The Dalhousie Gazette’s Oscar predictions

It’s the biggest, baddest, most iconic annual event in Hollywood. The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15 at 8 p.m. ADT. 

Will best actor go to quirked-up white boy Timothée Chalamet, or boots the house down Michael B. Jordan? The Dalhousie Gazette has our predictions below. 

Actor in Leading Role 

Nominees:

Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme

Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle after Another

Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon

Michael B. Jordan, Sinners

Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent

Winner: Michael B. Jordan, Sinners

By portraying the most iconic pair of twins portrayed by one actor since The Parent Trap, Jordan is easily deserving of beating out Chalemet’s overrated performance. No one else on this list had a performance as impressive as either of Jordan’s; he made the job look incredibly easy. 

Actor in a Supporting Role 

Nominees:

Benicio Del Toro, One Battle after Another

Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein

Delroy Lindo, Sinners

Sean Penn, One Battle after Another

Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value

Winner: Sean Penn, One Battle After Another

Penn plays a sad, desperate, rage-filled joke of a human being in such an absurdly menacing fashion. There was not a single character in a film this year that evoked nearly as much emotion as he did. Was it pure rage? Sure, but it was the defining performance of an incredible film; it wouldn’t have been the same if you didn’t love how much you despised his character.

Actress in Leading Role 

Nominees:

Jessie Buckley, Hamnet

Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue

Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value

Emma Stone, Bugonia

Winner: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet

In other obvious news, the sky is blue. No other performance even comes close to competing with Buckley this decade. The emotional heights she reaches in this film resulted in a deafening silence in the theatre once the credits rolled, that’s only comparable to your uncle bringing up politics at Thanksgiving. 

Actress in a Supporting Role

Nominees:

Elle Fanning, Sentimental Value

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value

Amy Madigan, Weapons

Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners

Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another

Winner: Amy Madigan, Weapons

Madigan horrifying, stomach-churning presence on screen is what made Weapons so unnerving, even though she wasn’t the main character. Her portrayal of freaky Aunt Gladys was central to the film, all the while never showcasing her perspective to the audience. It was the exact encapsulation of what a fantastic supporting character should be. 

Best Picture 

Nominees:

Bugonia

F1

Frankenstein

Hamnet

Marty Supreme

One Battle after Another

The Secret Agent

Sentimental Value

Sinners

Train Dreams

Winner: One Battle After Another

One Battle After Another is a film with no low points. Incredibly paced and incredibly shot; every actor gives it their all. Paul Thomas Anderson’s direction pumps the audience with adrenaline, cultivating an experience that thrives in its absurdity. The story is all over the place and yet extremely easy to follow; it’s the movie event of the year for a reason.