Hollywood’s pizzazz will be fully displayed at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2nd. Benjamin’s students gave their insights on which films should win the Big Five awards.
The Big Five awards recognize filmmaking’s most fundamental aspects—storytelling, direction, and acting. The Big Five awards this year are The Best Picture, The Best Director, The Best Leading Actor, The Best Leading Actress and The Best Screenplay.
The Best Screenplay nominees are Anora, Sean Baker, The Brutalist, Brady Corbet & Mona Fastvold, A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg, September 5, Tim Fehlbaum & Moritz Binder, The Substance, Coralie Fargeat. Sophomore Elizabeth Merril has high hopes for Anora at the Oscars.
“Anora was such a cool film to watch. They sweep the Oscars and go home with at least two or three. The comedy and the romance part of this is super neat, and its editing makes it unique from other movies like this. This film is awesome and a must-recommend,” Merril explained.
Junior Alex Perkins isn’t a fan of any of these movies. “Honestly, I don’t think these should win any Oscars. The screenplay is about how the movie is played and displayed, but none are Oscar-worthy,” Perkins stated.
The Best Leading Actor nominees are Adrian Brody, The Brutalist, Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown, Colman Domingo, Sing Sing, Ralph Fiennes, Conclave, Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice.
Junior Luc Borzilleri believes Timothee Chalamet should take home the Oscar for this one. “My favorite actor probably ever is Timothee Chalamet. I love the types of movies he is in because he just livens the mood. Having him in A Complete Unknown is a treat for viewers, and this was my favorite film I watched this year by far,” Borzileri noted.
Contradicting Borzillieri, sophomore Isabelle Downey is an Adrian Brody fan. “I feel like Adrian Brody is an Oscar-winning actor. He’s very dramatic when he acts, and I thought the movie that he was in, The Brutalist, was excellent. He made the movie a lot more interesting.”
The Best Leading Actress nominees are Cynthia Erivo, Wicked, Karla Sofia Gascón, Emilia Pérez, Mikey Madison, Anora, Demi Moore, The Substance, Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here.
Junior Mikey Tighe loved Wicked. “I loved watching Wicked. I don’t know who played Elphaba, but she did well, and it is Oscar-worthy,” Tighe explained.
Hoffman thinks differently and believes that Demi Moore is an outstanding actor. “Demi Moore is an outstanding actor. She made The Substance a lot more interesting to watch, and I think she deserves the Oscar for best actress, no doubt,” Hoffman explained.
The Best Director nominees are Sean Baker, Anora, Brady Corbet, The Brutalist, James Mangold, A Complete Unknown, Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez, Coralie Fargeat, and The Substance.
“I know Anora was very good with Sean Baker, but Emilia Perez was an insane film directed by Jacques Audiard very well. I don’t take Spanish, but this movie’s musical crime and drama is catching from a viewer,” junior Drew Sterling explained.
The Substance was a big favorite for sophomore Morgan Dunlap. “I have watched clips from it, and I think that the way that scenes are displayed is well done. I think The Substance should win this Oscar easily,” Dunlap said.
The Best Picture nominees are Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked.
Junior Caroline Smith loves Anora. “I don’t watch many movies, but I know for sure Anora should win Best Picture because it shows the humor and the social commentary very well throughout the film. The storytelling is top-notch, and I had such a good time watching this movie,” Smith stated.
Junior Alyssa Saraqi watched both Anora and Wicked at similar times. She believes that Wicked is a phenomenal pick for best picture. “Wicked should win over Anora because the cinematography makes the movie itself. The colors of the characters and the scenes make the story and the plot. If there is a warm moment, then it’s warm lighting, and if there’s a scary or sad moment, the lighting has a cool tone,” Saraqi exclaimed.
