WORCESTER—Who are you wearing!? Who are you wearing!?
The 96th Academy Awards are set to showcase the pinnacle of cinematic achievements as current film industry notables gather on Sunday, March 10, in Hollywood, CA, with hopes of clinching the coveted Oscar.
As always, anticipation is high as film enthusiasts and critics analyze the nominations, with blockbuster films such as “Oppenheimer,” “Poor Things,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” leading the pack with the most nominations.
Adding scholarly insights to the mix is Dr. Scott Malia, a theatre professor and chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance at the College of the Holy Cross.
Known for his expertise and an authority on the Academy Awards, Malia focuses on film genres such as comedy, horror, cult films, and LGBTQ+ films, with a notable body of published work, including articles, plays, and a book.
Malia’s official predictions include:
- Best Picture: “Barbie”
- Best Actor: Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”
- Best Actress: Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon”
- Best Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”
- Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey, Jr., “Oppenheimer”
- Best Director: Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”
While he shared his predictions as to who he thinks we win, it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s who Malia hopes will win, necessarily. In some cases, his favorites weren’t even nominated.
Worcester Guardian: What is your favorite movie of the year and why?
Malia: I’m rooting for “Past Lives.” I tend to go for intimate films rather than big epics, which are often bloated “great men” stories. I don’t think “Past Lives” will win, but I’m thrilled it was nominated.
WG: Do you think there’s a flick that wasn’t nominated that absolutely deserved to be?
Malia: My favorite film of the year was the HBO documentary Rock Hudson: All that Heaven Allows, which chronicles the life of the closeted movie star who became the first major celebrity to die of AIDS. It’s fascinating, but not without a sense of humor, given the sensitivity of the subject matter. The film features clips of Hudson’s movies that seem to comment on his life.
WG: Do you think the winners usually hit the mark – in other words, do they usually align with your picks, too? Or do you just have an understanding of the inner workings of how the winners are chosen?
Malia: In general, no, I don’t think the Oscars get it right, so when I make predictions, it’s based on past Oscars patterns or trends in other awards shows leading up to the Academy Awards. Genre films aren’t taken seriously, so dramas overwhelmingly get nominated and win. I also think Oscar voting is often swayed by media narratives; for example the “comeback’ stories of last year’s winners Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan. Similarly, veterans with a long career are often given an award just in case they don’t get another nomination (see last year’s best supporting actress, Jamie Lee Curtis). That doesn’t mean the narratives don’t sometimes line up with the quality of the film or performance. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is terrifically talented, and will likely win this year.
WG: How do you celebrate watching the Oscars? Do you have a big party with a red carpet? Do you wear a tux?
Malia: I watch them and usually record them in case I want to go back to certain moments. I frequently post on social media throughout the awards ceremony so that I can chat with other movie and awards-show buffs. I’ve had Oscar get-togethers in the past, but it’s a late night for people with kids, lol. I can name the nominees in any of the major categories (picture, director, actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress) of any year, so doing trivia games on Oscar night is really fun–especially during commercial breaks or the less interesting categories. And of course, the fashion is usually insane!
WG: How is your track record for Oscar predictions?
Malia: My track record is pretty good. When there’s a surprise upset or when I try to predict an upset, that’s when it sometimes doesn’t go my way.
The full list of nominations can be found here. Hosted again by Jimmy Kimmel, the Academy Awards start at 7 p.m. on ABC.
