My Oscar predictions

The big day is almost here! My favorite day of the year, the gay Super Bowl, is upon us. So, without further ado, here are my predictions on the main categories for this year’s Academy Awards.

 

Performance by an actor in a leading role

• Casey Affleck in “Manchester by the Sea”
• Andrew Garfield in “Hacksaw Ridge”
• Ryan Gosling in “La La Land”
• Viggo Mortensen in “Captain Fantastic”
• Denzel Washington in “Fences”

Will win: Denzel Washington in “Fences”

Should win: Anyone but Ryan Gosling (for “La La Land”, at least)

Possible upset: Casey Affleck in “Manchester by the Sea”

Should’ve been a contender: Daniel Radcliffe (Swiss Army Man); Ryan Gosling (The Nice Guys); Joel Edgerton (Loving); Jake Gyllenhaal (Nocturnal Animals); Colin Farrell (The Lobster)

 

Performance by an actress in a leading role

• Isabelle Huppert in “Elle”
• Ruth Negga in “Loving”
• Natalie Portman in “Jackie”
• Emma Stone in “La La Land”
• Meryl Streep in “Florence Foster Jenkins”

Will win: Emma Stone in “La La Land”

Should win: Natalie Portman in “Jackie”

Possible upset: Isabelle Huppert in “Elle”

Should’ve been a contender: Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures); Amy Adams (Arrival); Hailee Steinfeld (The Edge of Seventeen)

 

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

• Mahershala Ali in “Moonlight”
• Jeff Bridges in “Hell or High Water”
• Lucas Hedges in “Manchester by the Sea”
• Dev Patel in “Lion”
• Michael Shannon in “Nocturnal Animals”

Will win: Mahershala Ali in “Moonlight”

Should win: Michael Shannon in “Nocturnal Animals”

Possible upset: Dev Patel in “Lion”

Should’ve been a contender: Hugh Grant (Florence Foster Jenkins); Simon Helberg (Florence Foster Jenkins); John Goodman (10 Cloverfield Lane); George MacKay (Captain Fantastic); Ben Foster (Hell or High Water); Paul Dano (Swiss Army Man)

 

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

• Viola Davis in “Fences”
• Naomie Harris in “Moonlight”
• Nicole Kidman in “Lion”
• Octavia Spencer in “Hidden Figures”
• Michelle Williams in “Manchester by the Sea”

Will win: Viola Davis in “Fences”

Should win: Viola Davis in “Fences”

Possible upset: Naomie Harris in “Moonlight”

Should’ve been a contender: Janelle Monáe (Hidden Figures); Rachel Weisz (The Light Between Oceans)

 

Achievement in directing

• “Arrival” – Denis Villeneuve
• “Hacksaw Ridge” – Mel Gibson
• “La La Land” – Damien Chazelle
• “Manchester by the Sea” – Kenneth Lonergan
• “Moonlight” – Barry Jenkins

Will win: “La La Land” – Damien Chazelle

Should win: “La La Land” – Damien Chazelle

Possible upset: “Moonlight” – Barry Jenkins

Should’ve been a contender: Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic); Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert (Swiss Army Man); Pablo Larraín (Jackie); Tom Ford (Nocturnal Animals)

 

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

• “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” from “La La Land”
• “Can’t Stop The Feeling” from “Trolls”
• “City Of Stars” from “La La Land”
• “The Empty Chair” from “Jim: The James Foley Story”
• “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana”

Will win: “City Of Stars” from “La La Land”

Should win: “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” from “La La Land”

Possible upset: “Can’t Stop The Feeling” from “Trolls”

Should’ve been a contender: “Someone in the crowd” from “La La Land”

I MEAN!

 

Best motion picture of the year

• “Arrival”
• “Fences”
• “Hacksaw Ridge”
• “Hell or High Water”
• “Hidden Figures”
• “La La Land”
• “Lion”
• “Manchester by the Sea”
• “Moonlight”

Will win: “La La Land”

Should win: “La La Land”

Possible upset: “Moonlight”

Should’ve been a contender: Captain Fantastic, Nocturnal Animals, Swiss Army Man, Zootopia

 

Adapted screenplay

• “Arrival”
• “Fences
• “Hidden Figures”
• “Lion”
• “Moonlight”

Will win: “Moonlight”

Should win: “Arrival”

Possible upset: “Arrival”

Should’ve been a contender: Nocturnal Animals

 

Original screenplay

• “Hell or High Water”
• “La La Land”
• “The Lobster”
• “Manchester by the Sea”
• “20th Century Women”

Will win: “Manchester by the Sea”

Should win: “The Lobster”

Possible upset: “La La Land”

Should’ve been a contender: Captain Fantastic, Zootopia, Swiss Army Man, The Nice Guys

 

So, what do you think of my predictions? Agree or disagree? Feel free to share your own, as well as your Oscar-viewing plans, in the comments!