I watched all nominated Oscar movies except for Avatar: The Way of Water, Tell it Like a Woman, and Babylon (also minus the Documentary and Short Film Categories).

As always, an Oscar-nominated movie means it has to be seen but it never means that it has to be perfect. This year too, it was a mix-bag. Last year the theme of lighthearted movies was visible throughout, and this time I felt the loss/grief or broken friendship/love was seen in majority.

Out of all the nominated Oscar movies I watched, my top picks were Top Gun:Maverick, Aftersun, and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. I need to have a re-watch of Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Batman to decide if they change my top three or not.

Refer to the nominations list here: Oscars 2023Nominations

Predictions for the Upcoming Oscars 2023

And the Oscar goes to...

Scenes from nominated 2023 Oscar films: Top left, Evelyn Wang defends her family in Everything Everywhere All at Once; top right, Paul Bäumer and Katczinsky assess the battlefield in All Quiet on the Western Front; bottom left, Elvis Presley performs for an adoring crowd in Elvis; bottom right, Rooster and Maverick discuss a dangerous plan in Top Gun: Maverick

Best Picture

Will Win: Everything Everywhere All At Once
Should Win: Top Gun: Maverick

I liked Everything Everywhere All At Once, so quite happy if it wins. Also, I know there's almost a 0.00001% chance for Top Gun: Maverick. While The Banshees of Inisherin, Triangle of Sadness, and Women Talking didn't deserve to be nominated. Infact stupid to think that Aftersun missed out on a nomination against these bunch of average movies.

Best Actor in a Lead Role

Will Win/Should Win: Austin Butler (Elvis)

Austin Butler was too good playing the role of Elvis Presley and thoroughly deserves the Oscar. Brendan Fraser could be a close competitor here. Bill Nighy, I feel, got a nomination because there probably is a lack of available options. While Tom Cruise, I guess they didn't consider as putting own life at risk doing dangerous stunts isn't yet considered to be part of acting.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Will Win/Should Win: Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

I am never going to forget how much I laughed when Michelle confesses love to Curtis in the movie. It will be a huge disappointment if she doesn't win the Oscar. Both Cate Blanchett and Andrea Riseborough are strong contenders too, but please it has to be Michelle.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Will Win/Should Win: Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

My question is 'What is Supporting?' Is it much lesser screen time in comparison to the lead, or is it where you play a crucial part in the story that helps the lead in achieving something even if it's just one scene in the entire film? The former relates to Ke Huy Quan and the latter to Judd Hirsch. I just can't agree that a character that gets one scene can be part of the supporting role category. Ke Huy Quan should win here, though a part of me would not mind if Barry Keoghan wins. Also, how did Miles Teller not get a nomination!

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Will Win/Should Win: Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

This has to be the toughest to pick category. Almost anyone can win here. Though Jamie Lee Curtis and Stephanie Hsu pose more competition to Angela here.

Best Director

Will Win: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

Steven Spielberg is the only other deserving nominee. And Aftersun got robbed here too.

Best Animated Feature Film

Will Win: Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio
Should Win: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

I enjoyed both, but Marcel was a lot better for me. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish has no chance. Turning Red and The Sea Beast are lucky to get nominations.

Best International Feature Film

Will Win: All Quiet on the Western Front
Should Win: Argentina, 1985

One of the categories where none of the films blew me away.

Best Music (Original Score)

Will Win/Should Win: Volker Bertelmann (All Quiet on the Western Front)

I am divided here between All Quiet on the Western Front and The Banshees of Inisherin, though frankly none of their scores I would listen to in future.

Best Music (Original Song)

Will Win: Naatu Naatu (RRR)
Should Win: Hold My Hand (Top Gun: Maverick)

'Applause', 'Lift me Up' and 'This is a Life' all have very good lyrics but none of them I can hear on repeat mode. My fav song from Top Gun was 'I ain't worried' but that I guess doesn't qualify as an Original Song. While my fav song from RRR was 'Dosti' track. So, between Naatu Naatu and Hold My Hand, I would go with the latter. Naatu Naatu is really a video song that gets your adrenaline pumping watching the mad dance moves and of course the dance-off that takes place. Audio-wise, Hold my Hand is far superior.

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Will Win: All Quiet on the Western Front
Should Win: Top Gun: Maverick

Of course, Top Gun: Maverick isn't winning.. and I certainly would prefer All Quiet on the Western Front to win rather than Women Talking.

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

Will Win/Should Win: Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

Pretty straightforward here, it's something to make the multiverse explored like it should be (something Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness couldn't).

Best Editing

Will Win/Should Win: Paul Rogers (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

It must have been a challenge and also so much fun to edit this movie I feel. Also, I find it funny to see Elvis get a nomination here.

Best Sound

Will Win/Should Win: Top Gun: Maverick

Finally a category where Top Gun: Maverick is favorite to win. I won't mind if Elvis wins too.

Best Cinematography

Will Win/Should Win: James Friend (All Quiet on the Western Front)

Looks like there should be no other competition here. To be honest, it was the best thing about the movie for me.

Best Production Design

Will Win: Babylon
Should Win: Elvis

Not seen the movie, but the trailer that I saw suggested rich detailed production design. Otherwise, Elvis has my vote.

Best Costume Design

Will Win/Should Win: Catherine Martin (Elvis)

This is very straightforward. In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, I liked only the funeral costumes.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Will Win/Should Win: Elvis

A part of me is hoping The Batman wins here.

Best Visual Effects

Will Win/Should Win: Avatar: The Way of Water

Another movie that I haven't seen but the trailer is enough to suggest that it should be a front-runner to get the Oscar here.