The 2022 Oscars will be broadcast on ABC this Sunday, March 28.  The show will be hosted by Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes. I am looking forward to hearing the cutting jokes and banter of Schumer and Sykes. 

Critics have stated that 2022 was a very good year for quality movies.  The expansion to 10 films in the best picture category broadens the range of the movies.  It seems like everyone can have a movie or two that they thought should be in contention. 

I saw 8 of the 10 movies and viewed 6 of the 8 in the theater.  But, two of my favorites were streamed.  “Power of the Dog” is one of the co-favorites and it is my pick for the best of the year. The close examination of a family in 1920’s Montana cattle country was both beautiful, intense, and surprising.  In second place for me is “Drive My Car,” a Japanese film. It is a powerful look at love, work, and death.  I missed Apple+’s “CODA” and “MacBeth.”  “CODA” has strong odds to win. It features a very warm and upbeat look at a daughter’s experiences, as a young woman with deaf parents.

I think that West Side Story was an “experience” at the theater.  Not sure, if it can be appreciated as much at home.  But, I think it will be viewed for generations along with the original.

The best actress category was a tough one. I only saw 3 of the 5 nominees. The fabulous performance by Jennifer Hudson, as Aretha Franklin in “Respect,” did not make the cut.  The favorite is Jessica Chastain in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”.  I did not see Chastain or Penelope Cruz. I thought Olivia Colman and Kristen Stewart were terrific in very emotional roles.  Nicole Kidman had a very tough role in “Being the Ricardos.”. Playing Lucille Ball convincingly seemed almost impossible for a known actress.  But I felt Kidman did a very good job in capturing some of Lucy’s flavor.  Chastain has won all the awards so far and will probably take the Oscar home.

The best actor category features a wide age range of great actors.  Andrew Garfield, the youngest, was terrific in Tick Tick Boom.  I missed the oldest, Denzel Washington, playing Macbeth.  Javier Bardem played Ricky Ricardo to perfection against Kidman’s Lucy. Will Smith’s tireless performance in “King Richard” will probably bring him the Oscar.  But, Benedict Cumberbatch, in “Power of the Dog,” proved that he is the most versatile actor in the movies. Cumberbatch inhabits the character of a 1920’s American rancher with every sap of his energy.

Let me and the world know your favorites in the Big 3 categories for Sunday’s Oscars.