2021 “Above the Line” Oscar Predictions – September

September is here which, usually, marks the beginning of Award Season in the world of film. This year might be “semi”-different because of the change in the awards timeline, but that doesn’t mean we cannot start looking at the upcoming season.

Every month I will be going through the “above the line” categories at the Oscars and giving my take on who I think will win, who will be nominated, and who are the first two out.

The Nominees are all in alphabetical order.

Picture

Winner:

• The Trial of the Chicago 7

Nominees:

• Dune
• Hillbilly Elegy
• Judas and the Black Messiah
• Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Mank
• Minari
• News of the World
• Nomadland
  • Recent winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. The past three winners include Joker, Roma, The Shape of Water.
• Soul

First Two Out:

• The Father
• Da 5 Bloods

Director

Winner:

• David Fincher – Mank

Nominees:

• Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7
• Chloe Zhao – Nomadland
• Dennis Villeneuve – Dune
• Paul Greengrass – News of the World

First Two Out:

• Shaka King – Judas and the Black Messiah
• Steven Spielberg – West Side Story

Lead Actor

Winner:

• Anthony Hopkins – The Father

Nominees:

• Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods
• Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah
• Gary Oldman – Mank
• Steven Yeun – Minari

First Two Out:

• Kingsley Ben-Adir – One Night in Miami
• Eddie Redmayne – The Trial of the Chicago 7

Lead Actress

Winner:

• Frances McDormand – Nomadland

Nominees:

• Amy Adams – Hillbilly Elegy
• Jennifer Hudson – Respect
• Kate Winslet – Ammonite
• Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

First Two Out:

• Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman
• Jessie Buckley – i’m thinking of ending things

Supporting Actor

Winner:

• Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Nominees:

• Bill Murray – On the Rocks
  • I have a feeling he was in the trailer a lot for marketing purposes, but I don’t think the movie will be just him and Rashida Jones as it implied. However, if I am wrong I can always change it.
• Jeremy Strong – The Trial of the Chicago 7
• Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah
• Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7

First Two Out:

• Tom Pelphrey – Mank
• Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – The Trial of the Chicago 7

Supporting Actress

Winner:

• Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy

Nominees:

• Amanda Seyfried – Mank
• Ariana DeBose – West Side Story
• Olivia Colman – The Father
• Saoirse Ronan – Ammonite

First Two Out:

• Helena Zengel – News of the World
• Youn Yuh-jung – Minari

Original Screenplay

Winner:

• The Trial of the Chicago 7

Nominees:

• Mank
• Minari
• On the Rocks
• Soul

First Out:

• Judas and the Black Messiah
• Palm Springs

Adapted Screenplay

Winner:

• Dune

Nominees:

• i’m thinking of ending things
• Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
• Nomadland
• One Night in Miami…

First Two Out:

• News of the World
• Hillbilly Elegy

What do you think of my picks? Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments or on twitter @ Tberry57!

Jacob is a film critic and co-founder of the Music City Drive-In. He is a member of the Music City Film Critics’ Association and specializes in the awards season. You can find him on Twitter @Tberry57.