Written by Nell Carter

This weekend brings us the 98th Academy Awards, closing out an epic season that has felt unusually volatile. In recent years, Oscar night has often arrived with the outcome already predetermined, with a dominant film sweeping the major precursors and leaning strongly toward Best Picture. This year, however, has refused to settle into that kind of certainty. Rather than one clear victor looming over the race, the conversation has been split between several films, each carrying a different kind of support. These include the increasingly popular Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another and the period horror film Sinners. On the other side of the spectrum, a few have sparked the kind of polarising reactions that only seem to strengthen their place in the conversation, such as del Toro’s Frankenstein. Prepare yourself, as this year there’s a lineup that feels less like a celebration and more like a standoff. Which film will ultimately take Best Picture is, frankly, still unclear. The Academy has surprised audiences before, and this year feels primed for exactly that sort of twist. But predictions, personal favourites, and Oscar night speculation aren’t really the point here. While Hollywood prepares for its biggest evening, we’re turning our attention somewhere slightly closer to home. The Golden Globes have had their moment and critic groups across the world have weighed in. Now, with the Oscars finally around the corner, it’s time for our own take on the season: the Reel Talk Alternative Oscars, voted for by Warwick Film and Television Studies’ students and staff .

BEST FILM

WINNER– Sinners and One Battle After Another

10 votes for Sinners (3 staff, 7 students) and 10 votes for One Battle After Another (4 staff, 6 students)

Marty Supreme– 8 total votes (2 staff, 6 students)

Wake up Dead Man– 4 total votes (1 staff, 3 students)

28 Years Later– 4 total votes (1 staff, 3 students)

Sorry, Baby– 4 total votes (1 staff, 3 students)

As mentioned, we are experiencing a year notably lacking a clear frontrunner, which reflects in the Reel Talk ‘Best Film’ top spot being shared between two very different films: Sinners and One Battle After Another. Their joint victory reflects a ballot that was widely split across genres, styles and filmmakers, suggesting a year defined more by variety than general consensus. Close behind was Marty Supreme, the latest project from Josh Safdie, which generated considerable excitement and nearly claimed the top position itself with 8 votes compared to the winners’ 10. A number of other titles also made strong impressions, including Wake Up Dead Man (the newest entry in the acclaimed Knives Out series), Danny Boyle’s long-awaited sequel 28 Years Later, and the indie drama Sorry, Baby. Interestingly, none of the 3rd place spots have been nominated for Best Picture this year. Have the Academy made a mistake with their choices? Altogether, these results demonstrate a year where enthusiasm is spread broadly across a collection of incredible films, with no single film managing to dominate.

BEST TV SHOW

WINNER– Adolescence– 7 total votes (4 staff, 3 students)

Andor– 5 total votes (1 staff, 4 students)

Pluribus– 5 total votes (1 staff, 4 students)

The Rehearsal- 4 total votes (2 staff, 2 students)

Heated Rivalry– 3 total votes (3 students)

An impressive 45 television shows were nominated by you this year, highlighting an incredibly wide range of taste. From the long-awaited final instalment of Stranger Things to the chaos of The Celebrity Traitors, the nominations reflected everything from blockbuster drama to reality TV. Claiming the top spot, however, is the award-winning limited series Adolescence. Directed by Philip Barantini, this psychological drama has gained huge attention thanks to its bold filmmaking approach, where each episode is filmed in a single, continuous take. The show’s powerful storytelling and performances has helped it stand out in a particularly strong year for television. Unlike the close competition seen in this year’s Best Film category, the winner here was far clearer. Adolescence secured enough support to comfortably earn the Reel Talk ‘Best TV Show’ title. Following closely behind with five votes each were Andor, the prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Pluribus, a post-apocalyptic scifi drama. The romance Heated Rivalry was also nominated, funnily enough, exclusively by students, adding another unexpected entry to this year’s diverse list. Overall, it is clear Adolescence, with its multitude of awards, is our rightful winner.

BEST DIRECTOR

WINNER– Ryan Coogler- 11 total votes (3 staff, 8 students)

Paul Thomas Anderson– 5 total votes (2 staff, 3 students)

Josh Safdie– 2 total votes (1 staff, 1 student)

Danny Boyle– 2 total votes (1 staff, 1 student)

Winning the title of Best Director for the Alternative Oscars is Ryan Coogler, the mind behind the period drama and horror Sinners. Coogler has already proven himself to be one of the most innovative filmmakers working today, having directed major cultural successes such as Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. His recent work Sinners further highlights his versatility as a director, making him a worthy winner of this year’s Best Director award. Our runner-up, with five votes, is Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another. Anderson is widely respected for his distinctive filmmaking style and complex narratives, and his nomination reflects the strong reception the film has received. Interestingly, Sinners and One Battle After Another appear to be popular among both students and staff, as they are currently our frontrunners for both Best Director and Best Picture. With such a strong lineup of nominees, including Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme) and Danny Boyle (28 Years Later), this year’s category highlights the exceptional talent shaping modern cinema.

BEST SCREENPLAY

WINNER– Sinners- 5 total votes (2 staff, 3 students)

One Battle After Another– 3 total votes (1 staff, 2 students)

Blue Moon– 3 total votes (3 staff)

Sorry Baby– 3 total votes (1 staff, 2 students)

Sentimental Value– 3 total votes (3 students)

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners has emerged as the clear standout in our poll with 5 total votes, comfortably taking the win for Best Screenplay. The film’s writing and gripping narrative control made it a favourite among voters, and, as seen from other categories, its success didn’t stop there. If Oscar night is anything like the Reel Talk Alternative Oscars, we could be looking at a massive Sinners sweep. Impressively, Coogler not only wrote the screenplay for Sinners but also directed and co-produced it, making its dominance across the results all the more striking. In joint second place we have One Battle After Another, Blue Moon, Sorry Baby and Sentimental Value with 3 votes each. It’s an exciting year for film, with every screenplay nominated demonstrating a clear sense of voice and craft, making this one of the most competitive categories in the poll. Still, despite the stacked field, Sinners stands as our overall winner, now securing Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay! Coogler seems to be the one to watch for the coming years of Hollywood.

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE

WINNER– Timothee Chalamet– 9 total votes (2 staff, 7 students)

Jessie Buckley– 4 total votes (1 staff, 3 students)

Michael B. Jordan– 2 total votes (1 staff, 1 student)

Ethan Hawke– 2 total votes (1 staff, 1 student)

HONOURABLE MENTION– Indy the Dog– 1 total vote (staff)

I think we can all agree that Timothee Chalamet’s transformation into table-tennis player Marty Mouser is absolutely incredible, so it comes as no surprise that he is the winner for this year’s ‘Best Lead Performance’. This is Chalamet’s fourth Oscar nomination, and it appears probable this will be his first win. Marty Supreme is also the first film I have seen to receive a round of applause at Warwick Student Cinema, which speaks volumes about the reaction in the room, and much of that enthusiasm can surely be credited to the pure, raw talent of Chalamet at the centre of it all. However, like every other category this year, there are many contenders. Second place for best lead performance is Jessie Buckley for her role in Hamnet, gaining 4 votes, followed by Michael B. Jordan in Sinners, delivering the remarkable feat of playing two distinct characters. It would also be remiss not to give a special mention to the staff member who nominated Indy the Dog for his role in Good Boy. I’m fairly certain that if dogs were eligible for Oscars, Chalamet would not stand a chance.

BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE

WINNER– Amy Madigan– 2 total votes (1 staff, 1 student)

WINNER– Elle Fanning– 2 total votes (1 staff, 1 student)

WINNER– Stellan Skasgard– 2 total votes (2 students)

WINNER– Chase Infiniti– 2 total votes (2 students)

WINNER– Sean Penn– 2 total votes (2 students)

WINNER– Alexander Skasgard– 2 total votes (2 students)

WINNER– Igna Ibsdotter Lilleaas– 2 total votes (1 staff, 1 student)

This year’s competition for Best Supporting Performance is unusually contentious, with a seven-way tie in nominations. Elle Fanning, Stellan Skarsgård, and Igna Ibsdotter Lilleaas are all nominated for their roles in Sentimental Value, the Norwegian drama directed by Joachim Trier. Meanwhile, Sean Penn and Chase Infiniti receive nominations for One Battle After Another. Rounding out the category are Amy Madigan for Weapons and Alexander Skarsgård for Pillion. With such a crowded and diverse field, the category is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable of the year. Each nominee has delivered a strong performance, most in powerful dramas, making it difficult to predict who will ultimately take the award. It’s a particularly stacked year for supporting performances, and any one of these actors could realistically come out on top. Choosing from such an eclectic mix of performers here is no small task. It will be especially interesting to see how the voting plays out this weekend, particularly with three performances from Sentimental Value earning recognition from the Academy.

WORST OF THE WORST

LOSER– A Minecraft Movie– 4 total votes (4 students)

Captain America: A Brave New World– 2 total votes (2 staff)

Materialists– 2 total votes (1 staff, 1 student)

Jack Black in A Minecraft Movie– 1 total vote (1 student)

Much to everyone’s dismay, A Minecraft Movie has not been nominated for any Oscars this year. Instead, it has been nominated as the worst film of this academy year by students. Not only has it been voted as the worst film, but we have also received a nomination for Jack Black’s performance as the worst of the year. I think it is safe to say, A Minecraft Movie did not gain the traction it thought it would. Funnily enough, the film achieved remarkable box office success, grossing over $700 million globally within weeks of its release, making it one of the highest-grossing video game adaptations in history. However, the voice of students has much more influence than any monetary sucess. Following behind with 2 staff votes is Captain America: A Brave New World. This is a reasonable nomination, considering the infamous ‘fall off’ of Marvel films. A considerable number of films also got singular votes for worst of the worst, including The Naked Gun, Bugonia and Wicked: For Good. A shoutout is also necessary for my seminar tutor who voted for Hamnet as the worst of the worst. This has been a talking point among my coursemates for the past week. Overall, A Minecraft Movie is this year’s worst entry, though I have a suspicion this won’t be the last we see of Jack Black as Steve.

MOST SNUBBED

WINNER– 28 Years Later– 4 total votes (1 staff, 3 students)

Wake up Dead Man: A Knives Out story– 2 total votes (2 students)

28 Years Later, the third installment in a post-apocalyptic horror franchise, has emerged as this year’s “Most Snubbed” film, receiving four votes. Despite strong anticipation and praise from audiences, the film received no nominations at the 98th Academy Awards, something many students have reacted to with clear frustration. In particular, the lack of recognition in Cinematography and Makeup and Hairstyling. Another film highlighted in the “Most Snubbed” discussion is Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out story. It is arguable the performances of Josh Brolin and Josh O’Connor alike were especially deserving of acting nominations. A number of other films also received single-vote mentions, including The Long Walk, The Phoenician Scheme, and The Roses. While these films may not have gathered widespread support in the category, their inclusion reflects a broader sense that several notable releases were overlooked during awards season. Of course, the Academy Awards have limited space for nominations, and each year many worthy films inevitably miss out. In a year packed with strong cinematic releases, some projects that resonated with audiences failed to receive recognition, often losing out to established critic favourites. For many viewers, however, the conversation around “snubbed” films highlights just how competitive and subjective the awards race can be.

I think we are in for an absolute treat this weekend. The 98th Academy awards are going to cause lots of contention and will most definitely subvert all of our expectations for who we think should win each category. With no clear frontrunners, genuinely anyone could take home the trophy, which is exactly what you want from a year of films. Thank you to everyone who voted in the poll, and enjoy the Oscars this weekend!!!!