Its been a good year for movies.
As a film critic, its easy to fall into the reflexive trap of stating that every December/January.
Each section will feature who wethink should win in italics, and who we suspectwill win in bold.
More than a few times, they might evenbe one and the same.
Actors are the Academys largest voting bloc, and it seems plausibleThe Holdoverswill become that wings favorite film.
For all the reasons enumerated above, Nolan is the favorite in this category.
Furthermore, there is the strong narrative that this is Nolans year.
Spielberg was passed over forJaws, as Nolan was forThe Dark Knight,InceptionandInterstellar.
This is a performance that will be admired for decades to come.
A win would also makeAmerican Fictions ending even funnier.
In a category that is a little bit of a weak field this year, RandolphsHoldoversperformance stands doubly tall.
It also might be the most riveting, if chilling, turn in a movie filled with great acting.
Still, wed personally love to see Tony McNamara win forPoor Things.
Bella Baxters intellectual growth being tracked through dialogue, prose, and fluidity makesPoor Things script something special.
Not that Jonathan GlazersThe Zone of Interestisnt deserving.
But that may assume that most Academy voters are invested in the lore and mythology around Ghibli.
He also famously turned Cillian Murphys face into a landscape as grand as any mesa in New Mexico.
This is open and shut.
While we thinkBarbieis very deserving,Poor Things steampunk flights of fancy are a one of a kind wonder.
For that reason, we suspectGuardians of the Galaxy Vol.
