Post by StevePulaski on Apr 17, 2021 14:38:55 GMT -5
Oscar season ordinarily starts early in the year, with the nominations announced in January and the ceremony occurring in February or early March. It usually comes relatively soon after Super Bowl Sunday, the second best Sunday of the year. With the COVID-19 pandemic sending the world into a tailspin, the Oscars were delayed until April 25th. Two good things came out of this. For one, the eligibility window for the year's films was extended, allowing worthy films like Judas and the Black Messiah and One Night in Miami... to be in contention. And two, the 2021 NFL Draft comes the following Thursday, setting the stage for an uncommonly great week of must-see television.
I joke with friends when I say that Parasite winning Best Picture in February 2020 was the last good thing to happen in the world, but it's been too long since I've felt such jubilation. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it's that we need something to cheer about, be it with sports, movies, or what-have-you. Every year I look forward to the Oscars. I'm aware it's another self-congratulatory awards show. One film's win isn't necessarily another film's loss. It's the time of the year when the public might consider why they found a certain movie great. It might be the only time they see words like "cinematography" or "production design" and give a thought to what they mean and how they contribute to the quality of a movie.
And every year, I provide you with a list of my predicted winners. Last year, I went 17-7, coming very close to besting my personal record of 19-5 with the 86th Academy Awards.
This year, we're down a category, with Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing being merged into "Best Sound." I've long dreamed of going 24-0, but this year, I'll settle for 23-0, I suppose.
Entrust me with your ballot and win your Oscar pool: influxmagazine.com/steve-pulaskis-predictions-for-the-93rd-academy-awards/