Tammy's 2024 Oscar Picks
This year, I decided to watch as many 2024 Oscar-nominated films as I could within two weeks to give my honest picks for what I think will win and what I believe should win. Let’s begin!
Full nominations list: www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2024-oscars-nominees-list-1235804181/
Best Picture
Will Win: Oppenheimer
Should Win: Oppenheimer
It was thee film of the year for obvious reasons, and I truly believe it will sweep at the Oscars ceremony in almost every category it is nominated for. I delivered in every category and is a defining film for the 2020s!
Best Actress
Will Win: Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
Should Win: Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
While I did enjoy Emma Stone’s performance in “Poor Things,” there is no doubt in my mind that this win should go to Lily Gladstone. Lily’s heartbreaking, quiet performance was a stand-out this year.
Best Actor
Will Win: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Should Win: Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
There isn’t really even a shadow of a doubt that Cillian shines, not only in this category, but from the entire 2024 year of film acting overall. He is one of the greatest actors of our generation and he deserves this award a thousand times over.
Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Da'Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Should Win: Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
Emily’s interrogation scene and her portrayal of the troubled Kitty Oppenheimer sealed the deal for me for this category. Da’Vine did have a lovely performance, but it didn’t have the impact to the overall film & story as I thought Emily’s did.
Best Supporting Actor
Will Win: Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Should Win: Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Robert’s solid performance as Strauss is great, but the true heart behind “Barbie” is Ryan’s Ken. Not only does he sing and dance, but with his final monologue, he sells the pain of unrequited love and sense of being lost as a person.
Best Director
Will Win: Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Should Win: Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
As this is Cillian’s moment, it is also Christopher’s. His work shines with “Oppenheimer” - everything comes together so perfectly - his story, his direction, his casting. It’s clear that his passion for this craft is stronger than ever.
Best Original Screenplay
Will Win: The Holdovers
Should Win: Anatomy of a Fall
“The Holdovers” was a bittersweet script, but “Anatomy of a Fall” relies on the dialogue to reel you in on this murder mystery case and does a fantastic job of doing so.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Will Win: Oppenheimer
Should Win: Oppenheimer
“Oppenheimer” screenplay is a complicated, vigorous one that never slowed down and lost its audience over the course of three hours. Shout out to “American Fiction,” as it would be my runner-up choice for its dramedy screenplay - it made me laugh several times and was still able to deliver the dramatic impact of life itself to Jeffrey Wright’s character.
Best Cinematography
Will Win: Oppenheimer
Should Win: Oppenheimer
Do I have to explain this one? Brilliant work done by Hoyte van Hoytema, and it wouldn't have been the cinematic experience without his work. I’m lucky I got to see it in IMAX.
Best Original Score
Will Win: Oppenheimer
Should Win: Oppenheimer
Ludwig Göransson’s score is as much of a character in the film as Oppenheimer himself. It’s haunting and sensual in a way that I haven’t heard since Vangelis’ score in “Blade Runner.” (I do want to give a shout-out to the score of “American Fiction,” because it just made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside - just a feel good score!)
Best Original Song
Will Win: "What Was I Made For?"
Should Win: “I’m Just Ken”
While I’m not a fan of Billie Eilish, I do like her "What Was I Made For?” But, it doesn’t capture the attention grabbing, silly fun that “I’m Just Ken” delivers, especially in the context of the film.
Best Editing
Will Win: Oppenheimer
Should Win: Oppenheimer
Again, the editing in this film keeps a concise story in place and helps the audience follow the multiple story plots without getting confused.
Best Production Design
Will Win: Barbie
Should Win: Barbie
Come on now… We ALL wanted to play on that Barbie World set, didn’t we? That’s the world we could all see exploring after being transported there in the film. I hope they preserved the set and will one day allow fans to see it in person one day.
Best Costume Design
Will Win: Barbie
Should Win: Barbie
Again… “Barbie” excels in this category but, I think we all knew it would. You can tell this team was having a ball using bright neon colors and imaginative designs - Hollywood, take note! We love COLOR!
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Will Win: Poor Things
Should Win: Poor Things
From Willem Dafoe’s prosthetics to Emma’s long flowing hair, the make-up and hairstyling team delivers and makes you believe that Bella’s world is not exactly the one we know but one can identify with.
Best Animated Short
Will Win: Letter to a Pig
Should Win: Ninety-Five Senses
“Ninety-Five Senses” starts as a feel good short and swiftly turns into something shocking, that has a storyline that keeps you guessing its narrator and their motives.
Best Live-Action Short
Will Win: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Should Win: Invincible
“Invincible” was a tough, upsetting story but you were there every second with the main character and were hoping for a different outcome at the end. A shout-out to “Knight of Fortune” for being an awkward, funny story - a splash of physical comedy with dark humor.
Best Documentary Short
Will Win: The Last Repair Shop
Should Win: The Last Repair Shop
I know that “The ABCs of Book Banning” has a lot of love for it, but “The Last Repair Shop” truly is the blueprint for how to take multiple stories and weave them into one perfectly crafted tale that has a wonderfully emotional pay-off at the end of the piece. It touched my heart in a way that no other nominated film did this year & I left the theater crying with tears of joy.