Freud:<\/strong> When not being a sports writer who goes to the movies a lot, I’m a political junkie, so my vote goes to “Vice.”<\/strong> As he did in “The Big Short,” Adam McKay uses humor to explain the more technical aspects, and Christian Bale and company all deliver superb performances.<\/p>\n Jenniffer:<\/strong>\u00a0If you look at the picks for best picture\u00a0over the last two years, there is literally one thing that \u201cMoonlight\u201d and \u201cThe Shape of Water\u201d have in common. Both movies were strong directorial visions executed with almost complete disregard of film norms. This year, the movie that fits that bill is Cuaron\u2019s \u201cRoma.\u201d<\/strong> Also, it has the benefit of being low on controversy, which isn\u2019t true for other nominees such as \u201cGreen Book.\u201d<\/p>\n Nate:<\/strong> No one deserves this award more than Alfonso Cuaron<\/strong>. His movie \u201cRoma\u201d (available on Netflix) is semi-autobiographical and painstakingly recreates his own childhood home right down to the furniture.<\/p>\n Freud:<\/strong> It’s time for Spike Lee. “BlacKkKlansman”<\/strong> was timely in our political environment. It also struck the right tone between humor and gravity. The juxtaposition, toward the climax of the movie, of the Klan’s activities and Harry Belafonte’s elegant appearance as Jerome Turner was masterful.<\/p>\n Jenniffer:<\/strong>\u00a0Going to have to go with Alfonso Cuaron<\/strong>\u00a0here, even though it always annoys me when the same person wins in both categories. Sadly, I can\u2019t argue with the buffet of awards the man has already picked up this season. Smart money says it\u2019ll happen again.<\/p>\n Nate:<\/strong> Even though Glenn Close is massively favored in every conceivable\u00a0way, but I\u2019m holding out hope that Lady Gaga<\/strong> will take home the trophy \u2014 and I believe she can do it.<\/p>\n Freud:<\/strong> “The Favourite” didn’t do it for me, but it seems that all signs point<\/p>\n to Olivia Colman<\/strong>. I’d like to see Glenn Close (“The Wife”) win for her lifetime work, but that isn’t how it works.<\/p>\n Jenniffer:<\/strong>\u00a0I\u2019ve gotta go with Glenn Close<\/strong> (\u201cThe Wife\u201d) on this one. She\u2019s made a slightly bigger splash this awards season than Olivia Coleman (\u201cThe Favourite\u201d), the other front runner. More importantly, Close has never won an Oscar in her career. The Academy may see this as an opportunity to reward a lifetime of work.<\/p>\n Nate:<\/strong> Rami Malek<\/strong> has taken home pretty much every award out there for playing Freddie Mercury in \u201cBohemian Rhapsody,\u201d which he deserves, and he\u2019ll take this one, too.<\/p>\n Freud:<\/strong> Christian Bale<\/strong> transformed himself into the incarnation of Dick Cheney. It wasn’t just the makeup and the weight gain, but the smirk and the rhythmic cadence of speech. Bale wins his second Oscar.<\/p>\n Jenniffer:<\/strong>\u00a0If there\u2019s any justice in the world, Rami Malek<\/strong> will rack up one more award for his masterful work in \u201cBohemian Rhapsody.\u201d Critics may be divided about whether they liked the movie, but Malek has already gotten a lot of love this awards season. Fingers crossed that he gets one more.<\/p>\n Nate:<\/strong> From day one, Regina King<\/strong> was the favorite for \u201cIf Beale Street Could Talk,\u201d and I still think she\u2019ll win, despite competition from the ladies of \u201cThe Favourite.\u201d<\/p>\n Freud:<\/strong> Tough on two counts. First off, “Roma” and “If Beale Street Could Talk” haven’t been, to my knowledge, at local cinemas, and I really like Regina King<\/strong>, who was nominated for the latter. I also really love Amy Adams<\/strong>.\u00a0Think about it \u2014 she was in “Talladega Nights,” “Julie & Julia” to “Arrival,” and now Lynne Cheney in “Vice.” Adams is fast becoming an actress whose movies one goes to see automatically.<\/p>\n Jenniffer:<\/strong>\u00a0Though this isn\u2019t as cut-and-dry as some of the other races, my money is on Regina King<\/strong> for \u201cIf Beale Street Could Talk.\u201d The ladies in \u201cThe Favourite\u201d are fantastic, but the fact that there\u2019s two in this category split attention between the two. And I love Amy Adams as much as Chris, but \u201cVice\u201d isn\u2019t her best work.<\/p>\n Nate:<\/strong> Mahershala Ali<\/strong> won the Golden Globe in this category, so it\u2019s likely he\u2019ll win the Oscar on Sunday, however, Richard E. Grant has been slowly taking over the awards-chatter in recent weeks as well.<\/p>\n Freud:<\/strong>\u00a0This is a strong field. Sam Rockwell (George W. Bush in “Vice”) is eliminated by the no-repeat rule. With the caveat that “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” (Richard E. Grant) never made it to local theaters, we’ll go with Mahershala Ali<\/strong> from “Green Book.\u201d<\/p>\n Jenniffer:<\/strong>\u00a0This is a no brainer. Mahershala Ali<\/strong> is the one thing in \u201cGreen Book\u201d everyone can agree on liking, and he\u2019s swept up literally every major award in this category this season. He\u2019ll do it again here.<\/p>\n Nate:<\/strong> \u201cShallow\u201d<\/strong> from \u201cA Star Is Born.\u201d Plain and simple, no question.<\/p>\n Freud:<\/strong> “Shallow”<\/strong> by Lady Gaga because there’s a certain amount of divvying up the goodies and “A Star is Born” needs just representation.<\/p>\n Jenniffer:<\/strong>\u00a0I\u2019m going to put \u201cAll The Stars\u201d<\/strong> from \u201cBlack Panther\u201d here. Not because I think it\u2019ll necessarily win, but because if \u201cBlack Panther doesn\u2019t get some love from the Academy, I will cry.<\/p>\n Nate:<\/strong> Almost every year, Disney takes home this trophy (\u201cIncredibles 2\u201d and \u201cRalph Breaks the Internet\u201d qualifying this year), but the Academy would be remiss for not recognizing \u201cSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse\u201d<\/strong> for its groundbreaking animation in addition to its storytelling.<\/p>\n Freud:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>I’m simply proud\u00a0I saw last year’s winner,\u00a0“Coco.\u201d<\/p>\n Jenniffer:\u00a0\u201cSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse\u201d<\/strong> is already the most honored film this awards season, and there\u2019s no sign of that love fading. Odds are that it\u2019ll be the movie to finally break the Disney\/Pixar stranglehold on this category.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.vaildaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Oscars-VDN-022319-4-228x325.jpg\")
Best Director<\/h2>\n
Recommended Stories For You<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Best Actress<\/h2>\n
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Best Actor<\/h2>\n
Best Supporting Actress<\/h2>\n
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Best Supporting Actor<\/h2>\n
Best Original Song<\/h2>\n
Best Animated Feature Film<\/h2>\n
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