An Axios Columbus reporter's Oscar ballot
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👋 Andrew here. I love movies, and do my best to watch the Academy Award contenders each year.
- Admittedly, a new baby in 2025 did not help, so I missed a couple I didn't feel like prioritizing. Sorry, "Frankenstein."
Ahead of Sunday's show, here are my personal picks for the major awards:
🏆 Best Picture: "One Battle After Another"
My favorite movie of the year, and one I'll be watching for a long time. OBAA is truly a special film.
- What a year for "girl dad" movies, the year I became one myself.
🏆 Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
The boring pick, but an easy one — the person who put together "One Battle After Another" deserves this award.
🏆 Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet
This is a stacked category, and I won't be mad about anyone winning, but it's hard to watch "Marty Supreme" and imagine anyone else as the magnetic lead that pulls this movie together.
🏆 Best Actress: Jessie Buckley
"Hamnet" is one of the most emotionally devastating movies I've ever seen, and all of that emotion hinges on whether you buy Buckley's performance — she delivers.
- Shoutout to Renate Reinsve in "Sentimental Value," one of our greatest working actors.
🏆 Best Supporting Actor: Sean Penn
I know, I know — more OBAA love. But if you've seen Penn in this movie, you won't be surprised.
🏆 Best Supporting Actress: Teyana Taylor
Taylor isn't in "One Battle Another" for all that long, but she absolutely steals the entire film, making you feel both her presence and her absence.
- I kind of hope Amy Madigan wins for the amazing "Weapons," though.