When the last football game was played on Sunday and we knew who would be competing in the Super Bowl, a wonderful thought occurred to me and I was instantly overjoyed: IT’S OSCAR SEASON, BABY! I no longer have to care about football, because movies are back and we are in the full swing of awards season!
Unlike last year’s Academy Awards, which kind of felt like they were cobbled together with string, duct tape, and a pile of Hollywood dreams, 2021 gave us an almost full year of movies. If you liked blockbusters, Marvel released 4 films. If you prefer smaller films, we got the return of both Wes AND Paul Thomas Anderson (no relation). This was a superb year for film and I think the quality of the nominees will reflect that.
So, what films will be rewarded on February 8th when the Oscars announce their nominees? Well, before that, let’s take care of some housekeeping…
Despite that most of the other Fancy Boys called my 2021 Oscar coverage “too much”, I did not put a proper bow on the ceremony. This is what happens when you’re holding a baby and fall asleep and then forget to record the show. Whoopsidoodles.
That being said, I was a respectable 13-for-22 in my predictions, despite boofing BOTH screenplay categories and Best Actor.
There. Covered. Let’s move on.
This is my third year of predicting the nominees of the Big 9 (Best Picture, Best Director, all acting awards, both screenplay awards, and Best Animated Feature). Entering 2022, I am 80-for-91 in predicting the nominees, and I’m very pleased with my 88% success rate. So, let’s jump right in.
And the nominees will be…
BEST PICTURE
Being The Ricardos
Belfast
Coda
Don’t Look Up
Dune
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
The Power Of The Dog
Tick Tick… Boom!
West Side Story
BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
Jane Campion, The Power Of The Dog
Steven Spielberg, West Side Story
Denis Villeneuve, Dune
BEST ACTOR
Nicolas Cage, Pig (The one pick from my heart. Don’t let me down, Oscars!)
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power Of The Dog
Andrew Garfield, Tick Tick… Boom!
Will Smith, King Richard
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy Of MacBeth
BEST ACTRESS
Jessica Chastain, The Eyes Of Tammy Faye
Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
Lady Gaga, House Of Gucci
Nicole Kidman, Being The Ricardos
Kristen Stewart, Spencer
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Ben Affleck, The Tender Bar
Bradley Cooper, Licorice Pizza
Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
Troy Kotsur, Coda
Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power Of The Dog
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Caitríona Balfe, Belfast
Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
Kirsten Dunst, The Power Of The Dog
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
Ruth Negga, Passing
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Being The Ricardos
Belfast
Don’t Look Up
The French Dispatch
Licorice Pizza
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Coda
Dune
The Lost Daughter
The Power Of The Dog
Tick Tick… Boom!
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Encanto
Flee
Luca
The Mitchells Vs The Machines
Raya & The Last Dragon
Fancy Boys Club 