The show will go on. And this time, it’s the real thing.
After a dramatically scaled-down and virus-safe ceremony last year , the Academy Awards …
The show will go on. And this time, it’s the real thing. After a dramatically scaled-down and virus-safe ceremony last year, the Academy Awards will be presented in a largely prepandemic format this Sunday. That means stars. That means style. And in all likelihood, that means surprises. If you’re returning to the Fox411 for your annual Oscar forecast, I’ll do my best to tell you what to expect. With any luck, I can save you three hours and still help you win your office pool. Here are my predictions in the major categories. “Belfast” “CODA” “Don’t Look Up” “Drive My Car” “Dune” “King Richard” “Licorice Pizza” “Nightmare Alley” “The Power of the Dog” “West Side Story” PREDICTION: “The Power of the Dog” Back in the 20th century, the Academy had shown a fondness for grand, sweeping epics. That included everything from “Gone with the Wind,” “Casablanca,” “The Bridge on the River Kwai” and “Lawrence of Arabia” to “The Godfather,” “Out of Africa” and “Titanic.” In recent years, there’s been a noticeable shift toward much smaller, artsier films.2014’s “Birdman.” 2016’s “Moonlight.” 2019’s “Parasite.” And 2020’s “Nomadland.” It appears that the Academy will continue in that direction, with the slow-burn Western drama “The Power of the Dog” set to sweep. It’s widely seen as the most serious cinematic achievement of 2021, with 12 towering nominations. (“Dune” is second with 10.) “Power” has accepted many of the traditional precursors: the Golden Globe, Critics Choice and British Film Academy (BAFTA) Awards. The endearing family drama “CODA” has been generating a lot of steam in recent weeks. But with only two other nods and no craft support, there’s probably not enough “Power” for it to top “Dog.” “Belfast,” Kenneth Branagh “Drive My Car,” Ryusuke Hamaguchi “Licorice Pizza,” Paul Thomas Anderson “The Power of the Dog,” Jane Campion “West Side Story, Steven Spielberg PREDICTION: “The Power of the Dog,” Jane Campion first contended for Best Director at the 1994 Oscar ceremony, for her acclaimed arthouse feature “The Piano.” She had to settle for a consolation Best Original Screenplay prize, as Spielberg accepted directing honors for his masterpiece Holocaust drama “Schindler’s List.” Almost 30 years later, the two heavyweights are in a rematch. Only this time, the tables are turned. It is Campion who has been cleaning up the industry’s directing prizes, most notably the Directors Guild of America Award. I dare say that Campion might be the biggest lock of the night. Even if “The Power of the Dog” loses Best Picture, Campion takes Best Director. She’s already the first woman in history to be nominated twice, and she’ll become just the third to win. It’s all because of her power as a director. Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter” Penélope Cruz, “Parallel Mothers” Nicole Kidman, “Being the Ricardos” Kristen Stewart, “Spencer” PREDICTION: Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” This year’s Best Actress race has been quite the roller coaster ride. Stewart took the early lead for her highly touted portrayal of the late Princess Diana, only to drop in the odds after being snubbed by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG.) Kidman enjoyed a brief bump, only to be overtaken by Colman when “The Lost Daughter” received multiple Oscar nods. But all eyes have been on Chastain since her surprise victory at the SAG Awards. She repeated at the Critics Choice Awards, giving her extra momentum just before Oscar voting began.
