Oscars night is here, and the award-season behemoth “Everything Everywhere All At Once” looks like a shoo-in for Best Picture — but everything everywhere else this year is anybody’s guess. Here, Post critic Johnny Oleksinski picks who will win and who should win at the 2023 Academy Awards Sunday March 12 at 8:00 pm ET on ABC.
best pictures
Will Win: “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
The popular, innovative and genre-bending film from A24 has won the top prizes at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Producers Guild Awards, Directors Guild Awards and Writers Guild Awards. Whew. Only four other films in history have swept that important quartet and all of them went onto win Best Picture.
Should Win: “The Fablemans”
Steven Spielberg’s touching look back on his childhood went from early frontrunner to having next-to-no shot at winning. For me, though, it was the emotional highlight of the year.
“All Quiet on the Western Front”
“Avatar: The Way of Water”
“The Banshees of Inishrin”
“Elvis”
“Tar”
“Top Gun: Maverick”
“Triangle of Sadness”
“Women Talking”
best director
Will Win: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
With these two smart, young filmmakers (below), the word “visionary” has been thrown around a lot — for good reason. He won both the Directors Guild Award and the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Director.
Should Win: Todd Field, “Tar”
Frankly, I’d give it to James Cameron for “Avatar: Way of Water,” but he’s not nominated. Field, though, created a painstakingly detailed, piercingly relevant thriller that was hard not to talk about (if you saw it, anyway).
Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inishrin”
Steven Spielberg, “The Fablemans”
Ruben Östlund, “Triangle of Sadness”
best actress
Will Win, Should Win: Cate Blanchett, “Tar”
Yes, she’s already won twice. But — dammit — Blanchett is doing her best work ever as a brilliant-but-complicated conductor.
Ana de Armas, “Blonde”
Andrea Riseborough, “To Leslie”
Michelle Williams, “The Fablemans”
Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
best actors
Will Win, Should Win: Austin Butler, “Elvis”
Brendan Fraser’s comeback in “The Whale” has received well-deserved acclaim, but Butler’s Presley is simply a marvel. Spanning decades without showboating, his movie is much more popular across the board than closest rival Fraser’s. And he’s been charming voters all over the world.
Colin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inishrin”
Brendan Fraser, “The Whale”
Paul Mescal, “Aftersun”
Bill Nighy, “Living”
Best Supporting Actor
Will Win: Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
The beloved actor, who got his start as Short Round in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” has delivered the most moving speeches all season long — because he’s won just about every award he’s been up for.
Should Win: Barry Keoghan, “The Banshees of Inishrin”
As a doofus neighbor, Keoghan was hilarious and devastating.
Brendan Gleeson, “The Banshees of Inishrin”
Brian Tyree Henry, “Causeway”
Judd Hirsch, “The Fablemans”
Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Bassett was bulldozing through award season before Jamie Lee Curtis (“Everything Everywhere”) won at the SAGs a couple weeks ago. The first-time Best Supporting Actress nominee will bounce back here.
Should Win: Stephanie Hsu, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
It’s a shame the fight has been Bassett vs. Curtis, because the breakout star of this category is Hsu as both Yeoh’s daughter and a multiverse villain.
Hong Chau, “The Whale”
Kerry Condon, “The Banshees of Inishrin”
Jamie Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Best International Feature Film
Will Win, Should Win: “All Quiet on the Western Front” (Germany)
The brutal World War I epic made waves in Europe and the US thanks to a widely-watched Netflix debut.
“Argentina, 1985” (Argentina)
“Close” (Belgium)
“EO” (Poland)
“The Quiet Girl” (Ireland)
Best Original Song
Will Win, Should Win: “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR,” music by MM Keeravaani; lyrics by Chandrabose
Yeah, Rihanna and Lady Gaga tunes are in the mix — but the lively “Naatu Naatu” brings to mind past winner “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire.” Let’s hope for a big Bollywood performance at the ceremony.
“Applause” from “Tell It Like a Woman,” music and lyrics by Diane Warren
“Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick,” music and lyrics by Lady Gaga and BloodPop
“Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; lyrics by Tems and Ryan Coogler
“This Is a Life” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” music by Ryan Lott, David Byrne and Mitski; lyrics by Ryan Lott and David Byrne
Best Adapted Screenplay
Will Win: “Women Talking,” Sarah Polley
Also nominated for Best Picture, many feel the Amish-country drama (below) got short shrift in the acting and directing categories. It’ll be acknowledged here instead.
Should Win: “Living,” Kazuo Ishiguro
Not enough people watched the excellent “Living,” a flocked adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s “Ikuru.”
“All Quiet on the Western Front,” Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson and Ian Stokell
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” Rian Johnson
“Top Gun: Maverick,” Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks
Best Original Screenplay
Will Win: “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Weird and clever, “Everything Everywhere” did the multiverse better than Marvel ever has.
Should Win: “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Martin McDonagh
Nobody today writes with the humor or wit of McDonagh.
“The Fabelmans,” Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner
“Tar,” Todd Field
“Triangle of Sadness,” Ruben Östlund
Best Animated Feature Film
Will Win, Should Win: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”
It’s not only excellent, it’s the only realistic option.
“Marcel the Shell With Shoes On”
“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”
“The Sea Beast”
“Turning Red”