Happy New Year, or is it. One hasn’t posted yet, thus ending his monthly streak. However, this is the time I always post my vibes on Oscars and ASBOs, so should theoretically end up with twelve posts complete at the end of the year. One of the main reasons I didn’t post last month was simply that out of all the films I would have talked about, most will actually be here. So here are my choices for who would win if I had a dictatorship over the Oscars, because screw democracy.
Let’s start off with the acting, then move on to some of the other interesting ones.
Acting Awards
Best Supporting Actor
5: Guy Pearce, The Brutalist – Not an awful performance, but compared to everyone else in the film, he just didn’t quite fit for me, being unnecessarily showy in a grounded movie.
4: Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice – Again, a solid performance, which may have been helped in its campaigning by the political events happening. Strong plays Trump’s lawyer, moulding him into the monster he is with a more vulnerable performance later on. Well done.
3: Yura Borisov, Anora – I was hoping nobody would notice Yura as he seemed a prime ASBO candidate. A henchman in Anora who turns from silent and brooding to her biggest ally. A deep, interesting character who grounds a madcap comedy.
2: Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown – I kept forgetting this was Tyler Durden, as Edward Norton brought in the best performance of A Complete Unknown playing Bob Dylan’s mentor Pete Seeger. Quiet and strong, this is what a supporting performance should be.
1: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain – The only critisism I have of this award is that Culkin is pretty much a co-lead with Jesse Eisenberg. Culkin as Benji makes you cry and laugh as an outgoing man on a holocaust memorial trip who is also grieving and lonely. A phenomenal performance which will be a deserved win.
Best Supporting Actress:
5: Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown – I mean she’s fine as Joan Baez, nothing wrong with her performance. It’s just not as memorable as the others on the list, kind of like the film.
4: Isabella Rossellini, Conclave – Possibly a career nomination, as Sister Agnes, Rossellini doesn’t do as much as some of the others, but her moments are just as powerful. Haing to pick between silence or whether to stand against corruption, she plays a dignified solid role in the conclave.
3: Ariana Grande, Wicked – Probably one of the suprises of the year, Ariana was as much a co-lead as Culkin, but equally funny and a talented singer as Glinda the good witch. The highlight of the movie, she was charasmatic as she was popular.
2: Zoe Saldana, Emilia Perez – Everyone’s favourite Mexican singing lawyer, Saldana put in a fantastic performance in EP providing a grounded counterweight to the melodrama around her. Another case of a co-lead, I thought she was fantastic in a pretty quiet role.
1: Felicity Jones, The Brutalist – Someone who doesn’t turn up until halfway through the movie, which for The Brutalist means she has half a film herself, Jones plays Erzsebet Toth, wife of director Lazslo, she grounds the movie and elevates it, being a counterweight to an increasingly lost lead.
Best Actress
5: Cynthia Erivo, Wicked – Now, I didn’t hate Erivo’s performance in wicked. It certainly wasn’t as good as Ariana Grande’s, but she was good enough in it, and sang fantastically. However, it was absolutely fine and I don’t have much more to say.
4: Karla Sofia Gascon, Emilia Perez – Well, what a historic moment this was meant to be. The first openly trans person to earn a nomination, and it was deserved. As the only non-academy member to enjoy Emilia Perez, I thought KSG was good in her role. It was melodramatic and enjoyable, with some heartfelt moments. For all of the valid criticisms directed at the movie, targeting the acting feels unjustified. It’s just a shame about all the other controversy.
3: Mikey Maddison, Anora – Another good performance from Anora. The titular lead was really good, with both heartfelt and comedic moments. I feel she was a bit let down at times by the meandering script and slow second act, but Maddison was capable of doing the loud and quiet parts really well.
2: Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here – Playing a resolute mother who loses her husband in the 1970’s Brazilian dictatorship, Torres is both a show of emotion and attempted strength. She shows things by saying and not saying things, and acts with her eyes phenomenally. One of the great performances this year.
1: Demi Moore, The Substance – When I saw the substance, I made a note of Demi as pretty much guaranteed to be in the ASBOs as a front runner, so to see her becoming an oscars front runner is the most upsetting thing since Key Huey Quan swept a couple of years ago. Loud, quiet, vulnerable, melodramatic, this performance has everything great and if Moore does win for such a visceral horror, it will be one of the most inspired acting wins for a long time.
Best Actor
5: Colman Domingo, Sing, Sing – Well done Colman Domingo, it’s a big showy performance and second consecutive nomination. I just feel that in this film you’re overly showy. You don’t blend in with the great cast around you. The performance is a bit hammy, much like the whole film.
4: Timothe Chalamet, A Complete Unknown – Another performance I describe as fine. I feel Timmy has really found his way in acting over the last couple of years growing up from mumbly it kid, and at times I didn’t see him and saw Bob Dylan. He was decent, in an okay film.
3: Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice – Proof we don’t always need a sequel, Stan seemlessly transitions from hopeless kid to evil bastard really well. Helped by the hair and make up team and a strong supporting performance from Jeremy, Stan is really good in this film.
2: Adrian Brody, The Brutalist – Adrian Brody is really good in the brutalist. Playing the post-holocaust architect who wants control up against Guy Pierce and Felicity Jones, he’s just brilliant. Vulnerable, arrogant, nuanced and frightful this is what great acting is. Even after 3.5 hours, I wanted to see more of his character and what happened next. That is the sign of a great performance.
1: Ralph Fiennes, Conclave – Probably the least showy performance of the five, Ralph is not at his best when speaking, but in the quiet moments. As the leader of the conclave and election of the new pope, and someone who has lost faith in the church, the quiet troubled Cardinal Lawrence is a complex character which only a top performance can bring to life. A couple of impressive monologues and a love of turtles only help establish this as a truly worthy performance.
My Favourite Categories
These are the three most interesting categories as they usually bring in the most unique films.
Best Documentary
[Note, I didn’t manage to find Porcelain War in time]
4: Sugarcane is a perfectly fine documentary. About Canadian Indian schools, it shows the people investigating what actually happened. Quiet and indirect, it’s frustrating and well told.
3: Black Box Diaries – Nicely hidden on iPlayer, this movie looks at the me too movement in Japan which came in the case of one woman fighting against the friend of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Deeply Personal and well put together, it’s a very good documentary.
2: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat – What a phenomenal piece of film. Almost 2.5 hours about the role of American Jazz Music and its influence in the world, nicely intertwined with the tragic events in 20th Century Congo and the selfishness with which America uses foreign policy to bully the world (Hmm). So well written, edited and informative, I learned so much from this big picture macro-documentary.
And the Oscar should go to
1: No Other Land – My number nine movie of the year last year, No Other Land is just a phenomenal documentary. About two journalists, one Israeli and one Palestinian documenting the destruction of a Palestinian settlement by Israeli forces prior to October 7th, it’s a really engrossing, urgent movie with lots to say both on its subject and its impact on the journalists. An important film to watch when considering Israel and Palestine.
Best Animated Movie
5: Inside Out 2 – Another example of an okay movie. I didn’t hate it, I didn’t love it. I didn’t particularly love the original, this cash cow is well enough made and is your standard pixar flick. There’s just much better.
4: Wallace and Gromit: Vengance Most Fowl The other sequel here is my number 4. Well made and with British sensibilities and puns galore, it wasn’t a suprise to see the one film you’ve seen on this blog do well in the BAFTAs. Perfectly likable, but nothing on the original penguin movie or the were-rabbit one, it doesn’t rock the boat but does the usual formula swimmingly.
3: Flow A really beautiful dialogue free movie, if this causes an upset and wins Best Animated movie, I’d be so happy. It’s just up against two exceptional movies. A cat in a flooded world has to be on a boat with other animals and learn to survive. It’s a little Life of Pi of course, but it’s really sweet, and the animals have so many nuances that make them life like. A low budget movie which has seen global success, Flow is what animation is about. Made by a small team using free publicly available software, this is how it should be.
2: The Wild Robot – Dreamworks’ usual addition has been high quality as of late. Puss 2 was fantastic, The Wild Robot was even better. A moving story about a robot on a deserted island who has to adapt to the animals around them, she then causes an accident which leaves her to raise a young bird to fly. It sounds simple, and it is, but it’s really beautiful and reminiscent of The Iron Giant. A phenomenal family film.
And the Oscar should go to
1: Memoir of a Snail – My favourite film of 2025 so far, this movie is definitely not for children. A claymation stop-motion flick, it made me laugh, it made me cry and made me hope. From a group of Australians, it shows the story of a woman who suffers the loss of her folks and cages herself in. It shows her obsession with snails and relationships with the people she meets throughout her life. There’s good and bad people all of whom are memorable and emotionally impactful. Feeling vulnerable and personal, this is what cinema and animation should be. Go and watch it.
I’ll finish off with the rest of the awards, briefly summarising them
Best International Film
5: Girl With A Needle – Denmark, is a fantastic movie. A dark almost Grimm fairytale which is based on a true story. Following World War One, a woman needs to give away her baby and finds a mysterious woman who will do it for her, helping her find a family for it. She then works for the woman before finding a dark truth.
4: Emilia Perez, Mexico – Nominated for best picture, I’ll talk about it properly further down the blog.
3: Flow, Latvia – My thoughts are above in the best animated feature category.
2: I’m Still Here Brazil – Very close second. Nominated for best picture, I’ll talk about it properly further down.
1: Seed of the Sacred Fig, Germany – is not a particularly German film at all. Illegally made in Iran, it’s a really smart film about a father, mother and two daughters, the latter of whom are both ardantly against the regime. The father gets a job as a judge, but is a glorified executioner. There is lots of tension, which only increases once the father’s gun goes missing. A tour de force of a film, it really should be seen and appreciated by a wide audience.
Best Picture
10) A Complete Unknown – I usually hate at least one best picture nominee. Not this year. A Complete Unknown is a film I have no strong feelings over. A Pointless answer in two years time, its biggest qualm is its a bit forgettable. A Bob Dylan Biopic, the performances are all good, but there just isn’t much to write about or say and it kind of shows. The music is good though.
9) Nickel Boys – A movie based on a book about a 20th century Jim Crow reform school. The biggest exciting experiment here is the cinematography. All shot in first person, it is to great effect at times, but often distracting and disorientating. Well enough told, unfortunately the style which at some points is phenomenal can get in the way of the substance. However, it is nice to see risk taking movies be rewarded.
8) Wicked was significantly better than I thought it would be. Well made and paced with a top performance from Arianna Grande. Its a musical, if you like musicals you’ll like it. Sure the setting is a bit ugly, however the rest of the film is good enough, ending with one of the great musical songs.
7) Dune: Part Two was an exciting addition to a strong sci-fi story. Chalamet was great, the spectacle was wonderful. It was also scary, showing the issues with unchecked power (hmm). Sure, there were issues with pacing and unexplored ideas, but as a fun crowd pleaser, the movie more than does its job.
6) Anora has a chance of winning best picture, and if it does that will be a good result for Sean Baker. A movie about a sex worker who marries a young Russian Oligarch, before his family come knocking, its loud but vulnerable at times. The first half is great, the second loses its way a little, but great performances from the three leads and tight dialogue make it a crowd pleasing romp.
5) Emilia Perez gets a lot of flack. Some deserved, some not. Claims its the worst film of the year are a bit excessive. A melodrama much like a soap about a trans woman who changes her identity, then goes back to her family in secret and rights the wrongs of her gang life, it’s not a perfect film by a stretch, but its damn well entertaining, and what is a film to be if not that.
4) I’m Still Here is roughly the point in the list where if anything wins from here up, I’m pretty satisfied. About a family where the father is taken by the Brazilian military dictatorship who deny it, the movie starts with 40 minutes of happy family, letting you meet everyone. Then it changes to a devistating quiet hunt for justice. Fernanda Torres is phenomenal.
3) The Brutalist is most famous for being a long movie, but its an absolute epic about a Jewish architect’s quest for control following his immigration to the US after the holocaust. He builds an ugly building, but the characters are great, the dynamics are interesting and if anything, I actually wanted the movie to go on for even longer. A phenomenal movie.
2) Conclave. Is it possible this wins best picture and that the conclave in reality is in action. A smart if not subtle allegory about populist politics covered in fancy robes and a Mean Girls cattiness, this subtly campy movie is one everyone will enjoy. Top performances, a fantastic script, great cinematography, this small indie film matches traditional film making with contemporary sensibilities, almost mirroring the melo-dramas of the Bette Davis eras. Lets have more of this film.
And Best Picture Should Go To…. The Substance
It’s time to pump it up. I didn’t expect a Body Horror to be one of my favourites of the year. I then didn’t expect it to be one of the Academy’s. A prime ASBO candidate, the film is loud and angry. It’s about the way society treats aging women. It’s about unrealistic beauty standards. It’s about Demi Moore standing naked in front of a mirror for a long time. It’s about her taking an unknown substance to make her younger again, except she needs to switch back and forth every week. Of course, it all goes a little wrong.
With a fantastic script, two of the best performances of the year, and a hyper stylised look and feel, Coralie Fargeat has created a beautiful horrific beast which is what film making should aspire to be.
Best of the rest
Best Director: I’m really glad Sean Baker is finally getting appreciation after the Florida Project was never seen. James Mangold apparently directed A Complete Unknown, while Audiard hit and miss at times with Emilia Perez. I’d love for Coralie Fargeat to win for The Substance, it would be the coolest win ever. However, to make a sprawling epic for under £10m means that the best director without a shadow of a doubt is Brady Corbet for The Brutalist.
Best Original Screenplay: At the time of writing, I haven’t seen September 5 [I have now, it was dull]. The Substance is madness, while The Brutalist is class. My top two are Anora, which is such a fun chaotic movie, or A Real Pain. While Anora’s dialogue is its strongest element, its weaker second act means I need to vote for the Polish road trip masterclass in dialogue, A Real Pain.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Not quite as good as the original cast. Sing Sing felt hammy, Nickel Boys was good, A Complete Unknown dull, Emilia Perez had the line “From Penis to Vagina” as a song, therefore, I have to go for Conclave and its mean girls papacy intrigue.
Best Visual Effects: While I’ve seen most films in most categories, this is where I get yelled down. I haven’t seen Alien: Romulus or Stop the Planet of the Apes. Therefore, it’s between Wicked which was solid, the silliness of Better Man or Dune: Part Two and it’s not even close. Dune: Part Two.
Best Editing: This is the cutty bit, where it’s all about how shots are stitched together. It’s difficult to work out until you’ve seen it done well. We’ll talk about Anora, Brutalist, Conclace, Emilia Perez and Wicked more at Best Picture. My choice here is the beautifully paced rhythm of The Brutalist.
Best Costume Design: Again, there isn’t much film variety this year with A Complete Unknown, Conclave and Wicked joined by Gladiator II or Nosferatu. Wicked does what it does very well here, however I’ll have to go for the sheer class of the costumes in Conclave.
Best Make Up and Hairstyling: Emilia Perez apparently had make up and hairstyling, in Wicked they literally paint Cynthia Erivo green, so whatever. Nosferatu and A Different Man are both incredible pieces of work here, and would be worthy winners. However, I can’t not give it to The Substance.
Best Cinematography: How pretty does the film look. The Brutalist, Dune and Emilia Perez are all here again, the latter feeling particularly lost for this category. However, Nosferatu’s gothic theme was ridiculously impressive. Despite that, Maria was one of the most beautiful films of the year with such strong magical autumnal colours dominating.
Best Production Design: Firstly, I’ll say Wicked just looked ugly, so no idea why it was nominated. The Brutalist was all fields and concrete, which is a shame for a film about an architect. Nosferatu is again strong and Dune looks phenomenal. However, Conclave’s Vatican City in all its beauty has to take this one.
Best Sound: There isn’t a standout, unlike last year when Zone of Interest was unequivocally the best. The Wild Robot is a fun nomination, unlike most of the others. The winner here, again, pretty simply, is Dune: Part Two
Best Original Song: I didn’t watch all the movies, but the best song was El Mal – Emilia Perez
Best Original Score: Wicked shouldn’t be here as it’s not original. Emilia Perez was fun if not controversial. The Wild Robot is an inspired nomination again. The Brutalist is subtle and impressive. However, I’ll have to go for the wonderful score of Conclave which keeps the tension perfectly.
5 – Conclave
3 – The Brutalist, The Substance
2 – Dune: Part Two, A Real Pain,
1 – Emilia Perez, Maria, Memoir of a Snail, No Other Land, Seed of the Sacred Fig
The Film Ramble 