Tonight is the presentation of the 91st Academy Awards in Hollywood. The prestigious ceremony celebrates the best in filmmaking from 2018. Most categories this year, while competitive, may be easier to predict than previous years. But in a select few races? It’s anyone’s guess who’s going to win.
Tonight’s show begins airing on various networks at 6:00pm EST with arrivals on the red carpet. The actual ceremony starts at 8:00pm EST, and breaking from tradition, there will be no host for tonight’s show.
Arguably the highlight of these parties are the ballots. Guests can fill out sheets with who they think will win the Oscar in the 24 different categories. It can be more challenging for some viewers because it’s hard to guess winners when you haven’t seen all the nominated movies.
Luckily, I have seen all the nominated movies this year. It’s been an equally competitive and enjoyable year at the cinema.
Similarly to last year, the Academy will likely give a few prizes to several movies instead of several to only one or two. Remember, predicting the Oscars isn’t about who you want to win, but who you think the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science actually voted to win.
Here are my predictions for the four movies I believe will win the most trophies at this year’s ceremony. You can use my background and predictions to help you win your Oscar ballot tonight.
Roma
Best Picture
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Director for Alfonso Cuarón
Best Cinematography
Whether or not Roma ends up winning the top prize (in a huge win for Netflix) it will definitely be a good night for director Alfonso Cuarón, who’s nominated in all four of the above categories. And with little formidable competition in those specific races, he could possibly win in all four of them.
Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Actor for Rami Malek
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Mixing
As an audience member, Rami Malek’s performance as Freddie Mercury is the only thing even close to Oscar-worthy about this good-not-great movie. But sometimes popularity is all you need to win.
If Beale Street Could Talk
Best Supporting Actress for Regina King
Best Original Score
An overlooked drama from the creative team of 2016 Best Picture winner Moonlight, it barely missed being a Best Picture nominee itself this year. But there are these two categories where it’s still likely to come on top.
Vice
Best Editing
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
The biopic of former Vice President Dick Cheney is the only other movie I’m predicting will win multiple awards, albeit in two more obscure categories. But credit belongs where it’s earned - the editing and makeup (did you see Christian Bale?!) were outstanding.
For the writing nominees, The Favourite is the frontrunner for Best Original Screenplay and Spike Lee will likely win for his adapted screenplay of BlackkKlansman.
The other two acting prizes will likely go to Glenn Close as Joan Castleman in The Wife for Best Actress and Mahershala Ali winning Best Supporting Actor for his performance of Don Shirley in Green Book.
Other likely winners include Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse for Best Animated Feature, Lady Gaga’s “Shallow” from A Star is Born for Best Original Song, and Free Solo for Best Documentary Film.
Finally, look for Sheridan graduate Domee Shi to win Best Animated Short for her Toronto-set comedy Bao, which played in cinemas with Incredibles 2 last summer.
If you’re interested in reading about my in-depth analysis for all 24 categories tonight, you can read and download my annual film essay here for free. It contains my complete predictions for tonight’s Academy Awards. It also includes a recap of my movie watching habits and thoughts on all movies from 2018.
Otherwise, get ready for an exciting and unpredictable ceremony. With Hollywood changing how it makes and releases movies, it’s sure to be a political and possibly controversial show.
And with no host, who knows? This might be the year something interesting even happens during the broadcast.
