When the Oscars are presented for the 95th time on the night of March 13th, numerous film fans will certainly be gathering in front of the television for a betting round or two. With eleven chances of a golden boy, the colorful science fiction film "Everything Everywhere All at Once" is the biggest favorite this year. But the raven-black tragic comedy "The Banshees of Inisherin" and the German Oscar hopeful "Nothing new in the West" are also well-placed, each with nine nominations. Which works and stars in the top categories are given the best chance of winning?
In the supreme discipline "Best Film", bookmakers and even mathematical calculations foresee an unconquerable winner: "Everything Everywhere All at Once" is likely to outperform the nine other works, including "Nothing New in the West", "Elvis", "The Banshees of Inisherin" or Steven Spielberg's (76) "The Fabelmans", don't leave a chance. The film by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (35 each) was simply too sovereign for that at previous awards.
It should be much more exciting this year with the main actors. In the past few weeks and months, a trio has emerged from the five nominees that should decide the victory: Colin Farrell (46) for "The Banshees of Inisherin", Brendan Fraser (54) for "The Whale" and Austin Butler (31) for "Elvis". Actors in musician biopics are traditionally given Oscars, which would speak in favor of the latter candidate. But Fraser and Farrell are also in the running thanks to their self-sacrificing performances. The star from "The Mummy", who has made a great comeback in Darren Aronofsky's (54) drama, is already the winner of hearts.
With the main actresses, the situation seems clear: Cate Blanchett (53) should take the golden boy home for the film "Tár", in which she mimes the first chief conductor of a large German orchestra. In fact, her part is made for an Oscar, but she shouldn't feel completely safe. Michelle Yeoh (60) also has anything but outsider chances for the trophy and with "Everything Everywhere All at Once" she has a critic and public favorite behind her.
Consequently, the directing duo of "Everything Everywhere All at Once", Kwan and Scheinert, are also entering the race with the best chances of winning the director's Oscar. The competition, including legend Spielberg with "The Fabelmans", is huge. But the work of art that the two have captured on screen with their sci-fi flick should ultimately come out on top. However, Martin McDonagh (52), who also shone with "The Banshees of Inisherin", should not be written off.
In the category "Best Foreign Language Film" the German hour could have struck once again in 2023. Where the supreme discipline is most likely not enough for the Oscar for "Nothing New in the West", the film by Edward Berger (53) is the clear favorite in view of the previous triumphs at other award ceremonies. From a German point of view, the only things to worry about are the Belgian contribution "Close" and the Argentine film "Argentina", which also received great praise beforehand.
Another Oscar in one of the top categories is most likely in the "Best Supporting Actor" category for "Everything Everywhere All at Once". Ke Huy Quan (51) has won many hearts with his role as a lovable, "too nice" father. Barry Keoghan (30) and Brendan Gleeson (67) with their respective parts in "The Banshees of Inisherin" are also strong competitors, but in the end this prize should also go to the sci-fi film.
For a long time, Kerry Condon (40) seemed to be ahead with "The Banshees of Inisherin". But then "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" star Angela Bassett (64) won the Golden Globe for her role as Queen Ramonda and thus also took pole position at the Academy Awards. She was the first star from a Marvel film to win a Globe, and the Oscar nomination is also historic in this respect - that would be the triumph on the night of March 13th. Jamie Lee Curtis (64), who is also in a promising position for "Everything Everywhere All at Once", should not be overlooked here.
