I love any and all “Anonymous Oscar Ballot” features, and I love how they’ve started up early this year. Yesterday, I covered Variety’s piece in which they talked to five Oscar voters about how they were voting and why. That Variety piece showed (to me) that Demi Moore is far from a sure thing in Best Actress and that Best Picture really is a toss-up too. Well Gold Derby is also doing their own anon Oscar ballot feature, and I wanted to talk about this voter’s choices:

BEST PICTURE: Emilia Pérez
Let me start out here by acknowledging that I totally understand why some people will steer clear of supporting Emilia Pérez because of the offensive social media posts of its star from several years ago. But let me also add the obvious: it has nothing to do with the quality of the film, which to my mind is greater than its nine fellow nominees. You simply cannot watch this movie and not be bowled over by its cleverness and how distinctive and powerfully quirky it is. If the Academy Awards are about honoring originality — and to my mind, they should be — you can’t get much more original than this. There’s never been a movie even remotely like it before. Second place is Anora. Third place is Conclave.

BEST DIRECTOR: Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez)
For the longest time, I was going here with Sean Baker for Anora, but I didn’t like the way it ended. So I switched to Jacques. He put in such an amazing job on a film that had to be a bear to direct. There are so many stunning visuals, and presiding over this movie was really like handling two or three different styles in one: mob drama, musical, dark personality study. It’s so complex, and Jacques made it all appear seamless. A stunning job, really.

BEST ACTRESS: Mikey Madison (Anora)
Mikey is such a find. I’d never heard of her before this movie. Had no idea who she was. And I’m sure I’m not alone. She was brilliant and versatile in Anora, totally self-possessed. It all comes across on the screen. I loved the scope of her work. There are so many scenes I could cite, like the one where they try to take away her ring and she just screams and screams. Screaming like that takes talent. I’m serious.”

BEST ACTOR: Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
I was almost going to go with Sebastian Stan here for The Apprentice, who got better and better as that film went along. But I ultimately decided on Colman. because he’s so commanding, who not only gives a dynamic performance but is a classy and exceptional human being who deserves to be recognized. He’s very strong, just riveting, really. I loved Clarence Maclin, too, though he wasn’t nominated. The acting was the best thing about the movie, in my opinion.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez)
I mean, come on, Zoe was really the star of this film. I felt that she had much more presence than Karla Sofía Gascón. She’s so fiery and charismatic in this role, and I didn’t see anyone else who’s nominated in this category whose performance approached Zoe’s. I loved her. She’s riveting. The camera loved her. Her performance works on so many levels. If there’s a second place, I’d say Ariana Grande for Wicked.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Jeremy Strong (The Apprentice)
Jeremy may be the strongest contender in all the Oscars. He was just so good playing scary Roy Cohn. I’m just in love with him after seeing him in The Apprentice. You totally believe his performance. He had the mannerisms down, the voice, everything. I mean, it’s such a strong category. Edward Norton was amazing in A Complete Unknown, too. But for my money it’s just got to be Jeremy.

[From Gold Derby]

Oscar voters really are wacky as hell, aren’t they? Not to make everything political, but every year I read these Oscar ballot pieces, I understand more and more why this country’s elections get such f–ked up results. I honestly don’t think this is the strongest year for films or performances, but to look at the Best Picture nominees and say, unequivocally, that Emilia Perez is the best??? Are you joking? In the same year that Conclave, Dune 2 and Anora are also in the mix? As for the actors this voter chose – Colman isn’t going to win, but sure, that’s fine. I like how Demi Moore wasn’t even a factor and choosing Jeremy Strong is a real choice too.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.