After months of boring accepted winners, the Oscars race was recently rocked by shocking developments nobody saw coming. When they air on ABC on Sunday, March 27, the evening should be full of surprises. Here, Post critic Johnny Oleksinski picks who will and should win at the 2022 Academy Awards.
best picture
Will win: “KODA”
The touching AppleTV+ drama has snuck in from behind for the past two weeks, winning both the all-important SAG Best Ensemble Award and the Producers Guild Grand Prize. Suddenly, it’s the one to beat.
Should win: “dune”
The first part of the science fiction novel adaptation by director Denis Villenueve was by far the most impressive cinema experience of the year.
“Belfast”
“drive my car”
“The Power of the Dog”
Best Director
Will win: Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”
Awards season has been in high gear for Campion since her esoteric western bombarded the festival scene.
Should win: Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza”
Anderson’s film is moving, funny and visually gripping.
Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast”
Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, “Drive My Car”
Steven SpielbergWest Side Story
Best actor
Will Win, Should Win: Will Smith, “King Richard”
Smith gives one of his best performances in years as the fascinating and complex father of Serena and Venus Williams.
Javier Bardem, “Be the Ricardos”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog”
Andrew Garfield, “Tick, tick… boom!”
Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
Best Actress
Will Win, Should Win: Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
Chastain was the underdog until she won the SAG Award. Now she is difficult to defeat.
Olivia Colman, “The Prodigal Daughter”
Penelope Cruz, “Parallel Mothers”
Nicole Kidman, “Being the Ricardos”
Kristen Stewart, “Spencer”
Best supporting actor
Will win, should win: Troy Kotsur, “CODA”
Like The Power of the Dog, Kodi Smit-McPhee once seemed unstoppable. But the fabulous Kotsur has that in his pocket.
Ciaran Hinds, “Belfast”
Jesse Plemons, “The Power of the Dog”
JK Simmons, “Being the Ricardos”
Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog”
The best supporting actress
Will win: Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”
DeBose has scooped almost every major trophy this season for his role as Anita. The Oscars won’t stop her momentum.
Should win: Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog”
Dunst does a great job in Dog, another triumph in a long – and often underappreciated – career.
Jessie Buckley, “The Prodigal Daughter”
Judi Dench, “Belfast”
Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard”
Best Adapted Screenplay
Will win: “CODA”
“CODA” will benefit enormously from its growing momentum in this category.
Should win: “Dune”
Understanding Frank Herbert’s novel Dune is no easy task – see how well it worked for David Lynch – and Denis Villeneuve should be credited for it.
“drive my car”
“The Lost Daughter”
“The Power of the Dog”
Best Original Screenplay
Will win, should win: “Liquorice Pizza”
The Academy admires “Licorice Pizza” and its writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson.
“Belfast”
“don’t look up”
“King Richard”
“Worst Man in the World”
Best Original Score
Will win, should win: “Dune”
Hans Zimmer’s score is big, old-fashioned, booming film music.
“don’t look up”
“Encanto”
“Parallel Mothers”
“The Power of the Dog”
Best Animated Feature Film
Will win: “Encanto”
Thanks in part to the massive chart success of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” everyone is talking about “Encanto.”
Should win: “Luke”
“Luca” is simply bellissimo.
“Flee”
“The Mitchells Against the Machines”
“Raya and the Last Dragon”
Best Original Song
Will Win, Should Win: “Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto”, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
OK, it’s not “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” but this Miranda song is even better.
“Be Alive” from “King Richard”, music and lyrics by Dixson and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
“Down To Joy” from “Belfast”, music and lyrics by Van Morrison
“No Time To Die” from No Time To Die, music and lyrics by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days”, music and lyrics by Diane Warren
https://nypost.com/2022/03/26/oscar-predictions-2022-who-will-win-vs-who-should-win/ Who will win vs. who should win?
