We are back talking about The Oscars, baby!
Nominations for Hollywood’s biggest night will be revealed this Sunday which means we need to make some predictions. And we cannot do that without seeing which films seem to be peaking at the right time. So, to do that, I made the Buzzmeter!!!
The Buzzmeter looks at which films are getting the most predictions in the major categories (Best Picture, Director, Acting and Screenwriting) and puts them into three piles: Definite locks, Lots of good buzz, and Wild Cards. I gave 5 points to every lock, three to a film with good buzz and a point to the Wild Cards. Also, if you haven’t seen the movie, I will give what I can only assume was the basic one sentence elevator pitch for the movie.
Let’s get buzz-examining!
1. The Brutalist – 28 points
ONE-LINE PITCH: What if a poor immigrant were also a brilliant architect?
DEFINITE LOCKS: Best Picture, Best Director (Brady Corbet), Best Actor (Adrien Brody), Best Supporting Actor (Guy Pearce), Best Original Screenplay
GOOD BUZZ: Best Supporting Actress (Felicity Jones)
2. Emilia Perez – 26 points
ONE-LINE PITCH: What if a cartel boss transitioned into a woman named Emilia Perez?
DEFINITE LOCKS: Best Picture, Best Director (Jacques Audiard), Best Actress (Carla Sofia Garcon), Best Supporting Actress (Zoe Saldana), Best Adapted Screen Play
WILD CARD: Best Supporting Actress (Selena Gomez)
3. Conclave – 24 points
ONE-LINE PITCH: What if we had to pick a new pope?
DEFINITE LOCKS: Best Picture, Best Director (Edward Berger), Best Actor (Ralph Fiennes), Best Adapted Screenplay
GOOD BUZZ: Best Supporting Actress (Isabella Rossellini)
WILD CARD: Best Supporting Actor (Stanley Tucci)
4. Anora – 23 points
ONE-LINE PITCH: What if a dancer named Anora met a rich Russian… and his parents didn’t approve?
DEFINITE LOCKS: Best Picture, Best Director (Sean Baker), Best Actress (Mikey Madison), Best Original Screenplay
GOOD BUZZ: Best Supporting Actor (Yuri Borisov)
5. Wicked – 17 points
ONE-LINE PITCH: What if we took a famous musical and made a butt ton of money?
DEFINITE LOCKS: Best Picture, Best Actress (Cynthia Ervio), Best Supporting Actress (Ariana Grande)
WILD CARDS: Best Director (Jon M. Chu), Best Adapted Screenplay
6. Sing Sing – 16 points
ONE-LINE PITCH: What if prisoners made a play?
DEFINITE LOCKS: Best Actor (Colman Domingo), Best Adapted Screenplay
GOOD BUZZ: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Clarence Maclin)
7. The Substance – 15 points
ONE-LINE PITCH: What if a substance made a woman younger?
DEFINITE LOCKS: Best Original Screenplay
GOOD BUZZ: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Demi Moore)
WILD CARD: Best Supporting Actress (Margaret Qualley)
8. A Real Pain – 14 points
ONE-LINE PITCH: What if a family member were a real pain?
DEFINITE LOCKS: Best Supporting Actor (Kieran Culkin), Best Original Screenplay
GOOD BUZZ: Best Picture
WILD CARD: Best Actor (Jesse Eisenberg)
9. A Complete Unknown – 12 Points
ONE-LINE PITCH: Can we make a movie about Bob Dylan?
DEFINITE LOCKS: Best Actor (Timothee Chalamet)
GOOD BUZZ: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Edward Norton)
WILD CARD: Best Adapted Screenplay
10. Dune: Part 2 – 9 points
ONE-LINE PITCH: What if Timothee Chalamet became worm-riding Jesus?
DEFINITE LOCK: Best Picture
GOOD BUZZ: Best Adapted Screenplay
WILD CARD: Best Director (Denis Villeneuve)
Other movies with Oscar Buzz!
Nickel Boys (Good Buzz- Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay; Wild Card- Best Supporting Actress) – 8 points
Gladiator II– (Good Buzz- Best Supporting Actor, Wild Card- Best Picture) – 4 points
September 5– (Good Buzz- Best Original Screenplay, Wild Card- Best Picture) – 4 points
Maria – (Good Buzz- Best Actress) – 3 points
The Piano Lesson– (Good Buzz- Best Supporting Actress) – 3 points
Queer– (Good Buzz- Best Actor) – 3 points
The Apprentice- (Wild Card- Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor) – 2 points
I’m Still Here– (Wild Card- Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay)
All We Imagine As Light– (Wild Card- Best Original Screenplay)- 1 point
Challengers- (Wild Card- Best Original Screenplay)- 1 point
Hard Truths- (Wild Card- Best Original Screenplay)- 1 point
Fancy Boys Club 