March 2, 2018 | Culture
Everyone will be watching this weekend's Oscars, where the acting industry's most coveted award will be given out. Here's who we're betting will nab an Academy Award.
Nominees: The Shape of Water, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Get Out, Lady Bird, Dunkirk, Darkest Hour, Phantom Thread, Call Me By Your Name, and The Post
Our Prediction: The Shape of Water
Even with eight other films in the Best Picture category this year, The Shape of Water stands out with one of the most original storylines yet. It is a tour de force from director Guillermo del Toro that pits Elisa Esposito—a mute woman played by Sally Hawkins, who works in a secret government facility—up against the maniacal Colonel Richard Strickland—her boss, played by Michael Shannon—in a race to save a strange sea creature, which becomes the center of the movie's conflict. It is a strangely charming film that mixes the sci-fi, romance, and thriller genres quite superbly.
Nominees: Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water), Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk), Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird), Jordan Peele (Get Out), Paul Thomas Anderson (Phantom Thread)
Our Prediction: Guillermo del Toro
The Shape of Water garnered del Toro his first Best Director nomination. The veteran, whose previous box office hit Pan's Labyrinth was nominated for both Best Original Screenplay and Best Foreign Language Film, leads the pack with 13 nominations in a smattering of categories for his latest film, making him a top contender.
Notable Mention: Greta Gerwig
Gerwig's nomination is only the fifth ever for female directors in this category. If she wins, she'll join Kathryn Bigelow, who won an Oscar for Best Director with her 2008 film The Hurt Locker, as the only other female to win Best Director.
Read our chat with Greta Gerwig here.
Nominees: Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour), Timothee Chalamet (Call Me by Your Name), Daniel Day-Lewis (Phantom Thread), Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), and Denzel Washington (Roman J. Israel, Esq.)
Our Prediction: Gary Oldman
Oldman's powerful performance as Winston Churchill in the Darkest Hour is perhaps his greatest yet. And as one of the category's most seasoned nominees, it's a tough bet to put money against him.
Read our chat with Gary Oldman here.
Notable Mention: Timothee Chalamet
A Chalamet win in this category would make history—and we love a little history-making magic. He'd be the youngest contender, at just 22, to win Best Actor.
Nominees: Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water), Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Margot Robbie (I, Tonya), Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird), Meryl Streep (The Post)
Our Prediction: Frances McDormand
Notable Mention: Margot Robbie
Nominees: Willem Dafoe (The Florida Project), Woody Harrelson (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Richard Jenkins (The Shape of Water), Christopher Plummer (All the Money in the World), Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
Our Prediction: Sam Rockwell
Nominees: Allison Janney (I, Tonya), Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird), Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread), Octavia Spencer (The Shape of Water), and Mary J. Blige (Mudbound)
Our Prediction: Allison Janney
As Tonya Harding's acerbic mother LaVona Fay Golden in I, Tonya, Janney shines. Her performance is bold and spot on.
Read our chat with Allison Janney here.
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