Read on for the results.
The Female Director:Parasiteis a near-perfect film.
It works on every level.
Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker’.Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros.
It’s wholly original and I’ve never seen anything like it.
It’s commenting on society while also being entertaining.
It seems like it’s serving the people in power, but it’s not serving them as well.
It’s an interesting way to dive into that political message in the guise of this thriller-comedy-horror movie.
I thinkMarriage Storyis really overrated.
I don’t get it.
Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker’.Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros.
The performances are good, but the beginning is like, “Look at me!
I’m Woody Allen!”
I don’t know if everyone forgot how good Woody Allen’s movies are.
It never gets anywhere.
Are you kidding me?
The Actor:Parasite.
I watched it the other day and I can’t stop thinking about it.
It’s a fantastic overall picture.
It says so much about life, people, and humanity.
I’ve been thinking about it for days.
It’s so original and different.
I couldn’t get intoJojo Rabbit.It’s like Marmite, you either love it or you don’t.
Like, what am I watching?
I struggled with the whole concept.
The Actress:Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
The Producer:Parasite.
It’s fresh, it’s original, it’s surprising.
It hit all the marks in terms of what a Best Picture should be.
The Writer: It’s not just about the quality of the movie.
It’s always about the broader cultural conversation, so I’ll go withParasite.
We’re buying diversity in the Academy with internationalism, andParasiterepresents that future.
The Composer: Picture and Director are always connected for me.
It’sOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood.
I had two runners-up:JokerandParasite.
ButOnce Upon a Timeis a film I’d watch again and again.
It has this mature director’s freedom; he’s showing and telling everything.
It’s not trimmed to the bone.
You need a director with a lot of leverage to do this.
Jojo Rabbitis a Sundance movie.
It just screams “we didn’t have the budget,” including for the acting talent.
I never bought that Robert De Niro played a 40-year-old.
He moved like a much older person.
I loveScorsese’spast movies, but the film was not there.
The third controversial opinion is probablyMarriage Story, which completely missed my expectations…
I had a big problem with Scarlett Johansson.
It didn’t feel realistic.
Almost all actresses that I know personally would never afford this kind of image to the outside world.
It was bloated with this need of proving the point.
The Publicist: My No.
1 vote will go toParasite.
It has the most to say, and says it in a thrilling way.
It’s just a perfect film.
I think it’s time for a movie like this.
I wouldn’t say I didn’t like it, it’s just not my favorite Scorsese film.
[TheJoker] controversy didn’t weigh on my mind while voting.
I thoughtJokerhad a lot to say and it was beautifully made.
Was it a tough movie?
It needed to be.
Best Director
The Male Director:Bong Joon Ho.
WithParasite, Bong gives you every kind of emotion and he’s economical with his movement.
That’s a proper director, working at the top of his game….
I have a lot of respect for Todd Phillips because the guy’s coming from a completely different background.
If Scorsese had madeJoker, it wouldn’t have the controversy.
It’s because he madeHangoverand these other films and he’s not getting enough respect for it.
The Female Director:Bong Joon Ho.
It would’ve been over for me.
[On my nominations ballot] I had Greta….
I’m always supporting female directors, so my ballot was all women.
It was Lulu Wang, Alma Har’el forHoney Boy.Basically, it was all women and Bong.
If you’re a white dude, you weren’t on my ballot.
The Actor: I’m actually going to go withSam Mendeson this one.
I thought it was a really brave thing to do to tell1917in one shot.
The Actress:Quentin Tarantino.
I thought his direction was great.
[Brad and Leo] together are terrific, like Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
It takes directing to another level of feeling like it’s a single shot.
The Writer: I’ll go withQuentin Tarantino.
The Publicist:Bong Joon Ho.
It pulls off a tonal miracle, and that’s attributed to the director and editor, that collaboration.
Best Actor
The Male Director: I’m going forJoaquin Phoenix.
I don’t think anyone comes close.
It’s not a Marvel movie or a silly action figure movie.
It’s a proper film!
Heath Ledger would be proud.
The Female Director: I went forAntonio Banderas.
It’s like, what the f is this?
Because he’s so pretty, he’s always been overlooked, but he’s a stunning actor.
The Actor: I’m going withJoaquin Phoenix.
He did an incredible job with that, it’s just so weird, fantastic, and powerful.
I thought it was a great achievement to take somebody so horrible and make him almost understandable.
The Actress: I voted forJoaquin Phoenix.
I was sort of stunned by his performance.
The Producer:Jonathan Pryce.
I lovedTwo Popesmore than I thought I would.
The Composer: I’m voting forJoaquin Phoenix.
The whole movie was a surprise to me.
I expected not to like it, but I ended up loving it.
The Publicist: I will vote in Best Actor once I have seen every film.
He bowled me over.
Best Actress
The Male Director:Charlize Theron.
A lot ofprops go to the makeup departmentas well, but she’s phenomenal.
I enjoyedBombshellway more thanJudy, it’s a far better film and that’s probably swaying my judgment.
It’s insane to completely forget that she transformed herself.Cynthia Erivois pretty fantastic in everything.
I wish she had more to do in that movie, but what she did, she did excellently.
The Actor:Scarlett Johansson.Marriage Storyis devastating, I loved her performance.
She’s emotionally available and on edge throughout the whole film.
As an actor, I found it to be an engaging performance.
It really stayed with me.
The Actress: I don’t thinkRenee Zellwegerhad a lot of competition.
I like it when there’s more competition.
I just wish she had made me cry.
But, the nomination is huge for Cynthia.
The Writer:Charlize Theron.
Renee Zellweger is really good, but what Charlize did was not just a technical virtuosity.
You hear the gasps as audience members understand she’s not Megyn Kelly.
The Composer:Saoirse Ronan.
It’s lovely and simple.
I’m choosing from the nominees only, she wouldn’t be my choice overall.
But, she produced something beautiful and touching.
[If it wasn’t limited to the nominees], it would beLupita Nyong’o forUs.
She was a victim of a genre movie, which are often dismissed.
The Publicist: I haven’t seenJudysince Telluride and I want to revisit it.
It’s between Charlize Theron or Renee Zellweger.
Both are equally outstanding.
I also loved Cynthia Erivo inHarriet.
I don’t vote [because someone is steamrolling].
People feel like in general the Oscars will reward someone with a “career achievement” award.
I don’t do that.
I am [leaning towardsRenee Zellweger].
Why it’s getting nominated for VFX, I’m gobsmacked, because the VFX weren’t good.
If someone else had made that movie apart from Scorsese, it wouldn’t have had as many nominations.
The Female Director: I’m going withAnthony HopkinsbecauseThe Irishmanwas just too bananas for me.
Joe Pesci is perfectly Joe Pesci.
It’s like, Wanda Beatty and Alice Pacino.
We have to give it to Anthony Hopkins for not doing any work on his face whatsoever.
His performance is so grounded and unique.
The Actor:Brad Pitt.
I love his persona and his coolness.
It’s a lovely performance.
I think he got dark here and there are moments that [show grit].
He seemed unafraid and completely in his body.
The Actress:Tom Hanks.He totally moved me.
When I came out of the theater, I said it would be my choice for Best Film.
I was so moved.
I think Tom Hanks is an extraordinary fellow….
He touched me deeply.
The point of acting is to transform and bring the inner life forward.
I loved Sir Anthony’s performance, but it wasBrad Pitt[at his best].
He’s looking good, he carried the movie.
I didn’t love the movie, but I liked it a lot.
It’s entertaining and the kitsch of the ’60s was fun.
Brad came ready to play here.
And he’s almost 60 years old but he looks amazing.
He’s the modern definition of a movie star!
Remember the first moment when his wife lights up a cigarette in the car and hedoesn’texplode?
You know this is not going to be the Pesci you’re used to.
I loved the various colors he finds.
The Composer:Brad Pitt.It was a beautifully understated performance.
It melds together, the acting and the film itself.
The Publicist: I lovedOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood….
If you don’t love [Brad Pitt], it doesn’t work.
He’s the heart and soul of that movie and carried you all the way through.
A lot of that is due to his performance.
Brad has a little bit of an edge for me in that it was a larger role.
Best Supporting Actress
The Male Director:Kathy Bates.
The whole thing aboutMarriage Story….
The Female Director: I haven’t seenRichard Jewell.
So, weirdly, I’m going forFlorence Pugh, the dark horse.
Florence had a bright interpretation.
She could’ve gotten dour and serious, but she kept this mischievousness about her.
The Actor:Laura Dern.
God, she was fantastic.
Every frame, she was doing something.
She’s had this fantastic career and she keeps getting better and better.
The Actress: I was surprised [thatJennifer Lopez] didn’t get in.
The Producer: It’sLaura Dern’syear.
It’s forMarriage Storybutit’s also forLittle WomenandBig Little Lies.
We watched her grow up and she’s fing fabulous.
She’s the real-deal actress that has come into her own.
The Writer: We’re buying internationalism in the Academy, but international taste will come with that.
The snubs ofJennifer Lopez forHustlersand ofAdam Sandler forUncut Gemsare in part high versus low culture.
She’s really going there in ways we can’t even see.
She didn’t grow up in this world.
She’s wholly inventing.
It’s so emotionally powerful and she has such range.
That scene where she’s crying outside the restaurant, feeling so guilty, it just breaks my heart.
The Composer:Florence Pugh!
She was very charismatic.
She continues showing these deep performances.
Every scene she appeared in would be something really intriguing.
She was funny and charming.
I couldn’t imagine anyone else in the role.
I loved Margot Robbie inBombshelland Laura Dern inMarriage Story, but Scarlett stole my heart.
I was very surprised [that Jennifer Lopez didn’t get in].
Best Original Screenplay
The Female Director: I’m voting forParasiteagain!
I didn’t really [like1917].
I think it’s ok to cut, like, editing is an amazing art.
I still haven’t seenKnives Out,but I hear it’s fantastic.
But, is itParasite?
I’m on the fence about Sam Mendes, too.
The Actor:Parasite.
It was funny, it was moving, I’ve never seen a film like that.
I sat when it finished just thinking about it.
The Actress:Quentinis a friend, and you have to support your friends or what’s the point?
The Producer:Parasite, because the story was so well-written, well told, and fresh.
It’s a complicated movie.
I like the fact that it’s global.
We’re in a global film industry right now, and we should celebrate that.
There’s a genius to it.
I would almost never vote for Best Director and Best Screenplay for the same person.
The Composer:Parasite.
This was one of my runners-up for Best Picture.
It’s the screenplay that provides the internal structure, and everybody worked beautifully within it.
The Publicist:Knives Out.It’s subversive comedy and has the best dialogue of the year.
It’s the only way I can show my love for that movie.
I have other places to recognizeParasite.
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Male Director: It’s quite slim pickings this year.
Just because I enjoyed the film so much, I’d go withJoker.
Phoenix is the film, and I imagine that he put a lot of ideas into the story.
[Little Women] didn’t blow me away.
It’s been adapted before and is it remarkably better than it has been before?
I’m not entirely sure.
The bottom line is: If you’re good enough, you’re in there.
It balances itself out.
I feel that with Scorsese as well.
I feel like he was rewarded for the wrong movie.
It’s like, don’t do that.
Even though I was shocked by it, it’s an achievement to make something like that watchable.
The Actress: I voted forGreta Gerwig.
I just wanted to get her in somehow because she was left out of the game.
For such a young person, she’s extraordinary.
I loved her script and I was shocked that she was left out.
The Producer:The Two Popes.
The Composer:Joker.
It’s the most interesting variation on a comic book character and completely surprising in its depth.
Sometimes it was painful to the bone and showed the pain of a psychiatric condition and mental illness.
I try not toconsider controversies, because it either works in a story or not.
It was perfectly consistent with the character it portrays.
It was not an objective call to arms.
The Publicist:Jojo Rabbit.I love the wayTaika Waitititold this story.
I fell in love with the characters and it gave me all the feels.
Best International Feature Film
The Male Director: I’m going forPain and Gloryto be fair.
In any other year,Pain and Glorywould’ve won, butParasiteis so good.
Because I voted forParasitein so many other categories, I’m going forPain and Glory.
The Female Director:Pain and Glory, just becauseParasitegot so many others.
I didn’t seeCorpus Christiyet.
How do you do a story about yourself and what a great filmmaker you are without making us cringe?
The Actor:Parasite.
It’s sweeping the board.
It’s such a fantastic film.
The Actress:Parasite.
It surprised me so much.
I love when a filmmaker is totally ahead of me.
There wasn’t one moment where I wasn’t sitting on the edge of my chair.
That ensemble of actors is great.
It’s exciting to have Korea in the scheme of things….
There’s something to be said about getting rid of the politics and letting the humanity come out.
The Producer: I’ve only seenPain and GloryandParasite.
I don’t agree with it at all, but that’s how it’s treated.
We need to evolve.
The Writer: ObviouslyParasite.
The Composer:Parasite.
The Publicist: I have two additional films to see in this category.
I’ve seenHoneyland,Parasite, andCorpus Christi.
All three are extraordinary and I enjoyed each of them, but right now I’m such a hugeParasite.
I’m a fan of Elton, and I lovedRocketman.
I was so surprised that I loved it because I hatedBohemian Rhapsody.
The Female Director:Diane Warren, for God’s sake.
Let’s just give it to her and break this streak!
The Actor: I’m going forHarriet.
It reminded me of the song fromSelma, “Glory,” it had that same ache.
Cynthia has real soul and it touched me.
The song captures a mood and a feeling of freedom, strength, and defiance.
The Actress:Diane Warrenis my friend.
She’s had 11 nominations, so I’d like to see her win.
She’s such a humble person.
She could be easily full of herself with all of those nominations, but she’s the real deal.
The Producer: It’s the David and Goliath category.
It’s a great song.
It’s an anthem and I’m standing by it.
The Writer:Rocketman.
I didn’t love this category this year.
I don’t know if I ever love this category.
As a song goes, it’s the most successful and obviously very beautiful for what it is.
The Composer:“Stand Up” fromHarriet.
It’s a song rooted as a traditional anthem, but at the same time it sounds very modern.
It’s uncompressed and enjoyable and the orchestration underneath is incredibly sophisticated.
If I had to choose between the two that I have seen, I thinkHarrietwould have my vote.
I felt like this song just hit all of the right notes.
