Well alright, sir, you know this is the time of year that I love - Oscar
season! The Super Bowl of movies! First let me say that I agree it is a
pleasure to see more, though not necessarily enough, diversity this
year. So many good films and performances by people of all race and
color. With that being said, below are my comments and picks for each
category (check out who Ran thinks should win here):
Best Picture
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
Ok, having seen all of the films except
'Moonlight', which I plan on doing though by the Oscar awards show, I am
going to go based on what I have seen. And while I was emotionally
attached to both 'Fences' and 'Manchester by the Sea', I have to agree with Ran and say 'Hell or High Water' (read the review here) was THE film of the year. It won't win
but should.
Best Documentary Feature
13th
Fire at Sea
I Am Not Your Negro
Life, Animated
O.J.: Made in America
I am guilty of not seeing any of these films so cannot speak to any of them.
Best Director
Denis Villeneuve - Arrival
Mel Gibson - Hacksaw Ridge
Damien Chazelle - La La Land (read the review here)
Kenneth Lonergan - Manchester by the Sea
Barry Jenkins - Moonlight
This is a tough one as I really think Damien Chazelle should
win but the Academy loves Kenneth Lonergan and he made a great movie.
It is going to be between those two but I am going to go with Chazelle.
Best
Actor
Casey Affleck - Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garlfield - Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling - La La Land
Viggo Mortensen - Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington - Fences
Also a tough one for me as I loved Denzel Washington in 'Fences'
and Casey Affleck in 'Manchester by the Sea' (read the review here). Both gave amazing
performances that stayed with me long after I left the theater. If I
have to select though I think the winner is going to be Affleck as
critics have raved over him all awards season.
Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali - Moonlight
Jeff Bridges - Hell or High Water
Lucas Hedges - Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel - Lion (click here to read the review)
Michael Shannon - Nocturnal Animals
This has to go to Jeff Bridges... agree with Ran's pick.
Best
Actress
Isabelle Huppert - Elle
Ruth Negga - Loving
Natalie Portman - Jackie
Emma Stone - La La Land
Meryl Streep - Florence Foster Jenkins
Ok, first let me say that Meryl Streep should not even be
nominated in this category. I read an article today in fact by a
reviewer who said the Academy should not vote her in any more just
because of who she is. The film was all but overlooked and she took up a
nomination that others rightly deserved. Now as far as who is going to
win, I have only seen Emma Stone's performance and it was great but I
have read many, many raves about Natalie Portman and her portrayal of
Jackie Kennedy and we know how the Academy loves to recognize actors who
portray real life people. I am going to go with Portman.
Best
Supporting Actress
Viola Davis - Fences
Naomie Harris - Moonlight
Nicole Kidman - Lion
Octavia Spencer - Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams - Manchester by the Sea
Hands down this HAS to go to Viola Davis. If the
award goes to someone else in this category then I am done...
Best
Animated Feature
Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
My Life as a Zucchini
The Red Turtle
Zootopia
I love animated films but am ashamed to admit I have
not seen anyone of these. I have heard nothing though but praise for
Zootopia so am going with it for the win.
Best Original Song
"Audition (The Fools Who Dream)" - La La Land
"Can't Stop The Feeling" - Trolls
"City Of Stars" - La La Land
"The Empty Chair" - Jim: The James Foley Story
"How Far I'll Go" - Moana
While I love the JT song and it is popular, I cannot imagine the Academy
not awarding one of the songs from 'La La Land' so will go with one of
those.
Best Cinematography
La La Land
Lion
Moonlight
Silence
Agree with Ran's pick.
Best Costume Design
Allied
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Florence Foster Jenkins
Jackie
La La Land
Agree with Ran.
Best Editing
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
La La Land
Moonlight
I have to go with 'La La Land' on this just because of all the scenes, action, dancing involved.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
A Man Called Ove
Star Trek Beyond
Suicide Squad
Agree with Ran.
Best Original Score
Jackie
La La Land
Lion
Moonlight
Passengers
Agree with Ran.
Best Production Design
Arrival
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Hail, Caesar!
La La Land
Passengers
Agree with Ran.
Best Sound Editing
Arrival
Deepwater Horizon
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Sully
Agree with Ran.
Best Sound Mixing
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
I have to go with 'La La Land' on this one as well.
Best Visual Effects
Deepwater Horizon
Doctor Strange
The Jungle Book
Kubo and the Two Strings
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Agree with Ran.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Arrival
Fences
Hidden Figures
Lion
Moonlight
Absolutely agree! If it goes to someone else I am done...
Best
Original Screenplay
Hell or High Water
La La Land
The Lobster
Manchester by the Sea
20th Century Women
While I would love to see this go to 'Hell or High
Water', critics have raved about 'The Lobster' and so I have a feeling the
Academy will go with it.
Best Foreign Film
Land of Mine
A Man Called Ove
The Salesman
Tanna
Toni Erdmann
I have not seen any
of these but I read 'A Man Called Ove' and the book was fantastic so if
the movie is like it I will go with it.
Best Documentary Short Subject
Extremis
4.1 Miles
Joe's Violin
Watani: My Homeland
The White Helmets
Best Animated Short Film
Blind Vaysha
Borrowed Time
Pear Cider and Cigarettes
Pearl
Piper
Best Live-Action Short Film
Ennemis Intérieurs
La Femme et le TGV
Silent Nights
Sing
Timecode
I have no clue about the other categories!
Feel free to give your picks in the comments section.
- John Z.
Related:
The Best Films of 2016
2016 - Year of the Documentary
"The Birth of a Nation" Review
'13th' Film Review
The 2017 Oscar Nominations and Who Ran Thinks Should Win
