Oscars night is here, and award-season behemoth “Every little thing In all places All At Once” looks like a shoo-in for Best Picture — but all the things in every single place else this yr is anybody’s guess. Here, Post critic Johnny Oleksinski picks who will win and who should win on the 2023 Academy Awards Sunday March 12 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.
Best Picture
Will Win: “Every little thing In all places All At Once”
The favored, revolutionary and genre-bending film from A24 has won the highest prizes on the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Producers Guild Awards, Directors Guild Awards and Writers Guild Awards. Whew. Only 4 other movies in history have swept that necessary quartet and all of them went onto win Best Picture.
Should Win: “The Fabelmans”
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 yr.
“All Quiet on the Western Front“
“Avatar: The Way of Water“
“The Banshees of Inisherin“
“Elvis“
“Tár“
“Top Gun: Maverick“
“Triangle of Sadness“
“Women Talking”
Best Director
Will Win: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, “Every little thing In all places All at Once”
With these two smart, young filmmakers (below), the word “visionary” has been thrown around lots — for good reason. They won each the Directors Guild Award and the Critics Alternative Award for Best Director.
Should Win: Todd Field, “Tár”
Frankly, I’d give it to James Cameron for “Avatar: The Way of Water,” but he’s not nominated. Field, though, created a painstakingly detailed, piercingly relevant thriller that was hard to not discuss (for those who saw it, anyway).
Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans”
Ruben Östlund, “Triangle of Sadness”
Best Actress
Will Win, Should Win: Cate Blanchett, “Tár”
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 Fabelmans”
Michelle Yeoh, “Every little thing In all places All at Once”
Best Actor
Will Win, Should Win: Austin Butler, “Elvis”
Brendan Fraser’s comeback in “The Whale” has received well-deserved acclaim, but Butler’s Presley is just a marvel. Spanning a long time without showboating, his movie is far more popular across the board than closest rival Fraser’s. And he’s been charming voters all around the world.
Colin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Brendan Fraser, “The Whale”
Paul Mescal, “Aftersun”
Bill Nighy, “Living”
Best Supporting Actor
Will Win: Ke Huy Quan, “Every little thing In all places All At Once”
The beloved actor, who got his start as Short Round in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” has delivered probably the most moving speeches all season long — because he’s won nearly every award he’s been up for.
Should Win: Barry Keoghan, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
As a doofus neighbor, Keoghan was hilarious and devastating.
Brendan Gleeson, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Brian Tyree Henry, “Causeway”
Judd Hirsch, “The Fabelmans”
Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Without end”
Bassett was bulldozing through award season before Jamie Lee Curtis (“Every little thing In all places”) won on the SAGs a pair weeks ago. The primary-time Best Supporting Actress nominee will bounce back here.
Should Win: Stephanie Hsu, “Every little thing In all places All At Once”
It’s a shame the fight has been Bassett vs. Curtis, since the breakout star of this category is Hsu as each Yeoh’s daughter and a multiverse villain.
Hong Chau, “The Whale”
Kerry Condon, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Jamie Lee Curtis, “Every little thing In all places 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 due 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 M.M. Keeravaani; lyrics by Chandrabose
Yeah, Rihanna and Lady Gaga tunes are in the combination — however the energetic “Naatu Naatu” brings to mind past winner “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire.” Let’s hope for a giant Bollywood performance on 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 Without end,” music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson; lyrics by Tems and Ryan Coogler
“This Is a Life” from “Every little thing In all places 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 within the acting and directing categories. It’ll be acknowledged here as a substitute.
Should Win: “Living,” Kazuo Ishiguro
Not enough people watched the superb “Living,” a shrewd 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: “Every little thing In all places All At Once,” Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Weird and clever, “Every little thing In all places” did the multiverse higher than Marvel ever has.
Should Win: “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Martin McDonagh
No person today writes with the humor or wit of McDonagh.
“The Fabelmans,” Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner
“Tár,” 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 one realistic option.
“Marcel the Shell With Shoes On”
“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”
“The Sea Beast”
“Turning Red”
