This year’s 97th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 2, 2025, at 7 PM EST, is fast approaching, and Hollywood is buzzing to see which films come out on top.
The three most notable awards of the night — Actor in a Leading Role, Actress in a Leading Role, and Best Picture — have been a close race. Weighing in on the contenders for this award season is Frederick Community College’s resident film professor, Richard Fulton. He was asked to predict the winners of the big three awards and gave valuable insight.
“I am picking Ralph Fiennes as the winner, but I would like to see Timothee Chalamet win for his Bob Dylan impression,” Professor Fulton said about the award for Actor in a Leading Role. “The singing alone was incredible.”
His prediction for Actress in a Leading role was more torn. “I think this one is more difficult than the last category,” Fulton said. “There are so many incredible actresses from Fernada Torres to Demi Moore to Cynthia Erivo…Mikey Madison in ‘Anora’ is incredible as woman from New York who marries a Russian Oligarch’s son. I think she will win for her role in ‘Anora.’ I wouldn’t mind Demi Moore winning, as a sentimental choice.”
Best Picture is the most coveted award of the night, and each film nominated is clamoring for a chance at the prize. “Anora” and “A Complete Unknown” are the two standouts from Professor Fulton’s predictions. However, “Wicked” has a chance of nabbing awards considering its globe-trotting press tour and impressive box office run.
“This is not an exact science, which I think makes picking the awards fun,” Fulton said, as a reminder to movie-goers ahead of Hollywood’s biggest night. “Good luck with your selections. And, whether you pick with your heart or whatever, and even if you do not pick the winners, just being able to view good films is time well spent. See you at the movies.”
Regardless of which film leaves with the most awards, 2024 was a great year for movies and deserves to be celebrated.
Leave a Reply