Today is My Favorite Holiday: My Picks for the Oscars 2022

Ok, so earlier this week I made a post about who I think *will* win at this year's Oscars, now I wanna talk about who I think should win. 

Now, of course, we all know that I think Zola should be nominated in a bunch of categories and I also think Jodie Comer (at the very least) got robbed for "The Last Duel". But I won't mention those, because this is about the people the dumb Academy voted as the nominees. 

And I say "dumb" because they nominated Nicole Kidman. But that's my Oscar grudge this year, I think. 

Okay, of course I must talk about how much I hate this damn pandemic and while wish that I was having an old school so-many-people-in-the-living-room-that-people-are-watching-from-the-hallway party again, my Best Friend is coming over and Mickey is home and I am making a very big soup for the very big show, so I am not alone and we will all have full tummies. 

So, it's not all bad. AND! Between the three of us, we've (read: I've) seen all ten Best Picture nominees, but even better than that we've all watched one together and then I watched some with Mickey and some with Trevor. I just like that we're all invested together kind of. 

OK here are my picks, but in reverse order, because anticipation, bitches. Oh and also with commentary if my brain feels like it. 

Best Documentary Short Subject
Audible 
Lead Me Home
The Queen of Basketball - Winner
Three Songs of Benazir
When We Were Bullies

Best Animated Short Film
Affairs of the Art
Bestia
Boxballet - Winner
Robin Robin
The Windshield Wiper

It may just because this story tugged at my dance and choreography lovin' heartstrings, but I will probably have allergies if this wins tonight. 

Best Live Action Short Film
Ala Kacchu – Take and Run
The Dress - Winner
The Long Goodbye 
On My Mind
Please Hold

This would be another possible allergy response. But probably only if they show clips before announcing the winner. 

Best Visual Effects
Dune
Free Guy
No Time To Die
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Spider-Man: No Way Home - Winner

But I'd also be tickled with a "Free Guy" win!

Best Sound
Belfast
Dune
No Time To Die
The Power of the Dog
West Side Story - Winner

My logic here is that this is where the Academy should award Spielberg for his golden years passion project. Even if it's not the king himself winning, this will be the Academy saying, "We see what you did here."

HOWEVER, I honestly think that "King Richard" should at least be nominated here. CODA, too. 

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Coming 2 America
Cruella
Dune
The Eyes of Tammy Faye - Winner
House of Gucci

I mean nothing else even comes close to this perfection. We've all seen the caricatures of Tammy Faye and this was not it. This was a beautiful homage (aided by a beautiful performance).

Best Costume Design
Cruella - Winner
Cyrano
Dune
Nightmare Alley
West Side Story

The costumes were practically a character themselves... and the best one at that. I was surprised at how much I loved the first half of this movie. The second half dragged a bit, but I would definitely watch the sequel. 

"Zola" shoulda been included in the nominees. I have very big feelings about why movies like this are often overlooked by the Academy, but I will save those for another day. 

Best Production Design
Dune - Winner
Nightmare Alley
Power of the Dog
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story

Best part of this movie for me, totally deserves to win. However, I'd be perfectly okay with "Nightmare Alley" or "Macbeth", as well. 

Best Music (Original Song)
“Be Alive,” King Richard, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Dixson - Winner
“Dos Oroguitos,” Encanto, Lin-Manuel Miranda
“Down to Joy,” Belfast, Van Morrison
“No Time To Die,” No Time To Die, Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell 
“Somehow You Do,” Four Good Days, Diane Warren

I was 100% gonna choose Billy Eyelash winning this one, until I saw "King Richard" and the song was perfect. (I've never seen a single Bond so I'm sure Billie's song is fitting too, but I would not know.) 

Best Music (Original Score)
Don’t Look Up - Winner
Dune - Winner
Encanto
Parallel Mothers
The Power of the Dog - Winner

Ok, I picked two winners here and that is because I can't decide. Ok, if I'm being honest I am very much in love with every single thing Nicholas Britell does, so my heart told me to pick "Don't Look Up". On the other hand, I thought what Johnny Greenwood added to "The Power of the Dog" was incredible and also worthy of a win. Can it please be a tie?

Best Film Editing
Don’t Look Up
Dune 
King Richard - Winner
The Power of the Dog
Tick, Tick…Boom!

Look, y'all. I liked this movie more than I was expecting. I think the sound editing in particular was spectacular, but it didn't get nominated for sound, so I'm awarding the regular editor. (I know this isn't how it works, but this is how I think sometimes.)

Again this is another place I think "Zola" should have been nominated.

Best Cinematography
Dune
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
The Tragedy of Macbeth - Winner
West Side Story

Pure bullshit if Macbeth doesn't win this. It was stunning to look at. STUNNING. I feel like the shadows alone told a story. 

HOWEVER, I will also get a huge huge giggle thrill if "The Power of the Dog" wins this one, because it is the same cinematographer as "Zola" which was a work of visual ART. 

Best International Feature Film
Drive My Car (Japan) - Winner
Flee (Denmark)
The Hand of God (Italy)
Yanna (Bhutan)
The Worst Person in the World (Norway)

Full disclosure I only watched three of these, and loved them all for different reasons. It was a touch choice between "Drive My Car" and "The Worst Person in the World", if I'm being honest. The scripts for both of these were works of art in many ways and were layered and deep and thoughtful. You know, the things I love about International films. What pushed "Drive My Car" over the edge was how long it stuck with me... and as I thought about it, how it unfolded as a film more and more. I am a long time lover of Murakami and was hesitant to see him brought to screen, but this was more than I ever could have hoped for and has completely changed the way I look at adaptations. 

Best Animated Feature Film
Encanto
Flee - Winner
Luca
The Mitchells vs. the Machines
Raya and the Last Dragon

I want an upset here, because the Academy obviously adores "Flee" and this is where I think it should win, because...

Best Documentary Feature
Ascension
Attica
Flee
Summer of Soul - Winner
Writing With Fire

Questlove should totally be an Oscar winner. "Summer of Soul" put me *right there*. It's obvious he's a DJ who knows how to keep a party going, because the musical performances weaved into this doc perfectly. He really let the music sit with us and gave us what I imagine to be the closest experience possible to actually time traveling to be there. 

Best Original Screenplay
Belfast
Don’t Look Up
King Richard
Licorice Pizza 
The Worst Person in the World - Winner

If a book were a movie... this script is beautiful. 

Best Adapted Screenplay
CODA - Winner
Drive My Car
Dune
The Lost Daughter
The Power of the Dog

This one is tough. I'm pretty happy with anything winning in this category. Even "Dune" cause even though it's not my bag, a ton of my friends love it and I want them to be happy (even though I think it's gonna sweep all the technical categories... doesn't mean I WANT it to, though and that's what this post is about. You want that other one? Click here.) 

"Drive My Car" gets my vote here because it's an adaptation of not only a short story, but also a deeper exploration of a play, so in a way it's a double adaptation? Either way, like I said, it completely changed the way I will look at adaptations for the rest of my life. 

HOWEVER, it is a crime that "Zola" didn't get nominated for turning a Twitter thread into a work of fucking art. 

Best Director
Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Drive My Car - Winner
Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog 
Steven Spielberg, West Side Story

I straight up do not like this category, because I think Maggie Gyllenhaal should be here for "The Lost Daughter" instead of Branagh, or Spielberg, if I'm being 100% truthful. Joel Coen should be here too. So should Sian Heder. And Janicza Bravo, but that was the longest of long shots. I know she'll be up here one day, don't worry. She's just getting started. 

I guess I'm gonna give my emotional vote to "Drive My Car". Probably would have given it to Jane Campion but she made a dumb decision at the end of the movie that ruined it for me and I am still irrationally angry about it. 

Best Supporting Actress
Jessie Buckley, The Lost Daughter - Winner
Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
Judi Dench, Belfast
Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard

I know there is very little chance of an upset here and Ariana DeBose is gonna win, but I'm gonna say something very embarrassing and this is why I think Jessie Buckley should win:

The first time I watched "The Lost Daughter", I thought the flashbacks were just a de-aged Olivia Coleman. She was *that* good. Then, when D and I were rehashing it, she said, "Jessie Buckley was so good in it too. I love her so much." I also love her so much, so I was very surprised I didn't notice her in this film. 

Also, Aujanue Ellis was fully realized as Brandi Williams and I'd be equally thrilled with an upset in her favor. 

I know I am beating a dead horse with all the "Zola" talk but Riley Keough's Stephanie should be in this category. 

Best Supporting Actor
Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
Troy Kotsur, CODA - Winner
Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog
J.K. Simmons, Being the Ricardos
Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

This is inevitable and I am thrilled with it. I can't wait for his speech and his fashion. 

HOWEVER, Coleman Domingo should totally have the spot J.K. Simmons has claimed.  

Best Actress
Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye - Winner
Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter - Winner
Penelope Cruz, Parallel Mothers - Winner
Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos
Kristen Stewart, Spencer - Winner

I cannot emphasize how much I want anyone other than Nicole Kidman to win this. Don't get me wrong, I think she's an incredible actress, but aside from a scene or two here and there, I didn't buy her as Lucy. She was give some crackling dialogue and that is why I think she was nominated... not because of how she said the words, but because of the words she said. 

I could give her slot to many many different people. Of course Taylour Paige for "Zola" is at the top of my list. Followed very quickly by Jodie Comer for "The Last Duel". There were a ton of strong performances in this category this year. Nicole's was not one of them. 

The winner my heart wants most is KStew, though. She was delicate and real and she's such an amazing actress and I've adored watching her career trajectory. The "Twilight" kids get so much shit for those movies but they did exactly what the books asked. 

Jessica Chastain was literal perfection in "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" and is long overdue for trophies, so I'm fine with her winning. 

Olivia Coleman is this generation's Meryl, and Penelope and Pedro are unstoppable together, so I wouldn't be surprised/sad at either of their wins.

If fucking Nicole Kidman wins, though, I might give up on the Oscars and just start my own this. How does the Oh-wards sound? Like an insane asylum to me. 

Best Actor
Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick…Boom!
Will Smith, King Richard - Winner
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

The role he was born for. He deserves this and should win. I truly think he will, too.

We watched "King Richard" on Friday and last night I said to Mickey, "I wasn't expecting this, but I truly wish there was another episode of 'King Richard' on tonight.  Like, I know what happens next, but I wanted more story told to me by these storytellers.

I know my nana would be happy if Denzel won, though, so I would be too. 

Best Picture
Belfast
CODA - Winner
Don’t Look Up
Drive My Car
Dune
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog
West Side Story

I don't think these ten movies are representative of the best films of the year. I'd keep about 5 of 'em and change out the rest. But I have to vote on what I'm given and what I know about the voting process and give this to what I hope will be a beautiful upset by "CODA". It's a beautiful film that I think is gonna surprise win tonight as a result of the ranked choice voting. I think "King Richard" might have a sight chance at this as well. 

So, depending on how type-y I feel, I might do some live tweets on Your Favorite Episode's Twitter account. Maybe. No promises, though.