On the eve before the 93rd Oscars, I’ve been contemplating my years with the awards show and my love affair with it as it’s been a monumental part of my life since I was a child growing up in Los Angeles. As a ten-year-old, I have vivid memories of watching the show with my mother and savoring the jewels and gowns worn by the stars. Yet, the heartfelt emotional speeches bring back the most riveting moments of the show, along with the films’ music and movie clips. For a film enthusiast, which I’ve been all of my life, the Academy Awards is a magical occasion.
Over the years, I’ve held Oscar parties in my home, whereas for ten years, 2009-2019, I was asked to host the live telecast of the show benefiting Variety the Children’s Charity of IL ; I was also a member of the executive board. The garnered funds helped raise money for children’s adapted bicycles and wheelchairs. The Oscar event was held in various movie theaters in the Chicago suburbs. The tenth and last event I hosted took place in a beautiful venue, a gala affair to be exact, complete with a gourmet plated dinner and jaw-dropping decorations. In 2020, I applied for Oscar press credentials and was informed that their quota had been met for that year, and I was advised to summit again in 2021. I applied this year and am pleased to say I have been granted acceptance into the Oscar virtual press room. For me, this is a dream realized.
As a member of the Oscar press, the winners will enter the Oscar media center, and the press will be called on to ask questions. We will also be able to take screengrabs and photos. I can tell you that I am ready with my questions and am looking forward to the experience of covering the Oscars up close and personal. Check back as I will write another piece covering Sunday’s Oscars.
My predictions for the 93rd Oscars are listed below; they are chosen by whom I predict will wIn and who I want to win. I’ve seen all of the films, and of course, have my favorites.
I am rooting for Carey Mulligan, “A Promising Young Women” as her performance is outstanding, and the film is an important call to action. Yes, I did appreciate Viola Davis’s transformation in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and will be thrilled if she wins. I graduated from Scottsbluff High School; therefore, “Nomandland” struck a chord with me. Chloe Zhao captured the Nebraska plains beautifully, and I applaud her work. I’m also rooting for Diane Warren to win Best Original Song as I love the song “lo Sì (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)” staring the amazing Sophia Loren.
BEST PICTURE
“The Father”
“Judas and the Black Messiah”
“Mank”
“Minari”
“Nomadland”✓
“Promising Young Woman”
“Sound of Metal”
“The Trial of the Chicago 7″
DIRECTOR
Thomas Vinterberg, “Another Round”
David Fincher, “Mank”
Lee Isaac Chung, “Minari”
Chloe Zhao, “Nomadland”✓
Emerald Fennell, “Promising Young Woman”
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Viola Davis, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Andra Day, “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”
Vanessa Kirby, “Pieces of a Woman”
Frances McDormand, “Nomadland”
Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman”✓
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Riz Ahmed, “Sound of Metal”
Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”✓
Anthony Hopkins, “The Father”
Gary Oldman, “Mank”
Steven Yeun, “Minari”
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Maria Bakalova, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”
Glenn Close, “Hillbilly Elegy”
Olivia Colman, “The Father”
Amanda Seyfried, “Mank”
Yuh-jung Youn, “Minari”✓
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
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”
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“Borat Subsequent MovieFilm”
“The Father”
“Nomadland”✓
“One Night in Miami”
“The White Tiger”
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“Judas and the Black Messiah”
“Minari”
“Promising Young Woman”✓
“Sound of Metal”
“The Trial of the Chicago 7”
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Sean Bobbitt, “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Erik Messerschmidt, “Mank”✓
Dariusz Wolski, “News of the World”
Joshua James Richards, “Nomadland”
Phedon Papamichael , “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
COSTUME DESIGN
“Emma”
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”✓
“Mank”
“Mulan”
“Pinocchio”
FILM EDITING
“The Father”
“Nomadland”
“Promising Young Woman”
“Sound of Metal”✓
“The Trial of the Chicago 7”
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
“Emma”
“Hillbilly Elegy”
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”✓
“Mank”
“Pinocchio”
PRODUCTION DESIGN
“The Father”
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
“Mank”✓
“News of the World”
“Tenet”
SCORE
“Da 5 Bloods”
“Mank”
“Minari”
“News of the World”
“Soul” ✓
ORIGINAL SONG
“Fight For You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah”
“Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
“Husavik” from “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”
“lo Sì (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)” ✓
“Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami…”
ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND
“Greyhound”
“Mank”
“News of the World”
“Soul”
“Sound of Metal”✓
VISUAL EFFECTS
“Love and Monsters”
“The Midnight Sky”
“Mulan”
“The One and Only Ivan”
“Tenet”✓
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
“Onward”
“Over the Moon”
“A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon”
“Soul”✓
“Wolfwalkers”
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
“Collective”
“Crip Camp”
“The Mole Agent”
“My Octopus Teacher”✓
“Time”
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
“Another Round” – Denmark✓
“Better Days” – Hong Kong
“Collective” – Romania
“The Man Who Sold His Skin” – Tunisia
Quo Vadis, Aida? – Bosnia and Herzegovina
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
“Burrow”
“Genius Loci”
“If Anything Happens I Love You”✓
“Opera”
“Yes-People”
DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)
“Colette”
“A Concerto Is a Conversation”
“Do Not Split”
“Hunger Ward”
“A Love Song For Latasha”✓
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
“Feeling Through”
“The Letter Room”
“The Present”
“Two Distant Strangers”✓
“White Eye”
Oscar Ballot Download: https://assets.cdn.watchdisneyfe.com/delta/assets/oscars/Oscars_Ballot_2021.pdf
Sarah Knight Adamson©April 24, 2021