Could Will Smith take the Best Actor Oscar?

Tonight is the 94th Oscars. It’s a momentous occasion for several reasons. After two years of lockdowns and empty cinemas, movies and movie lovers have returned to theatres. Last year’s Oscars were hampered by COVID-19 restrictions. As the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences celebrates the best in movies, viewers can expect a return to form for the biggest night in film.

Those up for awards have undoubtedly prepared their speeches — from first-time nominee Kristen Stewart to record breakers like Steven Spielberg. Other nominees are Javier Bardem for Being the Ricardos, Benedict Cumberbatch for Power of the Dog, and Andrew Garfield for Tick Tick Boom. Each of their performances deserves acclaim, but the real contest is between Smith for King Richard and Denzel Washington for The Tragedy of Macbeth.

Smith is far from an Oscars novice. Over the last two decades, he’s been in the conversation for some powerful performances. Yet, for Smith, the mark has always been missed. In 2016, his performance in Concussion was good enough for the Golden Globes, but got no love from the Oscars. He’s been nominated twice before. Once for his iconic role in The Pursuit of Happyness , and for bringing Muhammad Ali’s story to the screen in Ali.

Washington, on the other hand, is an Oscars darling. This is his 9th nomination for Best Actor, of which he’s won two already. Once in 1990 for his role in Glory. In 2002, Washington won for Training Day. His competition? Smith in Ali.

Twenty years later, the two titans face off once again. The

Fresh Prince' turns in a magnificent performance, perhaps the best of his lifetime. In comes Denzel Washington, one of the greatest actors of all time, playing the lead role in one of the greatest Shakespeare plays by one of the greatest directors of all time. If the Oscar doesn’t go to Smith, one can’t help but see Smith as Charlie Brown, racing to kick a football that’s swiped away at the last minute by Washington.

If he does win, it’ll be the most satisfying moment at the Oscars since the Moonlight fiasco of 2017, especially considering the roles in question. As Macbeth, Denzel plays the titular role of a tyrannical king. One who has ruled without competition for years, but is eventually taken down by an old adversary, as the prophecy foretold. I don’t know if there’s a prophecy for the 94th Oscars, but of all the categories up for grabs, Best Actor is a story all to itself.

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.