Oscar predictions 2020: Who will win vs who should win

The Oscars are just days away – and it’s a tight race this year. Here’s who will win, and who’s likely to be unfairly snubbed.

Johnny Oleksinski

2 min read

February 10, 2020 - 8:22AM

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The 2020 Oscars are just days away.

After a high-quality year of movies and performances, here’s who will – and who should – bring home the big prizes at the 92nd Academy Awards, which will air in Australia on Monday.

BEST PICTURE

Will win: 1917

Should win: 1917

The WWI epic with a jaw-dropping, one-take style reminds audiences why it’s worth it to get off the couch and go to a cinema.

Scene from the film 1917.

BEST ACTOR

Will win: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker

Should win: Antonio Banderas, Pain And Glory

Banderas does heartbreaking work here that ranks with his best. Phoenix, on the other hand, relies on tics and a baby voice.

Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from <i>Joker</i>. Picture: Roadshow Pictures/Warner Bros

Joaquin Phoenix in a scene from Joker. Picture: Roadshow Pictures/Warner Bros

BEST ACTRESS

Will win: Renée Zellweger, Judy

Should win: Renée Zellweger, Judy

Any comeback is hard. A comeback to glory is damn near impossible. Zellweger has made the latter look easy.

Renée Zellweger in a scene from the movie <i>Judy</i>. Picture: Universal Pictures

Renée Zellweger in a scene from the movie Judy. Picture: Universal Pictures

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Will win: Laura Dern, Marriage Story

Should win: Florence Pugh, Little Women

Pugh’s complex turn made the villainous Amy March into a sympathetic human. And it only took six film adaptations to do it.

Laura Dern, left, and Scarlett Johansson in <i>Marriage Story</i>. Picture: Netflix via AP

Laura Dern, left, and Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story. Picture: Netflix via AP

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Will win: Brad Pitt, Once Upon A Time … In Hollywood

Should win: Joe Pesci, The Irishman

Sure, it’s not as sexy as Pitt’s dumb ’70s hunk — but Joe Pesci’s soft-spoken performance as Russell Bufalino is simply on another level.

Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in <i>Once Upon A Time … In Hollywood.</i>

Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon A Time … In Hollywood.

BEST DIRECTOR

Will Win: Sam Mendes, 1917

Should win: Sam Mendes, 1917

Bong Joon Ho would also be a worthy winner for Parasite, but when it comes to marrying scorching visuals and acting, Mendes has the edge.

Director Sam Mendes won the Best Director award for <i>1917 </i>at the Baftas in London earlier this week. Picture: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP

Director Sam Mendes won the Best Director award for 1917 at the Baftas in London earlier this week. Picture: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM

Will win: Parasite (South Korea)

Should win: Parasite

More so than just about any foreign film since Life Is Beautiful, the brilliant Parasite has been enthusiastically embraced by regular moviegoers. That’s a feat.

A scene from Parasite.

BEST SONG

Will win: (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again from Rocketman, (music by Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin)

Should win: I’m Gonna Love Me Again

Besides being, ya know, Elton John, it’s a nice consolation prize for the fact that this solid movie – and lead actor Taron Egerton – were otherwise snubbed.

Taron Egerton as Elton John in Rocketman. Picture: Paramount Pictures.

This article originally appeared in the NY Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Oscar predictions 2020: Who will win vs who should win