Oscar winner's bold prediction as experts sense history making Academy Awards

10 March 2024 , 22:53

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Oppenheimer is up for a number of Oscars

As all eyes turn to Hollywood and the Dolby Theatre on Sunday evening, a number of film experts - including a previous Oscars winner - have revealed their predictions ahead of the 96th Academy Awards.

While Oppenheimer continues to lead the way in predictions after sweeping in past ceremonies, including the Golden Globes, there are a number of productions those with a keen eye on events have earmarked as being potential dark horses to lift a coveted gong. Among those being mentioned is Poor Things.

The winner of the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture is up against the likes of Barbie for this year's Academy Award for Best Picture and in Phil B Goldfine's eyes it would be a worthy winner. Goldfine, who won an Oscar for his 2013 documentary titled The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life told us the production would get his vote if he had to only vote for an Indy production, calling Yorgos Lanthimos' movie a "dark horse".

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Oppenheimer is unsurprisingly widely tipped for Oscars success

However, he admitted he couldn't look over Oppenheimer, labelling it the "possibly the best film I've ever seen". Fully expecting the Christopher Nolan movie to mop up, he gushed: "This year one film has blown me away and that film is Oppenheimer. It is, in my opinion, not only the best film of last year but quite possibly the best film I've ever seen. If there ever was a film that deserves to sweep every category, this is it. See this film, no matter what. It is life changing."

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Emmy-nominated filmmaker Fernando Ferro was under the same impression, saying he can't see by a Christopher Nolan sweep.

However, he made a push for Oscars history to be made into a category with no Oppenheimer representation: "I believe Lily Gladstone is definitely going to win the Oscar and make history as the first Native American to win Best Actress," he said. "And interestingly, it’s one of the categories where there’s no chance of anyone from Oppenheimer winning. I would love to see American Fiction win Best Adapted Screenplay, but I think, in general this is definitely the year of Oppenheimer."

Labelling the awards "highly political," movie expert and PR to the stars Jane Owen also gave her input, saying she doesn't believe a female director with receive an Oscar. "I think they will play it safe with Scorsese or Nolan," she said.

"They will give a nod to Barbie, I’m guessing with Best Costume and best Makeup, but I think best adapted Screenplay will be Oppenheimer."

Lily Gladstone is tipped to make history (AFP via Getty Images)

Christopher Nolan is tipped to follow his BAFTA success with Oscar wins (PA Wire/PA Images)

Stepping away from the Oppenheimer predictions, Emmy Nominated TV host and producer Rasha Goel offered her predictions and suggested a number of potential surprises on the horizon. "It will be interesting to see how The Holdovers, Poor Things, and American Fiction do, especially in the Best Actor in Leading Role for Jeffrey Wright and possibly The Holdovers or Poor Things for Best Film Editing," she said.

"Some toss ups in categories such as Hair and Makeup between Maestro and Poor Things and in Costume Design where Barbie could give Poor Things a challenge. While Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is predicted to win for Best Animated Feature Film, there could be a possible opportunity for Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron. It’s his first feature film in a decade and won the Golden Globe."

Jamie Roberts