Final 2017 Oscars Predictions

The Oscars are finally here!

This Sunday the 89th Academy Awards is airing and the answer to “which movie is the unequivocal, objective best of 2016?” will finally be revealed. (Not really, but whatever.)

In anticipation of the big night I’m going to list my Final* Oscar Predictions that I’m bringing to my Oscar party and sticking to completely. Like most years, a lot of the categories are basically foregone conclusions. However, there are a few that remain a mystery or a tight race, like Best Actor and Best Foreign Language Film. There are also some that are basically toss-ups every year, like all three Shorts categories.

*Predictions aren’t actually final, I’m sure I’ll waffle back and forth all weekend.

It seems like a La La Land sweep is inevitable (it’s already tied for most nominations ever) but I’d like to see some surprises. It’s always nice when the Academy spreads the wealth a little. In this list I’ve mentioned who I believe will win, nominees that may end up being spoilers, nominees that should win the award and then my vision of a perfect world where my personal preferences are all that matter.

Here’s my list and enjoy the parade of attractive and rich people this Sunday at 8:30 PM on ABC.

---

Best Picture

Arrival

Fences

Hacksaw Ridge

Hidden Figures

La La Land

Lion

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

 

Will Win: La La Land

Could Win: Moonlight

Should Win: Arrival or Moonlight (they’re all good though)

Perfect World: Green Room

---

Actor in a Leading Role

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge

Ryan Gosling, La La Land

Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic

Denzel Washington, Fences

 

Will Win: Denzel Washington

Could Win: Casey Affleck

Should Win: Denzel Washington

Perfect World: Anton Yelchin, Green Room or Trevante Rhodes, Moonlight

---

Actress in a Leading Role

Isabelle Huppert, Elle

Ruth Negga, Loving

Natalie Portman, Jackie

Emma Stone, La La Land

Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

 

Will Win: Emma Stone

Could Win: Isabelle Huppert

Should Win: Natalie Portman

Perfect World: Anya Taylor-Joy, The Witch

---

Actor in a Supporting Role

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water

Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea

Dev Patel, Lion

Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

 

Will Win: Mahershala Ali

Could Win: Dev Patel

Should Win: Michael Shannon (because he deserves every award)

---

Actress in a Supporting Role

Viola Davis, Fences

Naomie Harris, Moonlight

Nicole Kidman, Lion

Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures

Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

 

Will Win: Viola Davis

Could Win: No one else, really.

Should Win: No one else, really.

Perfect World: Viola freakin’ Davis

---

Animated Feature Film

Kubo and the Two Strings

Moana

My Life as a Zucchini

The Red Turtle

Zootopia

 

Will Win: Zootopia

Could Win: Kubo and the Two Strings

Should Win: Kubo and the Two Strings

Perfect World: The Red Turtle

---

Cinematography

Arrival

La La Land

Lion

Moonlight

Silence

 

Will Win: La La Land

Could Win: Arrival or Lion

Should Win: Silence or Moonlight

Perfect World: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

---

Costume Design

Allied

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Florence Foster Jenkins

Jackie

La La Land

 

Will Win: Jackie

Could Win: La La Land or Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Should Win: Jackie

Perfect World: The Nice Guys

---

Directing

Denis Villeneuve, Arrival

Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge

Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea

Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

 

Will Win: Damien Chazelle

Could Win: Barry Jenkins

Should Win: Barry Jenkins or Denis Villeneuve

Perfect World: Jeremy Saulnier, Green Room or Mike Mills, 20th Century Women

---

Documentary (Feature)

Fire at Sea

I Am Not Your Negro

Life, Animated

O.J.: Made in America

13th

 

Will Win: O.J.: Made in America

Could Win: I Am Not Your Negro

Should Win: O.J.: Made in America

Perfect World: HyperNormalisation or Weiner

---

Documentary (Short Subject)

Extremis

4.1 Miles

Joe’s Violin

Watani: My Homeland

The White Helmets

 

Will Win: Joe’s Violin

Could Win: 4.1 Miles or The White Helmets

Should Win: The White Helmets

Perfect World: The White Helmets

---

Film Editing

Arrival

Hacksaw Ridge

Hell or High Water

La La Land

Moonlight

 

Will Win: La La Land

Could Win: Hacksaw Ridge

Should Win: Moonlight or Arrival

Perfect World: Green Room or Arrival

---

Foreign Language Film

Land of Mine

A Man Called Ove

The Salesman

Tanna

Toni Erdmann

 

Will Win: A Man Called Ove

Could Win: The Salesman or Toni Erdmann

Should Win: Toni Erdmann

Perfect World: The Wailing

---

Makeup and Hairstyling

A Man Called Ove

Star Trek Beyond

Suicide Squad

 

Will Win: Star Trek Beyond

Could Win: A Man Called Ove

Should Win: Suicide Squad

Perfect World: Suicide Squad

---

Music (Original Score)

Jackie

La La Land

Lion

Moonlight

Passengers

 

Will Win: La La Land

Could Win: Jackie

Should Win: Jackie

Perfect World: Swiss Army Man

---

Music (Original Song)

“Auditions (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”

Could Win: “How Far I’ll Go”

Should Win: “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” or “Can’t Stop the Feeling”

Perfect World: “I’m So Humble” from Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

---

Production Design

Arrival

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Hail, Caesar!

La La Land

Passengers

 

Will Win: La La Land

Could Win: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (The Academy loves period pieces)

Should Win: Hail, Caesar!

Perfect World: Green Room

---

Short Film (Animated)

Blind Vaysha

Borrowed Time

Pear Cider and Cigarettes

Pearl

Piper

 

Will Win: Piper

Could Win: Pearl

Should Win: Borrowed Time

Perfect World: (Haven’t seen enough shorts)

---

Short Film (Live Action)

Ennemis Intérieurs

La Femme et le TGV

Silent Nights

Sing

Timecode

 

Will Win: Ennemis Intérieurs

Could Win: La Femme et le TGV or Sing

Should Win: (Haven’t seen the nominees)

Perfect World: (Haven’t seen enough shorts)

---

Sound Editing

Arrival

Deepwater Horizon

Hacksaw Ridge

La La Land

Sully

 

Will Win: Hacksaw Ridge

Could Win: La La Land

Should Win: Hacksaw Ridge

Perfect World: Don’t Breath

---

Sound Mixing

Arrival

Hacksaw Ridge

La La Land

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

 

Will Win: La La Land

Could Win: Hacksaw Ridge

Should Win: Hacksaw Ridge

Perfect World: Don’t Breathe

---

Visual Effects

Deepwater Horizon

Doctor Strange

The Jungle Book

Kubo and the Two Strings

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

 

Will Win: The Jungle Book

Could Win: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story or Kubo and the Two Strings

Should Win: The Jungle Book

Perfect World: The Jungle Book

---

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Arrival

Fences

Hidden Figures

Lion

Moonlight

 

Will Win: Moonlight

Could Win: Fences

Should Win: Moonlight

Perfect World: Moonlight

---

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Hell or High Water

La La Land

The Lobster

Manchester by the Sea

20th Century Women

 

Will Win: La La Land

Could Win: Manchester by the Sea

Should Win: Manchester by the Sea or The Lobster

Perfect World: The Nice Guys