TRAVIS BYRAM'S MOVIE REVIEWS

I'm doing 'em all this year! Bold indicates my personal preference, red is what I think will win. NOTE: I will only include my preference if I've seen at least 3 out of the 5 nominees. BEST PICTURE: It gets under my craw that some are complaining that nothing happens in Chloé Zhao's soon-to-be-Oscar-winning Nomadland . The film depicts nothing less than the journey of a spirit, the chronicling of grief and the experiencing of a shift of the American mindset. But sure, let's focus on Frances McDormand defecating in a bucket. Won't the haters feel like a poop-bucket when Nomadland makes a clean sweep of the BAFTA's, the Globes, the Critic's Choice, and now the Academy Awards.  The Father Judas and the Black Messiah Mank Minari Nomadland   Promising Young Woman Sound of Metal The Trial of the Chicago 7 BEST DIRECTOR: Everyone is worthy. Fincher should've won a decade ago for Social Network (maybe we could've avoided that year's winner Tom Ho...

BEST ACTOR: Predicting this victory truly feels like the only 100% certain bet we've had so far this season. It would be a gargantuan upset if anyone other than the late Boseman took home the trophy. I think this win will age as well as Peter Finch's and Heath Ledger's Oscars, which is to say...tremendously. If you knew nothing about what Mr. Boseman was enduring from 2016 to 2020, you would still be floored away by his agonized, fame-hungry Levee we get to see onscreen. I think Minari hype has been peaking at just the right time, so expect to see Yeun get that coveted fifth slot, though I would be one happy boy if Delroy Lindo was able to sneak in as the Trump-trumpeting treasure hunter Paul in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods . Reactions to Mank have ranged from new classic to drag, but I was delighted by Oldman's sassy lush.  Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Anthony Hopkins, The Father Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal Gary Oldman, Mank Steven Yeun, Minari BEST ACTR...