With the rollercoaster of the pandemic we’ve all been experiencing, theatres closing and shoots being put on hold, it’s pretty crazy that we had such a good year for cinema. With the Oscars coming up in March it’s time to take a step back and look at some of the films of 2021. I’ll bring you my personal predictions for some of the Oscar categories this year, as well as some honourable mentions.

Let’s start off by taking a look at some of the categories, shall we?

In this article I’m mainly going to be focussing on the following categories, as they are the ones I’m most excited for: Animated Feature Film, Original Score, Production Design, Cinematography, Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Picture.

Starting off with Best Animated Feature Film, my bets are on Encanto. With an explosive soundtrack by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this Disney musical is fun for the whole family. It follows Mirabel as she and her siblings navigate the difficulty of family pressure and expectations while learning to accept themselves and their flaws. Encanto’s songs are very clearly in Miranda’s style, with quick rhymes and rap verses, mixed in with soulful anthems, and I’m warning you now, they will be stuck in your head FOREVER!

For Original Score and Cinematography, I’m going with Dune. I talked a lot about Dune on the OYISTER Podcast, but in my opinion, this is one of Hans Zimmer’s best scores. It’s so original and really brings this sci-fi story into the modern world. The compressed vocals and strong percussion lines are very addictive, and every character seems to have their own unique sound that really elevates the scenes they are in. Although I do think Dune will win in both of these categories, I do want to share some films that I particularly hope are nominated for cinematography: The Green Knight, West Side Story, Spencer, and Tick Tick Boom.

For Production Design, I’m predicting that The Tragedy Of Macbeth will win—this film is stunning. It’s shot completely in black and white with a 1.19:1 aspect ratio that is a little more square than standard sets. Although the film has no colour, it makes up for this with its striking camera angles, and it’s impossible to look away from. With its focussed ground-up shots, minimalist wide shots, and captivating close-ups, this film feels like a character study, but for a world.

Moving onto Best Adapted Screenplay, I have to hope that The Power Of The Dog wins this. The Power Of The Dog was definitely in my top ten films of the year. I went into this film knowing absolutely nothing about the story (so I recommend you do that, too), and so when things started to come together towards the end of the film I was speechless. The storytelling is incredible and although you may be in the dark about the main themes of the film for quite some time, it consistently keeps you interested and engaged. I do hope Kirsten Dunst wins for Supporting Actress in this film, because she was amazing as well.

For Best Actor, my prediction is Kristen Stewart, for her role in Spencer. Spencer was another film that was well and truly in my top ten films of the year, and her performance definitely had me shedding a tear or two! Spencer follows Princess Diana and her story as rumors begin to circle, and the peace is disrupted. Its colour palette is one of my favourites this year, with soft yellow, light green, and blue hues, contrasted with bold blacks, reds, and dark greens.

Finally, last but not least, for Best Picture I’m predicting that the winner will be Belfast. Belfast is a semi-autobiographical film which follows the life of a family and their young son's childhood during the late 1960s in the Northern Ireland capital. The directing in this film is incredible, and what I think really stands out is the way the scenes and dialogue compliment each other. The whole world of this film feels so lived-in and independent from reality, but the dialogue still grounds the film and makes it feel real and relatable, even if you probably haven’t gone through exactly what these characters have. This film is touching and heartwarming while still carrying a strong message and theme that I think anyone can enjoy.

Honourable mentions and some of my personal favourites:

Right, now that we’ve seen what I think will likely win at the Oscars, I’ve got a few honourable mentions of the year to point out.

Starting out with The Fallout, this film was recommended to me by my friend Felicia, and I am so glad I watched it. It follows Vada, her family, and friends through the aftermath of a school shooting. As Felicia put it, “This film is one of the best depictions of our generation that I’ve seen,” and I completely agree. It feels very natural, and the pacing is so smooth and well done. I highly recommend this film, as it tackles really important issues while still developing some extremely strong characters and their relationships. Although there are trigger warnings for gun violence so please bear that in mind before watching.

Another animated film I loved this year was Luca. Luca follows a young sea monster named… you guessed it: Luca, as he learns how to live in the human world with the friends he meets along the way. Although I don’t think Luca will win at the Oscars, it is 100% my favourite animated film of the year. Its childlike simplicity and storytelling is so comforting and lovely. The score is one of my favourites and I’ve had it on repeat since I first saw the film, and the animation is honestly some of the prettiest I’ve ever seen. The way they animated the water, and grass, it’s so magical.

Next up we’ve got Petite Maman. This film was directed by Céline Sciamma, who also did Portrait of A Lady On Fire (which I also love), and so I was very excited to see this film when it came out. Petite Maman follows Nelly, a young girl who recently lost her grandmother. One day when her mum abruptly leaves, Nelly meets a girl her age as she’s building a treehouse. This film is so lovely, it has another one of my favourite colour palettes of the year, and the messages of childhood, found family, and grief it tells are heartwarming to say the least.

Another film this year that was highly anticipated for me was Last Night In Soho. My mum and I were counting down the days before we could see this film. With its flamboyant lighting, crazy costumes, and 1960’s-inspired music, this exciting horror film was right up our alley. Last Night In Soho follows an aspiring fashion designer when she mysteriously begins having dreams where she is transported back in time to the 1960’s. However, she soon learns that glamour is not all it seems to be as she unravels the dark truth about the people she keeps seeing. This film was one exciting and twisting roller coaster that I never wanted to end. It’s a crazy mashup of dance numbers and murders that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Next, we’ve got The French Dispatch. As someone who loves Wes Anderson films, this film, with its huge cast, crazy story, and bigger-than-life production design, seemed like something I’d love. The French Dispatch follows a few main journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city as it brings their stories to life. This film is a spectacle to say the least, constantly shifting colour pallets, going from colour to black and white, and even switching between animation and real performances—this film never gets boring. Wes Anderson really celebrates the art of storytelling with this film and brings us into his imaginative vision perfectly.

Moving on we’ve got CODA. This film was originally recommended to me by my dad, and I am so glad I watched it. CODA follows Ruby, who is the only hearing member of a deaf family. She works to help her parents and brother keep their fishing business afloat. But soon enough, Ruby finds herself drawn to a new passion of singing. CODA is so heartwarming and touching. It had me crying and smiling way too many times, and the acting is incredible. Although you do have to follow along with the subtitles through many of the scenes, CODA is a must-watch for anyone looking for a feel-good story of family, friendship, and passion.

Lastly, we’ve got C’mon C’mon, which follows a radio journalist as he embarks on a cross-country trip with his energetic nephew. Once again, this was one of my most anticipated films of 2021. I knew I was going to like this film as soon as I saw the trailer, and I was right. It unpacks a wonderful story in such a delicate way, and I cannot even count how many moments in this film will stick with me for so long.

That concludes my list of honourable mentions for the year of 2021 with cinema. I hope you enjoyed some of these films and maybe were inspired to check out something new, and I can only hope 2022 brings some more amazing films!