Video: Oscar smackdown with Oliver and Vikram
Editor’s note: Reader votes are listed for each category in parenthesis.
Best Actor Nominees (Time – 1:25)
- Anthony Hopkins from “The Father” (0 votes)
- Chadwick Boseman from “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (6 votes)
- Riz Ahmed from “Sound of Metal” (3 votes)
- Steven Yeun from “Minari” (2 votes)
- Gary Oldman from “Mank” (0 votes)
Oliver’s pick: Anthony Hopkins
Vikram’s pick: Riz Ahmed
Though Vikram and Oliver made their choices based strictly on acting ability, they both agree that Chadwick Boseman deserves the award posthumously.
Best Actress Nominees (Time – 4:30)
- Viola Davis from “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (3 vote)
- Vanessa Kirby from “Pieces of a Woman” (0 votes)
- Carey Mulligan from “Promising Young Woman” (2 votes)
- Frances McDormand from “Nomadland” (1 vote)
- Andra Day from “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” (0 votes)
Oliver’s pick: Vanessa Kirby
Vikram’s pick: Carey Mulligan
Best Supporting Actor Nominees (Time – 8:46)
- Daniel Kaluuya from “Judas and the Black Messiah” (0 votes)
- Lakeith Stanfield from “Judas and the Black Messiah” (1 vote)
- Paul Raci from “Sound of Metal” (2 votes)
- Leslie Odom Jr. from “One Night in Miami…” (2 votes)
- Sacha Baron Cohen from “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (5 votes)
Oliver’s pick: Leslie Odom Jr.
Vikram’s pick: Daniel Kaluuya
Are these really their picks though….?
Best Supporting Actress Nominees (Time – 13:27)
- Youn Yuh-jung from “Minari” (2 votes)
- Glenn Close from “Hillbilly Elegy” (1 vote)
- Olivia Colman from “The Father” (3 votes)
- Amanda Seyfried from “Mank” (0 votes)
- Maria Bakalova from “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” (1 vote)
Oliver’s pick: Youn Yuh-jung from “Minari”
Vikram’s pick: Youn Yuh-jung from “Minari”
Best Adapted Screenplay Nominees (Time – 16:01)
- “Nomadland” (3 votes)
- “The White Tiger” (1 vote)
- “The Father” (0 votes)
- “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” (2 votes)
- “One Night in Miami…” (0 votes)
Oliver’s pick: “One Night in Miami…”
Vikram’s pick: “The Father”
Best Original Screenplay Nominees (Time – 18:46)
- “Promising Young Woman” (2 votes)
- “Sound of Metal” (1 vote)
- “Judas and the Black Messiah” (1 vote)
- “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (1 vote)
- “Minari” (1 vote)
Oliver’s pick: “Promising Young Woman”
Vikram’s pick: “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
Best Director Nominees (Time – 21:46)
- Thomas Vinterberg for “Another Round” (0 votes)
- Chloe Zhao for “Nomadland” (3 votes)
- Emerald Fennell for “Promising Young Woman” (1 vote)
- David Fincher for “Mank” (0 votes)
- Lee Isaac Chung for “Minari” (0 votes)
Oliver’s pick: Emerald Fennell
Vikram’s pick: Chloe Zhao
Best Picture Nominees (Time – 26:12)
- “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (0 votes)
- “Minari” (1 vote)
- “Sound of Metal” (1 vote)
- “Nomadland” (2 votes)
- “Judas and the Black Messiah” (1 vote)
- “Mank” (0 votes)
- “The Father” (o votes)
- “Promising Young Woman” (0 votes)
Oliver’s ranking (best to worst from top to bottom):
- “Minari”
- “The Father”
- “Promising Young Woman”
- “Sound of Metal”
- “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
- “Mank”
- “Nomadland”
N/A: “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Vikram’s ranking (best to worst from top to bottom):
- “The Father”
- “Minari”
- “Sound of Metal”
- “Promising Young Woman”
- “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
- “Nomadland”
- “Mank”
N/A: “Judas and the Black Messiah”
BONUS!!! (Time – 32:34)
- “Fight For You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah” Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
- “Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7” Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
- “Husavik” from “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson
- “Io Sì (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)” Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
- “Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami…” Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth
Oliver’s pick: “Speak Now”
Vikram’s pick: “Speak Now”
Oliver has been working with the Pelham Examiner since August of 2019 and looks forward to continuing his contributions. Along with contributing to the...
Vikram Jallepalli is a senior at Pelham Memorial High School. Writing for the Examiner is his first role in journalism. He performs in Sock’n’Buskin...