As the regime continues simultaneously terrorizing Americans and embarrassing them with ridiculous lies, idiocy, and assorted bungling, the Academy announced the 98th Annual Oscar nominations, a thing I normally would have been sitting up straight and watching firsthand…but I was busy, working, and gearing up for a miserable storm that will hit in about 36 hours. Yay. But, yay!
My favorite Oscar image.
There were several things that made me happy (Brazil’s The Secret Agent - which I still have not seen, but am thoroughly excited about…though I was about The Mastermind also and we see what happened there - getting numerous nods including Maura for Best Actor, and both International Feature and Best Picture - makes me downright giddy), and several that confused me (the love for F1 is a head-scratcher, and I know there were far better films that deserved its Best Picture slot; Chase Infiniti being overlooked; and Madigan, Mosaku, and Taylor forced to duke it out in Supporting Actress when all three are immensely worthy). But there was also a lot of “oh, right…I kinda figured that would” choices. It was not exactly a thrilling batch of nominees despite the 2025 film year being, well, genuinely thrilling.
So just to make this post too long and play the game everyone likes to play, I’ll choose who I would like to see win in a handful of select categories. And quickly, because I have to get that reinforced siding up before noon tomorrow:
Actor in a Leading Role
Haven’t seen Marty Supreme yet, and I anticipate if a Safdie can make me sit forward jaw-dropped about Chalamet they way they did Sandler in Uncut Gems, I’ll probably love his performance. Leonardo DiCaprio was great in Battle, even if I thought his character sometimes didn’t feel like the lead. As mentioned, I haven’t seem Wagner Maura yet, but have high hopes for The Secret Agent. Michael B. Jordan was electric in Sinners, a film I wouldn’t mind one bit making history with the lion’s share of its 16 nominations becoming wins. But I like the little guy, the outlier. And I love a film that is almost 100% effusively-performed dialogue: I think it should be the year of Ethan Hawke, whose Blue Moon performance may have been more mannered than the rest, but was absolutely mesmerizing.
Cinematography
Look, I’ve seen four of the five nominated films and loved three of those (sorry, Frankenstein…you can win for Production Design and I won’t flinch, and Elordi could win and I’ll nod in acceptance, but you cannot beat the exquisite work on display in One Battle After Another, Sinners, and my choice, Train Dreams. Train Dreams deals in the luxury of a quieter world, even as it is slowly being developed and cut apart. It is a wonderful achievement and if the film can win any of its nominations, I think this is the one.
Directing
I mean, I would be thrilled if Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler tied this one. That would be sweet.
Original Score
Similarly, I would giggle into Monday if Jonny Greenwood’s plinky-plunky/stressfully-unique score for Battle would win. It’s time! Let’s give this man an Oscar.
Production Design
Sinners, all day and all night.
Now, here’s hoping we’re all still here come March.
