By Darby Knox, Tyler Hale and Dustin Jayroe

 

At long last, the 92nd Oscars are less than two weeks away. The nominations for all categories were announced on Jan. 13, and since then we at AY About You have been celebrating some of the best choices, fuming over the snubs and, most importantly, deliberating earnestly what our winning picks for each of the 24 categories would be.

 

It’s a task too steep for just one person — so we’ve got three. Below are the AY 2020 Academy Awards picks from online editor Tyler Hale, AY Magazine editor Dustin Jayroe and AY contributor Darby Knox. There is also a blank, printable ballot for you to fill out your picks, located at the bottom of the page.

 

Actress in a Supporting Role

Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”

Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”

Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit”

Florence Pugh, “Little Women”

Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”

 

Laura Dern in “Marriage Story.” (IMDb)

 

Darby: Florence Pugh

Amy March (Florence Pugh) is, arguably, the most complex character in “Little Women.” Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) is an easy character to define, because the whole film focuses on her goals of becoming a writer and supporting her family. Amy is not as easy to figure out. Because of that, she could easily be disregarded by viewers, but Pugh does not allow that to happen. She gives Amy depth that has often been lacking in other adaptations. By the end, I was just as invested in her story as I was Jo’s. After “Midsommar” and “Little Women,” I will be eagerly watching anything Pugh lends her talent to.

Tyler: Laura Dern

Laura Dern has been on fire in recent years in film and television. It should come as no surprise for those who have tracked the trajectory of her career, but there always seems to an element of surprise when Dern is nominated for awards. This year is the one in which she will win.

Dustin: Laura Dern

Laura Dern has been routing this category throughout the award season thus far, and I don’t see the Oscars as an exception. Her performance in “Marriage Story” is not only one of captivation every time her character is on the screen, but also pivotal in the movement of the plot and the ultimate climax. This would be Dern’s first-ever Oscar, and much deserved if she does win.

 

Actor in a Supporting Role

Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”

Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”

Al Pacino, “The Irishman”

Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”

Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

 

Brad Pitt in “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.” (IMDb)

 

Darby: Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt is always cool. Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is next-level cool. His character is not necessarily complex, but he gives balance to Rick Dalton’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) eccentricity. Pitt gives an impactful performance, but makes it seem like it took him little to no effort to do so. He seems to have even carried some of that carelessly cool attitude with him into awards season, as evidenced by his speeches at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards.

Tyler: Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt easily could have been nominated twice this year – both in the supporting actor category and in the Best Actor category for his muted, tense role in Ad Astra. Pitt summons all his swagger and charisma to deliver an affecting portrait of an aging stuntman in Quentin Tarantino’s latest masterwork. As usual with Tarantino films, the supporting actors get the best parts.

Dustin: Brad Pitt

It seems unfathomable that Brad Pitt is yet Oscar-less to this point. But, the winds seem to be blowing toward the legend finally getting recognition of the highest order this year for his performance in Tarantino’s latest hit. How fitting that he might do so while starring alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, who so famously had his own drought with the Academy; fitting also that Pitt would do so as the subtle standout behind Leo’s leading man, just like his character, stunt double Cliff Booth.

Documentary Feature

“American Factory”

“The Edge of Democracy”

“Honeyland”

“For Sama”

“The Cave”

Darby: “The Cave”

Tyler: “The Edge of Democracy”

Dustin: “The Edge of Democracy”

 

Makeup and Hairstyling

“Bombshell”

“Joker”

“Judy”

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”

“1917”

Darby: “Judy”

Tyler: “Bombshell”

Dustin: “Joker”

Costume Design

“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

“Little Women”

“The Irishman”

“Jojo Rabbit”

“Joker”

 

Darby: “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

Tyler: “Jojo Rabbit”

Dustin: “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood

 

 

Production Design

“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

“The Irishman”

“1917”

“Jojo Rabbit”

“Parasite”

Darby: “1917”

Tyler: “1917”

Dustin: “1917”

 

Cinematography

“1917”

“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

“The Irishman”

“Joker”

“The Lighthouse”

 

“1917.” (IMDb)

 

Darby: “1917”

“1917” is filmed to look like one continuous shot with no breaks. By the end of the main characters’ journey, the viewers feel like they have been right alongside. It is the main factor that makes the movie so unique (as I have mentioned a few times). It is the ultimate immersion experience. Roger Deakins (“Skyfall,” “The Shawshank Redemption”) is the cinematographer for this film. He has been nominated for several Academy Awards, but has only taken home the statue once. Despite that, this should be an easy win for him.

Tyler: “1917”

This is an exceptionally difficult category to predict. I’m going with 1917 based on the same reasoning that Darby outlines, but there is such a wealth of cinematographic goodness still on the table, from the austere black-and-white footage of “The Lighthouse” to the sun-dappled memories of Hollywood as conjured by Robert Richardson.

Dustin: “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

It may be my inherent contrarian nature (because “1917” is the likely winner), but “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” was a real masterpiece in more ways than just the script and acting performances. Cinematographer Robert Richardson was not only able to nimbly portray the time setting of the 60s and the usual style and flair of a Tarantino flick, but also make the movie feel like a traditional “western” at times, adding so perfectly to a fictional tale about an actor who made his name starring in westerns.

 

Sound Editing

“1917”

“Ford v Ferrari”

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

“Joker”

 

Darby: “Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker”

Tyler: “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

Dustin: “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

 

Sound Mixing

“1917”

“Ford v Ferrari”

“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

“Ad Astra”

“Joker”

 

Darby: “1917”

Tyler: “Ad Astra”

Dustin: “Ford v Ferrari”

 

Foreign Language Film

South Korea, “Parasite”

Spain, “Pain and Glory”

France, “Les Misérables”

North Macedonia, “Honeyland”

Poland, “Corpus Christi”

“Parasite.” (IMDb)

 

Darby: “Parasite”

Tyler: “Parasite”

This is a slam dunk for Parasite. It has repeatedly swept the international film awards this year. Best of all, it’s a genuinely amazing film by director Bong Joon Ho.

Dustin: “Parasite”

 

Film Editing

“The Irishman”

“Ford v Ferrari”

“Parasite”

“Joker”

“Jojo Rabbit”

 

Darby: “Joker”

Tyler: “The Irishman”

Dustin: “Joker”

 

Animated Feature Film

“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”

“I Lost My Body”

“Klaus”

“Missing Link”

“Toy Story 4”

 

“Missing Link.” (IMDb)

 

Darby: “Missing Link” 

Stop motion animation is not a commonly used method in today’s world where the desire is for animated characters to look as realistic as possible. But in the case of “Missing Link,” no other animation style would have been a better fit. This technique provided a nostalgia factor, which paired perfectly with the overall theme of family and finding a place of belonging.

Tyler: “Missing Link”

Dustin: “Klaus”

In a category and genre that is usually not necessarily my wheelhouse, “Klaus” was one of the surprises of the year for me. It has everything that a good animated film needs: Cast (Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones), humor, cuteness and originality.

 

Animated Short Film

“Dcera (Daughter)”

“Hair Love”

“Kitbull”

“Memorable”

“Sister”

 

Darby: “Kitbull”

Tyler: “Hair Love”

Dustin: “Hair Love”

 

Documentary Short Subject

“In the Absence”

“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)”

“Life Overtakes Me”

“St. Louis Superman”

“Walk Run Cha-Cha”

 

Darby: “In the Absence”

Tyler: “St. Louis Superman”

Dustin: “St. Louis Superman”

 

Visual Effects

“Avengers: Endgame”

“The Lion King”

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

“The Irishman”

“1917”

“Avengers: Endgame.” (IMDb)

 

Darby: “1917”

Tyler: “Avengers: Endgame”

Dustin: “Avengers: Endgame”

 

Live Action Short Film

“Brotherhood”

“Nefta Football Club”

“The Neighbors’ Window”

“Saria”

“A Sister”

 

Darby: “Nefta Football Club”

Tyler: “Brotherhood”

Dustin: “Brotherhood”

 

Original Screenplay

“Marriage Story”

“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

“Parasite”

“Knives Out”

“1917”

“Knives Out.” (IMDb)

 

Darby: “Knives Out”

The film industry is inundated with sequels, prequels, reboots and remakes. Anytime we get to see a movie where we have no preconceived notions of the characters or story, it is refreshing. “Knives Out” is a whodunnit with zany characters, whose personality and quirks are clearly defined from the beginning without over-the-top execution. The writing is smart and funny, and the end result is classic Hollywood entertainment.

Tyler: “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

Tarantino creates, using bits of history, memory and his prodigious imagination, a vision of a vibrant Hollywood in the waning days of the 1960s. It’s a time of extreme highs and extreme lows for the players involved that leads to its inevitable conclusion. The film’s free-ranging style gives it the hang-out feel of Tarantino’s best work – the feeling that this is a place that you can park yourself and enjoy for awhile.

Dustin: “Marriage Story”

Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” was one of my favorite films of the year, in part due to its incredible writing. The script is able to convey the usual suspense of the drama genre with ease, while also remaining grounded in a reality that feels very true to life as we know it, outside of the movie’s fiction. It is concise, not overly complicated or exaggerated, without conceding on stakes.

 

Adapted Screenplay

“The Irishman”

“Jojo Rabbit”

“Little Women”

“The Two Popes”

“Joker”

 

“Little Women.” (IMDb)

 

Darby: “Little Women”

When a story has had so many adaptations as “Little Women” has, one wonders what will make this one stand out. Aside from the incredible cast, the screenplay sets this adaptation apart. It is not a stuffy script often seen in period pieces. The language and flow are natural. There are even moments of dialogue between the sisters where you wonder if a script was used at all.

Tyler: “Little Women”

Greta Gerwig has been the toast of Hollywood for her “Little Women” adaptation. How do you take a novel that has been adapted so many times and make it fresh? You call in Greta Gerwig, obviously.

Dustin: “Joker”

I enter this pick with a number of biases stacked on the side of the Clown Prince of Crime — Batman is my favorite superhero and the Joker is my favorite villain. Nevertheless, I feel justified by the delivery of Todd Phillips and Scott Silver. The writing pair navigated the essence of the Joker’s origin (as most popularly told in the graphic novel, “The Killing Joke”) to near perfection, yet still provided a story that felt fresh and new.

 

Original Score

“1917,” Thomas Newman

“Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir

“Little Women,” Alexandre Desplat

“Marriage Story,” Randy Newman

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” John Williams

 

Darby: “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

Tyler: “Joker”

Dustin: “Joker”

Hildur so perfectly captured the Joker with her score, so much so that it was apparently a pivotal inspiration for Joaquin Phoenix. It is mesmerizing, captivating, unsettling and chilling — everything a theme for such a historic character should be.

 

Original Song

“I’m Standing With You,” “Breakthrough”

“Into the Unknown,” “Frozen II”

“Stand Up,” “Harriet”

“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” “Rocketman”

“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” “Toy Story 4”

 

Darby: “Stand Up

Tyler: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again

Dustin: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again”

 

Actor in a Leading Role

Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”

Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”

Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”

Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”

 

Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker.” (IMDb)

 

Darby: Joaquin Phoenix

“The worst part about having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don’t.” This heartbreaking quote sets the tone for “Joker,” an origin story of a prominent comic book villain. Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck (later known as “Joker”) masterfully portrays a troubled man who eventually becomes fed-up with society’s treatment of him. “Joker,” but, more specifically, Phoenix’s role opened the door to uncomfortable conversations about mental health. It is easy for an actor to entertain us, but to also make us reflect on our own treatment of others is a feat that is, in my opinion, Oscar-worthy.

Tyler: Joaquin Phoenix

I am ashamed to admit that I actually have not seen “Joker” yet, but Dustin assures me that it is good. However, Phoenix has been a mainstay at the winner’s podium this award season, so he’s a lock for the award.

Dustin: Joaquin Phoenix

It’s not often performances move me in ways that Joaquin Phoenix did in “Joker.” He is able to seamlessly evoke this character in Arthur Fleck that we feel for and sympathize with so deeply that when the turn comes, we contradict our own moral compasses in rooting for him.

 

Actress in a Leading Role

Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet”

Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”

Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women”

Renée Zellweger, “Judy”

Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”

Renée Zellweger in “Judy.” (IMDb)

 

Darby: Saoirse Ronan

“Little Women” has had so many film adaptations that when Greta Gerwig’s was announced, I was not jumping up and down to see it. I can now say that I was wrong for my lack of excitement, and that is mostly thanks to Saoirse Ronan as Jo March. Ronan is no stranger to strong female roles or being directed by Gerwig (the two worked on “Ladybird” together). Her performance exudes passion. She makes a familiar character feel brand new. Ronan rocks every role awarded to her, but she was magic in “Little Women.”

Tyler: Renee Zellweger

This would not be my preferred choice for a winner, but I think Zellweger has this category locked down.

Dustin: Scarlett Johansson

I don’t care that Zellweger has been sweeping virtually every other award show for this category — mainly because I haven’t seen “Judy,” but also because of Scarlett Johansson’s performance in “Marriage Story,” which I would wager is the finest of her entire career. Usually, one might give a few examples of exemplary scenes, but in this one, it is scene, after scene, after scene that Johansson commands in each and every way.

 

Directing

Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”

Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

Bong Joon-ho, “Parasite”

Sam Mendes, “1917”

Todd Phillips, “Joker”

Sam Mendes on the set of “1917.” (IMDb)

 

Darby: Sam Mendes

First let me say, it is outrageous that Greta Gerwig was not nominated for this category. With that being said, my pick would still be Sam Mendes. 1917″ is an incredibly unique experience. There are action sequences, as any war movie must have, but the suspense comes from the quiet moments in between. This is where the directing shines, and what makes the movie so memorable.

Tyler: Bong Joon Ho

Bong Joon Ho, the Korean auteur, expertly juggles the tones and subtleties of this often-hilarious but sharp take on class and wealth in late-capitalism. Every element, from the acting to camerawork and beyond, is perfectly pitched and used to maximum effect. It’s not often that I vote against Martin Scorsese in any situation, but Bong Joon Ho’s film is a tremendous achievement.

Dustin: Quentin Tarantino

It seems blasphemous of me to not pick Tarantino here for what might go down as one of the best in his illustrious archive. Then again, it also seems blasphemous of the Academy to not include both Greta Gerwig (“Little Women”) and Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story”), so I won’t make the same mistake as them. Although, Mendes is surely the favorite and Bong Joon-ho the dark horse.

 

Best Picture

“Ford v Ferrari”

“The Irishman”

“Jojo Rabbit”

“Joker”

“Little Women”

“Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood”

“Marriage Story”

“Parasite”

“1917”

Movie poster for “1917.” 

 

Darby: “1917”

If you are not interested in seeing “1917″ because you feel like it is just another war film, please go against that initial judgment and run to the nearest theater. There are no powerful monologues, there is no romance element; there are 119 minutes of nail-biting suspense and raw emotions. This movie is gruesome, unpredictable and somehow still beautiful. Forget what you think you know about this genre; “1917″ changes the game.

Tyler: “1917”

The Academy tends to gravitate to stately films, which would put “1917” in the frontrunner seat.

Dustin: “Marriage Story”

When faced with a crossroads of what, for me, is an almost impossible choice to make, I elected to go with my heart. And “Marriage Story” has my heart. Baumbach’s script and directing laid the foundation, and actors Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Laura Dern ran with it, and then some.

 

Download your printable ballot below:

2020 Oscars Ballot

92nd Academy Awards
Date: Sunday, Feb. 9
Time: 7 p.m.
Channel: ABC
Be sure to check back in with us at AY to see how our picks held up and to let us know how you did!