2016 Oscar Predictions

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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!


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