Wonder Watchlist

Today at the crack of dawn, the nominees for the 97th Academy Awards were announced. As someone who isn’t totally locked into award season, the Oscars are the one show I never miss. There’s a long list of films and their crews that I have been rooting for all year round; it’s like my version of fantasy football. 2024 was a great year for film, and I’m proud to have seen almost every single film nominated in all major categories. I’m Still Here needs to release near me! Let’s dive into who and what was nominated, and who I’m rooting for to win.

Before we start: A moment of silence for Luca Guadagnino, and Sayombhu Mukdeeprom who gave us some of the best films that sadly were not nominated at this years Academy Awards.

I will only be covering categories where I have seen almost, if not all, of the nominees to keep it honest.

Actor in a Leading Role

• Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
• Timotheé Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
• Colmon Domingo – Sing Sing
• Ralph Finnes – Conclave
• Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice

Who I think will win: Adrien Brody – The Brutalist

Who I want to win: Colmon Domingo – Sing Sing

This category is one I’ve been mulling over for some time, as each performance here is worthy of praise. Domingo stands above the rest in Sing Sing, a film that deserves more screens and visibility. His performance captures the true transformative power of acting in a film that is all about art’s transformative powers.

Actor in a Supporting Role

• Yura Borisov – Anora
• Kiernan Culkin – A Real Pain
• Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
• Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
• Jeremy Strong – The Apprentice

Who I think will win: Kiernan Culkin – A Real Pain

Who I want to win: Guy Pearce – The Brutalist

To be totally honest with you readers, this category, amongst others that will be listed below, had me a bit underwhelmed. Some of my favorite supporting performances this year, such as Adam Pearson and Clarence Maclin, did not make it in. But alas, I am rooting for Guy Pearce in this category; he has a strong performance in The Brutalist that lingered with me for many months after watching the film. It’s unlike any performance I have seen from Pearce before and worthy of praise.

Actress in a Leading Role

• Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
• Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
• Mikey Madison – Anora
• Demi Moore – The Substance
• Fernada Torres – I’m Still Here

Who I think will win: Demi Moore – The Substance

Who I want to win: Demi Moore – The Substance

This is the beginning of my #SubstanceSweep so buckle up! There hasn’t been a performance this year that has impacted me more than Demi Moore in The Substance. A film that has poignant subject matter, with a cast and crew that have a deep connection to it all. Demi Moore captures the frustration women and femmes feel as we age within industries that would rather throw us away. Here’s to hoping she brings home that Academy Awards gold!

Actress in a Supporting Role

• Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown
• Ariana Grande – Wicked
• Felicity Jones – The Brutalist
• Isabella Rossellini – Conclave
• Zoe Saldanã – Emilia Pérez

Who I think will win: Zoe Saldanã – Emilia Pérez

Who I want to win: Monica Barbaro – A Complete Unknown

This was yet again another tough category for me to pick; Rossellini gives a powerful performance in Conclave with such small screentime. Saldanã is the only saving grace from Emilia Pérez.. but Monica Barbaro adds much-needed life into A Complete Unknown when the film drags on for too long. Her performance as Joan Baez is the best from the film, showcasing her powerful pipes; each time she’s on screen, she steals the whole deal.

Cinematography

• Lol Crawley – The Brutalist
• Greig Fraser – DUNE: Part Two
• Paul Guilhaume – Emilia Pérez
• Ed Lachman – Maria
• Jarin Blaschke – Nosferatu

Who I think will win: Lol Crawley – The Brutalist

Who I want to win: Jarin Blaschke – Nosferatu

Cinematography is always my favorite category for the Academy Awards ceremony; it highlights the best parts of film, and when it’s good, it can make or break a film. Jarin Blaschke brings gothic horror to life through his candle-lit lens; the visuals in Nosferatu are the biggest highlight for me. A longtime collaborator with director Robert Eggers, Blaschke transported us all to the lair of Count Orlok.

Costume Design

• Arianne Phillips – A Complete Unknown
• Lisy Christl – Conclave
• Janty Yates and Dave Crossman – Gladiator II
• Linda Muir – Nosferatu
• Paul Tazewell – Wicked

Who I think will win: Linda Muir – Nosferatu

Who I want to win: Janty Yates and Dave Crossman – Gladiator II

Costuming in film makes or breaks my immersion; if the costuming is lacking, it’s hard to truly connect with the film, especially if it’s a period piece. I’m rooting for Janty Yates and Dave Crossman with their work in Gladiator II; each piece of armor is stunning, with small details that can’t truly be appreciated with just one watch. Their work on the dual emperors’ armor is nothing short of perfection.

Directing

• Sean Baker – Anora
• Brady Corbet – The Brutalist
• James Mangold – A Complete Unknown
• Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
• Coralie Fargeat – The Substance

Who I think will win: Brady Corbet – The Brutalist

Who I want to win: Coralie Fargeat – The Substance

Once again the #SubstanceSweep for the Academy Awards is real within me! Any year there is a female director nominated adds a few years onto my life, and there’s no one on this list more worthy of the win than Coralie Fargeat. Her film is 100% her unshakable vision from the script to the practical effects used on screen. Fargeat is a true master of her craft, and in any other hands, this film wouldn’t be as special.

Film Editing

• Sean Baker – Anora
• David Jancso – The Brutalist
• Nick Emerson – Conclave
• Juliette Welfling – Emilia Pérez
• Myron Kerstein – Wicked

Who I think will win: David Jancso – The Brutalist

Who I want to win: David Jancso – The Brutalist

One of the most important aspects of any film, in my opinion, outside of the visuals, is the editing; a good film can often get dragged down by poor editing and feel longer than it truly is. David Jancsó had the monumental task of editing a film that is over 3 hours long, with a nice little intermission. I’ve seen the film a number of times now, and its editing is near perfect. It’s well paced so that the run time is rarely felt, making it almost breeze by after the first watch.

International Feature Film

• Brazil – I’m Still Here
• Denmark – The Girl with the Needle
• France – Emilia Pérez
• Germany – The Seed of the Sacred Fig
• Latvia – Flow

Who I think will win: France – Emilia Pérez

Who I want to win: Germany – The Seed of the Sacred Fig

Might be the hardest choice I’ve made so far as I love both Germany and Denmark’s submissions this year for the Academy Awards, but I have to go with The Seed of the Sacred Fig. No film on this list shows the same amount of courage that director Mohammad Rasoulof did in making this film. It’s a look into a culture and a way of life that, for someone living in America, I had never seen in film before. Easily takes my pick for this category!

Makeup and Hairstyling

• Mike Marino, David Presto and Crystal Jurado – A Different Man
• Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier and Jean-Christophe Spadaccinia – Emilia Pérez
• David White, Traci Loader and Suzanne Stokes-Munton – Nosferatu
• Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon and Marilyne Scarselli – The Substance
• Frances Hannon, Laura Blount and Sarah Nuth – Wicked

Who I think will win: Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon and Marilyne Scarselli – The Substance

Who I want to win: Pierre-Olivier Persin, Stéphanie Guillon and Marilyne Scarselli – The Substance

Are you on board The Substance express yet? Because I’m rooting for it alllllll day! What the crew of The Substance achieved with their practical makeup work on a late-stage Elisabeth Sparkle in the latter part of the film is worthy of multiple awards. Watching the BTS featurette showcasing how they made Monstro Elisasue is well enough evidence that there isn’t another film in this category more deserving.

Original Score

• Daniel Blumberg – The Brutalist
• Volker Bertelmann – Conclave
• Clément Ducol and Camille – Emilia Pérez
• John Powell and Stephen Schwartz – Wicked
• Kris Bowers – The Wild Robot

Who I think will win: Daniel Blumberg – The Brutalist

Who I want to win: Daniel Blumberg – The Brutalist

It saddens me to not be able to vote for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross here for Challengers; it’s painful! But that’s not to say Daniel Blumberg’s score for The Brutalist is not worthy because it 100% is. From the start of the film, Blumberg’s score is powerful and has a triumphant flair to it. Its impact throughout the film evokes every possible emotion, and much like the message of the film, it stands staunchly.

Best Picture

• Anora
• A Complete Unknown
• Conclave
• DUNE: Part Two
• Emilia Pérez
• I’m Still Here
• Nickel Boys
• The Substance
• Wicked
• The Brutalist

Who I think will win: The Brutalist

Who I want to win: The Substance

Are you sick of me saying “this was a tough choice” yet? Well, it was! This is like asking me to pick my favorite cat, and it will change depending on my mood. But once again, this is #SubstanceSweep, and I am hoping and praying with all my might that The Substance wins all the Academy Awards including Best Picture. It’s rare for a horror film to get this far in the awards circuit, especially one that is female-directed and bonkers as hell. But this just makes me root for it even harder!

Production Design

• Judy Becker and Patricia Cuccia – The Brutalist
• Suzie Davies and Cynthia Sleite – Conclave
• Patrice Vermette and Shane Vieau – DUNE: Part Two
• Craig Lathrop and Beatrice Brentnerová – Nosferatu
• Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales – Wicked

Who I think will win: Craig Lathrop and Beatrice Brentnerová – Nosferatu

Who I want to win: Craig Lathrop and Beatrice Brentnerová – Nosferatu

Nosferatu is my favorite film of 2024; one of the many reasons why is the sets from the film. Orlok’s manor, which is falling apart yet still holds a regal quality, and the sarcophagus in which he slumbers allow for an incredibly immersive watch. Each candle and speck of dust are masterfully designed to fit the time period of the film.

Sound

• Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey and David Giammarco – A Complete Unknown
• Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett and Doug Hemphill – DUNE: Part Two
• Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Maxence Dussère, Cyril Holtz and Niels Barletta – Emilia Pérez
• Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson and John Marquis – Wicked
• Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A. Rizzo and Leff Lefferts – The Wild Robot

Who I think will win: Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett and Doug Hemphill – DUNE: Part Two

Who I want to win: Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett and Doug Hemphill – DUNE: Part Two

There’s a lot, and I mean A LOT to love when it comes to the DUNE films, at least for me. Beyond the visuals is the film’s sound; a scene that particularly sticks out to me for this film’s sound is Paul ascending the steps towards the Baron. The sound his footsteps make as he approaches while pulling out his crysknife is enough to make me want to pop my 4K of the film in and rewatch it all over!

Visual Effects

• Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin and Shane Mahan – Alien: Romulus
• Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft and Peter Stubbs – Better Man
• Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe and Gerd Nefzer – DUNE: Part Two
• Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story and Rodney Burke – Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk and Paul Corbould – Wicked

Who I think will win: Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe and Gerd Nefzer – DUNE: Part Two

Who I want to win: Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe and Gerd Nefzer – DUNE: Part Two

Piggybacking off of what I saw previously about the sound, the visual effect work in DUNE: Part Two is just as goosebump-inducing. There’s never a frame of the film that looks poorly made or haphazardly put together. Paul riding the sandworm for the first time sticks out as the true testament to the film’s visual work, a scene Denis couldn’t wait to piece together.

Adapted Screenplay

• A Complete Unknown – Screenplay by James Mangold and Jay Cocks
• Conclave – Screenplay by Peter Straughan
• Emilia Pérez – Screenplay by Jacques Audiard; In collaboration with Thomas Bidegain, Léa Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi
• Nickel Boys – Screenplay by RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes
• Sing Sing – Screenplay by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar; Story by Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, John “Divine G” Whitfield

Who I think will win: Nickel Boys – Screenplay by RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes

Who I want to win: Nickel Boys – Screenplay by RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes

One of the most important films from 2024 to watch is Nickel Boys, a film I had no prior knowledge of before seeing it in December. I’m glad I was able to get the chance to screen this because, from the cinematography to the performances, it all impacted me immensely. A film that is felt with all the senses, with the use of archival footage.

Original Screenplay

• Anora – Written by Sean Baker
• The Brutalist – Written by Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold
• A Real Pain – Written by Jesse Eisenberg
• September 5 – Written by Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum; Co-Written by Alex David
• The Substance – Written by Coralie Fargeat

Who I think will win: Anora – Written by Sean Baker

Who I want to win: The Substance written by Coralie Fargeat

I’m hoping, praying, and manifesting this win for Coralie Fargeat. Although I do so much love Anora, The Substance is something that by all regards the Academy Awards would’ve ignored if it wasn’t for Fargeat and her brilliance. Her screenplay handles such relatable subject matter and puts it to screen like I’ve never seen before.

Animated Feature Film

• Flow
• Inside Out 2
• Memoir of a Snail
• Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
• The Wild Robot

Who I think will Win: Flow

Who I want to win: Flow

There’s very few things in life I love more than my cats, so an animated film about a cat fighting for it’s life and home is right up my alley. The animation style is easy to love, and I’m rooting hard for this one!

If you made it this far thanks for reading, let me know what you are rooting for this year for the Academy Awards!

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