My Oscars® Alternative Winners
I’ve given up on trying to predict the winners of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ Oscars®. In a year where there are so many great contenders (many left out of the AMPAS selections), I find it nearly impossible. Besides, I rarely agree with the results. So here goes my list of excellence in motion pictures, the trophy-less, swag-less Alex Awards for the Cinematic Arts. Congratulations to the winners!
Actor
Chadwick Boseman — Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
(Sir Phillip Anthony Hopkins is superb, but Mr. Boseman was extraordinary)
Actress
Viola Davis — Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Adapted Screenplay
Christopher Hampton & Florian Zeller — The Father
Animated Feature
Wolfwalkers
(as wonderful as “Soul” is, I found the afterlife sections lacking)
Animated Short
If Anything Happens, I Love You
Cinematography
Erik Messerschmidt — Mank
Costume Design
Ann Roth — Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Director
Chloé Zhao — Nomadland
Documentary Feature
Octopus Teacher
(“Crip Camp” was truly eye-opening)
Documentary Short
Hunger Ward
(in spite of a challenging production environment, the film is compelling)
Film Editing
Alan Baumgarten — The Trial of the Chicago 7
(makes a complicated script shine with polished cross-cutting)
International Feature
Quo Vadis, Aida? — Bosnia and Herzegovina
(in my view, it trumps “Another Round” which seems banal)
Live Action Short
The Present
(many good shorts, but “The Present” hits the soul)
Makeup and Hairstyling
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
(inspires Viola Davis’ transformation)
Original Score
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste — Soul
Original Screenplay
Emerald Fennell — Promising Young Woman
Original Song
“Husavik” — Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
(only song integral to the film)
Picture
Nomadland
Production Design
Donald Graham Burt — Mank
(an amazing achievement using an expanded grayscale)
Sound
Sound of Metal
Supporting Actor
Daniel Kaluuya — Judas and the Black Messiah
Supporting Actress
Youn Yuh-jung Minari — Minari
Visual Effects
Tenet
(“The Midnight Sky” wins digital effects, but the practical effects in “Tenet” rule)
