE A LOT and FIRST COW had gotten some kind of recognition.
What will win: NOMADLAND 🤩
What should win: THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 🤩 OR JUDAS & THE BLACK MESSIAH 🤩
The 93RD ACADEMY AWARDS will be aired on April 25, 2021.
