Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Take Ultra preview - A look ahead to the Oscars

11 min
Mar 9, 20263 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

Film critics analyze Oscar predictions ahead of the 2024 ceremony, discussing the closest Best Picture race in years between 'Sinners' and 'One Battle After Another'. They examine how BAFTA results may influence final voting and predict winners across major categories.

Insights
  • Award show predictions increasingly rely on data analytics and odds checkers for accuracy
  • International award ceremonies like BAFTAs can create momentum shifts but don't always predict Oscar outcomes
  • Vote splitting occurs when multiple nominees from the same film compete in one category
  • Supporting categories tend to have less consensus and are harder to predict than lead categories
  • Industry recognition often follows a 'their time' narrative for veteran filmmakers
Trends
Data-driven award predictions becoming more sophisticated and accurateInternational film awards gaining influence on Hollywood outcomesStreaming platforms and traditional studios competing equally in prestige categoriesYounger actors breaking historical age records for major winsMusic-driven storytelling films gaining recognition across multiple categories
People
Paul Thomas Anderson
Film director predicted to win Best Director Oscar, described as 'his time' for recognition
Timothy Chalamet
Actor leading Best Actor predictions, could become youngest winner since Adrien Brody
Robert Aramayo
BAFTA winner who beat Chalamet but isn't Oscar-eligible, creating prediction uncertainty
Jessie Buckley
Actress predicted to win Best Actress for 'Hamnet', described as certain winner
Sean Penn
Actor competing in Best Supporting Actor for 'One Battle After Another'
Benicio Del Toro
Actor also nominated from same film, potentially splitting votes with Sean Penn
Stellan Skarsgård
Actor considered second choice for Best Supporting Actor if Sean Penn doesn't win
Rose Byrne
Actress nominated for Best Actress in 'If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You'
Ethan Hawke
Actor shown at BAFTAs saying Robert Aramayo's speech was 'better than winning'
Quotes
"Best picture, closest race in years. Two films dominate everything."
Host
"It's always possible that there are upsets and surprises. However, odds checkers are increasingly accurate."
Host
"That is better than winning the award."
Ethan Hawke
"No category has less consensus... this is the one that is actually impossible to call."
Host
"If you're a betting person, stay away."
Host
Full Transcript
2 Speakers
Speaker A

So awards, SHM awards. Does that have its own little bit of video? I don't think it does because we can't do this very often.

0:00

Speaker B

So I'm just a bit of jazz hands.

0:06

Speaker A

Money. Bit of jazz hands.

0:08

Speaker B

Hello.

0:10

Speaker A

It's a FaceTime with the family. It's the last take ultra before the Oscars which are happening on Sunday, March 15. So state of the race then. Post BAFTA shake up. Final Oscar voting is underway right now which ends on March 5th. So tomorrow. And the BAFTAs have significantly stirred the pot. So Mark will probably say maybe they.

0:10

Speaker B

Or has it or has it.

0:35

Speaker A

Mark will say who will win and who should win. So first of all, Best picture, closest race in years. Two films dominate everything. Sinners. Sixteen nominations, the most in Oscar history. One battle after another. Long term critical thinking. Favorite Indiewire said the baftas did not resolve the battle but they softened Chalamet's lead losing at the baftas.

0:37

Speaker B

I don't think they did because he, he, he lost to Robert Aramayo who's not in the running for the Oscars. So I don't think they did soften. Sorry.

1:00

Speaker A

Variety still projects Sinners as the most likely overall winner. Tally and Entertainment Weekly I think that is suggest the race is genuinely split but leaning slightly towards one battle after another.

1:07

Speaker B

So best picture, I do think it's going to be one battle after another. Do you say Variety said that they think that it's going to win this category or they think that it's going to win the most awards?

1:18

Speaker A

Most overall.

1:31

Speaker B

Most overall. Okay, that's fine. I think that One battle after another has had a long enough tail on it that I think that it is going to be, that it is going to be close but I think it is going to be one battle after another.

1:32

Speaker A

Okay, Best director is basically Paul Thomas Anderson. Yeah, it is Paul.

1:45

Speaker B

It is Paul Thomas Anderson. And not least because it's his time. It feels very much like his time. Now again we always say this with Oscars. It's always possible that there are upsets and surprises. However, odds checkers are increasingly accurate and I, Paul, Thomas Anson has been ahead of this for such a long time. I think, I think it's his.

1:52

Speaker A

Okay, Best actor Chalamet still leads.

2:22

Speaker B

Yeah.

2:25

Speaker A

From Marty Supreme.

2:26

Speaker B

Yeah.

2:28

Speaker A

He was the pre BAFTA front runner as you said. Lost to Robert Aramayo who isn't Oscar eligible.

2:28

Speaker B

No.

2:34

Speaker A

Indiewire has said it's one of the more nerve wracking, nerve wracking results of the night. Still predicting Newsweek, still predicting that Chalamet will win yeah. Poised to become the youngest winner since Adrien Brody. Momentum has dipped, but he remains the likeliest winner. What do you think?

2:35

Speaker B

I mean, I. Well, I. I think that we have to be absolutely clear that the BAFTAs do. Do not have any effect in this category at all, because the baftas had a. It's one of the things that I love about the baftas is when they have a battle that is completely nothing to do with what's happening on the other side of the Atlantic. Because, you know, I was in the room when Robert Haramire won, and it was. I literally kind of jumped out of my seat with surprise. I mean, it was great. I thought it was terrific. And Timothy Chalamet, God bless him, was laughing because. Partly because he, you know, because he doesn't lose anything. For him not to have won the bafta, I think. I think he's. Yeah, I would be very surprised if he doesn't win the Oscar.

2:51

Speaker A

If I remembered this right, there was a cutaway to Ethan Hawke, the baftas, when Robert Aramao won and he gave it. And he. He was talking about Ethan Hawke visiting his drama school. Yes. He sees.

3:29

Speaker B

And he's credited him with his career,

3:45

Speaker A

credit him with a whole bunch of stuff. And then you can. Then Ethan. Or leans to whoever is next to him and you can quite clearly see that he says, that is better.

3:47

Speaker B

Better than winning the award. That's right. Exactly. He does. And. And what, What. What a wonderful moment. What a wonderful moment. That it was captured on camera and that he wasn't saying it performatively because he does say it to the person next to him. He doesn't say it for the audience to see, but it clearly says better than winning.

3:56

Speaker A

Best Actress dominated by two performances. Jessie Buckley in Hamnet, which is Newsweek's predicted winner. Rose Byrne. If I had legs, I'd kick you. BAFTA effect here. Buckley's standing strengthened across the industry. CHATTER post ceremony But I just think it's Jesse Buckley and that.

4:14

Speaker B

Yeah, I think it's Jesse Buckley. I think it's been Jesse Buckley all the way. I think Rose Byrne is absolutely brilliant. And if I had legs, I'd kick you. I think she. She's deserving of every prize going. But this is just. This is Jessie Buckley's award. Absolutely. And she's.

4:32

Speaker A

If you're going to be certain about one award, surely this is the.

4:45

Speaker B

That's it. That's. That's the one. It's the. The supporting categories, I think, are much harder to call.

4:47

Speaker A

So Best Supporting Actor, two standout performances from the same film splitting most conversations. Sean Penn one battle after another and Benicio Del Toro for the same movie. But then you're gonna. Then you split the votes.

4:53

Speaker B

Yeah, I think. Yeah, but I think Benicio Del Toro is not actually. I mean, all. I think he's not. He's not gonna. He's not going to beat Sean Penn. That's not going to happen. If it's not Sean Penny, it's going to be Stalin Skarsgard, who is really the other. The other contender in this.

5:10

Speaker A

And then grandfather of Peter Sarsgaard, as you remember.

5:26

Speaker B

Yes, he's a grandfather. Yeah, that's right.

5:28

Speaker A

And the great grandmother for Maggie Gyllenhaal and.

5:30

Speaker B

And of Robin Starstead, who did, you know, where'd you go to anyway, whatever it was.

5:32

Speaker A

Peter Sarstedt and Robin. Yes.

5:37

Speaker B

So I. I think it's not going to be Benicio Del Toro. It may well and very probably will be Sean Penn, but if it isn't Sean Penn, I would put money on Stalin Skarsgrd being. Being the second one. Benicio is not really in the running for this.

5:42

Speaker A

Best Supporting Actress. No category has less consensus.

5:55

Speaker B

No. And this is the one that is actually impossible to call.

6:00

Speaker A

Okay, so we've got Tiana Taylor, 39% chance of winning. Amy Madigan, 36. Woodmi Masaku, 22%. So it's an elf hunning. I've got no figures next to L. No.

6:04

Speaker B

Well, interestingly, odds checker now has Amy Madigan very slightly in the lead. So this is what you call a live crime scene. This is an ongoing investigation and I don't think you can call it at all. I absolutely think this is the one that it is impossible to call. I think the other ones, there is some great certainty, but I think in this, if you're a betting person, stay away.

6:17

Speaker A

Okay. And our final two are pretty nail on, I would think. Best Adapted Screenplay, Paul Thomas Anderson is overwhelmingly expected to win. He's got like 92%.

6:40

Speaker B

Yeah. He's not going home without an Oscar. Go.

6:51

Speaker A

And Best Original screen screenplay, sinners, 95% chance of winning Broadsport across Academy. Yes. Members.

6:56

Speaker B

And that I think, again, is an absolute lock. In the same way that Sinners will win for best score, I think actually it should be Johnny Greenwood for one battle after another. But it won't be because this is the year that Sinners, which is a film that tells so much of its story through music. Is it. Would it. It's going to win best score.

7:05

Speaker A

Ian Gail has been in touch.

7:25

Speaker B

Yes.

7:27

Speaker A

He says, are you producing wine now? Please say you're not being advised by Francis Ford Coppola. Best regards and hello to Fairport Convention, Jeremy Irons and all lovers of anything. Douglas Adams. This is because. From the Wine Society.

7:29

Speaker B

Yeah.

7:43

Speaker A

Very nice people. They have the first release of their Vanguard east for 2024. 2025, really sought after Australian fine wine. The 2024 V. Don't get that word marks the. Yes, it's called Vanguard east, but that's

7:43

Speaker B

what the V's for.

8:01

Speaker A

No, then there's no. It's the bit I can't get. I think the word is Mou vedre marks the return of a wine that many consider the greatest varietal expression of the grape in Australia. Matured in foudre. Don't know what that is. This is a true journey of a wine which is layered, compelling and a fitting farewell to a much loved vanguardiste Express. So the answer to your question is yes, we are. Absolutely. This is us.

8:02

Speaker B

We're coining it. We're coining it.

8:27

Speaker A

We. Mark, when he was in Australia recently, you. You were cultivating the grapes. Weren't you there for the.

8:28

Speaker B

That's right, yes. I was treading the grapes, in fact.

8:35

Speaker A

And so this new, much sought after Australian fine wine is £59 for three. It's a red wine. And yes, we are intimately involved and obviously that's the new branch that we're moving into. Are we planning to do a white wine? Are we just going to stay with red?

8:38

Speaker B

Well, I like a white wine, you know, I like a. I like a Pinot Grigio, so that, you know, so

8:55

Speaker A

look out for that. But that'll be a Vanguardista white. But this is just the Vanguard East, Ian. Yes, that's our new.

9:00

Speaker B

I thought we should get away with

9:05

Speaker A

it, but obviously we've been.

9:07

Speaker B

Can I read a comment that's here on the thing? This is from Makashima. Saturday Night Live did a very bad taste skit about Tourette's and blaming doing bad things at work on it. Yes, they did. And they are one of several American comedy things that have sought to find this funny. And shame on them.

9:08

Speaker A

Yeah, I've never got the Saturday Night Live thing, I must say.

9:27

Speaker B

Well, Saturday Night Live is very long way past its prime. I mean, it's nobody. Nobody thinks we're living in the golden age of snl. People now think it's still going, you know.

9:30

Speaker A

Thank you to Jason Marsden, who messages to, say, Aussie wines. Well, some are for laying down and avoiding and avoiding. And some should be only used for hand to hand combat. Well, the vanguard east, I think, is going to be the exception to the rule and is going to be like a true journey of wine led, compelling, and a fitting farewell. The palette sits in a beautiful midweight zone with concentrated blueberry, red currant and a touch of cola on the mid palate. Remember that when you're sampling our wares.

9:41

Speaker B

And also if you, if you haven't listened to it for a long time, the Australian Wino Society sketch, the Python sketch that you're, you know, this is laying down and avoiding, is still hilarious, despite the fact that since it was first invented, recorded Australian wine has become a thing.

10:09

Speaker A

Yes.

10:27

Speaker B

And so the whole idea now, it just made people go, why are they laughing at Australian wine?

10:28

Speaker A

Yes. Which is fantastic.

10:31