They Shoot Oscar Prognosticators, Don't They?
Green Book Beats Roma at 91st Academy Awards
By J. Don Birnam
February 25, 2019
BoxOfficeProphets.com

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE
In one of the most contentious Oscar races in years, it was a Green Book Best Picture night after all. At the 91st Academy Awards, the movie about an uneven pair traveling through the Deep South struggling with racism and acceptance triumphed over a crowded field that included a number of celebrated movies. Green Book’s crowd-pleasing story won the People’s Choice at TIFF and never looked back. It won there, at the Globes, at the PGA, and now it has had its name etched in Oscars history.

Also making history was Alfonso Cuarón, winning his second Best Director Oscar in five years, and making it five out of six for Mexican directors in that category. His win was for another strong Best Picture contender, Roma, which also won Best Cinematography and Best Foreign Language Film (the first for Mexico!). Roma’s presence on Netflix, or as a foreign film, may have proved too much for an Academy that understandably is guarded of its story and its way of life. I cannot say, to be honest, that I can blame them for that.

In the acting races, expected winners Rami Malek, Mahershala Ali, and Regina King took trophies as all predicted they would (Bohemian Rhapsody, Green Book, If Beale Street Could Talk). But, in somewhat of a surprise, Olivia Colman triumphed over Glenn Close in Best Actress, for her performance as Queen Anne in The Favourite. Glenn now joins an unwelcome group of seven-time acting Oscar nominees without a win.

The Oscars spread the wealth, as they have in the era of the preferential ballot. Each of the Best Picture nominees took home at least one award. Bohemian Rhapsody actually netted four, including the two sound awards and editing to top the Best Actor win. Green Book also won for Best Original Screenplay, while Blackkklansman saw Spike Lee win his first competitive Oscar, in the Adapted Screenplay race. Vice won for Makeup, A Star is Born for Best Original Song (making a winner of Lady Gaga), and Black Panther surprised with three total Oscars, for production design, best costumes, and Best Original Score. The stunning documentary Free Solo took that prize, and Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse won for Best Animated Feature, as many expected.

There will be much to dissect in the next few days over this historic Oscar season that saw Netflix win the highest profile Oscars yet of its awards career. Mexico made history, but ultimately fell short of the top prize. One of the most interesting years in recent memories comes to a close, and the big question tomorrow will be: will the lack of host help or hurt the ratings?

In case you need a recap, here are some of the handicaps of the season:
for the shorts, for the technical races in two parts, for the feature length films, for the writing races, for the acting races, and of course, for Best Picture.

How did I do in my predictions? Well, I was the only one in the BOP staff to stick with Green Book, not that I'm proud on that, but we shall dissect that more soon.

Follow me on: Twitter and Instagram for a live blog of the events!

Full List of Winners Below!

Best Picture
Green Book

Best Director
Alfonso Cuaron – Roma

Best Actress
Olivia Colman – The Favourite

Best Actor
Rami Malek – Bohemian Rhapsody

Best Supporting Actress
Regina King – If Beale Street Could Talk

Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali – Green Book

Best Original Screenplay
Green Book

Best Adapted Screenplay
Blackkklansman

Best Film Editing
Bohemian Rhapsody

Best Cinematography
Roma

Best Production Design
Black Panther

Best Costume Design
Black Panther

Best Makeup
Vice

Best Visual Effects
First Man

Best Original Score
Black Panther

Best Original Song
Shallow – A Star Is Born

Best Sound Mixing
Bohemian Rhapsody

Best Sound Editing
Bohemian Rhapsody

Best Foreign Language Film
Roma

Best Animated Feature
Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse

Best Documentary Feature
Free Solo

Best Live Action Short
Skin

Best Animated Short
Bao

Best Documentary Short
Period. End of Sentence.