In Market: Our movie expert predicts the Oscars

Best Picture nominee Dunkirk: It won at the box office, can it win at the Oscars?

Movies. A way to escape from reality. An opportunity to put aside, for a couple of hours, at least, the troubles of the world.

Sure, the cell phone can ring while you’re in a movie theater (but no one had better hear it). Good luck reaching me, however, before I find out if Sally Hawkins is indeed going to get romantic with the creature from the black lagoon (The Shape of Water), or if Frances McDormand gets vengeance for her daughter’s brutal murder (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri). And is Phantom Thread really the final film for Daniel Day Lewis (here’s hoping not)?

If you don’t hear from me for a short while, it doesn’t mean I don’t care. It probably means I was in a movie, eating my lunch consisting of a tub of popcorn (no butter) and a giant soft drink (half Coke, half Diet Coke or Coke Zero). I once saw 247 movies in a year, and with Moviepass now on the scene, I’m going after that record this year.

There were some pretty good movies released this past year, several worth seeing twice (thanks, Moviepass). They will be honored March 4 at the annual Academy Awards. Jimmy Kimmel is hosting, and he has shown in the past he knows how to deliver a fun evening. Just ask his good friend/butt of his jokes Matt Damon, who we hope will once again make a guest appearance, even without being among the nominees.

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Who will be the big winners? Most disappointed? Biggest surprises? We’ll find out then, but in the meantime, here’s one movie buff’s best guesses at who WILL win in the major categories, along with who I think SHOULD take home the little gold and bald statue that night.

Best Picture

Will win: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Should win: Same

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Though there has been some recent momentum building for The Shape of Water, the feeling here is the Academy will honor the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild winner, known to some as the little movie that could.

Best Director

Will win: Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk.

Should win: Jordan Peele, Get Out.

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Peele, in his directorial debut, pulled off one of the smartest films in years, approaching the subject of racism in a most unique and fresh fashion. He also managed one of the rarest of feats, directing a movie that has staying power over a year later when January releases are typically sent to the graveyard of movies. I loved Nolan’s work in years past, most notably The Dark Knight, but I’m still wondering about all the hoopla surrounding the overrated Dunkirk. We saw the same story presented much better in Darkest Hour.

Best Actor

Will win: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour.

Should win: Oldman.

As Winston Churchill, Oldman delivered one of those performances that, the first time you see him onscreen, you know the statue is reserved for him.

Best Actress

Will win: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards.

Should win: Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water.

Hawkins’ performance as a mute, communicating so much with her eyes without saying a word, drives this movie. Still, it is hard to argue with McDormand’s fabulous performance should she win her second Oscar.

Best Supporting Actor

Will win: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboard.

Should win: Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World.

Plummer not only stepped in and saved this movie, he gave a sparkling performance with very little preparation time, given the task of replacing the fired Kevin Spacey.

Best Supporting Actress

Will win: Allison Janney, I,Tonya.

Should win: Janney.

Janney delivers an unforgettable performance as one of the world’s worst mothers ever, creating a no-brainer opportunity for the Academy. Should she not win, it would be one of Oscar’s biggest upsets, but this category is known for upsets over the years.

Best Original Screenplay

Will win: Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards.

Should win: Jordan Peele, Get Out.

As previously stated, Peele’s work was smart and fresh. While McDonagh is the favorite, Peele could actually sneak in and come home with an Oscar, perhaps the Academy’s way of saying “Great job” and giving his work at least one statue.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Will win: Call Me By Your Name.

Should win: Call Me By Your Name.

James Ivory’s script makes this movie much more than a gay romance. It brings to the screen the remarkable prose from Andre Aciman’s book, spreading the dialogue beautifully among the entire cast.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a snuggy with my name on it and a giant tub of popcorn in the microwave as I prepare to curl up on the couch and see if I might have actually gotten one or two of these right.