Predictions for the Weekend: 2017 Oscars
It’s hard to believe that at the end of this week the 89th annual Academy awards, or the Oscars as their more commonly referred to, will take place. It’s the biggest event of the year for movies and my personal superbowl. I’d be lying if I said I don’t spend every morning shower practicing my acceptance speech, which is probably why I’m always late to my ASL class. With the Oscars just days away I thought I’d chime in my opinion on who I think will be taking home the gold come Sunday night.
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”
I would honestly love nothing more than to see Lucas Hedges take home the Oscar. He gave a fantastic performance in “Manchester by the Sea” and was easily one of the best performances of the year. Watching him on-screen was almost like magic because we were watching a star being born right before our eyes and you just knew that this kid is going to be big one day. With that being said though, it’s no secret that the Oscar will be going to Mahershala Ali this year. He’s won every award in this category this year and to be honest, he deserves it. He gave the type of performance that you can’t help but remember even after he’s left the screen.
Actress in a supporting role:
VIOLA DAVIS
“Fences”
NAOMIE HARRIS
“Moonlight”
NICOLE KIDMAN
“Lion”
OCTAVIA SPENCER
“Hidden Figures”
MICHELLE WILLIAMS
“Manchester by the Sea”
This one is really no contest either. Honestly it’s the only category I’d say already has it’s guaranteed winner. Viola Davis has this in the bag and the other women nominated have absolutely no chance at winning. Not only has she won every single award this year for this category, but she also gave 2016 best female performance in general. I honestly have no idea why she isn’t in the category for lead actress. Ms. Davis gave us one of the most stunning and powerful performances any of us have ever seen. She’s always been a solid performer but “Fences” really showed us/reminded us that Viola Davis is currently one of the best working actresses in Hollywood. The only other woman nominated this year who has any chance of beating her is Michelle Williams for her heartbreaking, tear inducing, realistic performance in “Manchester by the Sea.” If Davis was competing in lead actress then Williams would be taking home the gold that night. Both women have been nominated three times so they both deserve it. I think Williams is overdue for an Oscar herself but like I said, Davis is the clear winner.
Actor in a lead role:
CASEY AFFLECK
“Manchester by the Sea”
ANDREW GARFIELD
“Hacksaw Ridge”
RYAN GOSLING
“La La Land”
VIGGO MORTENSEN
“Captain Fantastic”
DENZEL WASHINGTON
“Fences”
This one is probably the toughest decision of the night. As cool as it’d be to see Spiderman win an Oscar, everyone knows it’s going to be between Casey Affleck, Ryan Gosling and Denzel Washington. I honestly have no idea who will take it home. During November’s Golden Globes ceremony both Affleck and Gosling won the award for best actor in their respective categories. Then during last month’s Screen Actors Guild awards, which is the best predictor for who will take home the Oscar, Washington won surprising everyone including himself.
Who do I think should win? Affleck. He easily gave the performance of the year not just for a male actor, but any actor in general. It was the most honest, raw and realistic portrayal of a grief stricken man we’ve probably ever seen on screen, at least in the past decade. But with the Oscars receiving so much heat last year for have zero African-American actors nominated last year and Affleck being caught up in an alleged sexual abuse scandal, there is a good chance Washington will be taking home his third academy award, which slightly disappoints me. Don’t get me wrong, I think Denzel is a great actor and I’m a huge fan of his. He did a splendid job in “Fences” and gave what was probably his best performance since “Training Day,” but Affleck definitely deserves the award this year. I guess I can answer this by saying Affleck SHOULD win this but Washington will probably end up winning. I can always hope for a miracle though!
Actress in a leading role:
ISABELLE HUPPERT
“Elle”
RUTH NEGGA
“Loving”
NATALIE PORTMAN
“Jackie”
EMMA STONE
“La La Land”
MERYL STREEP
“Florence Foster Jenkins”
Meryl Streep is the best actress to have ever walked this planet. We all know that. But we also know her being nominated this year was just so the academy could fill out their roster. Like the supporting actress category, this category also has a clear winner with Emma Stone being favored to win. She too has won every award in this category this year and I’d love to see her take home the Oscar. I’ve been a fan of hers for a long time and she’s always fun to watch on screen. “Lala Land” was her best performance to date and she truly deserves the award. As great as the other women are, with applause going to Portman and Huppert for their performances this year, none of them really stand against Stone.
Director:
DENIS VILLENEUVE
“Arrival”
MEL GIBSON
“Hacksaw Ridge”
DAMIEN CHAZELLE
“La La Land”
KENNETH LONERGAN
“Manchester By The Sea”
BARRY JENKINS
“Moonlight”
Once again, no real competition. Damien Chazelle is easily going to win this year. “Lala Land” has generated to much hype and love from critics and audiences everywhere that’s it’s almost impossible for him not to win. While I do think Kenneth Lonergan slightly deserves it more, I also do think Chazelle deserves to be recognized for his work. Directing a musical is no easy feat and he really did give us a beautiful and show stopping film that reminded us just how great movies can be. He’d be the youngest director ever to win this award if he does in fact win and as I’ve already said, if his name is called it will be rightfully earned.
Best Picture:
ARRIVAL
Shawn Levy, Dan Levine, Aaron Ryder and David Linde, Producers
FENCES
Scott Rudin, Denzel Washington and Todd Black, Producers
HACKSAW RIDGE
Bill Mechanic and David Permut, Producers
HELL OR HIGH WATER
Carla Hacken and Julie Yorn, Producers
HIDDEN FIGURES
Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Pharrell Williams and Theodore Melfi, Producers
LA LA LAND
Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz and Marc Platt, Producers
LION
Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Angie Fielder, Producers
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Matt Damon, Kimberly Steward, Chris Moore, Lauren Beck and Kevin J. Walsh, Producers
MOONLIGHT
Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Producers
“Manchester by the Sea” was my favorite film of the year and I’d love nothing more than to see it win. When it comes down to it though, it’s really going to be between “Moonlight,” “Hidden Figures” and “Lala Land.” I do think “Lala Land” is currently favored to win but not by much. “Moonlight” generated too much praise for it to be written off as a simple runner-up. It’s going to be “Lala Lands” biggest competition of the night.
I’m only throwing “Hidden Figures” in here because it took home the SAG award this year which also surprised everyone including those involved in the movie. No one saw that coming and as I said, with the academy being accused of racists, they may try and reward a film such as this to clean up their image. So my for my final thoughts, I’m saying “Lala Land” is going to win but I would not be surprised at all if “Moonlight” is called instead. If “Hidden Figures” wins I’m going to lose my mind in anger. It was a good film and I’d say it even deserves its nomination. But it in no way deserves to win the Oscar as every other film in this category was stronger than it was. If it wins, it’s going to be a pity win which will drive me up the wall.
@ariaz_keith