FBC 2025 Oscar Coverage, Part III: Predicting the winners…

FBC 2025 Oscar Coverage, Part III: Predicting the winners…

Happy Oscars, everyone!

This has been the least I have written about my favorite awards show in the history of this site and there are two big reasons for that. The first is that the major races have been the most fluid I have, possibly, ever seen since I’ve been watching the awards as a child. While some races seem to have solidified, there are few categories where I feel like you can lock in and say, “This is one you should bet a lot of money on.”

Continue reading “FBC 2025 Oscar Coverage, Part III: Predicting the winners…”

FBC 2025 Oscars Coverage, Part 2: Predicting The Nominations

FBC 2025 Oscars Coverage, Part 2: Predicting The Nominations

With raging wildfires forcing the delay of the nominations until Thursday, it’s given me time to reflect on who the nominees should be. As some of the guild precursors have resonated, my Buzz Meter from a week ago has undergone great tumult. Nickel Boys has lost a ton of steam, The Apprentice has gained some, and Sing Sing has had one of the crazier pre-Oscar runs in recent history.

But, it’s time to lock them in. My goal is always for around 75%, with anything over 80% a near guarantee to turn me into an unbearable douche. So, with those stakes on the table, let’s get predicting!!!


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FBC 2025 Oscars Coverage, part 1: Which films are getting Oscar Buzz? (and what are those films about?)

FBC 2025 Oscars Coverage, part 1: Which films are getting Oscar Buzz? (and what are those films about?)

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!


Continue reading “FBC 2025 Oscars Coverage, part 1: Which films are getting Oscar Buzz? (and what are those films about?)”

FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, part XI: The Secondsies! Plus, final prediction tallies

FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, part XI: The Secondsies! Plus, final prediction tallies

Most years, I do a column about who the Oscar nominees should be, and that is always fun for me, mainly because it allows me to feel smart and smug and self-righteous. But, you know what? In 2023, the Academy did a pretty good job picking the nominees. I don’t agree with all of them, but I’m onboard with most. So, I gave myself a challenge: Could I pick a slate of films and performances who deserved to be nominated while excluding all of those who were?

Like that, The Secondsies were born.

There is only one rule for The Secondsies. Anyone who is nominated for an Oscar in their category is ineligible to be nominated. This is a nice way to make sure that not just the obvious snubs got mentioned, but also to include some deserving nominees who never had a chance. I’ll present the nominees for The Secondsies and then end my Oscars prediction recap.

Let’s get re-nominating!

Continue reading “FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, part XI: The Secondsies! Plus, final prediction tallies”

FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, Part X: Picking the winners, part 6- Best Director and Best Picture

FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, Part X: Picking the winners, part 6- Best Director and Best Picture

When Oppenheimer came out of the nominations with 13 noms, you had to wonder if it would be the kind of film that would keep it’s role as behemoth (Everything Everywhere All At Once) or lose steam and limp to the finish line (The Power Of The Dog). Will Christopher Nolan and his powerful biography win it all? Will Nolan win his first Oscar for directing?

Let’s see.

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FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, Part IX- Predicting the winners, part 5- The lead acting categories

FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, Part IX- Predicting the winners, part 5- The lead acting categories

Remember when my predictions started and I said Best Animated Feature was the closest major race? If that’s true, then Best Actress is a close second. There are two woman who each have an excellent chance of winning. Best Actor is a little (well, a lot) easier to pick.

Let’s get leading!

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FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, Part VIII: Predicting the winners, part 4- all the below the line categories

FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, Part VIII: Predicting the winners, part 4- all the below the line categories

Before we get to the lead acting categories, as well as Best Director and Best Picture, let’s take a look at all of the smaller categories. I get that some believe that there are no small categories if you love movies (and I do), but you know what I mean: we know actors and movies and even some directors. No one could tell me what Rodrigo Prieto, cinematographer, looks like.

These are the categories that can make or break your Oscar bracket. Let’s knock them out!

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FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, Part VII: Predicting the winners, part 3- the screenplay categories

FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, Part VII: Predicting the winners, part 3- the screenplay categories

When Killers Of The Flower Moon was the only Best Picture nominee not nominated in the screenplay category, that kind of let you know that it’s stock was dropping. Still, the nine other nominees (plus May December) have made up one of the strongest years for screenplays in a very long time. Both the original and adapted categories have felt very fluid and it still kind of feels like a toss-up. But, the votes are in and predictions need to be made.

With that said, let’s get original and adaptive!

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FBC 2024 Oscar Coverage, part VI: Predicting the winners, part 2- The supporting acting categories

FBC 2024 Oscar Coverage, part VI: Predicting the winners, part 2- The supporting acting categories

Normally, I would do screenplays before I even thought about getting into the acting categories, but I’m mixing it up. I’m doing so mostly because the screenplay categories feel very wide open while the two categories we’re delving into today are very solid locks. Basically, I need one more day to help decide who I want winning the harder categories.

Let’s get supportive!

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FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, Part V: Predicting the winners, part 1- Animated & International Feature

FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, Part V: Predicting the winners, part 1- Animated & International Feature

As we are days away from the Oscars, let’s get into predicting! All this week, I’ll be laying out my choices for who will (and who should) be winning the nominations. I used to have a category called “Upset Special”, but I’m now changing that to a simpler question: “Does anyone else have a chance to win?” And, as always, I’ll be letting you know who got absolutely snubbed by not even being nominated (and, for every snub, I saw what should have replaced it).

Who will be walking home with Oscars on Sunday, March 10? Let’s do some predicticating!!!!

Continue reading “FBC 2024 Oscars Coverage, Part V: Predicting the winners, part 1- Animated & International Feature”