Oscar 2017 – Who Should and Will Win at the 2017 Academy Awards

Tonight is the big night!  Here are my predictions of who I think will win tonight and also my choices of who should win at the 2017 Academy Awards.

 

I apologize for all my wrong predictions

 

 

BEST PICTURE

La La Land has won it all.  It won the PGA, DGA, the Golden Globe, the BAFTA, and was nominated a record-tying fourteen times.  Can anything stop it?  With preferential voting, it’s definitely possible a film like Manchester by Sea, Moonlight, or even Hidden Figures could take the crown at the end.

WILL WIN –  LA LA LAND 

COULD WIN – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

SHOULD WIN – LA LA LAND 

 

 

BEST DIRECTOR

Chazelle won the DGA and the BAFTA.  I think he is the clear frontrunner, though don’t be surprised if you hear Barry Jenkins’s name called at the end of the day.

WILL WIN – DAMIEN CHAZELLE – LA LA LAND 

COULD WIN – BARRY JENKINS – MOONLIGHT

SHOULD WIN – DAMIEN CHAZELLE – LA LA LAND 

 

 

BEST ACTOR

This is one of the toughest battle of the night.  It’s a two horse race between Casey Affleck and Denzel Washington.  Affleck was running away with it until Washington’s SAG victory.  It’s a close battle and really a coin flip.  However, don’t be too surprised is Ryan Gosling’s names is called.  Reminiscent of the 2003 awards, where Adrian Brody from The Pianist upset Daniel Day-Lewis from Gangs of New York and Jack Nicholson from About Schmidt, Gosling could get caught up in the La La Land sweep that is probably going to happen and pull of an upset victory as Affleck and Washington split votes.  I’m not predicting that, but I’m just saying, it could happen.

WILL WIN – DENZEL WASHINGTON – FENCES 

COULD WIN – CASEY AFFLECK – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

SHOULD WIN – CASEY AFFLECK – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA 

 

 

BEST ACTRESS

Emma Stone has won everything; Golden Globe, SAG, BAFTA, and will most likely win here.  Her stiffest competition is from the well-respected and overdue Isabelle Huppert, who’s won her fair share of awards this year, as well.  I’m going with Stone, but Huppert would be a nice surprise.

WILL WIN – EMMA STONE – LA LA LAND 

COULD WIN – ISABELLE HUPPERT – ELLE 

SHOULD WIN – NATALIE PORTMAN – JACKIE 

 

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Mahershala Ali has picked up nearly every award possible, save for BAFTA, where Dev Patel surprised.  Could Patel pull off an upset?  Could veteran Jeff Bridges or the highly respected Michael Shannon pull it off?  This category is usually filled with surprises and we may see another.

WILL WIN – MAHERSHALA ALI – MOONLIGHT

COULD WIN – DEV PATEL – LION 

SHOULD WIN – MAHERSHALA ALI – MOONLIGHT

 

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

The easiest category to predict, this is Viola Davis and only Viola Davis.

WILL WIN – VIOLA DAVIS – FENCES

COULD WIN – NOBODY.  DAVIS, DAVIS, DAVIS

SHOULD WIN – MICHELLE WILLIAMS – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

 

 

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

If the La La Land sweep happens, is may pick up the W here.  But I’m thinking this is where Manchester by the Sea will be rewarded as Kenneth Lonergan’s authentic American tragedy deserves love somewhere.

WILL WIN – MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

COULD WIN – LA LA LAND

SHOULD WIN – HELL OR HIGH WATER 

 

 

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Moonlight all the way.  It’s a beautiful story and beautifully constructed.  Barry Jenkins is for sure going to give a great speech.

WILL WIN – MOONLIGHT

COULD WIN – ARRIVAL

SHOULD WIN – ARRIVAL 

 

 

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Kubo and the Two Strings winning at BAFTA was big.  It also has the benefit of the possibility of the two Disney movie’s, Zootopia and Moana, canceling each other out.  I’m still going with Annie winner Zootopia, though, as it has cleaned house all season and is simply wonderful. 

WILL WIN – ZOOTOPIA

COULD WIN – KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS 

SHOULD WIN – KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS

 

 

REST OF THE PREDICTIONS

 

BEST EDITING

WILL WIN – LA LA LAND

SHOULD WIN – LA LA LAND

 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

WILL WIN – LA LA LAND

SHOULD WIN – LA LA LAND 

 

BEST COSTUME DESGIN

WILL WIN – LA LA LAND

SHOULD WIN – JACKIE

 

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

WILL WIN – LA LA LAND 

SHOULD WIN – LA LA LAND 

 

BEST MAKE-UP/HAIR

WILL IN – STAR TREK: BEYOND

SHOULD WIN – STAR TREK: BEYOND 

 

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

WILL WIN – LA LA LAND

SHOULD WIN – JACKIE

 

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

WILL WIN – ‘CITY OF STARS’ – LA LA LAND

SHOULD WIN – ‘CAN’T STOP THE FEELING’ – TROLLS

 

BEST SOUND EDITING

WILL WIN – HACKSAW RIDGE

SHOULD WIN – ARRIVAL

 

BEST SOUND MIXING

WILL WIN – LA LA LAND

SHOULD WIN – HACKSAW RIDGE

 

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

WILL WIN – THE SALESMAN

SHOULD WIN – THE SALESMAN

 

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM

WILL WIN – OJ: MADE IN AMERICA

SHOULD WIN – OJ: MADE IN AMERICA

 

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

WILL WIN – PIPER

SHOULD WIN – BORROWED TIME

 

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT

WILL WIN – ENNEMIS INTÉRIEURS

SHOULD WIN – SING

 

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

WILL WIN – JOE’S VIOLIN

SHOULD WIN – THE WHITE HELMETS 

 

OVERALL WIN TOTALS

La La Land – 10

Moonlight – 2

Fences – 2

Manchester by the Sea – 1

Hacksaw Ridge – 1

The Jungle Book – 1

Zootopia  – 1

Star Trek Beyond – 1

The Salesman – 1

OJ: Made in America – 1

Piper – 1

Ennemis Intérieurs – 1

Joe’s Violin – 1

 

 

 

 

What are your predictions for the 2017 Academy Awards?  Who do you think is going to win big?  Comment below or hit me up on Twitter and Instagram, @kevflix, or on Facebook by searching Kevflix.