AceShowbiz - An anonymous female member of the Academy's 719-person documentary branch, unaffiliated with this year’s nominees, shared her brutally honest Oscar ballot with THR, offering a unique glimpse into her personal preferences and critiques across major categories.

Beginning with the Best Picture category, she candidly admitted placing Frankenstein at number 10 despite not having seen it, explaining she ran out of time and simply checked the box to support other films. She found F1 unengaging, watching only 45 minutes before losing interest. Although a fan of Yorgos Lanthimos, she felt Bugonia didn’t quite work despite admiring its ambition and performances. Visually stunning but narratively repetitive, Train Dreams left her underwhelmed by the character’s perspective. She praised Marty Supreme as a thrilling ride, but ultimately viewed it as more of the Safdie brothers’ familiar territory—even if this film starred Josh Safdie solo.

Her appreciation for The Secret Agent hinged on strong performances and design, though she wasn’t fully captivated by its narrative. She found Hamnet emotionally rich and beautifully rendered but somewhat overwrought, specifically noting that she didn’t want Jessie Buckley’s performance dialed “up to a 10” throughout. Among the contenders, she considered One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Sentimental Valuesentimental value all worthy of Best Picture, with One Battle being a personal favorite despite hearing concerns from Black community friends about a character named Perfidia Beverly Hills.

Describing Sinners as ambitious, profound, provocative, and entertaining, she remained ultimately captivated by Sentimental Value, which she labeled “exquisite” and “nearly perfect,” placing it at the top of her list.

Best Picture Vote: (1) Sentimental Value, (2) Sinners, (3) One Battle After Another, (4) Hamnet, (5) The Secret Agent, (6) Marty Supreme, (7) Train Dreams, (8) Bugonia, (9) F1, (10) Frankenstein.

In the Best Director category, she lauded Sentimental Value’s Joachim Trier’s outstanding direction but ultimately chose Ryan Coogler for Sinners. She emphasized the director’s role as the “conductor” of all filmmaking crafts and praised Coogler for delivering a gorgeously orchestrated, ambitious, and unique film.

Best Director Vote: Ryan Coogler, Sinners.

Turning to Best Actor, she acknowledged Timothée Chalamet’s strong work in Marty Supreme but found his character somewhat redundant following previous Safdie films. She praised Michael B. Jordan’s incredible performance in Sinners and highlighted Wagner Moura as the main reason to watch The Secret Agent. Although tempted to vote for Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another, her top choice was Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon, describing his performance as inspired, magnetic, and almost magical.

Best Actor Vote: Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon.

For Best Actress, she was impressed by Rose Byrne in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, praising the filmmaker’s focus on her face and calling it a tour de force. However, her pick for the most stunning performance of the year was Renate ReinsveRenate Reinsve in Sentimental Value, who, she said, “just got into my heart.”

Best Actress Vote: Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value.

In the Best Supporting Actor category, she found Sean Penn’s work in One Battle After Another incredible, as usual, and expressed fondness for Stellan Skarsgård in Sentimental Value. But her final decision came down to Delroy Lindo in Sinners and Benicio del Toro in One Battle After Another. She chose Del Toro, acknowledging his collaborative effort with director Paul Thomas Anderson in shaping the character, which she described as the film’s spiritual heart. She noted the polarized reception among her acquaintances regarding this character’s portrayal of activism and activism-related themes, ultimately lauding it as an ideal figure for the moment—deeply connected to community and capable of opening doors.

Best Supporting Actor Vote: Benicio del Toro, One Battle After Another.

Regarding Best Supporting Actress, she found Teyana Taylor’s character in One Battle After Another difficult to accept. She praised Wunmi Mosaku in Sinners and Amy Madian in Weapons. Although she liked Sentimental Value, she felt Elle Fanning had little to do, instead casting her vote for Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Fanning’s co-star. She highlighted the remarkable nuance both actresses brought to their sibling relationship, particularly in a bedroom scene she considered one of the year’s best-performed.

Best Supporting Actress Vote: Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value.

In the Best Adapted Screenplay category, she admired Train Dreams but critiqued it for lacking a fully explored female perspective. Though she found Hamnet an incredible adaptation, it felt overwrought to her. Not having read the source material for One Battle After Another, she was aware the film diverged significantly but praised its compelling characters and timely story.

Best Adapted Screenplay Vote: One Battle After Another.

For Best Original Screenplay, she liked Blue Moon but felt Ethan Hawke’s performance elevated the script beyond its inherent strength. While Sinners remained a strong contender, she ultimately favored Sentimental Value for its exquisitely observed exploration of family relationships.

Best Original Screenplay Vote: Sentimental Value.

On the topic of Best Animated Feature, she admitted to being out of touch since her children grew up and chose to abstain from voting.

Best Animated Feature Vote: Abstain.

Discussing Best Documentary Feature, she was critical of Cutting Through Rocks, describing it as over-celebrated within the doc branch, poorly made, lacking gravitas, and underserving its central character. However, she praised the other four nominees as fantastic, singling out The Alabama Solution, Come See Me in the Good Light, and The Perfect Neighbor for their craftsmanship, urgency, and insight into human nature.

She lauded The Alabama Solution as an incredible piece of journalism supported by HBO and well-deserving of acclaim. Come See Me in the Good Light profoundly shifted her perspectives on love and death, making it a strong contender if not for the presence of The Perfect Neighbor. The latter left her “gobsmacked,” heralding it as an innovative documentary with incredible characters that captivated the American imagination upon release. She noted director Geeta Gandbhir is beloved in the doc branch, respected for her leadership on key issues, and adept at navigating award season.

Best Documentary Feature Vote: The Perfect Neighbor.

For Best International Feature, she was underwhelmed by the hype surrounding It Was Just an Accident, expecting a more intense experience. She found Sir?t thrilling but not as fully realized as others. Though admiring The Secret Agent’s lead performance, direction, and style, she was less engaged narratively compared to The Voice of Hind Rajab and Sentimental Value. While acknowledging the former as an imperfect but urgent film, her top pick was once again Sentimental Value, praising its extraordinary filmmaking and performances. She compared it favorably to another favorite international film, Anatomy of a Fall, due to its complex portrayal of family dynamics and female characters.

Best International Feature Vote: Sentimental Value, Norway.

Lastly, on Best Casting, she complimented all nominees but highlighted Marty Supreme for its brilliant assembly of New York characters and faces, which stood out as exceptional.