We are still quite a ways away from the 2021 Academy Awards. But the 93rd Oscars ceremony is creeping up on us quickly. On Sunday, April 25th, the Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
How Will the Academy Handle Covid?
The Motion Picture Academy still hasn’t decided as to how they will format the experience. So far, they have pushed the date back a full two months with hopes that the vaccine and the medical system can control enough by that point to hold in-person attendance.
The Dolby Theatre only has 3,400 seats, and questions still loom as to how many will be allowed inside according to state regulations. Recent reports say that the Academy has assessed the theatre and are mulling over multiple options. Not only are there concerns about how many people will be allowed in the building, but who will actually consent to attend during an ongoing pandemic.
Just think about how many actors and actresses are on the wrong side of COVID’sstatistical curve. Meryl Streep is 71, David Strathairn is 72, Yuh-Jung Youn is 73, Anthony Hopkins is now 82, Sophia Loren is 86, and Ellen Burstyn is pushing 90 at 88. So, could we end up with a Dolby Theatre that looks akin to this season’s NFL stadiums–empty with just a smattering of heads here and there?
The SAG Awards have already stated that they are open to the idea of a virtual ceremony. And although there was a July post from a reputable news source that the Golden Globes would go ahead with a full-blown live, in-person event, there has been no further comment, and with the second wave hitting hard, that seems less likely– especially with LA County at the vanguard of COVID cases and deaths.
On to the Oscars Odds for Best Picture
If you like to make the occasional wager, be sure to learn how to bet the Oscars before taking any action.
- Nomadland +215
- Mank +500
- The Trial of the Chicago 7 +600
- News of the World +800
- One Night In Miami +800
- Da 5 Bloods +900
- Minari +1400
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom +1800
- Soul +2000
- The Father +2500
Nomadland, Mank, and The Trial of the Chicago 7 are still standing atop the odds boards for most likely films to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
The one film on the list that I fee; doesn’t have a chance at winning and probably won’t even get the official nomination is Soul. No matter how good an animated film is, the Motion Picture Academy is still mostly made up of dusty old white guys who just see it as a cartoon. Because of this fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mank won.
The story follows Herman J. Mankiewics as he scrambles to finish Citizen Cane, the film that should have won the Oscar for Best Bicture that year. I wonder if Mank will win, almost as a nod to Citizen Cane itself. Not only that, the film was directed by David Fincher, whose late father, Jack Fincher, wrote the screenplay. There is a lot of hommages to pass around with this film, and that’s why I think it will win.
That said, the Trial of the Chicago 7 is like an alegory for the times we are living through today. Which is strange because it’s based on actual events, almost like history repeating itself. I’m not sure how the older members of the Academy will feel about the film, but I believe it will deeply resonate with a significant number of academy members as well as audience all across North America.
We shouldn’t ignore the odds-on favorite. Francis McDormand’s performance is powerful in this story about life on the fringes of society. I have a feeling that if this film doesn’t win Best Picture, McDormand will likely win the ward for Best Actress.
