Your Necessary 2023 Oscars Viewing Guide
In preparation for tonight's Oscars, we Couch film critics have provided a rundown of the major awards. Do not take this to mean we don't think highly of the nominees for the likes of Best Short Film and Best Sound Editing, but rather that they will likely receive less attention-- in fact, some controversially won't even be aired. In addition we, or at least a few of us (me), are considerably less informed about those nominees than we are for the following 12 categories. This Oscars has a few slam dunk categories tonight, including the biggest one of them all, and as a result, all four of us are still fairly confident in these selections. More so than many years in recent memory, though, the ceremony is full of highly competitive races, and the night is sure to include at least some drama and uncertainty. More than one acting category, for example, is at their most competitive in years. Who knows who will take top honors? We'll find out shortly, at least!
Fellow film nuts Daniel Baas, Christian Becker and Sierra Slaughter have joined me to let you know who was snubbed, who really should win, who could play spoiler, and who will ultimately win no matter how we feel. Enjoy, and happy viewing tonight!
Best Original Song
"Applause" by Diane Warren, Tell It Like A Woman
"Hold My Hand" by Lady Gaga and BloodPop, Top Gun: Maverick
"Lift Me Up" by Rihanna, TEMS, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Göransson, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
"Naatu Naatu" by M.M. Keeravani and Chandrabose, RRR
"This Is A Life" by Ryan Lott, David Byrne, and Mitski, Everything Everywhere All At Once
| BAAS | CHRISTIAN | SIERRA | WOODIWISS |
WILL WIN | "Naatu Naatu" | "Naatu Naatu" | "Naatu Naatu" | "Naatu Naatu" |
COULD WIN | "Lift Me Up" | "Hold My Hand" | "Lift Me Up" | "Lift Me Up" |
SHOULD WIN | "This Is A Life" | "Lift Me Up" | "Naatu Naatu" | "Lift Me Up" |
SNUBBED? | | "View From Here," Spirited | "Nobody Like U", Turning Red AND "Ciao Papa", Pinocchio | "Fearless Hero", Puss In Boots: The Last Wish |
Best Original Score
Volker Bertelmann, All Quiet On The Western Front
Carter Burwell, The Banshees of Inisherin
Justin Hurwitz, Babylon
Son Lux, Everything Everywhere All At Once
John Williams, The Fabelmans
| BAAS | CHRISTIAN | SIERRA | WOODIWISS |
WILL WIN | Son Lux | Justin Hurwitz | Volker Bertelmann | Justin Hurwitz |
COULD WIN | Justin Hurwitz | Volker Bertelmann | Justin Hurwitz | John Williams |
SHOULD WIN | Son Lux | Carter Burwell | | Justin Hurwitz |
SNUBBED? | | Michael Giacchino, The Batman | | Michael Giacchino, The Batman |
Best Animated Feature
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish
The Sea Beast
Turning Red
| BAAS | CHRISTIAN | SIERRA | WOODIWISS |
WILL WIN | Pinocchio | Pinocchio | Pinocchio | Pinocchio |
COULD WIN | Puss In Boots | Puss In Boots | Puss In Boots | Marcel the Shell with Shoes On |
SHOULD WIN | Pinocchio | Puss In Boots | Turning Red | Marcel the Shell with Shoes On |
SNUBBED? | | The Bad Guys | | |
Best Documentary Feature
All That Breathes
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
Fire of Love
A House Made With Splinters
Navalny
| BAAS | CHRISTIAN | SIERRA | WOODIWISS |
WILL WIN | Navalny | Navalny | Navalny | Navalny |
COULD WIN | Fire of Love | Fire of Love | All the Beauty and the Bloodshed | All the Beauty and the Bloodshed |
SHOULD WIN | Fire of Love | Fire of Love | | Navalny |
SNUBBED? | | Light & Magic | The Territory | |
Best Adapted Screenplay
Edward Berger, Lesley Patterson, and Ian Stokell, All Quiet On The Western Front
Rian Johnson, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Kazuo Ishiguro, Living
Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie, Top Gun: Maverick
Sarah Polley, Women Talking
| BAAS | CHRISTIAN | SIERRA | WOODIWISS |
WILL WIN | Women Talking | Women Talking | Women Talking | Women Talking |
COULD WIN | All Quiet On The Western Front | All Quiet On The Western Front | All Quiet On The Western Front | All Quiet On The Western Front |
SHOULD WIN | Top Gun: Maverick | Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery | Women Talking | Women Talking |
SNUBBED? | | White Noise | | Marcel the Shell with Shoes On |
Best Original Screenplay
Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All At Once
Stephen Spielberg and Tony Kushner, The Fabelmans
Todd Field, Tár
Ruben Östlund, Triangle of Sadness
| BAAS | CHRISTIAN | SIERRA | WOODIWISS |
WILL WIN | Everything Everywhere All At Once | Everything Everywhere All At Once | The Banshees of Inisherin | Everything Everywhere All At Once |
COULD WIN | The Banshees of Inisherin | The Banshees of Inisherin | Everything Everywhere All At Once | The Banshees of Inisherin |
SHOULD WIN | Everything Everywhere All At Once | The Banshees of Inisherin | Everything Everywhere All At Once | Everything Everywhere All At Once |
SNUBBED? | | The Menu | | Aftersun |
Best Supporting Actor
Brendan Gleeson, The Banshees of Inisherin
Brian Tyree Henry, Causeway
Judd Hirsch, The Fabelmans
Barry Keoghan, The Banshees of Inisherin
Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All At Once
| BAAS | CHRISTIAN | SIERRA | WOODIWISS |
WILL WIN | Ke Huy Quan | Ke Huy Quan | Ke Huy Quan | Ke Huy Quan |
COULD WIN | Barry Keoghan | Barry Keoghan | Brendan Gleeson | Barry Keoghan |
SHOULD WIN | Ke Huy Quan | Ke Huy Quan | Ke Huy Quan | Ke Huy Quan |
SNUBBED? | | Paul Dano, The Fabelmans | | Paul Dano, The Fabelmans |
Best Supporting Actress
Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Hong Chau, The Whale
Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin
Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All At Once
Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All At Once
| BAAS | CHRISTIAN | SIERRA | WOODIWISS |
WILL WIN | Kerry Condon | Kerry Condon | Angela Bassett | Angela Bassett |
COULD WIN | Jamie Lee Curtis | Angela Bassett | Kerry Condon | Jamie Lee Curtis |
SHOULD WIN | Kerry Condon | Kerry Condon | Stephanie Hsu | Kerry Condon |
SNUBBED? | | Keke Palmer, Nope | Dolly de Leon, Triangle of Sadness | Rooney Mara, Women Talking |
Best Actor
Austin Butler, Elvis
Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin
Brendan Fraser, The Whale
Paul Mescal, Aftersun
Bill Nighy, Living
| BAAS | CHRISTIAN | SIERRA | WOODIWISS |
WILL WIN | Brendan Fraser | Austin Butler | Austin Butler | Austin Butler |
COULD WIN | Austin Butler | Brendan Fraser | Brendan Fraser | Brendan Fraser |
SHOULD WIN | Colin Farrell | Colin Farrell | Paul Mescal | Brendan Fraser |
SNUBBED? | | Adam Sandler, Hustle | Daniel Radcliffe, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story | Gabriel LaBelle, The Fabelmans |
Best Actress
Cate Blanchett, Tár
Ana de Armas, Blonde
Andrea Riseborough, To Leslie
Michelle Williams, The Fabelmans
Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All At Once
| BAAS | CHRISTIAN | SIERRA | WOODIWISS |
WILL WIN | Michelle Yeoh | Michelle Yeoh | Michelle Yeoh | Cate Blanchett |
COULD WIN | Cate Blanchett | Cate Blanchett | Cate Blanchett | Michelle Yeoh |
SHOULD WIN | Michelle Yeoh | Michelle Yeoh | Michelle Yeoh | Michelle Yeoh |
SNUBBED? | | Viola Davis, The Woman King | Whoever is considered the lead in Women Talking | Frankie Corio, Aftersun |
Best Director
Todd Field, Tár
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All At Once
Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin
Ruben Östlund, Triangle of Sadness
Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans
| BAAS | CHRISTIAN | SIERRA | WOODIWISS |
WILL WIN | The Daniels | The Daniels | The Daniels | Steven Spielberg |
COULD WIN | Steven Spielberg | Steven Spielberg | Steven Spielberg | The Daniels |
SHOULD WIN | Todd Field | The Daniels | The Daniels | Steven Spielberg |
SNUBBED? | | Mark Mylod, The Menu | Charlotte Wells, Aftersun | Sarah Polley, Women Talking |
Best Picture
All Quiet On The Western Front
Avatar: The Way of Water
The Banshees of Inisherin
Elvis
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The Fabelmans
Tár
Top Gun: Maverick
Triangle of Sadness
Women Talking
| BAAS | CHRISTIAN | SIERRA | WOODIWISS |
WILL WIN | Everything Everywhere All At Once | Everything Everywhere All At Once | Everything Everywhere All At Once | Everything Everywhere All At Once |
COULD WIN | The Banshees of Inisherin | Top Gun: Maverick | The Banshees of Inisherin | The Fabelmans |
SHOULD WIN | Tár | Everything Everywhere All At Once | Top Gun: Maverick | The Banshees of Inisherin |
SNUBBED? | | The Menu | Aftersun | Nope |
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