The night we have all waited for has arrived. Tonight, the Oscars will be on. This is the most uncertain Oscars in years. I am pretty sure I'll only get half of the winners right. Here are my predictions for all the categories, but this year, I will go in reverse order from the past 2 years, starting with the shorts & ending with Best Picture. Let's get it!
Best Documentary Short
I haven't seen any of the shorts, as the screenings for the documentary shorts were few & far between. However, I am biased towards Edith+Eddie, as I have heard there is a Detroit area connection to the short.
Will Win/Could Win/Should Win: Edith+Eddie
Will Win/Could Win/Should Win: Edith+Eddie
Best Animated Short
For the first time, I was able to see all 5 of the Oscar-nominated animated shorts. I loved all of them.
Will Win: Dear Basketball
Could Win: Garden Party
Should Win: Revolting Rhymes
Best Live-Action Short
Also for the first time, I was able to see all 5 of the Oscar-nominated live-action shorts. I thought all of them were great.
Will Win: DeKalb Elementary
Could Win/Should Win: The Silent Child
Best Documentary Short
Sadly, I've been unable to see any of the documentary nominees, as only one was in theaters near me, but it was almost an hour away, & I haven't had time to watch the other nominees, which were either on Netflix or on demand. But one of them has piqued my interest, & I hope to watch it soon, & that one will be the winner.
Will Win/Could Win/Should Win: Faces Places
Best Animated Feature
I've seen 3 of the 5 nominees (Coco, Loving Vincent & The Boss Baby). I'll never understand why The Boss Baby was nominated. That was one of the worst films of 2017. The Lego Batman Movie should have been nominated instead.
Will Win/Could Win/Should Win: Coco
Best Foreign Language Film
I've seen 2 of the 5 nominees (A Fantastic Woman & The Insult), which is the most I've seen ever before the Oscars. I haven't watched On Body & Soul on Netflix yet, I didn't see The Square when it was in theaters, as the closest theater showing it was almost an hour away (but I do own it on DVD now), & Loveless will not be in the Detroit area until March 23.
Will Win/Should Win: A Fantastic Woman
Could Win: The Square
Best Original Song
All of the songs here are great. But one stands out to me: Sufjan Stevens' Mystery of Love from Call Me by Your Name. It is just so beautiful.
Will Win: This is Me from The Greatest Showman
Could Win: Remember Me from Coco
Should Win: Mystery of Love from Call Me by Your Name
Best Original Score
All of the scores here are excellent. Dunkirk's score is pulse-pounding, Phantom Thread's score is classically-inspired, The Shape of Water's score has an underwater feel to it, Star Wars: The Last Jedi's score is one of John Williams's best, & Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri's score is reminiscent of Carter Burwell's past scores for films by the Coen Brothers.
Will Win: The Shape of Water
Could Win/Should Win: Phantom Thread
Best Visual Effects
All of these films had great visual effects. But 2 stand out: Blade Runner 2049 & War for the Planet of the Apes. Blade Runner 2049 had seamless CGI & practical effects, while War for the Planet of the Apes had excellent motion-capture effects.
Will Win/Should Win: Blade Runner 2049
Could Win: War for the Planet of the Apes
Best Sound Mixing
Sound mixing is the process of mixing the sounds with the film, & leveling them out to sound crisp & clear. All 5 films had great sound mixing, & equally deserve to win. But one deserves it the most.
Will Win/Should Win: Dunkirk
Could Win: Baby Driver
Best Sound Editing
Sound editing is the creation of sounds for a film. All 5 films here had great sound editing, & equally deserve to win. But one deserves it the most.
Will Win/Should Win: Dunkirk
Could Win: Baby Driver
Best Makeup & Hairstyling
Darkest Hour & Wonder both had excellent makeup & hairstyling, but Victoria & Abdul's makeup & hairstyling was not Oscar-nominee-worthy. I, Tonya really should've been nominated, & The Shape of Water should've made the shortlist. Also, there should be 5 nominees in this category instead of 3.
Will Win/Could Win/Should Win: Darkest Hour
Best Production Design
The 5 nominees had great production design, but Blade Runner 2049 & The Shape of Water had some excellent production design.
Will Win/Could Win/Should Win: The Shape of Water
Best Costume Design
4 of the 5 nominees had excellent costume design, but Phantom Thread had some of the best costume design I've ever seen. Every costume in the film was a work of art.
Will Win/Could Win/Should Win: Phantom Thread
Best Film Editing
Film editing is the process of making the film into a finished product in post-production. While Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was well-edited, it doesn't really fit here. I would have nominated Get Out in its place. The Shape of Water was excellently edited. But Baby Driver, Dunkirk, & I, Tonya had some amazing editing.
Will Win/Should Win: Dunkirk
Could Win: Baby Driver
Best Cinematography
With Mudbound's well-deserved nomination in this category, Rachel Morrison became the first woman to ever be nominated for Best Cinematography. Darkest Hour's cinematography was well-done, I personally wouldn't have nominated it. I would've nominated Get Out instead. Dunkirk's cinematography was a welcome return for 70mm film. The Shape of Water's cinematography was beautiful, with such an abundance of green, giving the film an underwater tone. But Blade Runner 2049's cinematography is some of the best ever. Every shot is immaculate. And if it does win, Roger Deakins will win his first Oscar for Best Cinematography, after 13 Oscar nominations without a win.
Will Win/Should Win: Blade Runner 2049
Could Win: The Shape of Water
Best Adapted Screenplay
Every film here had an amazing screenplay & stayed true to their source material. But Call Me by Your Name's screenplay was a once-in-a-generation screenplay. It was so beautiful & realistic & full of heart.
Will Win/Could Win/Should Win: Call Me by Your Name
Best Original Screenplay
All of these films had some great screenplays. Get Out & The Shape of Water had some of the most original screenplays I've ever seen. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri was full of some brilliant dialogue. And The Big Sick & Lady Bird felt so real & had so much heart.
Will Win: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Could Win: Get Out or Lady Bird
Should Win: Lady Bird
Best Supporting Actress
These 5 nominees all gave great performances. But 3 stand out: Allison Janney, Lesley Manville, & Laurie Metcalf.
Will Win: Allison Janney
Could Win/Should Win: Laurie Metcalf
Best Supporting Actor
This is the first time since 1991 where 2 nominees in this category were from the same film. The 5 nominees all gave great performances. But 2 stand out: Willem Dafoe & Sam Rockwell.
Will Win/Could Win/Should Win: Sam Rockwell
Best Actress
All 5 nominees were amazing (although I wouldn't have nominated Meryl Streep & instead would've nominated Vicky Krieps for Phantom Thread). But this category is just about locked.
Will Win/Could Win: Frances McDormand
Should Win: Saoirse Ronan
Best Actor
All 5 nominees were amazing. I've warmed up to Denzel Washington's performance in Roman J. Israel, Esq. (along with the film), & I'm not as upset about the nomination as I once was. But this category has been locked for a long time.
Will Win/Could Win: Gary Oldman
Should Win: Daniel Day-Lewis
Best Director
When you look at how well a film is directed, you should look at how scenes fit with the film & how the characters react to events in the film. All 5 nominees are more than worthy of a nomination here.
Will Win: Guillermo del Toro
Could Win: Christopher Nolan
Should Win: Greta Gerwig
Best Picture
This is one of the best lists of Best Picture nominees in a long time. All of these films are in my top 25 of 2017. It is also the most uncertain list of Best Picture nominees in a long time. 3 of these films could easily win Best Picture. I would be happy with a lot of these winning. There is a big chance my prediction will be wrong. But I'm going with my gut here.
Will Win: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Could Win: The Shape of Water or Get Out
Should Win: Lady Bird
Well, these are my Oscar predictions. Check back throughout the night to look if I was right or wrong on my predictions, & don't forget to watch the Oscars tonight at 8pm on ABC!
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