The Oscars are this Sunday at 7 p.m. and this year’s ceremony has gotten the attention of movie lovers across the world. Films such as “Barbie,” “The Holdovers,” “Oppenheimer,” “Poor Things” and “American Fiction” are all nominated for awards that have fans wondering who will take home hardware.
It was an unforgettable year for films and many avid movie watchers have their pick for “Best Picture” in their mind. Here at Stevenson, the Oscars is a topic of discussion that film and moving image students spark up when it rolls around every year. What film do they think is going win? Who got snubbed? What upcoming films have potential to be “Oscar-worthy” next year?
Stevenson film and moving image majors Ryan Peloquin, Ben Kohn, Skylar DeFazio, and Riley Frutiger weighed in with a couple of their predictions for this weekend’s show.
What film do you think will win “Best Picture?”
Peloquin: I think it is going to be “Oppenheimer” because it came out during last summer’s blockbuster season. It was built to be an academy film but also the public really enjoyed it.
Kohn: I think it is also going to be “Oppenheimer” because film buffs and casual audiences are still going to enjoy the film regardless of if they have any common knowledge of what the movie is about. I do believe that “Barbie” could also end up winning but it will be one of those two.”
DeFazio: I haven’t seen “Oppenheimer,” but I do think it will win. I’ve seen “Barbie” and I really liked it but knowing society it will probably be “Oppenheimer” that wins.
Frutiger: I have a feeling that it is going to be “Anatomy of a Fall” because it has been doing well during award-winning season.
Who got snubbed from the Oscars?
Peloquin: Greta Gerwig. No question. She should be up there for best director.
Kohn: I agree with Ryan with Greta Gerwig, but “Across the Spider-Verse” absolutely got snubbed. It should’ve gotten nominated for best visual effects and best soundtrack. That was a film that definitely got snubbed.
DeFazio: I would probably agree with Greta Gerwig. I really enjoyed “Barbie” and I know that a lot of people did and for how well it did and for how much people really liked the film as well, I feel like it doesn’t make sense for her to be up there.
Frutiger: Greta Gerwig. That’s the biggest snub of the year. Margot Robbie got snubbed as well for “Best Actress.” “The Color Purple” also didn’t get nominated which is crazy. A lot of people thought Leonardo DiCaprio got snubbed but I don’t.
Do you think there is anything wrong with the Oscars currently?
Peloquin: I think it’s fundamentally broken. I think all award shows are fundamentally broken. They are all judging art by objective measures which is stupid. If your favorite movie of 2023 was Napoleon, you’re wrong, but preach that from the hill tops.
Kohn: The way they treat animation is terrible. Animated movies only get nominated for best animation. “Across the Spider-Verse” should have gotten nominated for “Best Picture, Best Soundtrack, and Best Visual Effects.” I feel like animation movies do not get respect from the Oscars.
DeFazio: I don’t watch the Oscars enough to know if there are any issues. I see clips online of the awards but that’s about it. I don’t usually watch them.
Frutiger: Yeah. There seems to be a trend of who wins and who gets nominated and I think we saw that with Greta and Margot being snubbed. “Barbie” was arguably one of the best movies of the year. Margot managed to bring her role as Stereotypical Barbie to life and she didn’t get nominated. The problem is that the Academy is the Academy and that’s all to it. I think the presentation is nice though.
What upcoming films, that you know of, have the potential to be Oscar-worthy next year?
Peloquin: I know it’s out already but “Bob Marley: One Love.” I heard a lot of good things about it.
Kohn: “Sonic the Hedgehog 3″ is not going to be Oscar worthy but Shadow the Hedgehog is in it, so it has potential.
DeFazio: I don’t know if it will be Oscar-worthy, but “IF” with Ryan Reynolds and John Krasinski looks fun. The cast makes it look like a fun movie and I think it will be good. I am a big fan of those kinds of movies so that could be one.”
Frutiger: It won’t be nominated but “Love Lies Bleeding” looks really good. My real answer is “Bob Marley: One Love.” is going to be nominated. “Dune: Part 2” looks like it would also be nominated.
The Oscars kick off this Sunday, March 10 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, where we will see if any of the predictions come true.
