MTV Is Dead: The 2017 Oscar Nominees and Who Should Win

Saturday, January 28, 2017

The 2017 Oscar Nominees and Who Should Win

Image result for denzel washington oscar

It's Oscar time again and I usually don't give a sh#t about awards season but surprise, surprise -- the contenders aren't as white as usual. I've highlighted the nominees that I think should win their respective categories in red. I didn't make any picks in the four categories in which I haven't seen any of the nominated movies (Best Foreign Language Film, Best Documentary Short Subject, Best Animated Short Film and Best Live-Action Short Film). Duh. Anyway, check 'em out. It all goes down February 26.

Best Picture

Arrival

Fences

Hacksaw Ridge

Hell or High Water

Hidden Figures

La La Land

Lion

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

Hell or High Water (check out the review here) is an underdog in the Oscar race (like Lion - read the review here) and probably won't win but it's the best film of the nine nominees. The other eight aren't even close to this good.

Best Documentary Feature

13th

Fire at Sea

I Am Not Your Negro

Life, Animated

O.J.: Made in America

The documentary category was tough this year. 13th (read the review here) is just as powerful as Made in America but O.J.'s story beats it by a nose because it's easy to watch it over and over again -- despite the fact that it's 7 hours long.

Best Director

Denis Villeneuve - Arrival

Mel Gibson - Hacksaw Ridge

Damien Chazelle - La La Land

Kenneth Lonergan - Manchester by the Sea (read the review here)

Barry Jenkins - Moonlight

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

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Casey Affleck - Manchester by the Sea

Andrew Garlfield - Hacksaw Ridge

Ryan Gosling - La La Land

Viggo Mortensen - Captain Fantastic

Denzel Washington - Fences

It shouldn't be a surprise that Denzel nailed his performance in Fences (check out the review here). He starred in the play on which the movie is based. He could probably play that part in his sleep. But he's not the favorite to win so it will be a surprise if we find out that the Oscar voters did the right thing and rewarded him with his third trophy.

Best Performance by an 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

Jeff Bridges' character was a dick but his performance was top-notch.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Isabelle Huppert - Elle

Ruth Negga - Loving

Natalie Portman - Jackie

Emma Stone - La La Land

Meryl Streep - Florence Foster Jenkins

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Viola Davis - Fences

Naomie Harris - Moonlight

Nicole Kidman - Lion

Octavia Spencer - Hidden Figures

Michelle Williams - Manchester by the Sea

Viola Davis portrayed Denzel Washington's wife right next to him in the stage version of Fences. Like him, she knows the role inside and out and knocked it outta the park. She should win.

Best Animated Feature