The nominations for the 95th Academy Awards were announced on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. As a movie review blog, we at Stream to Big Screen feel obligated to highlight this annual event. From the crop of 2022 releases, there were surprises and snubs, but unlike many years, movies that were released throughout the calendar year were able to get recognition from the academy. We have seen and/or reviewed many of these movies that came away with nominations. Below, we will give our best initial guesses on who will prevail in the top categories at the 95th Academy Awards on March 12, 2023.

And the nominees are:

BEST PICTURE:

All Quiet on the Western Front

Avatar: The Way of Water

The Banshees of Inisherin

Elvis

Everything Everywhere All At Once

The Fabelmans

TAR

Top Gun: Maverick

Triangle of Sadness

Women Talking

Since Everything Everywhere All At Once is the nomination leader with 11 nominations, it would be reasonable to assume that the Sci-Fi, family dramedy has the best shot and most support for a win in Best Picture. All Quiet on the Western Front has next most nominations with 9, mostly in technical categories, but it missed in Best Director and got no acting nominations. The Banshees of Inisherin also got 9 nominations including 4 acting nominations just like Everything Everywhere. All of the Best Picture contenders received at least one other nomination, but Everything Everywhere All At Once received some surprise nominations like in the music categories. It got its main acting ensemble nominations in their respective categories. Our early prediction for the win here (and, honestly, this is our hope): Everything Everywhere All At Once.

BEST DIRECTOR:

Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Steven Spielberg, The Fabelmans

Todd Field, TAR

Ruben Ostlund, Triangle of Sadness

Using the same logic for Best Director, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert has directed the most nominated film. It would stand to reason that they would be rewarded as the Best Director, especially if Everything Everywhere is the favorite for a Best Picture win. Kwan and Scheinert are the first directing duo to be nominated since the Coen Brothers. I’m not sure if there will be a bias against a new directing due. The main challenger here would be Steven Spielberg because of the narrative behind his personal movie, The Fabelmans. Does the Academy want to see Spielberg win a third Best Director Oscar especially since it’s only Kwan and Scheinert’s second feature? Our early prediction for Best Director will probably change: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All At Once.

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:

Austin Butler, Elvis

Colin Farrell, The Banshees of Inisherin

Brendan Fraser, The Whale

Paul Mescal, Aftersun

Bill Nighy, Living

Best Actor seems like a three-way race. Austin Butler plays Elvis, and his movie has 8 nominations. The Academy loves when actors play real-life people. Remember when Rami Malek won for playing Freddie Mercury. Colin Farrell is the lead of the most nominated film in this field. This is Farrell’s first nomination though he’s been turning in great performances in small films for years. Then, there’s Brendan Fraser under pounds of prosthetics in The Whale. Fraser has a lot of goodwill and very emotional performance. Early prediction for Best Actor: Austin Butler, Elvis.

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE:

Cate Blanchett, TAR

Ana de Armas, Blonde

Andrea Riseborough, To Leslie

Michelle Williams, The Fabelmans

Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Andrea Riseborough’s nomination was such as surprise that it is hard to determine who really is in the lead for this category. Conventional wisdom says that Cate Blanchett is on track for her third Oscar. TAR got nominations in key places, but moreover Blanchett gives a virtuoso performance in the movie. Michelle Yeoh is the lead of the most nominated movie and probably is the sentimental favorite. Can Everything Everywhere run the table and take Best Actress along in a sweep? I would love that, but I’m going to resist the urge to predict my favorite. Early Best Actress prediction: Cate Blanchett, TAR.

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:

Brendan Gleeson, The Banshees of Inisherin

Brian Tyree Henry, Causeway

Judd Hirsch, The Fabelmans

Barry Keoghan, The Banshees of Inisherin

Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Ke Huy Quan has been racking up award this season for his role in Everything Everywhere All At Once. It’s been so nice to see a comeback like his end in an Oscar nomination. This feels like an assured win for him. Quan’s closest competition is probably from Brendan Gleeson in The Banshees of Inisherin, but he may split his vote with his co-star, Barry Keoghan. I think Brian Tyree Henry and Judd Hirsch are just along for the ride. I’m psyched that I can now call Paper Boi an Academy Award nominee though. For Best Actor in a Supporting Role, the early guess: Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All At Once.

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:

Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Hong Chau, The Whale

Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin

Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All At Once

These five women were also nominated at the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards. So far, Angela Bassett has won a Golden Globe and a Critic’s Choice Award for this performance. It is strange to think that an actor in a Marvel movie might actually win an Oscar, but we are talking about Angela Bassett here. Chau, Condon and Hsu play really pivotal roles in their respective films, and each one is memorable in her own way. Jamie Lee Curtis is a scene-stealer, but it’s a small role that is pretty broad. I think Bassett’s filmography and reputation deserves an Oscar. She brings a lot of gravitas to Wakanda, so for those reasons my early prediction for Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. I’m not sure who the alternative is here – my personal choice for alternate would be Kerry Condon.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

Martin McDonagh, The Banshees of Inisherin

Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All At Once

Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner, The Fabelmans

Todd Field, TAR

Ruben Ostlund, Triangle of Sadness

These are all Best Picture nominees. Of the 7 writers nominated here, 6 of them are also nominated for Best Director. To say this is a stacked field would be an understatement. I think Everything Everywhere has the most original idea while Banshees has the best dialogue. The Fabelmans is the most traditional of these screenplays. Triangle of Sadness has a European flair and is quite clever as well. TAR is very cerebral and demanding, but Blanchett’s performance is really what sets that movie apart. I think that the Best Picture winner should probably take the Best Screenplay prize as well; thus, my current Best Original Screenplay prediction for the win: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All At Once.

MISCELLANEOUS THOUGTS:

From Trip: Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Banshees of Inisherin were two of my favorite movies of 2023. I’m glad to see that Everything Everywhere racked up the greatest number of nominations including ones for Michelle Yeoh and Short Round. I’ve seen all of the Best Picture nominees except for Women Talking.

Tell us your thoughts about the Oscar nominations, leave your comments about our too-early predictions and make some predictions of your own. Were there any movies left out of these nominations that you wish had been included? Speak up!

The 95th Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 12, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC.

So again thank you for reading our blog and invite a friend, or ten, to visit/follow Stream To Big Screen for the best movie reviews that save you time and money.