The 2023 Oscars are nearly upon us — with standout sequels, Steven Spielberg and Baz Luhrmann passion projects and the multidimensional “Everything Everywhere All at Once” competing for top honors.
Awards shows the past two months helped establish several contenders as favorites at Sunday’s Academy Awards, but there’s always room for plot twists on Hollywood’s biggest night.
Here’s the Daily News’ take on who will win — and should win — at the ceremony airing live on ABC from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Best Picture
What will win: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
The multiverse-jumping comedy-drama is the front-runner in this world and any other after winning top prizes at Oscars bellwethers such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Producers Guild of America Awards.
It was certainly a hit among Academy Awards voters, too, with 11 nominations to lead all films. Those include nods for directing, acting, editing and original screenplay, indicating voters believe it’s a well-rounded movie worthy of becoming best picture.
What should win: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
No film this season boasts a more complete combination of innovative storytelling, real-world commentary, special effects and top-flight performances. It takes a special film to beat big-budget blockbusters and decorated dramatic darlings — and this genre-defying spectacle is just that.
Best Actor
Who will win: Brendan Fraser, “The Whale”
One of the night’s tightest categories likely comes down to the transformative performances by Fraser as a man battling severe obesity in “The Whale” and Austin Butler as the titular music icon in “Elvis.”
Fraser, whose heart-rending portrayal received near-universal praise, added to his season-long momentum with a SAG Awards win late last month.
Who should win: Austin Butler, “Elvis”
Perhaps Butler’s greatest achievement was that he avoided slipping into a tacky impersonation of Elvis Presley as so many have before. He captured the nuance of Presley’s complicated story — and inspired a little more conversation about the King of Rock and Roll.
Best Actress
Who will win: Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
A win would give Yeoh her long-overdue first Oscar. She faces tough competition from “Tár” star Cate Blanchett but seems to be the favorite after recent head-to-head wins at the SAG Awards and Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Who should win: Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Yeoh balanced depth, humor and emotion in her portrayal of Evelyn — a Chinese immigrant repeatedly thrust between alternate universes — in a way few others could.
Best Supporting Actor
Who will win: Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Quan might be the surest bet of any acting contender, having dominated awards season with wins at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards and Film Independent Spirit Awards. His performance as Evelyn’s endearing husband, Waymond, was just that good.
Who should win: Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
It’s hard to imagine a more deserving winner than Quan, who rose to fame as a child star in 1984′s “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” but went nearly two decades between roles in the 2000s. His “Everything Everywhere” performance brought renewed attention to the talented actor, and an Oscars trophy would make his story even sweeter.
Best Supporting Actress
Who will win: Jamie Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Another close race likely ends with another win for “Everything Everywhere.” It would be the first-ever Oscar for Curtis, who dazzled as an IRS inspector auditing Evelyn. She won a SAG Awards honor for her performance.
Who should win: Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Bassett stepped up in the Marvel sequel with her portrayal of the grieving Queen Mother Ramonda, proving to be the film’s emotional heartbeat in the late Chadwick Boseman’s absence.
Best Director
Who will win: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Top contenders include The Daniels, who conceived the ultimate fantasy film, and Spielberg, whose semi-autobiographical “The Fabelmans” is rooted in reality.
Spielberg was named best director by the National Board of Review and the Golden Globes but it’s been all Kwan and Scheinert ever since. Their wins include the top prize at the Directors Guild of America Awards.
Who should win: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
The dynamic directing duo deserves credit for executing such an original idea at every level and getting career-best performances from the entire cast.
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