2017 Academy Award Predictions
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| By Darian Scalamoni and Diego Coya |
Best Animated Feature
Nominees: Kubo and the Two Strings, Moana, My Life as a Zucchini, The Red Turtle, Zootopia
Diego:
Zootopia
I believe Zootopia
will win since it has been winning Best Animated Feature at other awards shows.
Also, its social themes well help it win the award.
Darian: Zootopia
I have Zootopia
for the same reasons Diego though Kubo and the Two Strings has a good chance as
well especially after winning the BAFTA. I’ll give the slight edge to Disney as
Zootopia was my favorite animated
film of the year.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominees: Arrival, Fences, Hidden Figures, Lion, Moonlight
Diego: Barry Jenkins & Tarell Alvin
McCraney (Moonlight)
It’s been winning a lot of awards for other
award shows. Additionally, it seems to be the frontrunner for Best Picture
along with La La Land. Since it is a
film that has social themes and shows the struggle of a man growing up in a
horrible environment, the Academy will give it the Oscar.
Darian: August Wilson (Fences)
Adapted from the Tony award winning play from
August Wilson, the posthumous Oscar will head to a man who is regarded as one
of the best African American writers of all-time. The film wouldn’t have worked if it
wasn’t for a brilliant script so that’s why I give the slight edge to Fences.
Best Original Screenplay
Nominees: 20th Century Women, Hell or High Water, La La Land, The Lobster, Manchester by the Sea
Diego: Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
My frontrunner for most of the awards this
year as its already won Best Screenplay at the Golden Globes and tied at the
Critics Choice for Best Original Screenplay, the original screenplay from
Damien Chazelle should be one of the many awards given out to the musical at
the Awards.
Darian: Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea)
The only technical award that seems to have an
edge over La La Land as Kenneth
Lonergan crafted the most melancholy but authentic script of the year. One that
fills the film with pain and heartache for the main character and has already
one the BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay. In my opinion, the script for this
film is what makes it one of the best of the year.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominees: Viola Davis (Fences), Naomie Harris (Moonlight), Nicole Kidman (Lion), Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures), Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea)
Diego: Viola Davis (Fences)
This will be Viola Davis’ first Academy Award
win following two previous nominations. Her performance was brilliant, and
since she has been winning Best Supporting Actress at every other show, it
seems that the Oscars will be no different.
Darian: Viola Davis (Fences)
The supporting part for Davis in Fences was not new at all after the
veteran actress played the role on stage for over a year before it was adapted
for the screen by director and co-star, Denzel Washington. This is the closest
to a lock, in my opinion. Michelle Williams and Naomie Harris stand the best
chance, this should be the time for Davis.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominees: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water), Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea), Dev Patel (Lion), Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals)
Diego: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)
He is a lock for Best Supporting Acctor, and
even though he is not in the movie as much as the rest of the nominees, his
performance was extraordinary and the academy will give him the Oscar he
rightfully deserves.
Darian: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)
One of two stars in the ensemble-led Moonlight, which is nominated for 8
Academy Awards, is in tune for a win after winning nearly every other award out
there this awards season. Though I don’t this is as much of a lock as Davis
like Diego thinks, due to a tighter race that includes Dev Patel for Lion and Jeff Bridges in Hell or High Water, both of which I
think are more of lead performances, Ali still bolsters the accolades of this
awards season and was tremendous in his role.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Nominees: Isabelle Huppert (Elle), Ruth Negga (Loving), Natalie Portman (Jackie), Emma Stone (La La Land), Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins)
Diego: Emma Stone (La La Land)
Emma Stone will also receive her first Academy
award with her fantastic performance. Even though I have not seen the other
films that are in this category, I feel that she will win since the favorite
right now seems to be La La Land.
Furthermore, the scene where she auditions, is the scene that they will most
likely play when they say her name during the announcement of Best Actress.
Darian: Natalie Portman (Jackie)
In what I think will be the shock of the
night, much like it was at the Golden Globes when Isabelle Huppert won for Elle, I believe this award is between
Portman and Emma Stone for La La Land
but I’m giving the edge to Portman due to playing an extraordinary historical
figure and doing it so perfectly that it made the whole film, Jackie worth watching. Her gut-wrenching
performance raised the rest of the cast to new heights and made her role as the
former First Lady feel inventive and not like an impersonation. Stone could
very well win but I see the former Oscar-winner playing spoiler and winning her
second statue come Oscar night.
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominees: Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea), Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge), Ryan Gosling (La La Land), Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic), Denzel Washington (Fences)
Diego: Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)
Casey Affleck has been winning this award in
every other award show, and I believe this is the only Oscar that Manchester by the Sea will win. I’m
predicting it will be him, but there is a very good chance Ryan Gosling may win
it since once again, La La Land seems
to be the favorite for many of the awards.
Darian: Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)
It would be a shame if Affleck didn’t win for
his unbelievable performance that in my personal opinion is one of the best we’ve
seen in about 10 years. Playing a grief-stricken man with such conviction and dealing
with many personal tragedies, he held the picture with such grace and provided
a compelling character study. Denzel Washington and Ryan Gosling have good
outside shots as well, especially the former in which Denzel delivers one of
the best performances of his long career but I see the Academy siding with
Affleck here.
Best Achievement in Directing
Nominees: Damien Chazelle (La La Land), Mel Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge), Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea), Denis Villeneuve (Arrival)
Diego: Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
Damien Chazelle will win best director since
this film will win mostly everything it’s nominated for. Chazelle directed a
musical which has gained so much critical acclaim and other awards, so it’s
hard to believe he will not win.
Darian: Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
The originality and style that came from this
man’s mind is impeccable. The challenges one has when shooting a musical is
absolutely mind-blowing and it worked to incredible volumes, so much so that I
selected La La Land as my favorite
film of 2016 and its hard to argue this award against Chazelle. Though he has
many great opponents for this award (Barry Jenkins and Mel Gibson, just to name
a couple), the ultimate leaps and bounds Chazelle had to make to create not only
a musical, but one of the most heart-warming, original, feel good movies of
all-time will win him his first Best Director Oscar.
Best Picture
Nominees: Arrival, Fences, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell or High Water, Hidden Figures, La La Land, Lion, Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight
Diego: La
La Land
The Academy seems to love movies that are
based on Hollywood and the acting business. Additionally, this film has 14 Oscar
nominations, which is a record. I believe that this could sweep the night in
technical awards and make history for having the most Oscar wins ever.
Darian: La
La Land
The immaculate film that was daring,
mesmerizing and imaginative will win the Oscar for Best Picture though it seems
Moonlight might be on its heels, it’s
hard to see the Academy going against the majority for Best Picture this year. La La Land is an incredible film
anchored by its direction, stars and music but most importantly, it’s a movie
that only works because everything was perfectly assembled into a cinematic
package. A movie that was inspired by Singin’
in the Rain that will prove that many years later, we still need feel good
movies.
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