The latest episode of Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast features predictions for the 98th Academy Awards, set for Sunday. Panelists discuss tight races between films like Sinners and One Battle After Another. They highlight potential wins in acting, directing and technical categories.
As the 98th Academy Awards near, the Variety Awards Circuit Podcast convened its roundtable for final predictions. Chief awards editor Clayton Davis, TV executive editor Michael Schneider and senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay analyzed the races, focusing on the competition between Sinners and One Battle After Another for best picture.
Davis predicted Sinners could win best picture, with strong showings in directing, acting and crafts. He highlighted Michael B. Jordan in best actor and composer Ludwig Göransson in original score. If Sinners gains early wins, Davis said, it could create a steamrolling narrative. Tangcay noted the film's guild award success has bolstered industry support.
In directing, Davis foresaw Paul Thomas Anderson winning for One Battle After Another, over Ryan Coogler for Sinners. Anderson's career, including Boogie Nights in 1998, There Will Be Blood in 2007 and Phantom Thread in 2017, positions this as his time, per voter conversations with Variety.
The panel addressed online backlash against Timothée Chalamet for comments on opera and ballet from Marty Supreme. Schneider called it a case of context lost in social media amplification. Tangcay pointed out that Oscar voting had closed, limiting any impact.
For supporting actress, Davis predicted Amy Madigan's win for One Battle After Another, citing late-career recognition. In supporting actor, he favored Delroy Lindo for Sinners, amid competition from Sean Penn's BAFTA and SAG wins.
Craft categories remain unpredictable. Tangcay explained that guild prizes signal but do not guarantee Academy outcomes, as craft branches vote specifically. Davis called cinematography a race between One Battle After Another, Sinners and Train Dreams; production design between Frankenstein and Sinners; sound among F1, Sinners and One Battle After Another; and visual effects between Avatar: Fire and Ash and Sinners.
In original song, Golden from KPop Demon Hunters leads, over Diane Warren's Dear Me from Diane Warren: Relentless. Davis remarked on Warren's persistent pursuit, comparing it to a future Susan Lucci moment.
The podcast season featured interviews with nominees like Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, Jessie Buckley and others, covering their works and careers.
