Online Reporter
Lillian Kelly
LOS ANGELES. – The Oscars have historically been a point of contention for film novices and connoisseurs.
The heated discourse has always been an essential aspect of awards season – the online and in-person debates that spawn from the nominations are part of what makes the Oscars so exciting.
So, with the 98th Academy Awards approaching, I was expecting the usual: endless complaining on social media, humorous digs at an actor, maybe even some scandal surrounding a director to emerge.
But I felt wholeheartedly disappointed with what has ended up surfacing in these weeks leading up to the big event.
Although debates and predictions initially arose surrounding the current nominations, something about this year’s discourse felt amiss.
It was short-lived and lacked passion, and it just seems like the Oscars are on nobody’s mind in general – there are other, more important current events to worry about.
Every conversation I’ve had about awards season has been met with overwhelming apathy, which makes me wonder if the Oscars are simply losing their spark.
The Academy has received criticism in the past, but that’s always been part of the fun.
Complaining about an undeserving nomination or a favourite being snubbed was another fun point of discussion, a way of sticking it to the man in film communities, even if it was in the form of heated Twitter threads or faux-intellectual “film bro” pissing contests.
It’s disappointing to see a lack of any real discourse this year. And it’s not for lack of good nominations––the Best Picture category is particularly stacked, with frontrunners One Battle After Another and Sinners being two standouts of the year. It’s less that the picks are poor quality, but rather that they’re predictable.
Since December, it’s felt jarringly clear who will take home the major awards, which has impeded the spark of any true debates. And with the other award shows carving a pretty clear path for who will take home the gold, all of the anticipatory fun of predictions and arguments is lost.
Even with a general lack of passion surrounding the awards this year, I want to provide my takes and predictions on each main category. Who knows, maybe they’ll even get some arguments going.
Actor in a leading role
It seems like 2026 may just be Timothée Chalamet’s year. After his Oscars debut with Call Me by Your Name in 2018, his career has been on a steady incline with another nomination for A Complete Unknown just last year. His recent victories at the Critics’ Choice Awards and Golden Globes point to his possible first-ever win at the Oscars.
Although I wholeheartedly believe that Chalamet deserves this award, I wish that Marty Supreme wasn’t the film for which he wins it.
That’s not to say I didn’t like the film or his performance, but I think a win for Marty Supreme would be somewhat anticlimactic, especially considering his exceptional performances in previously nominated films like Call Me by Your Name or A Complete Unknown.
So, although I wish it would be given to him for a more intimate performance, I’ll be happy to see Chalamet take home the gold. And if I’m wrong, I wouldn’t be mad about Michael B. Jordan winning it for Sinners, either.
Actress in a leading role
For a winning actress, it seems all signs are pointing to Jessie Buckley in Hamnet, which is undoubtedly deserved. Although predictions are split between Buckley and Rose Byrne in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, I think Buckley will win by a landslide.
I am unfortunately partial to Emma Stone in Bugonia. Even though she’s won her fair share of Oscars, I truly believe her performance in Yorgos Lanthimos’ film was some of her best work. I have zero expectations for her to win, but I sincerely want Bugonia to at least get some recognition. The film is definitely the most unique of the line-up, and part of me hopes the Academy will prove me wrong by branching out for a change. It’s unlikely, but we shall see.
Actor and Actress in a supporting role
This, unlike the other actor categories, is something of a toss-up, but I’d put my money on Stellan Skarsgård and Teyana Taylor for Sentimental Value and One Battle After Another, respectively.
Supporting Actress in particular is split between Taylor and Weapons’ Amy Madigan, and, although Taylor has the momentum, don’t be surprised if Madigan takes home the award. Both would be equally earned, and Taylor’s victory seems mostly in the bag, but it would be nice to see some horror representation with a Weapons win.
It’s the same with Supporting Actor, but to a lesser degree. It seems likely they’ll give the nod to Skarsgård, but it could go to one of the One Battle After Another actors, Sean Penn or Benicio Del Toro.
Best Picture
Although Best Picture had some unique pulls for nominations—F1 being an unpopular choice—it’s pretty clear the competition rests among One Battle After Another, Marty Supreme, and Sinners. Although none of these are as rousing as they are predictable, I both want and have a hunch that the award will go to Sinners. – bcheights.com
Mathew Masinge