LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white. Color version is available.) The Oscars Experience is seen at the Academy Museum Opening Press Conference at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Cover LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white. Color version is available.) The Oscars Experience is seen at the Academy Museum Opening Press Conference at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

The Academy Awards are coming up! Which movies are our friends rooting to win for Best Picture?

Introducing: Tatler Takes, your weekend guide to movies and series you must watch—or not. Today, we're asking our Tatler friends about their personal takes on which movies they expect to see win at the Academy Awards. 

Colloquially known as the Oscars, the Academy Awards is one of the most anticipated events in the entirety of the film industry. It gives credit to both technical and artistic merit in films and movies much loved and talked about; and after a turbulent two years, artists, actresses, and production crew are ready—now more than ever—for a comeback. The question then remains: which movie do you think is bringing home the bacon for Best Picture in the 2022 Academy Awards? Our Tatler friends weigh in below:

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Sassa Jimenez

Tatler Asia
Above (Photo: @sassajimenez / Instagram)

What is your Oscar bet for this year and why? 

I think Power of the Dog is a near perfect movie. The casting was unexpected but the acting turned out impeccable. It was beautifully shot and together with the music, it created a mood that lulls you into thinking it is one kind of story before pulling the rug from under you with its conclusion.

Franz Sorilla IV

Tatler Asia
Above (Photo: Tatler Philippines)

What is your Oscar bet for this year and why? 

I have strong faith that the musical drama CODA of female writer and director Siân Heder would be this year’s Best Picture. Available on Apple TV+, this heartwrenching film is a beautiful depiction of a family that is torn by physical and generational differences and yet resolved magically by music of the heartbeats.

CODA actually means Child/Children of Deaf Adults and we see their struggle to fit in family and society norms through the character of Ruby (Emilia Jones).

I love it, deeply. Most especially the part where Ruby’s parents and brother couldn’t hear her beautiful voice and yet they understand what’s coming from her mouth through American Sign Language. The inclusivity depicted in this film is on point that it didn’t need to be ‘preachy’ to advocate for the social issues it explored. It is sincere in conveying its message, and was loud enough to be heard even in its most quiet scenes.

The fact that it won SAG awards for Best Ensemble, the top prize at PAG awards, and two major awards from BAFTA, already makes it a top Oscar Best Picture bet.

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Shauna Jay Popple

Tatler Asia
Above (Photo: @shaunajaypopple / Instagram)

What is your Oscar bet for this year and why? 

So I have to go on the record and say that I immensely enjoyed Dune because anything Chalamet appears in is automatically watchable (at least for me). Also, is it just me or is Dune a modern-day version of Star Wars wrapped in shiny, new packaging, presenting the power struggle of today via the latest “invisible art” aka film editing? I’m hooked and can’t wait for the second instalment.

And yet King Richard will be that story of tenacity and grit that brings hope to many (especially with Will Smith as big pappa Richard). From zero to multi-grand slammers? I bet this heart-felt will move some emotional weathervanes. We all need an escape right now what with all that’s going on right now.

Lastly, The Power of the Dog. Well, wow. The premise. The acting. 'Nuff said.

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