Meet our voters:
THE ACTOR:An international star working across blockbusters and prestige projects from celebrated filmmakers.
THE ACTRESS:Known for supporting roles in Oscar-nominated projects that span comedy, music, and history.
THE DIRECTOR:A comedic filmmaker behind some beloved classics from the past three decades.
Atsushi Nishijima/Fox Searchlight
THE PRODUCER:A maverick whos made Oscar-nominated hits, TV dramas, and big-budget theatrical thrillers.
THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER:An Emmy nominee who has crafted historical aesthetics for Oscar-nominated movies across a two-decade career.
Best Picture
Black PantherBlacKkKlansmanBohemian RhapsodyThe FavouriteGreen BookRomaA Star Is BornVice
THE ACTOR: Bohemian Rhapsody.
Matt Kennedy/Annapurna Pictures
THE ACTRESS: Black Panther.
That movie had such an impact.
Black people have been told we cant do a movie with black stars because it doesnt sell.
Tatum Mangus/Annapurna Pictures
Weve been shunned and falsely represented.
It blew the box office up.
Even white people are crossing their arms and talking about Wakanda forever!
Universal Pictures
THE DIRECTOR: Green Book.
THE PRODUCER: The Favourite.
It has something real to say about the world we live in.
Steve Granitz/WireImage
Its very Trumpian, whether intentional or not.
THE PUBLICIST: BlacKkKlansmanis one of the most well-done and important movies.
Its a good story for the times were in now.
Matt Kennedy/Annapurna Pictures
Its what makes watching movies magical.
There are so many details in every single frame, from composition to art direction to the music.
Consensus: 0% of our panel voted for the same title!
Tatum Mangus/Annapurna Pictures
THE ACTOR:ItsOlivia Colmanfor me.
I have seen her work before, and shes my favorite actress.
Suddenly when you see that actor in another version of themselves, its a treat to watch.
Sony Pictures Animation
THE ACTRESS:Melissa McCarthy.
She stepped out of her comfort zone.
THE DIRECTOR:Lady Gaga.
Amazon Studios
You truly believe youre a voyeur.
She made me forget I was watching Lady Gaga.
THE PRODUCER:Olivia Colmanfor the range of personalities she exhibited.
THE PUBLICIST:Glenn Close.
She tore it up.
Its not going to be one of those Lets give her one because shes been nominated seven times.
No, lets give her one because she deserves it!
THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER:Olivia Colman.
I like the fluctuation between [her] emotions, both hilarious and devastating.
Her boldness balanced the other great performances from Emma [Stone] and Rachel [Weisz].
She walked through the middle of that film and held her own.
Consensus: 50% of our panel voted for Olivia Colman inThe Favourite.
I thought he was so generous in his scenes that its endearing.
Its almost like hes very lightly holding your hands, like how you tell a story to a baby.
Some maturity has come into his performances over the years.
THE ACTRESS:Christian Baleis a slam dunk.
He had to go into a mind-set, change his look, and gain weight.
He made you not like Dick Cheney, so he did his job well.
THE DIRECTOR:Christian Baleis turning into one of the best actors working.
One hundred percent he was the best actor this year.
I think Willem is pretty good; hes always been good.
Hes a real actor.
THE PUBLICIST:Rami Malek, hands down.
He became Freddie Mercury.
During the Live Aid scene, I had goose bumps and cried.
THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER:Theres something aboutChristian Bales watchability in what arguably shouldnt be a watchable performance.
Consensus: 50% of our panel voted for Christian Bale inVice.
She really deserves this.
You could almost miss her performance, but shes there.
THE ACTRESS:Regina King.
Im not going to lie: Shes a friend.
But she was good and she deserves it.
THE DIRECTOR:Regina King.
Ive seen her in many, many things over the years, but this was different inBeale Street.
When her character went to Puerto Rico, I felt her panic, her apoplectic frustration with the situation.
I didnt feel like I was watching a performance.
Its a testament to how well she did it.
I appreciated that her role was more substantial, and perhaps shes in the wrong category.
THE PUBLICIST:Regina King.
Every scene shes in is so rich.
Shes so on-point here.
Youre glued to her.
THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER:Regina King.
Shes the soul and heart of that movie.
Consensus: 67% of our panel voted for Regina King inIf Beale Street Could Talk.
Hes just so easy with his craft, he played [the role] really smartly.
Its just something that resonated with me and was really important.
THE ACTRESS:Mahershala Ali.
He did more of a cameo.
THE DIRECTOR:Im going withMahershala Ali.
THE PRODUCER:Adam Driveris great.
I just like him as an actor.
Its not an easy part, its not an easy movie, but he brought something nice to it.
THE PUBLICIST:Mahershala Ali.
He played that role with such grace.
Mahershala has strong presence and is the anchor.
THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER:Richard E. Grant, the definition of a supporting role.
It wasnt better than what he did inMoonlight.
Consensus: 50% of our panel voted for Mahershala Ali inGreen Book.
Its speaking at an interesting time, and its very relevant to where we are today.
Its scary how it resonates from that time period to now.
THE ACTRESS:Adam McKayforVice.
He told a story that shouldve been confusing and boring in an entertaining way.
THE DIRECTOR: Spike Lee.
At this point in his career, hes demonstrated his storytelling abilities.
What Spike brought toBlacKkKlansmanwas a style I could identify.
It felt like a Spike Lee film, and sometimes I think thats a sign of a true director.
THE PUBLICIST:Spike Lee.
The movie is deserving, and its about time.
Id love to see him win for this.
THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER:Alfonso Cuaron.
I kept going between him, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Pawel Pawlikowski theyre visionaries.
Its Cuarons singular vision and what he managed to achieve.
His prolonged, extended shots allow you to live in this world completely.
Consensus: 50% of our panel voted for Spike Lee andBlacKkKlansman.
It was indulgent and yet not.
THE ACTRESS:Green Book.
I love the story because of where we are in this country right now.
That movie needs attention because its showing tolerance, understanding, friendship.
It also shows how far weve come, but also how far weve yet to go.
Im choosing more of a feel-good, political movie for Original Screenplay.
THE DIRECTOR:Vice, because I thinkAdam McKayis brilliant.
As a comedy guy, I love seeing comedy guys transcend their genre.
THE PRODUCER:The Favourite.
Unbelievable ambition, but the dialogue!
Every single one of those conversations is brilliant.
THE PUBLICIST:The Favouritemade [history] fun.
It didnt feel like anotherMary Queen of Scotsor [standard] Queen Anne.
THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER:Vice.
Consensus: 50% of our panel voted for Adam McKaysVice.
Its something that rises above the page, thats where it resonated with me on an emotional level.
THE ACTRESS:If Beale Street Could Talk.
I loveBarry Jenkinsbeing able to take the words of James Baldwin and make them into a movie.
THE DIRECTOR:BlacKkKlansman.
I went with what I thought was the freshest.
I felt for the Adam Driver character, and I felt real tension, being a Jew myself….
THE PRODUCER:Can You Ever Forgive Me?.
Its a movie defined by its screenplay in a way that the others arent.
The others are fine, [but]Can You Ever Forgive Me?is spectacular.
Its a movie thats defined by an amazing script.
THE PUBLICIST:If Beale Street Could Talk.
James Baldwin would be proud.
The character development felt like it was from the book, like the book had come to life.
THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER:If Beale Street Could Talk.
I thought it was successful at achieving the spirit of the book.
He gave the right voice to that story in its quietness.
Theres a smallness and a largeness at the same time.
Consensus: 50% of our panel voted for Barry JenkinsIf Beale Street Could Talk.
THE ACTRESS:All the Starsby Kendrick Lamar and SZA, fromBlack Panther.
Its hip and captures the movie well.
Its one of my favorite parts of the movie when theyre playing that song.
THE DIRECTOR:Shallow.
But I dont think any of the songs are great.
Part of whats wrong withA Star Is Bornis I didnt get into the music.
THE PUBLICIST:Shallowis why I bought the soundtrack!
I like a lot of the other songs, but Im singing Shallow in the shower.
It captures everything about the movie, but it also stands alone from the film.
What it does, what it says, how it plays.
I cant imagine the movie without that song.
Consensus: 83% or our panel voted for Shallow fromA Star Is Born.
[The music] just blew me away, to be able to recreate something so iconic.
THE ACTRESS:I think itsBlack Pantherbecause I love the music.
It spoke to me as a black woman as something I could enjoy.
Its music that I remember.
It made me feel good; it made me feel that it was supporting the scenes.
THE DIRECTOR:I went withIf Beale Street Could Talk.
There was a repetitiousness of the theme in the score, and that made it stand out to me.
It wasnt just wallpaper in the background, there was a personality that the score had.
THE PRODUCER:Black Panther.
I love Ludwig Goransson.
THE PUBLICIST: BlacKkKlansman.
Theres something about when you get Terence Blanchard and Spike Lee together, he gets every beat.
It really brought the film to a good place.
THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER:If Beale Street Could Talk.
Its the perfect score for this film: grand, intimate, and lush.
It supported what was a monumental story that also felt very specific and nuanced in a magical way.
It takes you into the world of the city at that time.
Consensus: 50% of our panel voted for Nicholas Britells score forIf Beale Street Could Talk.
But I dont want to give my judgement on that yet.
[Between the two Ive seen], itsSpider-Man.
THE ACTRESS:Incredibles 2.
I love the concept of family, the familys powers, and the voices.
THE DIRECTOR:Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
I thought it was very original.
I was quite surprised, being that it was the umpteenth story in the Spider-Man world.
THE PRODUCER:Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verseis cool, young, weird, and great.
Lets celebrate that because I encourage other companies [to make similar films].
I like breaking the Disney monopoly on Animated Film.
Its funnyIsle of Dogswasnt dinged [by the Academy voters] for cultural insensitivity or appropriation.
THE PUBLICIST:Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Its so different, its so new.
The animation is great; the story is even stronger.
At first I thought, Do I really want to watch another Spider-Man?
Weve seen everything [before], but the diversity [stands out].
THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER:Isle of Dogs.
I loved the story, and the artistry is exquisite.
I hadnt watched it until I looked at it for voting purposes, but I loved it.
I actually nominated it for production design.
Consensus: 67% of our panel voted forSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Best Foreign-Language Film
CapernaumCold WarNever Look AwayRomaShoplifters
THE ACTOR:Capernaum.
It was interesting to see this boy suing his parents, and the execution is what I loved.
THE ACTRESS:I like thatRomais about Hispanic housekeepers.
Thats something we deal with in Los Angeles.
They become part of the family.
THE DIRECTOR:Roma.
That was an easy one for me.
I also like the period in which the story was being told.
THE PRODUCER:Cold Waris spectacular.
It reminds people of that period.
Its a great story.
But I havent seen some of the other movies.
Right now, itsCold War.
But that could change.
THE PUBLICIST:I loveRoma, but Im going to vote forShoplifters.
It gave us a glimpse into a family that weve never seen before or that we rarely see.
Consensus: Its a TIE betweenRomaandCold War, each with 33% of the votes.
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