Although awards season (in my opinion) has very much tainted the way a lot of viewers watch films these days, and the fact the Oscars has faced loads of backlash that effectively take away a lot of their integrity as a stage of merit for accolades in the film industry, I still love watching this culminating finale each year that celebrates (some of) the year’s best. Following the nominations that were announced this morning, here are my personal picks for some of the major categories of the 2025 Academy Awards.
Note: My picks are solely based on what I would like to see, based on my own personal reactions to the films nominated, rather than predictions on who or what film I think has the best chance at winning based on previous awards handed out this year.
Best Original Score
The Brutalist (Daniel Blumberg)
Conclave (Volker Bertelmann)
Emilia Pérez (Clément Ducol and Camille)
Wicked (John Powell and Stephen Schwartz)
The Wild Robot (Kris Bowers)
Right off the bat, it isn’t looking good for Challengers, my favourite film of 2024, since they weren’t even nominated here in the category where they won their only Golden Globe. With my favourite score not nominated, I am happy to see my second favourite score, The Brutalist, nominated. Both the Ship and Bus overtures give me chills every time I hear them. The Conclave score is great, if not a bit too overpowering at times, and of course the musical films are shown some love here, deserving or not. I have not yet seen The Wild Robot.
Pick: The Brutalist
Best Adapted Screenplay
A Complete Unknown (James Mangold and Jay Cocks)
Conclave (Peter Straughan)
Emilia Pérez (Jacques Audiard; In collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi)
Nickel Boys (RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes)
Sing Sing (Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield)
I think that for as entertaining as A Complete Unknown is, the screenplay could have been a lot stronger in the first two acts, though it suscinctly encapsulates such an important time in Bob Dylan’s life and career. The Conclave screenplay succeeds at making what could be very boring, the choosing of a new pope, into something very tense and fun to watch, while the Emilia Pérez screenplay plays into a lot of negative tropes surrounding quite a few different communities. Nickel Boys and Sing Sing are two of my favourite films of the year, and although very different, each approach their darker subject matter with a lot of care.
Pick: Sing Sing
Best Original Screenplay
Anora (Sean Baker)
The Brutalist (Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold)
A Real Pain (Jesse Eisenberg)
September 5 (Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum; Co-Written by Alex David)
The Substance (Coralie Fargeat)
I really liked the screenplay for Anora, and how it really takes a turn in the second act without these turns ever feeling out of place, and still succeeds in sticking to the classic three act structure despite this big twist in genre and overall story. A lot of people have been saying they don’t like how on-the-nose The Brutalist screenplay becomes in the second half after the intermission, but I enjoyed it throughout and thought it worked for me. The Substance fully deserves to be here if not for how much it bends genre and talks to real issues, while also remaining satirical throughout, perfectly balancing the tome of the film throughout. A Real Pain is a great work, and I have not seen September 5.
Pick: The Brutalist or The Substance
Animated Feature Film
Flow (Nominees to be determined)
Inside Out 2 (Kelsey Mann and Mark Nielsen)
Memoir of a Snail (Adam Elliot and Liz Kearney)
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (Nominees to be determined)
The Wild Robot (Chris Sanders and Jeff Hermann)
I really enjoyed Flow, Memoir of a Snail, and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. They are all doing such cool and unique things with their art of animation. I can’t say I think Inside Out 2 is deserving here, especially given how much of a step down from the first one this feels. I have yet to see The Wild Robot.
Pick: Flow
Best Film Editing
Anora (Sean Baker)
The Brutalist (David Jancso)
Conclave (Nick Emerson)
Emilia Pérez (Juliette Welfling)
Wicked (Myron Kerstein)
Although a big part of screenplay, editing also majorly impacts how long a long films feels. The Brutalist flies by, despite its 3.5 hour run time. Emilia Pérez and Wicked felt never ending to me, and not in a good way. I am always impressed by Sean Baker’s ability to direct, write, and direct, and Anora really stands out in its use of its edit to add inject moments of comedy throughout, which really worked to eleveate the tonal shifts in the film. Also, Dune: Part Two snubbed here.
Pick: Anora
Cinematography
The Brutalist (Lol Crawley)
Dune: Part Two (Greig Fraser)
Emilia Pérez (Paul Guilhaume)
Maria (Ed Lachman)
Nosferatu (Jarin Blaschke)
Nosferatu here is such a fun choice. Really happy to see The Brutalist here, as well as Dune: Part Two. I am sad to see Challengers and Queer snubbed here, for two very visually stunning films, as well as Nickel Boys, which really pushed boundaries on what a camera can do for a film that is reflecting on a history this difficult to face in film.
Pick: The Brutalist
Best Supporting Actress
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
I am very sad that Joan Chen is not here for Didi, which was a long shot but would have been such an inspired nomination, especially in a year like this which is more weak in its supporting actress race. Also sad but not surprised to see no Zendaya for Dune: Part Two. I am so happy to see Monica Barbaro here for A Complete Unknown, one of my favourite parts of the film. Ariana Grande really surprised me in Wicked for how funny she was. Felicity Jones is great in The Brutalist, but has been underperforming, possibly due to her performance really ramping up in the second half of the film, in a race where voters have been quite transparent about not finishing watching longer features. I don’t think Zoe Saldaña should be nominated here, clear category fraud, but she will probably win.
Pick: Felicity Jones or Monica Barbaro, but my favourite of the year was probably Joan Chen in Didi.
Best Supporting Actor
Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice
If 2025 is the year of weak supporting actress performances, then it is also the year of very strong supporting actor wins. I think Kieran Culkin’s character in A Real Pain was more of a leading role, which is unfortunate because he will probably win here regardless. All the other nominees are great choices. Very, very sad to not see Clarence Maclin here for his performance in Sing Sing, probably my favourite performance of the year. Also missing Adam Pearson in A Different Man, the boys from Challengers, and any supporting performances from the men in Conclave. Like I said, great performances from the men all around.
Pick: Probably Guy Pearce, but again my favourite of the year was Clarence Maclin in Sing Sing.
Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance
Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here
Once again, the actor categories are stacked, while the actress ones, in my opinion, are a bit lacklustre. Sad that Nicole Kidman isn’t here for her brave performance in Babygirl, but very happy to see Karla Sofía Gascón nominated, becoming the first openly transgender actor to get an Oscar nomination, even if Emilia Pérez was far from a good movie. Mikey Madison and Demi Moore are probably my two favourites here, as I unfortunately have not yet seen Fernanda Torres in I’m Still Here, the drama Globe winner from a few weeks ago. Not much of an opinion on Cynthia Erivo.
Pick: Demi Moore
Best Actor
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
I can’t be mad at anything here, everyone well deserving. I really do hope Sing Sing can go home with an award, and I think Colman Domingo’s performance is more than deserving. I think Timothée Chalamet is the front runner here, and I would also be happy with a well deserved win for him here as Bob Dylan. Brody, Fiennes, and Stan are also magnificent in their respective roles. A long shot, but I was hoping to see Josh O’Connor here for his role in La Chimera, as well as Ethan Herisse for his leading role in Nickel Boys, and Daniel Craig in Queer.
Pick: Colman Domingo
Best Director
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez
Sean Baker, Anora
Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
Coralie Fargeat, The Substance
James Mangold, A Complete Unknown
I am in awe that Luca Guadagnino had two stellar films this year, Challengers and Queer, and neither of them are nominated for anything, including Guadagnino himself for directing. Also huge snubs for Dune: Part Two in general, especially director Denis Villeneuve. As well, would have loved to see RaMell Ross here for Nickel Boys, who really pushed the boundary on what gaze can mean in a film, and Ross’ attempt to reclaim the story for the survivors of the real Dozier School using his unique camera. Happy to see Baker, Corbet, and Farageat here. Once again, Baker is well deserving, and Corbet simply shocked me with how fast he managed to make a 3.5 hour film feel, inspiring great performances from his cast all around.
Pick: Sean Baker or Brady Corbet
Best Picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked
This year’s best picture race is insane, and its anyones guess what direction they will go in on March 2nd. I am very sad to see no love for Challengers, Luca Guadagnino, and A Different Man overall, and very little love for Sing Sing. I am so happy that Nickel Boys got in, hopefully opening the doors for a larger distribution following the nominations so more people can see what is one of the most innovative films we have seen in decades. No surprise here to see Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Emilia Pérez (unfortunately), or Wicked (again, really?). Happy Dune: Part Two got in given precursor snubs, and The Substance as well. Looking forward to soon seeing I’m Still Here.
Pick: I would be happy to see any of the following win: Anora, The Brutalist, Conclave, Dune: Part Two (unlikely, I feel like they are saving the thunder for Messiah), Nickel Boys, or The Substance. My personal favourites from last year are still Sing Sing or Challengers, but out of the nominees, probably mostly rooting for Nickel Boys or The Brutalist.
The Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 2 at 7:00 pm EST.
After Screening Cinema 