2025 Oscar Picks

It’s that time of year again. Here are my Oscar picks. Unlike previous years, my views on certain films have changed over time with rewatches and finding out certain negative aspects of the filmmaking process. Anora may or may not have snuck in at the last minute when the feisty little movie grew on me.

Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet, even if it pains me to say it. I’m a bit tired of him, but my original favorite, Adrien Brody, had his accent changed by A.I. in post production and… le sigh.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Kieran Culkin, and boy is this one deserved. I will say this though – Jesse Eisenberg gave a better performance in A Real Pain than Culkin, so I wish he had made it into Best Actor.

Best Actress: Demi Moore. Give this woman the Oscar already. I’d also be okay with Mikey Madison winning for Anora, but Demi deserves this.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Ariana Grande. Same situation here that I have with Best Actor. I believe Felicity Jones gave the best performance here, but I can’t get in on the A.I. altering accents.

Best Animated Feature: The Wild Robot, but man was this hard. Every single one of these films deserves a win.

Cinematography: Nosferatu. That entire movie is a work of art.

Costume Design: Nosferatu and Wicked are my top picks here, though Conclave gave us historically accurate costumes. I’m doubling down on my love of Nosferatu though, so that’s my pick.

Makeup and Hairstyling: I have to go with The Substance. Elizabeth Sparkle’s descent into madness is told both through performance by Demi Moore and by the makeup effects as she also changes physically. The makeup is a story in and of itself, and that is truly remarkable.

Production Design: Hard pick between Wicked, Nosferatu, and Dune: Part Two, but I’m picking Nosferatu. After watching some of the features on the newly released blu ray, I have new found respect for the detail they put in so they deserve a win.

Visual Effects: Give Dune: Part Two an Oscar here. The film lost a lot of momentum as awards season went on, but its so great to look at. I’ll never not love seeing those sandworms.

Film Editing: I’ll give this one to The Brutalist. Aside from the use of A.I. altering accents, I actually think the film is great. A bit long, and the second half is so much better than the first because Felicity Jones is on screen, but the editing was great here throughout.

International Film: I’m Still Here. I’ve only seen three of the films listed, and of those three, this one was by far the best.

Adapted Screenplay: A Complete Unknown. Conclave was a complete borefest for me, so I’m giving the biopic my pick because it was an honest take on Bob Dylan and did not shy away from his sometimes unlikable, prickly nature.

Original Screenplay: While I believe Coralie Fargeat wrote an unforgettable film with The Substance, I am picking Jessie Eisenberg for A Real Pain because he wrote a touching, respectful film about grief and it is so very good.

Director: Coralie Fargeat gave us something truly original and so shocking that I have to pick her here.

Best Picture: Anora. Like I said when I opened, it really grew on me. I would love to see The Substance or Dune: Part Two or Wicked pull out a win here, but Sean Baker gave us something memorable and special with Anora and I think it really deserves it.

See you at the Oscars, my friends. And remember… You are one.