Oscars 2023: Final Predictions In Every Category

NOMINEES:

All Quiet on the Western Front

The Batman

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Elvis

The Whale

What Should Win:

The Whale

There's no denying the immense challenge faced with transforming Brendan Frasier into a 600-pound man for The Whale, and though the risks were considerable, the end result is pretty much seamless.

It's a textbook example of phenomenal makeup effects which elevate an already stellar performance, rather than encroach upon it and restrict the actor's work as we've seen so many times.

What Will Win:

Elvis

Whoever prevails here will likely serve as a spoiler for the Best Actor race between Elvis and The Whale, and the safe money is probably on Elvis taking it home.

First and foremost, The Whale is a far more divisive film further dinged by controversy over Fraser being made up to resemble an obese man, rather than an obese man being hired for the role.

On the other hand, Elvis is packed with glamorous, complex, and not-controversial makeup and hair work to make its central performers resemble their historical counterparts.