Tonight is the night for movie fans. The 96th Academy Awards will be presented at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and aired on ABC. Please keep reading to find out my pick for the big categories.
BEST PICTURE
The Nominees:Â American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Barbie, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Oppenheimer,
Past Lives, Poor Things, The Zone of Interest
Will Win :Â Oppenheimer
Could Win:-Â The Holdovers
Deserved a Nod: Origin and The Color Purple (tie)
While the films "American Fiction" and "Origin" ranked higher on a personal level than "Oppenheimer," even I can't deny the spectacle that Mr. Nolan created, and he is overdue for Oscar Gold.
BEST DIRECTORÂ
The Nominees:Â Â Justine Triet (Anatomy of a Fall), Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon), Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things), Jonathan Glazer ("The Zone of Interest)
Will Win - Christopher Nolan
Could Win - Yorgos Lanthimos
Deserved A Nomination - Greta Gerwig for Barbie
Nolan was robbed for The Dark Knight. Thankfully, we all know that the Academy loves a historical flick, and Nolan knocked it out of the park with Oppenheimer. Unless there is a last-minute upset, Nolan is getting his just-due tonight.
BEST ACTOR
The Nominees:Â Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers), Colman Domingo (Rustin), Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction), Bradley Cooper (Maestro) and Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer))
Will Win: Cillian Murphy
Could Win: Paul Giamatti
Deserved A Nomination: Leonardo DiCaprio for Killers of the Flower Moon
Early on, I thought the Oscar race would be a showdown between Cooper and Murphy. However, Giamatti picked up a ton of steam during the Awards Campaign and took away all of Cooper's money. Murphy should win the battle, but I won't be surprised if Giamatti is a last-minute upset.
BEST ACTRESS
The Nominees: Emma Stone (Poor Things), Annette Bening (Nyad), Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall), Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon), and Carey Mulligan (Maestro).
Will Win - Lily Gladstone
Could Win - Emma Stone
Deserved A nomination - Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor for Origin
This race is tough to call, and it could go to any of the nominees. My money is on Lily Gladstone, who bests Emma Stone by a skinny margin.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
The Nominees -Mark Ruffalo (Poor Things), Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer), Ryan Gosling (Barbie), Robert De Niro (Killers of the Flower Moon) and Sterling K. Brown (American Fiction)
Will Win: Robert Downey Jr.
Could Win: Ryan Gosling
Deserved A Nomination: Charles Melton for May DecemberÂ
I saw "Barbie" about a week before "Oppenheimer," and I was all but assured that RDJ and Gosling would make their way to the Oscars. Both men were previously twice in the past, but Downey pulls out the win in the end.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
The Nominees:Â America Ferrera (Barbie), Da'Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers), Jodie Foster (Nyad), Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple), and Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer)
Will Win:Â Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Could Win: Emily Bunt
Deserved A Nomination: Julianne Moore (May December)
I initially picked Danielle Brooks but given the lukewarm response to "The Color Purple," that's not happening. Randolph has been cleaning up at all the major awards ceremonies, and I don't see tonight being any different.
The 96th Academy Awards ceremony Airs Tonight on ABC.