Duke’s Picks – – The Oscars (2025) – – 14 March 2026

Harrison Ford was, the other day, giving a heartfelt (I presume; he is an actor) defense of Big Screening. All those wonderful people out there in the dark. But we are just consumers . . . and we suck down whatever applesauce they spoon us. Of course, Paramount made Sunset Boulevard and, as such, us people in the dark. So pardon me, Reverend Ford as you cash your multi-million-dollar check from Marvel and Disney, your words don’t match your practice. But regardless of the hell-bound handbasket, this was a good year for movies. So lets proceedeth onward

Best Actor in a Starring Role – – Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon – – After two well-deserved Oscar nominations, and several unnominated triumphs it’s about time Hawke got one. And his interpretation of Larry Hart was thrilling. The other actors were very good but I like Ethan.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role – – Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value– – Another confusing “supporting” nomination! Stellan Skarsgård’s character is the focus of the movie, in my opinion. Jacob Elordi is another question mark. Both are brilliant in their respective parts, with a tip of the hat to Christian Bale in The Bride!. And where is Paul Mescal? Oh well, Penn and Del Toro both have statuettes. Delroy Lindo deserves some Oscar love but Skarsgård simply had the better part.

Best Actress in a Starring Role – – Jessie Buckley, Hamnet – – I didn’t see Kate Hudson but this one seems like a lock. With Buckley’s Bride lurking at the threshold, the buzz for her brilliantly heart-rending performance in Hamnet only seems more powerful. Emma Stone did another solid job.

Best Original Screenplay – – Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value – – I didn’t see It Was Just an Accident, but Blue Moon and Sinners were marvelously inventive. I think that Sentimental Value was just a bit better.

Best Adapted Screenplay – – Guillermo del Toro, Frankenstein – – del Toro’s script was a true adaptation of a novel that has rarely had a solid presentation of its meaning. One Battle After Another is presumed to be based on Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland; I don’t think so, but it’s a good script. Hamnet is also a strong competitor and both Train Dreams and Bugonia are great films.

Best Cinematography – – Dan Laustsen, Frankenstein – – Frankenstein was visually gorgeous. The remaining four: Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Train Dreams were also excellent   

Best Costume Design – – Kate Hawley, Frankenstein – – Again, all the movies that I saw were wonderfully dressed but Frankenstein had Mia Goth’s wonderful gowns.

Best Casting – – Francine Maisler, Sinners – – A new category! And I have no idea what the standard is! Is it the best ensemble cast? Or is it the person who spent the greatest number of hours arguing with agents? However, if we go on the most experienced CD and on the judgment of the Casting Society (CSA), it is Ms. Maisler. To be fair, Sinners had an extraordinarily complex, and excellent, cast.

Best Direction – – Chloé Zhao, Hamnet – – Can you believe that Paul Thomas Anderson has never won an Oscar? I can’t. Yet here I am voting against him. But the stories I have heard about Zhao’s process in Hamnet are extraordinary. Several Oscar winning directors called her directing unlike anything they had seen. In addition to Anderson, Ryan Coogler and Joachim Trier will have to wait another year, in my opinion, but their work was excellent.

Best Picture – – Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes, Hamnet – – I really, really, really, hope that Sentimental Value wins the foreign film Oscar; it is a wonderful thing and very under the radar. Hamnet, however, deeply moved me from beginning to end. The five movies I would have nominated under the old (film) school policy would be rounded out by One Battle after Another, Sinners, and Frankenstein and the choice would be tough. Of the second tier, Train Dreams deserves some praise. Regardless, this is such a great year for Hollywood that any one of my top five films winning would not make me cry.

And so, it goes . . . For years now – – as you, my loyal readers, know – – Meg Ryan has been my pretend date to the Oscars. Now, I hear from TCM’s interview of Anderson and Spielberg that we can invite classic DEAD GIRLS to the ceremony. Oh joy, Oh rapture unforeseen! Spiely grabbed Claudette Colbert, Paul asked Myrna Loy, and I briefly considered dragging Sylvia Sydney out of her crypt, but Meg has always been loyal, so I‘ll stick with the living. Besides, she always pays for my Junior Mints. So until next time . . . I’ll see you at the movies.