Year in year out, the academy awards bring a plenty of excitement to people all around the world, and in 2021, the case is no different. This year, the favourites to win the highly esteemed best picture award are American Drama, Nomadland and historical drama The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Nomadland, set to hit Nu Metro Cinemas on the 16th of April, follows a woman named Fern (played by Frances McDormand, Three Billboards, Fargo, Burn After Reading) who leaves home to journey across the American West after she loses her job and her husband passes away.
The film is written and directed by award winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao (Songs my Brother Taught Me, The Rider), and has already received widespread praise for its captivating cinematography.
South African betting sites have clearly marked Zhao’s film as the favourite to win the Best Picture, with odds ranging from 1.55 to 1.65 on Nomadland to win.
Another contender in this seemingly one horse race is The Trial of the Chicago 7, a historical, legal film that follows 7 anti-Vietnam war protestors who are prosecuted for charges of conspiracy and crossing of state lines with intentions of inciting a riot.
The ensemble cast is led by the likes of Yayha Abdul-Mateen II (Aquaman, The Greatest Showman) and Sacha Baron-Cohen (Borat, The Dictator) and is directed by Aaron Sorkin (Molly’s Game). This is just Sorkin’s second film as a director, who has enjoyed plenty of success as a writer.
South African betting sites have marked The Trial of the Chicago 7’s chances of winning the best picture with odds ranging from 3.25 to 3.75.
Another important inclusion in the contest for best picture is biographical drama Mank. The film, starring Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour, The Dark Knight) and Amanda Seyfried (Mamma Mia, Les Misérables) follows Herman J. Mankiewicz, a screenwriter struggling with alcoholism, who is busy developing the legendary film Citizen Kane.
Directed by David Fincher (The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), the film is based on a screenplay by Fincher’s late father, Jack Fincher.
While the film has already received critical acclaim, betting sites have priced Mank’s chances of winning the best picture at 11.0.
Other movies worth a shout include Minari (odds priced at 17.0), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (odds priced at 17.0), and The Green Knight (odds priced at 17.0), which all promise fantastic returns in the case of an upset.
While the Best Picture award certainly receives much attention, we cannot discount the importance given to the Best Actor award.
Leading the pack this year is the late Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther, 21 Bridges) for his work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Da 5 Bloods. Betting sites have clearly marked Boseman as the favourite to win this accolade, pricing his chances of winning with odds of 1.10.
We cannot mention leading men without mentioning leading women, and once again, the Best Actress award is one that is highly contested. This year, Carey Mulligan (Wildlife, The Great Gatsby) has been dubbed as the favourite for her work in Promising Young Woman, with betting sites pricing her chances at winning this prestigious award between 2.90 and 2.95.
As with every year, this year’s Academy Awards promise glamour, excitement, and much anticipation to see who will pick up the world’s biggest awards in the film industry.
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