The Official MPM 2021 Oscars Preview
This year’s Best Picture nominees, clockwise from top left: Sound of Metal, Promising Young Woman, Minari, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Nomadland, The Father, Mank, and Judas and the Black Messiah.
We’re finally here! We watched way too many movies and it’s the day of the Oscars, and now you have to read what we think. Let’s get right to it - thank you for reading and we hope you appreciate this! Let us know what you thought about any/all of them!
Best Visual Effects
Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet
Tom Wants: We watched exactly zero of these! Great start!
Tom Thinks: Let’s go Tenet. It won’t win anything else.
Erin Wants: Yup, I didn’t watch any of these!
Erin Thinks: Yeah, Tenet, sure, whatevs.
Best Film Editing
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Tom Wants: Probably The Father even though I want Sound of Metal to win everything in the world too? I don’t know - not Chicago 7 though. There was WAY too much going on there.
Tom Thinks: It’s going to be Nomadland.
Erin Wants: I think I want to go with The Father on this one because it took what could have been a super confusing movie and made it very clear to the watcher.
Erin Thinks: When in doubt, I am literally going to pick Nomadland for everything to win.
Best Costume Design
Emma.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Mulan
Pinocchio
Tom Wants: I didn’t see it, but my friend convinced me: PINOCCHIO.
Tom Thinks: Emma. so that Anya Taylor-Joy gets a shoutout for the heater of a year she had.
Erin Wants: I have only seen a few of these, but Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom gets my vote!
Erin Thinks: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, why not?
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Emma.
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Pinocchio
Tom Wants: Mamaw Rainey is a spinoff I need to see: two titans locking horns in a battle for who can insult men more personally and to their cores. I want Ma Rainey here - Viola Davis put in work.
Tom Thinks: Ma Rainey!
Erin Wants: Mamaaaaawwwww omg could you even imagine if they gave it to Hillbilly Elegy for this? I’m cracking up that this was even nominated. How? Just how? I’m sticking with my Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom love here.
Erin Thinks: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom? Should I have picked Mank or Mulan for costume? Ugh.
Best Cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Tom Wants: I think cinematography told a lot of the story of Judas - the way Hampton was filmed during his speeches made him feel like a towering man though he was only a teenager. It also helped highlight the uneasiness of O’Neal and the omnipresent threat of Mitchell. I want Judas.
Tom Thinks: There are some amazing shots particularly in three of these, but I think the Academy typically fawns over beautiful shots of nature, so that rules out Judas. Nomadland is the Academy darling this year so it pulls this one.
Erin Wants: Actually I would have said Minari…Minari isn’t nominated for this? Hmm. Okay ummmm I think News of the World and Nomadland for this one are my faves. They both rocked the “sweeping long shots of landscapes of America” vibe.
Erin Thinks: Nomadland! Remember my strategy.
Best Production Design
The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
News of the World
Tenet
Tom Wants: The Father ruled and they made subtle changes from scene to scene in order to keep the audience guessing and to hint that all was not what it seemed. Production design was an essential part of what made that movie great.
Tom Thinks: Mank because it got 250 nominations and they’re gonna wanna give it one.
Erin Wants: THE FATHER!!!!
Erin Thinks: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Now I’m confused on how I literally think this movie is going to like, sweep all of these categories. I didn’t even really like it THAT much.
Best Sound
Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Soul
Sound of Metal
Tom Wants: Didn’t see Greyhound but I don’t really think it matters. This one is Sound of Metal’s to lose - if you read my review I gushed about the sound for like….probably long enough that you didn’t finish reading the review.
Tom Thinks: Sound of Metal!
Erin Wants: Sound of Metal hands down. Sound was an integral part of this film!
Erin Thinks: Sound of Metal. Hopefully! I mean come on.
Best Original Song
“Fight for You” by H.E.R., D’Mile, and Tiara Thomas - Judas and the Black Messiah
“Hear My Voice” by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste - The Trial of the Chicago 7
“Husavik” by Rickard Göransson, Fat Max Gsus, and Savan Kotecha - Eurovision: The Story of Fire Saga
“Io sì (Seen)” by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini - The Life Ahead
“Speak Now” by Sam Ashworth and Leslie Odom Jr. - One Night in Miami…
Tom Wants: Didn’t see The Life Ahead and I don’t even remember “Fight for You” or “Hear My Voice.” It would be really funny if “Husavik” won, and I would be a full-throated Eurovision supporter here if they’d nominated “Ja Ja Ding Dong,” but they didn’t. GET LESLIE ODOM HALFWAY TO AN EGOT. One Night in Miami… please.
Tom Thinks: I don’t know, I’m gonna speak it into existence here. “Speak Now.”
Erin Wants: “Running with the Wolves” by AURORA from Wolfwalkers but that’s not nominated so….probably the Diane Warren one that I have literally never heard once because Diane Warren has been nominated a billion times and never won. She wrote some real bangers too.
Erin Thinks: “Io sì (Seen)” because again, I think they are going to finally give Diane Warren her due.
Best Original Score
Da 5 Bloods - Terence Blanchard
Mank - Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Minari - Emile Mosseri
News of the World - James Newton Howard
Soul - Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste
Tom Wants: I don’t really remember any of these except for Minari and Soul (and Da 5 Bloods maybe, once I actually have 5 days to sit down and watch it). Soul was cool and different, but I loved Minari so I’m gonna go with it.
Tom Thinks: I feel like they’ll give it to Minari.
Erin Wants: Minari’s score was really beautiful.
Erin Thinks: I think that maybe Soul will take this one? I liked the score in this film a lot too!
Best Animated Short Film
Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You
Opera
Yes-People
Tom Wants: I watched all of these! You saw my rankings in the other review which you totally read already! I want If Anything Happens, but Opera is sort of a masterpiece so I’d like that one too.
Tom Thinks: Hmm…let’s go Opera.
Erin Wants: No clue.
Erin Thinks: Whatever Tom says!
Best Live Action Short Film
Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers
White Eye
Tom Wants: See above - I loved The Present. It felt literary.
Tom Thinks: Two Distant Strangers which would be a deserving winner too!
Erin Wants: No IDEA!
Erin Thinks: WHATEVER TOM SAYS!!
Best Documentary Short Subject
Colette
A Concerto is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha
Tom Wants: I’m sorry, I can’t go against a 90-year old woman visiting the concentration camp her brother died at and becoming friends with the student who accompanied her. The range of emotions is too much for me. Colette is the one I want.
Tom Thinks: This is a tough one, but I’m gonna go with A Concerto is a Conversation as the Academy doubles down on its Green Book choice from a few years ago.
Erin Wants: I DON’T KNOW
Erin Thinks: Tom?
Best Documentary Feature
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher
Time
Tom Wants: Collective is INSANE. I think if it wasn’t in a foreign language it would be the clear frontrunner. It’s one of the most off-the-wall documentaries I’ve seen. Sorry Romania, I hope your healthcare system gets better.
Tom Thinks: It’s gonna be My Octopus Teacher which just makes me feel weird.
Erin Wants: I saw Crip Camp and loved it! *shrug*
Erin Thinks: Ask my husband. Collective maybe because it’s also nominated for International Feature? Or that Octopus one? I have no idea.
Best International Feature Film
Another Round (Denmark)
Better Days (Hong Kong)
Collective (Romania)
The Man Who Sold His Skin (Tunisia)
Quo Vadis, Aida? (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Tom Wants: Everything I’ve said about Collective still stands, but I’m still thinking about Another Round and that ending and how I want Mads Mikkelsen to be the star of every movie ever made.
Tom Thinks: It’s gonna be Another Round, open and shut.
Erin Wants: Another Round had the best end scene in a movie this year!
Erin Thinks: Def Another Round since it is up for director.
Best Animated Feature Film
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul
Wolfwalkers
Tom Wants: Wolfwalkers is a top animated movie I’ve seen in the last few years. Can we pleeeeease give the award to Wolfwalkers and not just pat Pixar on the back for making another movie?
Tom Thinks: We can’t do that. Soul is going to win.
Erin Wants: WOLFWALKERS!!!!! I really really loved it.
Erin Thinks: Soul. Womp womp to me on that one.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Ramin Bahrani - The White Tiger
Sasha Baron Cohen, Peter Baynham, Jena Friedman, et al. - Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller - The Father
Kemp Powers - One Night in Miami…
Chloé Zhao - Nomadland
Tom Wants: I just want to give a shoutout to The White Tiger because it was a really fun movie and it won me over after the first few minutes. It’s not going to win, but I liked it. I’m a sucker for plays adapted into films, so I think either of The Father or One Night in Miami… would be my choice.
Tom Thinks: The Father.
Erin Wants: How cool would it be if Borat got this one? But probably The Father.
Erin Thinks: They can’t not give it to The Father for screenplay, can they? Ugh should I just pick Nomadland instead?
Best Original Screenplay
Will Berson, Shaka King, Keith Lucas, and Kenny Lucas - Judas and the Black Messiah
Lee Isaac Chung - Minari
Emerald Fennell - Promising Young Woman
Abraham Marder, Darius Marder, and Derek Cianfrance - Sound of Metal
Aaron Sorkin - The Trial of the Chicago 7
Tom Wants: If the Lucas Brothers don’t win this award, I will riot. TCNJ forever.
Tom Thinks: The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Erin Wants: Judas and the Black Messiah so my fellow TCNJ alums the Lucas Brothers can get their Oscar!!
Erin Thinks: Promising Young Woman maybe? With that ending—really? Yeah, I guess I think it’s that one. This is hard! I wish I was an Oscar vote instead of guesser.
Best Supporting Actress
Maria Bakalova - Borat Subsequent Moviefilm as Tutar Sagdiyev
Glenn Close - Hillbilly Elegy as Bonnie “Mamaw” Vance
Olivia Colman - The Father as Anne
Amanda Seyfried - Mank as Marion Davies
Youn Yuh-jung - Minari as Soon-ja
Tom Wants: Need Mamaw. No but seriously, Colman’s performance was borderline lead so she would deserve it. Bakalova would be incredible. But I want Youn.
Tom Thinks: Youn’s got this.
Erin Wants: I’m like CRYING because if Mamaw wins…iconic…No. I mean YES but no. Maria Bakalova, Olivia Colman, Youn Yuh-jung…all soo good. Okay I think I want Youn Yuh-jung.
Erin Thinks: Youn Yuh-jung people!!!
Best Supporting Actor
Sacha Baron Cohen - The Trial of the Chicago 7 as Abbie Hoffman
Daniel Kaluuya - Judas and the Black Messiah as Fred Hampton
Leslie Odom Jr. - One Night in Miami… as Sam Cooke
Paul Raci - Sound of Metal as Joe
Lakeith Stanfield - Judas and the Black Messiah as William “Bill” O’Neal
Tom Wants: Shout-out to Paul Raci because he’s gotta be happy to be included here. He was amazing, but this is Kaluuya all the way.
Tom Thinks: Kaluuya.
Erin Wants: All of these performances were awesome!! Probably Daniel Kaluuya though.
Erin Thinks: Daniel Kaluuya!
Best Actress
Viola Davis - Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom as Ma Rainey
Andra Day - The United States vs. Billie Holiday as Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby - Pieces of a Woman as Martha Weiss
Frances McDormand - Nomadland as Fern
Carey Mulligan - Promising Young Woman as Cassandra “Cassie” Thomas
Tom Wants: Vanessa Kirby had far and away the best performance, but that movie wasn’t as good as some of the others. I want her to get it, but she won’t win.
Tom Thinks: This is a toughie. I’m gonna go with Carey Mulligan.
Erin Wants: Vanessa Kirby!!! But I also really want Carey Mulligan to win too.
Erin Thinks: I kept telling Tom that I was going to pick Frances McDormand but I’m switching and I’m going to make him mad—Carey Mulligan!
Best Actor
Riz Ahmed - Sound of Metal as Ruben Stone
Chadwick Boseman - Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom as Levee Green
Anthony Hopkins - The Father as Anthony
Gary Oldman - Mank as Herman J. Mankiewicz
Steven Yeun - Minari as Jacob Yi
Tom Wants: Still upset that Mads Mikkelsen didn’t get the nod over Oldman, but whatever. In a normal year, Riz Ahmed and Anthony Hopkins would be the clear frontrunners, but for Boseman to give a performance as good as he did while he was literally dying is a feat in itself. All things considered, I want Ahmed.
Tom Thinks: It’s become less clear that he’s a lock as he had been for much of awards season, but I still think they give it to Chadwick.
Erin Wants: Anthony Hopkins King.
Erin Thinks: Chadwick Boseman (also King)
Best Director
Thomas Vinterberg - Another Round
David Fincher - Mank
Lee Isaac Chung - Minari
Chloé Zhao - Nomadland
Emerald Fennell - Promising Young Woman
Tom Wants: For me, it’s Lee Isaac Chung. Minari was such a beautiful movie that evoked so many different emotions. I don’t really think he has a chance, but this was the best job of the year in my opinion.
Tom Thinks: Zhao’s got it on lock.
Erin Wants: I’m down for Chloe Zhao on this!
Erin Thinks: I really think she’s going to win too.
Best Picture
The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Tom Wants: If it were up to me, it’s Sound of Metal, followed closely by The Father and Minari. Then Nomadland, then Judas, then Promising Young Woman, then Chicago 7, then Mank. After a bit of a rocky start, I ended up really liking almost all of the nominees!
Tom Thinks: Erin and I fought about this - my Super Secret Best Picture Algorithm points me to Minari. I’ve never felt less confident about a choice though.
Erin Wants: Sound of Metal was my favorite of the nominees this year.
Erin Thinks: Nomadland