Oscars 2019: Who Should Win Every Award (And Who Actually Will)

20. Documentary Feature

Free Solo
National Geographic Films

Nominees: Free Solo, Minding the Gap, RBG, Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Of Fathers and Sons

Who Should Win

Free Solo

There are some solid documentaries here, but nothing that quite makes you feel like Free Solo does. Admittedly, a big part of that feeling is sheer, abject terror as Alex Honnold climbs El Capitan, but it merges that unthinkable achievement with a study of passion and drive that is very much human. Alongside that, it's a great technical feat too, given the complexity involved with following him on the climb.

Who Will Win

Free Solo

With Won't You Be My Neighbour surprisingly snubbed here, this category is more open than previously anticipated. RGB, which won Best Political Documentary at the Critics' Choice, could be a major benefactor of that, especially given its strong, timely focus too. But the favourite at the moment is Free Solo, which has become a sizeable hit in the last couple of months. It scooped three Critics' Choice Awards and the BAFTA too, and it's a stunning portrayal of a frankly insane feat.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.