The student news site of Smithson Valley High School in Spring Branch, Texas

Valley Ventana

The student news site of Smithson Valley High School in Spring Branch, Texas

Valley Ventana

The student news site of Smithson Valley High School in Spring Branch, Texas

Valley Ventana

Hudson Woods throws his arms out after a play before getting into position
Hudson Woods climbs to new heights after standout sophomore season
Jonathan Jones, Sports Writer • May 18, 2024
Joshua Velasquez committed to serving his country in the U.S. Army.
Beyond basic
Margaret Edmonson, Adviser • May 17, 2024
Sydney Rakowitz will study education and training and music at the University of Incarnate Word.
Seniors sign to continue athletic, non-athletic careers
Valley Ventana, Staff • May 16, 2024
Boy Scouts of America announced on May 7 the organizations name will change to Scouting America on the organizations 115th birthday Feb. 8, 2025. Photo by JV via unsplash.com
Boy Scouts changing name after 115 years
Grayson Cook, Staff writer • May 15, 2024
The top 15 students in the senior class receive special recognition at graduation on May 22 due to their hard work throughout high school. 
Graphic by Alex Whelchel via Canva
Profile: Top 15 seniors
Alex Whelchel, Managing Editor • May 13, 2024

Students share Oscars predictions

The+96th+Academy+Awards+will+be+held+Sunday%2C+March+10+at+7+p.m.+Eastern+Time.+Photo+via+Academy+Awards+website.
The 96th Academy Awards will be held Sunday, March 10 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Photo via Academy Awards website.

The Oscars, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will take place on Sunday, and a recent survey revealed student favorites for the main categories. 

For Best Picture, critics from The Guardian predict that “Oppenheimer,” directed by Christopher Nolan, will win, and students agree, with “Oppenheimer” winning 50% of the vote. “Barbie”, directed by Greta Gerwig, is in second place with 30% of the vote. Other nominees include “American Fiction,” “Anatomy of a Fall,” “The Holdovers,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” “Past Lives,” “Poor Things” and “The Zone of Interest.”

Both critics and students predict that Emma Stone will win Best Actress for her performance in “Poor Things,” with 66.7% of students voting for her. Lily Gladstone is in second place for her performance in “Killers of , with 30% of the vote. Annette Bening (“Nyad”), Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”) and Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”) are also nominated. 

Critics and students predict that Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) will win, earning 75.8% of the vote. Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”) is in second place with 15.2% of the vote. Colman Domingo (“Rustin”), Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”) and Jeffrey Wright (“American Fiction”) are also nominated for Best Actor.

For Best Supporting Actress, critics predict Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”) will win, but students believe that America Ferrera will win for her performance in “Barbie”, earning 46.7% of the vote. Emily Blunt (“Oppenheimer”) is in second place with 36.7% of students believing she will win. Daniella Brooks (“The Color Purple”) and Jodie Foster (“Nyad”) are also nominated.

While critics predict that Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”) will win Best Supporting Actor, students predict Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”) will win, earning 57.6% of the vote. Downey is in second place with 39.4% of the vote. Other nominees include Sterling K. Brown (“American Fiction”), Robert De Niro (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) and Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”).

Both critics and students predict that Christopher Nolan (“Oppenheimer”) will win Best Director, with 78.8% of students voting for him. Martin Scorsese (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) is in second place with 12.1% of the vote. Other nominees include Justin Triet (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Yorgos Lanthimos (“Poor Things”) and Jonathan Glazer (“The Zone of Interest”).

Lastly, both critics and students predict that Ludwig Göransson will win Best Original Score for “Oppenheimer,” earning 64.7% of the vote. John Williams is in second place for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” with 17.6% of the vote. Other nominees include Laura Karpman (“American Fiction”), Jerskin Fendrix (“Poor Things”) and Robbie Robertson (“Killers of the Flower Moon”).

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