By John H. Foote
Let me state clearly, I might get half of these correct and usually I miss one, maybe two categories, but 2018 has been such a wonky year, I truly do not know who is going to win. Really, I suppose no one does, but especially this year, I admit I just do not have a grand sense of who will take home the Oscar.
The list offers who I firmly believe will win (as firm as I could manage), who should, based on my own opinion, and who might prove a spoiler and sneak in for the win. For those I believe should win, I often go outside of the nominations, because some of the year’s best films and achievements were left out.
Understand I do not see the short films, either documentary or live action, so of course neither are discussed.
Expect to see Alan and Nick do similar lists.
BEST PICTURE
- Will Win – Green Book
- Should Win – First Man
- Might Win – Roma
BEST DIRECTOR
- Will Win – Alfonso Cuaron for Roma
- Should Win – Damien Chazelle for First Man
- Might Win – Spike Lee for BlacKkKlansman
BEST ACTOR
- Will Win – Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody
- Should Win – Christian Bale in Vice
- Might Win – Viggo Mortensen in Green Book
BEST ACTRESS
- Will Win – Glenn Close in The Wife
- Should Win – Glenn Close in The Wife
- Might Win – Lady Gaga in A Star is Born
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
- Will Win – Mahershala Ali in Green Book
- Should Win – Mahershala Ali in Green Book
- Might Win – Richard E. Grant in Can You Ever Forgive Me?
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
- Will Win – Regina King in If Beale Street Could Talk
- Should Win – Amy Adams in Vice
- Might Win – Emma Stone in The Favourite
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
- Will Win – Green Book
- Should Win – First Reformed
- Might Win – Vice
BEST SCREENPLAY ADAPTATION
- Will Win – BlacKkKlansman
- Should Win – BlacKkKlansman
- Might Win – If Beale Street Could Talk
BEST MUSICAL SCORE
- Will Win – Black Panther
- Should Win – First Man
- Might Win – Isle of Dogs
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
- Will Win – Roma
- Should Win – Cold War
- Might Win – A Star is Born
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
- Will Win – Ready Player One
- Should Win – First Man
- Might Win – First Man
BEST SOUND
- Will Win – Bohemian Rhapsody
- Should Win – First Man
- Might Win – First Man
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
- Will Win – Black Panther
- Should Win – The Favourite
- Might Win – Mary Poppins Returns
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
- Will Win – The Favourite
- Should Win – Mary Queen of Scots
- Might Win – Black Panther
BEST FILM EDITING
- Will Win – Green Book
- Should Win – First Man
- Might Win – BlacKkKlansman
BEST SOUND EDITING
- Will Win – Black Panther
- Should Win – First Man
- Might Win – A Quiet Place
BEST MAKE UP/ HAIRSTYLING
- Will Win – Vice
- Should Win – Vice
- Might Win – Mary, Queen of Scots
BEST SONG
- Will Win – Shallow from A Star is Born
- Should Win – Shallow from A Star is Born
- Might Win – Nothing else has a chance.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
- Will Win – Roma
- Should Win – Cold War
- Might Win – Cold War
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
- Will Win – RBG
- Should Win – Hal
- Might Win – Doubt anything else has a chance.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
- Should Win – Spider Man: Into the Spider Verse
- Should Win – Incredibles 2
- Might Win – Isle of Dogs
John H. Foote is a well-recognized Canadian film critic/historian who has been an active critic for 30 years. His deep love for the movies began at a very young age. He began his career as co-host of the popular TV show Reel to Real where he remained for nine years. While on TV he began dabbling in education, eventually ascending to Director of the Toronto Film School, where he also taught film history. After leaving the college to care for his wife, he returned to teaching at Humber College where he taught both Film History and Method Acting Theory. John has written two books: “Clint Eastwood – Evolution of a Filmmaker” and the upcoming “Spielberg – American Film Visionary”. He is currently working on two books, one about the films of the seventies and another on the films of Martin Scorsese. Through his career he has worked in TV, radio, print and the web. John has interviewed everyone in the industry (more than 300 interviews) except Jack Nicholson, he says sadly. Highlights include Martin Scorsese, Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep Robert Duvall, Jane Fonda, Francis Ford Coppola and Kathryn Bigelow.
