The race for the 2023 Oscars has begun and this year the competition seems unusually fierce. Oscar’s nominations will be announced on Tuesday, Jan. 24, with the ceremony being held on March 12, 2023. Under the best director category, there have only been six African Americans nominated for best director in the 94-year history. Those directors are John Singleton (“Boyz n the Hood”), Lee Daniels (“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”), Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”), Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”), Jordan Peele (“Get Out”) and Spike Lee (“BlacKkKlansman”)—none have ever won. Under the Best Actress category, the lack of diversity and inclusion is on record with Halle Berry winning for the film “Monster’s Ball.” There are zero Latinas and Asians, so there is still work to be done.
In the award prediction circles the question looms, will Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) and Gina Prince-Bythewood (“The Woman King”) be added to the conversation for Best Director? Similarly, will the academy voters appreciate the fresh take on storytelling by the Daniels for their wildly entertaining film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” or the popcorn-pleasing action adventure delivered by director Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”)?
Here are our early predictions for the 2023 Oscars.
Best Picture
“Everything, Everywhere All at Once”—directed by Daniels under A24. Released March 25, 2022, and is now streaming on Showtime.
“The Banshees of Inisherin”—directed by Martin McDonagh under Searchlight Pictures.
Limited release Oct. 21, 2022.
“TÁR”—directed by Todd Field under Focus Features. Limited release Oct. 7, 2022.
“The Whale”—directed by Darren Aronofsky under A24. Schedule to open Dec. 9, 2022.
“The Woman King”—directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood under Sony Pictures. Released Sept. 16 and will appear on Netflix Jan. 14, 2023.
“Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”—directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu under Netflix. Limited theatrical release date, Nov. 4, 2022, with streaming date set for Dec. 16, 2022.
Best Director
“The Fabelmans”—directed by Steven Spielberg. A semi-autobiography based on Spielberg’s own childhood growing up in post-war Arizona, from age seven to eighteen.
“Tár”— directed by Todd Field. Set in the international world of classical music, the film centers on Lydia Tár, widely considered one of the greatest living composer/conductors and the first-ever female chief conductor of a major German orchestra.
“Emancipation”—directed by Antoine Fuqua. A runaway slave travels through the dangerous swamps of Louisiana on a tortuous journey to escape plantation owners who nearly killed him.
“The Banshees of Inisherin”—directed by Martin McDonagh. Two lifelong friends find themselves at a crossroads when one suddenly ends their relationship, with consequences for both of them.
“The Woman King”—directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. A historical epic inspired by true events that took place in the Kingdom of Dahomey, a powerful state in Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Long Shots (but still in the conversation)
“RRR”—directed by S.S. Rajamouli
“Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”—directed by Oscar winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”—directed by Ryan Coogler
Best Actor
Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”)— A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.
Colin Farrell (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)—Two lifelong friends find themselves at a crossroads when one suddenly ends their relationship, with consequences for both of them.
Austin Butler (“Elvis”)—Biopic of Elvis Presley, from his childhood to becoming a rock and movie star in the 1950s while maintaining a disturbing relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
Diego Calva (“Babylon”)—A story of grandiose ambition and outrageous excess, tracing the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence in early Hollywood.
Best Actress
Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)—A Chinese immigrant is swept up in an insane adventure, traversing timelines where she alone can save the world by exploring other universes connecting with the lives she could have led.
Cate Blanchett (“TÁR”) —The film tracks the fictional unraveling of one of the world’s great orchestra conductors.
Danielle Deadwyler (“Till”)—The story of Emmett Louis Till and the legacy of his mother who pursued justice for her brutally murdered (lynched) son.
Viola Davis (“The Woman King”)—Davis leads a group of all female-warriors.
Jennifer Lawrence (“Causeway”)—A U.S. soldier suffers a traumatic brain injury while fighting in Afghanistan and struggles to adjust to life back home.
Best Supporting Actor
Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)
Brendan Gleeson (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)
Judd Hirsch (“The Fabelmans”)
Eddie Redmayne (“The Good Nurse”)
Brian Tyree Henry (“Causeway”)
Best Supporting Actress
Jessie Buckley (“Women Talking”)
Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”)
Jamie Lee Curtis (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)
Charmaine Bingwa (“Emancipation”)
Kerry Condon (“The Banshees of Inisherin”)
Best Original Screenplay
“The Banshees of Inisherin” written by Martin McDonagh (Searchlight Pictures)
“TÁR” written by Todd Field (Focus Features)
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” written by Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert (A24)
“The Fabelmans” written by Tony Kushner, Steven Spielberg (Universal Pictures)
“Triangle of Sadness” written by Ruben Östlund (A24)
Best Adapted Screenplay
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” written by Rian Johnson, based on characters written by Johnson. (Netflix)
“She Said” written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, based on the book by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, and the New York Times investigation by Kantor, Twohey and Rebecca Corbett. (Universal Pictures)
“The Whale” written by Samuel D. Hunter, based on the play by Hunter. (A24)
“Living” screenplay Kazuo Ishiguro, based on “Ikiru” by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni. (Sony Pictures Classics)
“Women Talking” written by Sarah Polley, based on the novel by Miriam Toews.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” written by Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, based on the comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. (Marvel Studios)