Coming out of a year where most of the country were shut-ins may have been a good thing for the Oscars. As it turns out, most all of the award categories had a film on Netflix (35), Amazon (12), Walt Disney+ (8), and Warner Bros./HBO (8) each having their own platforms. And the rest of the lot have already released on streaming services, Digital, Home Video and Video On Demand. The following nominees will probably go down as the most watched films prior to the Academy Awards ever.
Having had the opportunity to see most every film nominated that was released for consideration prior to the 2021 deadline, I agree pretty much with the 2021 selections. In January of this year I wrote an article https://acedmagazine.com/10-must-see-films-from-2020/ with my must see movie list of suggestions and I still hold by it for the storyline, acting, direction, and production value. Five of the films are part on the list for Oscar’s Best Picture/Animated Picture. At that time I had not seen The Father, Judas and the Black Messiah, Mank and The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Below you will find a current list that the voters of the Academy of Arts and Sciences will chose from and present the awards for on April 25, 2021. If you have not seen them all as yet, some are now playing at select theaters, still on streaming platforms and even being released on Blu-ray and DVD.
The following categories are listed in the order being presented on Oscar Night:
Best actress in a supporting role
Maria Bakalova, “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”
Glenn Close, “Hillbilly Elegy”
Olivia Colman, “The Father”
Amanda Seyfried, “Mank”
Yuh-Jung Youn, “Minari”
Best costume design
Emma
Mank
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mulan
Pinocchio
Best original score
Da 5 Bloods
Mank
Minari
News of the World
Soul
Best adapted screenplay
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
The Father
Nomadland
One Night in Miami
The White Tiger
Best original screenplay
Judas and the Black Messiah
Minari
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best animated short film
Burrow
Genius Loci
If Anything Happens I Love You
Opera
Yes-People
Best live-action short film
Feeling Through
The Letter Room
The Present
Two Distant Strangers
White Eye
Best actor in a supporting role
Sacha Baron Cohen, “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
Daniel Kaluuya, “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Leslie Odom, Jr, “One Night in Miami”
Paul Raci, “Sound of Metal”
Lakeith Stanfield, “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Best documentary
Collective
Crip Camp
The Mole Agent
My Octopus Teacher
Time
Best documentary short
Colette
A Concerto Is a Conversation
Do Not Split
Hunger Ward
A Love Song for Latasha
Best international feature film
Another Round
Better Days
Collective
The Man Who Sold His Skin
Quo Vadis, Aida?
Best sound
Greyhound
Mank
News of the World
Sound of Metal
Soul
Best production design
The Father
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
News of the World
Tenet
Best film editing
The Father
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
News of the World
Nomadland
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Best visual effects
Love and Monsters
The Midnight Sky
Mulan
The One and Only Ivan
Tenet
Best animated feature film
Onward
Over the Moon
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Soul
Wolfwalkers
Best makeup and hairstyling
Emma
Hillbilly Elegy
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Mank
Pinocchio
Best original song
Husavik, “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”
Fight For You, “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Io Sì (Seen), “The Life Ahead”
Speak Now, “One Night in Miami”
Hear My Voice, “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
Best actor in a leading role
Riz Ahmed, “Sound of Metal”
Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Anthony Hopkins, “The Father”
Gary Oldman, “Mank”
Steven Yeun, “Minari”
Best actress in a leading role
Viola Davis, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Andra Day, “The United States vs Billie Holiday”
Vanessa Kirby, “Pieces of a Woman”
Frances McDormand, “Nomadland”
Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman”
Best director
Thomas Vinterberg, “Another Round”
Emerald Fennell, “Promising Young Woman”
David Fincher, “Mank”
Lee Isaac Chung, “Minari”
Chloé Zhao, “Nomadland”
Best picture
The Father
Judas and the Black Messiah
Mank
Minari
Nomadland
Promising Young Woman
Sound of Metal
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
