Oscar Night Predictions

The Academy Awards night is once again upon us and this year there seem to be several very strong candidates for Best Picture that have made the prediction process a little harder.

But to not upset the trend, here are my predictions for this years Oscars:

Best Cinematogrpahy:

While Arrival showcases breath taking scenes from Montana, and the masterful depiction of the inside of the space ship is "out of this world", pun very much intended, it seems its not quite on par with La La Land's complex dancing scenes which require a more masterful control of the camera for the long unbroken pieces, and how it interacts with the actors as they move. This is much more complex to get right than a lot of the other cinematographic challenges in the other movies as it requires much more spacial awareness and movement pathway design before shooting even can begin.

For that,best Cinematography should go to: La La Land.

Best Supporting Actress:

While I give really high marks to Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea, and Naomie Harris is supremely engaging in Moonlight, I really have to give Viola Davis the golden man simply because of her ability to convey such a character believably and so much removed from her other roles in things like How to get Away with Murder, and even Suicide Squad. Its a completely different thing, and she inhabits the role masterfully.

Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis

Best Supporting Actor:

I would love for Jeff Bridges to win this year, as he owns the character and makes it believable and interesting, however I have to say it unfortunately pales in comparison with Mahershala Ali in Moonlight. The complexities of the relationship with the boy as he ages has to be a much more intense acting challenge. Ali pulls it off impeccably, and convincingly.

Best Supporting Actor: Maherhsala ALi

Best Actress:

Meryl Streep again proves she is one for the finest actors alive today, and while her performance is in no way less than Oscar worthy, I would like to see Emma Stone be the one to take it home tonight. Not only did she need to act the part, but she needed to do it while dancing and singing. This is a role that could have ended up being over-acted to balance the singing, and dancing, but its not.

Best Actress: Emma Stone, though Meryl Streep has more of a chance at it.

Best Actor:

Casey Affleck, Denzel Washington and Viggo Mortensen all deliver powerful performances with very little to complain about, but Andrew Garfield delivers an awe inspiring performance all the while having to do a southern drawl, which is not an easy thing to do when you are British. He also has to bring the performance out physically and emotionally as well while concentrating on the accent. That is something not easily done as well and as intricately as Garfield does it.

Best Actor: Andrew Garfield, though Denzel is probably going to get it.

Best Director:

Director's aside, the Directoral Challenge of a musical seems to have many more technical and design challenges than anything else which would seem to mean that Damien Chazelle would be an easy win. However, I think Mel Gibson manages to do something with Hacksaw Bridge that is hard to explain.

Best Director: Mel Gibson, though I'm pretty sure Chazelle will take it.

Best Picture:

All the entries this year are phenomenal, however, its seems that this year heart wrenching melodrama is the thing and I can understand it. However I go to the movies to have fun, and melodrama is not my cup of tea, which is why I would love to see La La Land as the winner. Lots of fun, and entertainment to be had, and a well crafted story and musical sets. Its just a lot of fun to watch.

Best Picture: La La Land.