With the Oscars around the corner, here are some of The State Press' film connoisseurs' picks for what they hope will win this season, as well as predictions for what The Academy will actually choose.
Best original score:
"The Brutalist" — Daniel Blumberg, "Conclave" – Volker Bertelmann, "Emilia Pérez" – Clément Ducol and Camille, "Wicked" – John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, "The Wild Robot" – Kris Bowers
Andrew: "The Brutalist" — To be clear, I want to cast a "Challengers" protest vote. Absolutely ridiculous.
Natalia: "Conclave" — The score was a perfect mix of tense and beautiful, just like the film.
Jack: "The Brutalist" — The exclusion of "Dune" based on Oscar rules is silly, but Blumberg's score remains fantastic.
Prediction: "The Brutalist"
READ MORE: Review: A24's 'The Brutalist' does not deserve its Oscar hype
Best costume design:
"A Complete Unknown" – Arianne Phillips, "Conclave" – Lisy Christl, "Gladiator II" – Janty Yates and Dave Crossman, "Nosferatu" – Linda Muir, "Wicked" – Paul Tazewell
Andrew: "Nosferatu" — There's a lot of great options here, but nothing had the sauce of director Robert Eggers' period piece.
Natalia: "Nosferatu" — Lily-Rose Depp was buttoned to the top in the brilliant costumes that set the eerie tone of the movie perfectly.
Jack: "Nosferatu" — I have a soft spot for period pieces, especially with costume design, and Muir amplifies my love for them by doing an excellent job at taking us back to 1800s Germany.
Prediction: "Wicked"
Best production design:
"The Brutalist," "Conclave," "Dune: Part Two," "Nosferatu," "Wicked"
Andrew: "Dune: Part Two" — Every set and shot was built with such intention and integrity to director Denis Villeneuve's story. Few sci-fi worlds have ever been more alive.
Natalia: "Wicked" — The production in this film was whimsical, fun and full of color. It felt like a treat for my eyes and was excellently done!
Jack: "Conclave" — The colors used here are so good; the red and white pop against the Vatican background.
Prediction: "The Brutalist"
READ MORE: 'Dune: Part Two' messages and themes are far from fictional
Best original screenplay:
"Anora" – Sean Baker, "The Brutalist" – Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold, "A Real Pain" – Jesse Eisenberg, "September 5" – Moritz Binder and Tim Fehlbaum, co-written by Alex David, "The Substance" – Coralie Fargeat
Andrew: "Anora" — There's a lot of snubs in this category, but "Anora" is the best of these few.
Natalia: "The Substance" — So original and groundbreaking. I want to see weird movies win Oscars!
Jack: "Anora" — Such an original piece. Director Sean Baker's ability to mix emotions throughout was second to none.
Prediction: "The Brutalist"
Best cinematography:
"The Brutalist" — Lol Crawley, "Dune: Part Two" — Greig Fraser, "Emilia Pérez" — Paul Guilhaume, "Maria" — Ed Lachman, "Nosferatu" — Jarin Blaschke
Andrew: "Dune: Part Two" — Greig Fraser is doing it better than almost anyone right now. Any other pick would be blasphemous.
Natalia: "Maria"—Though the movie lacked a slight amount of substance, it was shot beautifully and made me feel like I was wandering into a painting.
Jack: "Dune: Part Two" — Fraser has been on a tear recently. We need him back for both "Dune: Prophecy" and "The Batman Part II."
Prediction: "Dune: Part Two"
Best supporting actor:
Yura Borisov — "Anora," Kieran Culkin — "A Real Pain," Edward Norton — "A Complete Unknown," Guy Pearce — "The Brutalist," Jeremy Strong — "The Apprentice"
Andrew: Edward Norton, "A Complete Unknown" — An impressively casual, compelling performance from Norton, he grounds Dylan as the symbolic heart of classic folk.
Natalia: Edward Norton, "A Complete Unknown"— Norton's character in "A Complete Unknown" is exactly what the film needs and acts with the perfect amount of subtlety to seem genuine.
Jack: Yura Borisov, "Anora" — Borisov came out of nowhere. His addition was fantastic for comic relief, but where he really stood out was his ability to be so human.
Prediction: Kieran Culkin, "A Real Pain"
Best supporting actress:
Monica Barbaro — "A Complete Unknown," Ariana Grande — "Wicked," Felicity Jones — "The Brutalist," Isabella Rossellini — "Conclave," Zoe Saldaña — "Emilia Pérez"
Andrew: Monica Barbaro, "A Complete Unknown" — Ariana Grande was electric, but Barbaro brought Joan Baez to life like no other and nearly stole the show of "A Complete Unknown."
Natalia: Ariana Grande, "Wicked" — I just want to see the look on Frankie Grande's face when she wins.
Jack: Ariana Grande, "Wicked" — I'm not going to lie, I came in with low expectations for Grande, but she blew me away. So charismatic and does service to the almighty Glinda.
Prediction: Zoe Saldaña, "Emilia Pérez"
Best director:
Sean Baker — "Anora," Brady Corbet — "The Brutalist," James Mangold — "A Complete Unknown," Jacques Audiard —"Emilia Pérez," Coralie Fargeat — "The Substance"
Andrew: James Mangold, "A Complete Unknown" — Why Luca Guadagnino isn't here for either of his 2024 films is a conversation for another time. But sure, Mangold did Bob Dylan and this era justice as needed.
Natalia: Sean Baker, "Anora" — Although his ethics have been questionable, Baker has undeniable talent when it comes to directing.
Jack: Sean Baker, "Anora" — This isn't my favorite pick, as I think there are plenty of other directors that deserve to be here, but against this competition, Baker outshines them.
Prediction: Sean Baker, "Anora"
READ MORE: Review: "Anora" dazzles audiences with thrills and rhinestones
Best actor:
Adrien Brody — "The Brutalist," Timothée Chalamet — "A Complete Unknown," Colman Domingo — "Sing Sing," Ralph Fiennes — "Conclave," Sebastian Stan — "The Apprentice"
Andrew: Timothée Chalamet, "A Complete Unknown" — Even among this stacked list, no one is having a better year than Timothée.
Natalia: Timothée Chalamet, "A Complete Unknown" — He should have won an Oscar for "Call Me By Your Name," and again for "Dune," but this will suffice.
Jack: Timothée Chalamet, "A Complete Unknown" — The man is unstoppable. It’s time to finally give him the award!
Prediction: Timothée Chalamet, "A Complete Unknown" — Well, duh.
Best actress:
Cynthia Erivo — "Wicked," Karla Sofía Gascón — "Emilia Pérez," Mikey Madison — "Anora," Demi Moore — "The Substance," Fernanda Torres — "I'm Still Here"
Andrew: Mikey Madison, "Anora" — The excellence of this performance paired with her endearing press run leaves no other option for the Academy as Madison vaults into the heights of Hollywood.
Natalia: Demi Moore, "The Substance" — As much as I loved Madison in "Anora," I want Moore to get her flowers.
Jack: Mikey Madison, "Anora" — It wouldn't shock me if she becomes one of the faces of Hollywood for the next decade.
Prediction: Mikey Madison, "Anora"
Best picture:
"Anora," "The Brutalist," "A Complete Unknown," "Conclave," "Dune: Part Two," "Emilia Pérez," "I'm Still Here," "Nickel Boys," "The Substance," "Wicked"
Andrew: "Dune: Part Two" — It's not an exciting, underdog pick, but it's the best movie here. The March release date shouldn't make us forget.
Natalia: "Conclave" — Every performance was stellar, the message was sent perfectly and it was shot beautifully.
Jack: "Dune: Part Two" — My only five-star movie of the year, Villeneuve's masterpiece probably won't get the flowers it deserves, but history will remember it as one of the greats.
Prediction: "The Brutalist" — We live in a society.
Final Predictive Award Counter:
"The Brutalist": 4
"Anora": 2
"Wicked": 1
"Dune: Part Two": 1
"A Real Pain": 1
"Emilia Perez": 1
"A Complete Unknown": 1
Editor's note: The opinions presented in this column are the author's and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
Edited by Senna James, Abigail Beck, and Katrina Michalak.
Reach the reporters at adirst@asu.edu, njarret1@asu.edu and jkmccar2@asu.edu and follow @andrewdirst, @nataliajarrett and @jackmccarthyasu on X.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on X.
Jack is a junior studying sports journalism with a minor in business. This is his first semester with The State Press. He has also worked at his high school paper.
Natalia is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication. This is her fourth semester with The State Press. She has also worked as a politics reporter.
Andrew is a senior studying journalism and mass communication. This is his fourth semester with The State Press. He has also worked at The Arizona Republic and Cronkite News.
