Shearer: Picks and predictions for the 2022 Academy Awards

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I'd like to begin this column with a confession: I haven't actually watched the Oscars since 2008, the year I cut the cable service for my home. Since the annual ceremony was broadcast live on network television, I was unable to see it on the night, but could easily read the results online the following day.

Because of that, I've grown to see the Academy Awards as two distinctly different things: the professional American film industry's way of acknowledging the hard work of its own, and a TV show where we see celebrities in fancy outfits. To me, one has a lot more to do with movies than the other.

Though the televised event will always struggle with viewership, running time and conflict within the Academy ranks, as an avid watcher and writer about film, I can't imagine ever not being interested in who is nominated and who wins. With that in mind, here are my picks in the five major categories.

Podcast: Andrew Shearer and a former Blockbuster coworker chat about the Oscars

Best Actor in a Leading Role nominees: Javier Bardem ("Being the Ricardos"), Benedict Cumberbatch ("The Power of the Dog"), Andrew Garfield ("tick, tick...BOOM!"), Will Smith ("King Richard") and Denzel Washington ("The Tragedy of Macbeth").

My pick: Smith, because his movie made me cry more than any other I saw last year. If "Power of the Dog" ends up sweeping the show, though, it'll go to Cumberbatch.

Best Actress in a Leading Role nominees: Jessica Chastain ("The Eyes of Tammy Faye"), Olivia Colman ("The Lost Daughter"), Penélope Cruz ("Parallel Mothers"), Nicole Kidman ("Being the Ricardos") and Kristen Stewart ("Spencer").

My pick: Stewart for what was essentially one-woman show. This one's tough to predict, but I hope they at least give Cruz the award to make up for not nominating her movie for Best Picture.

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Best Actor in a Supporting Role nominees: Cirán Hinds ("Belfast"), Troy Kotsur ("CODA"), Jesse Plemons ("The Power of the Dog"), J.K. Simmons ("Being the Ricardos") and Kodi Smit-McPhee ("The Power of the Dog").

My pick: Kotsur, hands-down. And I think that's the way the Academy will go as well.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role nominees: Jessie Buckley ("The Lost Daughter"), Ariana DeBose ("West Side Story"), Judi Dench ("Belfast") Kirsten Dunst ("The Power of the Dog") and Aunjanue Ellis ("King Richard").

My pick: DeBose is an undeniable force of nature and was my focal point for that entire movie. Again, if "Power of the Dog" does a sweep, this'll go to Dunst.

Best Director nominees: Kenneth Branagh ("Belfast"), Ryusuke Hamaguchi ("Drive My Car"), Paul Thomas Anderson ("Licorice Pizza"), Jane Campion ("The Power of the Dog") and Steven Spielberg ("West Side Story").

My pick: Hamaguchi for what is his 14th feature-length film and one of the year's most powerful dramatic experiences. Since Campion and Spielberg have both put their feet in their mouths publicly as of late, Branagh is the only other nominee I'd feel good about this award going to.

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Best Picture nominees: "Belfast," "CODA," "Don't Look Up," "Drive My Car," "Dune," "King Richard," "Licorice Pizza," "Nightmare Alley," "The Power of the Dog" and "West Side Story."

My pick: "CODA" does everything movies are supposed to do, and I was completely swept away by it. If it doesn't win, I'd love to see "King Richard" take home the statue.

The 94th Academy Awards will be televised on Sunday, Mar. 27, 2022 on ABC.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Andrew Shearer's picks and predictions for the 2022 Academy Awards