OSCARS 2016, WHO WILL WIN?

Photo: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox.

The Academy Awards, Feb 28th

It’s time to put the champagne on ice as we await for the awards-season grand finale, the 88th Academy Awards around the corner.
 
As we celebrate the men and women who worked their hearts and souls to make movies that cut it to the Academy Awards this year, we can’t ignore the uproar that rose with the nominations.
 
The 2016 Oscars campaign will be remembered as the year in which a glaring lack of diversity among the nominees (again) sparked an #OscarsSoWhite uproar and led to much-needed change within the Academy ranks. It’s a controversial, hot-button topic that host Chris Rock will surely address in the show’s opening moments, on February 28 to address the issue of discrimination against people of color.

Though some of the categories were snitched before Christmas presents were unwrapped, and some still remain uncertain, let me give you a chance to run by your predictions and see how the movies did this year. Let’s begin:

1. For Best Picture, here are the nominees:

• The Big Short
  
• Bridge of Spies
• The Martian
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Revenant

The Revenant stands out as the favorite in this category. The story of a sprawling and challenging revenge epic, this is the kind of heavy drama the Academy tends to favor. In a true neck-and-neck race, it’s got the muscle to overtake Spotlight. It’s a box office studio hit, and a BAFTA and Golden Globe award winner that garnered the most nominations and its director, Birdman helmer Alejandro G. Inarritu, is poised to take home back-to-back trophies.
 

Photo: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox.

   2. For Best Actor, here are the nominees:

• Bryan Cranston, 
  
• Matt Damon, 
• Leonardo DiCaprio, 
• Michael Fassbender, 
• Eddie Redmayne, 

He probably should have won it two years ago for The Wolf of Wall Street, but no matter. The man is due. Plus, did you hear he ate raw bison to prep for the role?
 
   3. Best Actress

• Cate Blanchett, 
  
• Brie Larson, 
• Jennifer Lawrence, 
• Charlotte Rampling, 
• Saoirse Ronan, 

Blanchett and Lawrence have each won in this category like five minutes ago. Now the path is clear for Larson, who delivers a blistering turn as a devoted mom in the indie drama and, like DiCaprio, has won every major award leading up to the big night. And hey, maybe her victory will finally convince people to see Room, which is one of the top 10 lowest-grossing Best Picture nominees in the past 33 years.
 

Photo: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox.

    4. Best Supporting Actor has the following nominees:

• Christian Bale, 
  
• Tom Hardy, 
• Mark Ruffalo, 
• Marky Rylance, 
• Sylvester Stallone,

C’mon, is there anyone not rooting for Stallone to win gold 39 years after he lost the Best Actor race for the same role in Rocky? The 69-year-old star is the sentimental choice here among voters and fans alike. He’s also the correct one. That said, if SAG winner Idris Elba got a nod for Beasts of No Nation, this race would have been a lot more interesting.
 

(C)Barry Wetcher

   
5. Best Supporting Actress

• Jennifer Jason Leigh, 
  
• Rooney Mara, 
• Rachel McAdams, 
• Alicia Vikander, 
• Kate Winslet, 

This is the closest one to call. Yet there’s no denying Vikander, the current It Girl who enjoyed a monster breakout year (see: Ex_Machina). She just won the SAG and her turn as the conflicted wife of a transgender pioneer is so meaty that it should have been in the Best Actress category. Semi-related intrigue: Will she thank her boyfriend and fellow nominee, Michael Fassender?
 

(C)Focus Features

And the Rest! 
 
Best Director: Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant
 
Best Original Screenplay: Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
 
Best Adapted Screenplay: Adam McKay & Charles Randolph, The Big Short
 
Best Animated Feature: Inside Out
 
Best Foreign Language Film: The Son of Saul
 
Best Documentary: Amy
 
Best Documentary Short: Body Team 12
 
Best Live Action Short: Ave Maria
 
Best Animated Short: Sanjays Super Team
 
Best Original Score: The Hateful Eight
 
Best Original Song: “Til It Happens to You,” Lady Gaga & Diane Warren

Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Studios.

Best Sound Editing: Mad Max: Fury Road
 
Best Sound Mixing: Mad Max: Fury Road
 
Best Production Design: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Makeup: Mad Max likely to win

Best Cinematography: The Revenant
 
Best Costume Design: Carol
 
Best Film Editing: The Revenant

Best Visual Effects: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Lets wait and see, I hope your predictions don’t disappoint you

Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Studios.

Source: Vanity Fair, US Magazine

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