After months of boring, assumed winners, the Oscars race has been shaken up recently by shocker developments no one saw coming. When they air Sunday, March 27, on ABC, the evening should be full of surprises. Here, Post critic Johnny Oleksinski picks who will win and who should win at the 2022 Academy Awards.
Best Picture
Will Win: “CODA”
The touching AppleTV+ drama has snuck up from behind over the last two weeks, winning both the hugely important SAG Best Ensemble Award and the Producers Guild’s top prize. Suddenly, it’s the one to beat.
“CODA,” on AppleTV+, has become unstoppable in recent weeks. ©Apple TV/Courtesy Everett Coll
Should Win: “Dune”
The first part of director Denis Villenueve’s adaptation of the sci-fi novel was, by far, the most impressive cinematic experience of the year.
“Belfast”
“Drive My Car”
“The Power of the Dog”
Jane Campion has been the frontrunner for Best Director since early fall.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin
Best Director
Will Win: Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog”
Awards season has been a coronation for Campion ever since her esoteric Western bombarded the festival circuit.
Should Win: Paul Thomas Anderson, “Licorice Pizza”
Anderson’s movie is moving, funny and visually gripping.
Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast”
Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, “Drive My Car”
Steven Spielberg, “West Side Story”
Will Smith won the SAG and BAFTA awards for his acting in “King Richard.” Warner Bros. Pictures via AP
Best Actor
Will Win, Should Win: Will Smith, “King Richard”
Smith gives one of his best performances in years, as the fascinating and complex father of Serena and Venus Williams.
Javier Bardem, “Being the Ricardos”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog”
Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick … Boom!”
Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
After being seen as an underdog, Jessica Chastain is now the frontrunner. ©Searchlight Pictures
Best Actress
Will Win, Should Win: Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
Chastain was the underdog until she won the SAG Award. Now she’s tough to take down.
Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter”
Penélope Cruz , “Parallel Mothers”
Nicole Kidman, “Being the Ricardos”
Kristen Stewart, “Spencer”
Troy Kotsur has been on an awards roll this season.AP
Best Supporting Actor
Will Win, Should Win: Troy Kotsur, “CODA”
Kodi Smit-McPhee, like “The Power of the Dog” once seemed unstoppable. But the fabulous Kotsur’s got this in the bag.
Ciarán Hinds, “Belfast”
Jesse Plemons, “The Power of the Dog”
J.K. Simmons, “Being the Ricardos”
Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog”
Ariana DeBose has been the queen of awards season.Dave Benett/Getty Images
Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story”
DeBose has snagged almost every major trophy this season for playing Anita. The Oscars won’t stop her momentum.
Should Win: Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog”
Dunst does great work in “Dog,” another triumph in a long — and ofter underrated — career.
Jessie Buckley, “The Lost Daughter”
Judi Dench, “Belfast”
Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard”
“CODA” is expected to pick up multiple trophies.Apple TV+ via AP
Best Adapted Screenplay
Will Win: “CODA”
“CODA” will benefit hugely in this category from its growing momentum.
Should Win: “Dune”
Making sense of Frank Herbert’s novel “Dune” is no easy task — look how well it worked out for David Lynch — and Denis Villeneuve should be recognized for that.
“Drive My Car”
“The Lost Daughter”
“The Power of the Dog”
Original Screenplay is the best chance for “Licorice Pizza” to win an Oscar.AP
Best Original Screenplay
Will Win, Should Win: “Licorice Pizza”
The Academy admires “Licorice Pizza” and its writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson.
“Belfast”
“Don’t Look Up”
“King Richard”
“The Worst Person in the World”
“Dune” is a classic throwback to the movie scores of grand Hollywood.Courrtesy of the Toronto International Film Festival
Best Original Score
Will Win, Should Win: “Dune”
Hans Zimmer’s score is big, old-fashioned, booming movie music.
“Don’t Look Up”
“Encanto”
“Parallel Mothers”
“The Power of the Dog”
“Encanto” seems unstoppable.AP
Best Animated Feature Film
Will Win: “Encanto”
Thanks in part to the mammoth chart success of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” everyone is talking about “Encanto.”
Should win: “Luca”
“Luca” is simply bellissimo.
“Flee”
“The Mitchells vs. the Machines”
“Raya and the Last Dragon”
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is the hit from “Encanto,” but the movie’s “Dos Oruguitas” should clean up Sunday.Disney/The Hollywood Archive
Best Original Song
Will Win, Should Win: “Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto,” music and lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda
OK, it’s not “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” but this song by Miranda is even better.
“Be Alive” from “King Richard,” music and lyric by Dixson and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
“Down To Joy” from “Belfast,” music and lyric by Van Morrison
“No Time To Die” from “No Time to Die,” music and lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days,” music and lyric by Diane Warren