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My Mom And I Watched All Of The Oscars Best Actor Nominees, And Here's Who We Think Should Win

"It was the same acting over and over." –my mom

Hope Lasater
by Hope Lasater

BuzzFeed Staff

In advance of the Oscars this year, my wonderful mother and I decided to watch all of the Best Actor nominees and score them.

My mom, Nancy, has written two novels and can ride a bike with no hands ("and nearly died because of it"). I am a grown-up who pronounces caterpillar "calerpitter."

Here are our Best Actor thoughts and scores.

Riz Ahmed as Ruben in Sound of Metal

Riz Ahmed wearing headphones in "Sound of Metal"
Caviar

Riz Ahmed plays a four-years sober heavy metal drummer losing his hearing.

Our scores for Riz Ahmed as Best Actor:

Riz Ahmed looking angry in "Sound of Metal"
Caviar

Nancy: I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job in anything this year. Ahmed deserves to be Best Actor just as Cliff Robertson won for Charly. Score: 10/10

Hope: I am blown away by how amazing he was. Holy shit. Score: 10/10

Chadwick Boseman as Levee in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Chadwick Boseman smiling angrily in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
Netflix

Chadwick Boseman plays a trumpeter wanting to break free from what he feels is a stifling dynamic working for Ma Rainey.

Our scores for Chadwick Boseman as Best Actor:

Chadwick Boseman looking mad in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom"
Netflix

Nancy: His acting is superb in what is ultimately a melodramatic part that doesn’t give Boseman enough to do. Score: 7.5/10

Hope: I wish he had had even more to do, because what he did was stellar. Score: 7.5/10

Anthony Hopkins as Anthony in The Father

Anthony Hopkins looking angry in "The Father"
Trademark Films

Anthony Hopkins plays a father losing his grasp on reality to dementia.

Our scores for Anthony Hopkins as Best Actor:

Anthony Hopkins looking confused in "The Father"
Trademark Films

Nancy: I’m sorry, but he’s not believable. Score: 7/10

Hope: I was completely invested in him, but I never forgot it was Anthony Hopkins. Score: 7.5/10

Gary Oldman as Herman J. Mankiewicz in Mank

Gary Oldman laying in bed in "Mank"
Netflix

Gary Oldman plays Herman J. Mankiewicz as he gets inspired to and writes Citizen Kane.

Our scores for Gary Oldman as Best Actor:

Gary Oldman writing in "Mank"
Netflix

Nancy: It was the same acting over and over. He had so much more to do in Darkest Hour. Score: 4/10

Hope: He does a totally fine-to-good-enough job in a boring part that I will never remember. Score: 5/10

Steven Yeun as Jacob in Minari

Steven Yeun looking out in "Minari"
Plan B Entertainment

Steven Yeun plays the father in a Korean American family who tries to make it as a farmer in 1980s Arkansas.

Our scores for Steven Yeun as Best Actor:

Steven Yeun looking worried in "Minari"
Plan B Entertainment

Nancy: Yes. Score: 8/10

Hope: He was such a real person right there. Score: 9/10

So here are our rankings and winners for Best Actor:

Nancy:


1. Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal: 10/10 **WINNER**
2. Steven Yeun in Minari: 8/10
3. Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: 7.5/10
4. Anthony Hopkins in The Father: 7/10
5. Gary Oldman in Mank: 4/10

Hope:


1. Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal: 10/10 **WINNER**
2. Steven Yeun in Minari: 9/10
3. Chadwick Boseman in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: 7.5/10
4. Anthony Hopkins in The Father: 7.5/10
5. Gary Oldman in Mank: 5/10

The Oscars are this Sunday, April 25, at 8 p.m. on ABC!