This is Evil Ash checking in again. Well, it’s that time of year again. Hollywood’s ultimate self-congratulatory pat on the back to itself. I can’t say that I’ve cared that much in the last number of years about the ACADEMY AWARDS. To me it’s become very predictable and just not that interesting anymore. I still don’t think I’ve recovered from the whole 1990 DANCES WITH WOLVES vs. GOODFELLAS fiasco. Also, the fact that we can’t even have a host for the show anymore I find a bit ridiculous. Clearly, the OSCARS needs a host that can keep things moving along, entertain all the A-listers, and snap off witty and racy jokes at just the right time. We need another WHOOPI, or another JOHNNY (hell, bring BILLY CRYSTAL out of retirement). This year more than any other year in recent memory, just about every major category is all but a lock. I miss the old days - such as back in 1996 - where you legitimately had no clue who was going to win. I think the advent of the internet and social media has changed all of that. That year a lot of people had SEAN PENN pegged to take home the gold for DEAD MAN WALKING. Instead, NICHOLAS CAGE, in the performance of a lifetime, won for LEAVING LAS VEGAS, a film that I saw in the theatre twice. That same year, a certain dashing, handsome, talented character actor trapped in a leading man’s body, had a shot at winning Best Supporting Actor for TWELVE MONKEYS. Alas, BRAD PITT lost the trophy to KEVIN SPACEY, who deservedly won for his - now iconic - performance as “Roger “Verbal” Kint” aka “Keyser Soze” in the brilliant THE USUAL SUSPECTS. We have now come full circle with regards to Mr. Pitt, as he is an absolute lock to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor tonight for his magnetic and somewhat sleazy performance as “Cliff Booth” in QUENTIN TARANTINO’S multiple Oscar nominated Ode to Hollywood, ONCE UPON A TIME...IN HOLLYWOOD (I have a feeling QT - with a couple of exceptions, is NOT going to be a happy camper tonight). All of the other major categories, I feel, are a lock this year, and if you’re going to enter an Oscar Pool, this is the year to do it! I’ve listed my choices for the winners of all the categories, so feel free to comment, criticize, and play along at home! I won’t be live-blogging this, but I will be responding and interacting on the talkbacks. Good luck everyone! 
Best Picture - 1917 - Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Jayne-Ann Tenggren and Callum McDougall, Producers
Animated Feature Film - Toy Story 4 - Josh Cooley, Mark Nielsen and Jonas Rivera
Production Design - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - Production Design: Barbara Ling; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
Costume Design - Little Women - Jacqueline Durran
Directing - 1917 - Sam Mendes
Documentary (Short Subject) - Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) - Carol Dysinger and Elena Andreicheva
Foreign Language Film - Parasite - South Korea
Makeup and Hairstyling - Bombshell - Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan and Vivian Baker
Music (Original Score) - Joker - Hildur Guðnadóttir
Music (Original Song) - Rocketman - (I'm Gonna) Love Me Again
Short Film (Animated) - Hair Love - Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver
Short Film (Live Action) - Brotherhood - Meryam Joobeur and Maria Gracia Turgeon
Sound Editing - 1917 - Oliver Tarney and Rachael Tate
Sound Mixing - 1917 - Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson
Visual Effects - 1917 - Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler and Dominic Tuohy
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - Jojo Rabbit - Screenplay by Taika Waititi
Writing (Original Screenplay) - Parasite - Screenplay by Bong Joon Ho, Han Jin Won Story by Bong Joon Ho
Sound off talkbackers and let me know what you think!!
Until next time...
Hugh "Evil Ash" Feinberg
