Oscars 2026 Recap

Here are some thoughts on this year’s Oscars:

·         I got 18/24. Better than the disaster of last year. I tried a couple zags that didn't pan out.

·        Fun Conan opener for those who have seen Weapons.

·        Conan O’Brien jokes were pretty good. I really enjoyed some of his bits throughout the show including the reediting of film for iPhones and Casablanca for kids looking at their phones.  

·         Best presenter was Kumail Nanjiani with his suggestions for "short" film titles.

·         I enjoyed the Bridesmaids bit but it was 2.5 hours already with 10 awards to go.  This show went forty minutes overtime.

·        What a long In Memorium. Sure there are some big people who passed away but that's going to keep happening. I felt bad for some of the people that didn't get special shutouts but at least this was better than a singer stealing focus. 

·         Wow! Some of that exit music. "Winner Takes It All" for Michael B Jordan was a fun choice. More confused for "Kiss from a Rose" for the Documentary Feature.

·         Speaking of Michael B Jordan, he is so authentic and easy to root for. So happy for him.

·         Loved that a woman won Cinematography. History making.

·         Speaking of kind of history was a tie for Live Action Short. Kumail must have been trained to explain the procedure. Loved his comment about the irony that this short category took the longest time. 

·         Loved Kieran Culkin's comment that Sean Penn probably didn't want to be there. How accurate.

·         Adrien Brody was able to laugh at himself. Good job. 

·        Only one member is allowed to speak when it comes to group wins. I hate seeing people getting played off but this wouldn't happen if just one person spoke for everyone in their group. Plan ahead people!

·        Enjoyed the clip packages instead of having people talk to nominees in the audience. I was fine with that happening for Casting as that was new category that needed more attention and explanation of what they do. 

Okay, here’s who won:

CASTING
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
THE SINGERS & TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA (TIE) (predicted)

ANIMATED SHORT FILM
THE GIRL WHO CRIED PEARLS

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
ALL THE EMPTY ROOMS (predicted)

SOUND
F1 (predicted)

ORIGINAL SCORE
SINNERS (predicted)

ORIGINAL SONG
GOLDEN (predicted)

VISUAL EFFECTS
AVATAR: FIRE & ASH (predicted)

MAKE-UP & HAIRSTYLING
FRANKENSTEIN (predicted)

COSTUME DESIGN
FRANKENSTEIN

PRODUCTION DESIGN
FRANKENSTEIN (predicted)

FILM EDITING
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (predicted)

CINEMATOGRAPHY
SINNERS (predicted)

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN

ANIMATED FEATURE
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS (predicted)

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
SENTIMENTAL VALUE (predicted)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (predicted)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
SINNERS (predicted)

BEST DIRECTOR
PT ANDERSON [ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER] (predicted)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
AMY MADIGAN [WEAPONS]

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
SEAN PENN [ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER]

BEST ACTRESS
JESSIE BUCKLEY [HAMNET] (predicted)

BEST ACTOR
MICHAEL B JORDAN [SINNERS] (predicted)

BEST PICTURE
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER (predicted)

How did you do?

Oscar Prediction 2026

 

It’s that time of year again for my Oscar predictions. I got 14 out of 23 last year which was not great. While I was more confident earlier when the nominations were announced, some recent award wins have blown some categories wide open. I’ve seen all the best picture nominees except The Secret Agent. Here’s hoping for the best. Unlike other award predications I’m not predicting who I want to win but who I think the Academy will vote for. From ‘smaller’ to ‘bigger’, here we go:

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA
(Most cinematic of the nominees. Just a guess.)

ANIMATED SHORT FILM
BUTTERFLY
(Holocaust survivor, Olympics, oil painting animation. Sure.)

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
ALL THE EMPTY ROOMS
(School shootings still hit hard. And it’s on Netflix.)

SOUND
F1
(Race cars go zoom.)

ORIGINAL SCORE
SINNERS
(That bluesy twang just works so well.)

ORIGINAL SONG
GOLDEN [KPOP DEMON HUNTERS]
(I want Sinners’ “I Lied to You” but got give one to the kids out there.)

VISUAL EFFECTS
AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH
(I would love Jurassic to upset but this one is bound to win.)

MAKE-UP & HAIRSTYLING
FRANKENSTEIN
(Can’t deny the amazing monster make-up and hairdos.)

COSTUME DESIGN
SINNERS
(I think I’ll go with the smart suits over gothic Victorian.)

PRODUCTION DESIGN
FRANKENSTEIN
(Del Toro always fills his sets with stylistic and tonal eye candy.)

FILM EDITING
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
(The road scene and long take rooftop scenes are expertly done.)

CINEMATOGRAPHY
SINNERS
(One Battle had the road and roof scenes but Sinners was better overall.)

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR
(Use of body cam footage will connect to recent ICE incidents for voters.)

ANIMATED FEATURE
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
(This was darn entertaining.)

INTERNATIONAL FILM
SENTIMENTAL VALUE [NORWAY]
(The Academy loves a film about the film industry and sad family drama.)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
(This is pretty much a shoo-in. An awesome script from PTA.)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
SINNERS
(This is Coogler’s consolation prize for not getting director.)  

BEST DIRECTOR
PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON [ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER]
(He’s been waiting a while to get one and deserves it.)

BEST CASTING
SINNERS
(This is how they can recognize Delroy Lindo and Miles Caton.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
WUNMI MOSAKU [SINNERS]
(Just don’t think Weapons will get anything. Sinners is on the rise.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
STELLAN SKARSGARD [SENTIMENTAL VALUE]
(Sean Penn already has a couple. Stellan needs one now.)

BEST ACTRESS
JESSIE BUCKLEY [HAMNET]
(Probably the only lock in the acting categories. She was great.)

BEST ACTOR
MICHAEL B JORDAN [SINNERS]
(His SAG win catapulted him to the top; I’m tired of Timothee.)

BEST PICTURE
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
(I just don’t think a vampire film will break through, unfortunately.)

.We’ll see what happens this Sunday.