Fair is fair. Choosing among the pleasures of this year’s best movies could not have been easy. Awards, particularly the Oscar voters’ choices announced this morning, reflect a nuanced vision: I am especially heartened by the nods to two of my favorite actresses, Jessica Chastain and Penelope Cruz in two outstanding of this year’s films: The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Parallel Mothers respectively. Will they win, over the work of Oscar winners Olivia Colman and Nicole Kidman? They can. And Kristen Stewart for Spencer, a movie that many people simply did not love—her fine performance as Diana deserves a category all its own.

Such is the way with awards: of the men, I hope Andrew Garfield beats out Javier Bardem, Benedict Cumberbatch, Will Smith, and Denzel Washington, although Denzel’s Macbeth may be the best I’ve ever seen. I do think the favorites for supporting actors Ariana DeBose and Kodi Smith-McPhee will win–deservedly. And of the ten best films and their directors, my pick would be Steven Spielberg for his West Side Story remake, but that’s just me—even though I am a big fan of Jane Campion and The Power of the Dog. Eager for March 27, I don’t think my opinion will change, but I reserve the right.:)