It’s the best time of year for cinephiles: award season. Film stars paraded down red carpets in their fanciest clothing, performed funny monologues and gave inspiring speeches. Most importantly, our favorite films have been awarded — or snubbed.
The exciting season will come to an end with the Academy Awards in March. The nominations were released on Jan. 22 and like any other film fanatic, I have my personal hopes of who will be taking certain prestigious accolades home.
2025 was a year of absolutely incredible performances. Albeit with a few exceptions, nearly all the film stars were on top of their game, which makes deciding on the best of the bunch feel like looking for a needle in a haystack.
However, there is unquestionably a standout in the Actress in Leading Role category. Although the other nominees are also extremely talented, particularly Renate Reinsve in “Sentimental Value,” I have no doubt that Jessie Buckley will win for her out-of-this-world performance in “Hamnet.” I have rarely seen a performance as raw, powerful and emotionally resonant. Had Chase Infiniti not been snubbed of a nomination for her role in “One Battle After Another,” Buckley might have had some competition, but alas, no one else comes close.
Deciding who should have the privilege of winning the Actor in Leading Role award is a bit more difficult. I was blown away by Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan’s performances. Ethan Hawke’s performance in “Blue Moon” received high praise, but I have yet to see the film and therefore can neither agree nor disagree. To me, DiCaprio’s performance in “One Battle After Another” has a slight edge over Chalamet’s and Jordan’s. It is a toss-up, but one of them will win.
In my eyes, there is only one right choice for Best Original Score: “Sinners.” Jazz and blues music in “Sinners” becomes a character in its own right and functions as a tool to explore Black American history. It is such a powerful use of an original score, and it would be unfair if the decorated composer Ludwig Göransson does not bring another award home to his already impressive collection.
Among this year’s nominated films, it seems there will be an intense face-off between “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another.” Both films had incredibly political, bold and powerful messages and reestablished the standard for originality in Hollywood, an industry that currently relies heavily on monotonous prequels, sequels, biopics and remakes. “One Battle After Another” received 13 nominations while “Sinners” was given a record-breaking 16, the highest in Oscar history.
Paul Thomas Anderson, the director of “One Battle After Another,” is a seasoned Hollywood professional with a nearly four-decade career that has yielded many critically acclaimed films. “Sinners” director Ryan Coogler has also achieved immense success, particularly with his blockbuster hits like “Creed” and the “Black Panther” franchise. Anderson’s veteran status may give him a slight advantage in this category and pave the way for him to finally receive his first Best Director win.
An honorable mention should go to Josh Safdie. Although he does not stand a chance against Anderson and Coogler in the Best Director category, his first solo feature film, “Marty Supreme,” was absolutely fantastic.
Cinematography is perhaps the only category where the competition is not only between “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners”; “Train Dreams” is an absolutely stylistically stunning film. However, I still think “Sinners” will win Best Cinematography solely because of that one scene — if you have seen the film, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Akin to the Academy Awards programming itself, I have saved the best for last: the Best Picture category. Although “Sentimental Value” was undoubtedly my personal favorite film of all of last year, it unfortunately will not hold up against “One Battle After Another” or “Sinners.” “Marty Supreme” was also phenomenal, but the two headliners have a uniquely raw politicalness to them that the Academy loves rewarding. It is a nearly impossible call to make, but I ultimately think “One Battle After Another” will receive the honor.
I cannot wait to revisit these predictions in March and see how either spot-on or totally off I was. Only time will tell if I’m truly worthy of my title as the section editor of the arts and culture section — I certainly hope so.