2016 Oscar Predictions

2016 Oscar Predictions

The Oscars are, to me, as big as the Super Bowl for others.  Yes, it's basically just rich people congratulating other rich people, but these rich people give us something amazing.  They use their talents to shine on the screen as well as behind the scenes, they give it their all, and they should be awarded for the work they do.

Here is what and who I think will take Oscar gold this Sunday.  For some, I have absolutely no idea.  For others, I got a pretty good feeling.

Short Film (Animated)

Bear Story

Prologue

Sanjay's Super Team

We Can't Live Without Cosmos

World of Tomorrow

This is one of those categories I have no clue about, as I have never heard of any of these short films, but by title alone I'll go with World of Tomorrow.

Predicted Winner: World of Tomorrow 

Short Film (Live Action)

Ave Maria

Day One

Everything Will Be Okay

Shok

Shutterer

Once again, no clue.  Going by cool title alone, picking Everything Will Be Okay

Predicted Winner: Everything Will Be Okay

Production Design

Bridge of Spies

The Danish Girl

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

This is a tough category, as all five nominees have excellent production designs, but I feel The Revenant will take it home.

Predicted Winner: The Revenant

Visual Effects

Ex Machina

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

As all five films are visually stunning in their own right, I would give the gold to Mad Max: Fury Road for its insane chases, but since I feel the Oscars don't typically award blockbuster action films, I'll give this to The Martian.

Predicted Winner:The Martian

Film Editing

The Big Short

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Revenant

Spotlight

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The Revenant should win this category because the editing was done in such a magnificent, overpowering way that draws you in from start to finish.

Predicted Winner: The Revenant

Cinematography

Carol

The Hateful Eight

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Revenant

Sicario

If The Revenant doesn't win this, I give up on society.

Predicted Winner:   The Revenant

Makeup and Hair Styling

Mad Max: Fury Road

The 100-Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

The Revenant

First of all, I really want to see The 100-Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, just for the title alone.  However, Mad Max: Fury Road fully deserves this win for its amazing makeup and hair styling work.

Predicted Winner:   Mad Max: Fury Road

Costume Design

Carol

Cinderella

The Danish Girl

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Revenant 

I feel this will go between Carol and The Danish Girl, because Oscar voters love costumes from period pieces.  I give Carol the edge though for its fantastic 50s style costumes.

Predicted Winner: Carol

Sound Editing

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

Sicario

Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

I don't know much about sound editing or mixing, so these next two nominees I'm going to predict based on my own feelings, and I think The Martian had some amazing sound.

Predicted Winner: The Martian

Sound Mixing

Bridge of Spies

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Same reasoning as above.

Predicted Winner:   The Martian

Music (Original Score)

Bridge of Spies

Carol

The Hateful Eight

Sicario

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Will John Williams take home his sixth Oscar?  The Force is strong with this one.  However, Ennio Morricone did some stellar work with The Hateful Eight.  I'm conflicted, so I'm going to go with Williams 51%-49%.

Predicted Winner:   Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Music (Original Song)

"Earned It" from Fifty Shades of Grey

"Manta Ray" from Racing Extinction

"Simple Song #3" from Youth

"Til It Happens to You" from The Hunting Ground

"Writing's On the Wall" from Spectre

"Writing's On the Wall" is one of Bond's worst songs, especially coming after Adele's Oscar winner "Skyfall."  Lady Gaga's stirring rendition of "Til It Happens to You" is a crowd pleaser and will probably take it.

Predicted Winner: Til It Happens to You

Documentary (Short Subject)

Body Team 12

Chau, Beyond the Lines

Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah

A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness

Last Day of Freedom 

No clue.  How about Last Day of Freedom?  Sounds good.

Predicted Winner: Last Day of Freedom

Documentary (Feature)
Amy

Cartel Land

The Look of Silence

What Happened, Miss Simone?

Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom

The documentary that followed the tumultuous life and tragic early passing of Amy Winehouse will no doubtedly win here.

Predicted Winner: Amy

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Bridge of Spies

Ex Machina

Inside Out

Spotlight

Straight Outta Compton

For those who don't know, an Original Screenplay is one that was written exclusively for the screen and wasn't adapted from another source material.  As much as I'd love Straight Outta Compton to win, I feel it'll go to Spotlight, which is also well-deserved.

Predicted Winner:   Spotlight

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

The Big Short

Brooklyn

Carol

The Martian

Room

This category seems rather lop-sided toward The Martian, but I wouldn't put it past Carol to win.  That being said, I still give the win to The Martian.

Predicted Winner:   The Martian

Foreign Language Film

Embrace of the Serpent

Mustang

Son of Saul

Theeb

A War

The only one here I've heard of is Son of Saul, so that's my pick.

Predicted Winner:   Son of Saul

Animated Film

Anomalisa

Boy and the World

Inside Out

Shaun the Sheep Movie

When Marnie Was There

Inside Out.  Done.

Predicted Winner:   Inside Out

Directing

Lenny Abrahmson for Room

Adam McKay for The Big Short

Tom McCarthy for Spotlight

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for The Revenant

George Miller for Mad Max: Fury Road

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu will take the Oscar for the second year in a row (last year he won for Birdman).  If there's any dark horse, it might be Tom McCarthy, but I feel Inarritu has it in the bag.

Predicted Winner:   Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Actress in a Supporting Role

Jennifer Jason Leigh for The Hateful Eight

Rooney Mara for Carol

Rachel McAdams for Spotlight

Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl

Kate Winslet for Steve Jobs

This one will be interesting.  Jason Leigh blew me away in The Hateful Eight, Mara deserves a lead actress nomination, McAdams gave a very capable performance, Vikander is the hottest thing right now, and Winslet won the Golden Globe.  In the end, I think Alicia Vikander's performance in The Danish Girl will beat the others.

Predicted Winner:   Alicia Vikander

Actor in a Supporting Role

Christian Bale for The Big Short

Tom Hardy for The Revenant

Mark Ruffalo for Spotlight

Mark Rylance for Bridge of Spies

Sylvester Stallone for Creed

If anyone other than Sylvester Stallone wins this, I will be shocked.  But I hope it'd be Mark Rylance.  That being said, Stallone will deliver the knockout punch here.

Predicted Winner:   Sylvester Stallone

Actress in a Leading Role

Cate Blanchett for Carol

Brie Larson for Room

Jennifer Lawrence for Joy

Charlette Rampling for 45 Years

Saoirse Ronan for Brooklyn

The only one who holds a candle to Brie Larson's performance is Saoirse Ronan, so I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed for that upset, but this is Larson's to loose.

Predicted Winner:   Brie Larson

Actor in a Leading Role

Bryan Cranston for Trumbo

Matt Damon for The Martian

Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant

Michael Fassbender for Steve Jobs

Eddie Redmayne for The Danish Girl

This WILL be the year of DiCaprio.  There will be no more memes being made, no more jokes being had.  DiCaprio will win his first Oscar, and very well-deserved.

Predicted Winner:   Leonardo DiCaprio

Best Picture

The Big Short

Bridge of Spies

Brooklyn

Mad Max: Fury Road

The Martian

The Revenant

Room

Spotlight

I saw all these films except The Big Short and Room, and I must say the Oscar will go to one of two movies - The Revenant or Spotlight.  Once again, Inarritu won last year for Birdman, and he could win again.  Or Spotlight could steal the...spotlight...from them.  In the end, with a razor-thin decision, I think Spotlight will take Oscar gold.

Predicted Winner: Spotlight

So here are my full predictions:

Short Film (Animated): World of Tomorrow
Short Film (Live Action): Everything Will Be Okay
Production Design: The Revenant
Visual Effects: The Martian
Film Editing: The Revenant
Cinematography: The Revenant
Makeup and Hair Styling: Mad Max: Fury Road
Costume Design: Carol
Sound Editing: The Martian
Sound Mixing: The Martian
Music (Original Score): Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Music (Original Song): Til It Happens to You
Documentary (Short Subject): Last Day of Freedom
Documentary (Feature): Amy
Writing (Original Screenplay): Spotlight
Writing (Adapted Screenplay): The Martian
Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul
Animated Film: Inside Out
Directing: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Actress in a Supporting Role: Alicia Vikander
Actor in a Supporting Role: Sylvester Stallone
Actress in a Leading Role: Brie Larson
Actor in a Leading Role: Leonardo DiCaprio
Best Picture: Spotlight

We'll see if I'm right this Sunday night!