Oscars 2017 Predictions

Awards season has barely kicked off for real, yet it already feels like we have seen it play out. The Birth of a Nation was the early frontrunner following the record deal at Sundance, but Nate Parker and Fox Searchlight have been plagued by his historical rape allegations that may leave their campaign in tatters.

Meanwhile, strong showings at both Venice and Telluride for Damien Chazelle’s La La Land has put firmly at the top of the pack. The period musical, an ode to the golden age of Hollywood, features a much hyped performance from Emma Stone.

Tom Hanks is also getting more buzz following early showings of Sully, and could see his first Oscar nomination for 16 years. Critics are also raving about Moonlight following its debut at Telluride.

Other favourites that will re-enter the race on release include Manchester by the Sea, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, Silence, Fences and Loving. Hidden Figures and Arrival are also ones to watch.

BEST PICTURE

The Birth of a Nation is hanging on by a thread, but La La Land and Manchester by the Sea are a big hit with critics.

PREDICTIONS

1. The Birth of a Nation
2. Silence
3. Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
4. La La Land
5. Loving
6. Manchester by the Sea
7. Moonlight
8. Fences

DIRECTOR

Damien Chazelle leads the pack after Telluride, but a host of Hollywood veterans are hot on his heels.

PREDICTIONS

1. Nate Parker, The Birth of a Nation
2. Ang Lee, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
3. Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester By the Sea
4. Martin Scorsese, Silence
5. Damien Chazelle, La La Land

LEADING ACTOR

Tom Hanks is looking for his first nomination since 2001, while diversity will be a big factor in the acting categories this year.

PREDICTIONS

1. Nate Parker, The Birth of a Nation
2. Joel Edgerton, Loving
3. Denzel Washington, Fences
4. Tom Hanks, Sully
5. Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

WHO SHOULD, BUT WON’T

1. Scott Chambers, Chicken

LEADING ACTRESS

Ruth Negga and Viola Davis are the ones to beat, but this could be Emma Stone’s year. Then there’s Meryl Streep. There’s always Meryl Streep.

PREDICTIONS

1. Ruth Negga, Loving
2. Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins
3. Viola Davis, Fences
4. Emma Stone, La La Land
5. Annette Bening, 20th Century Woman

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Silence can shine here, while support is building for Hugh Grant.

PREDICTIONS

1. Liam Neeson, Silence
2. Steve Martin, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
3. Armie Hammer, The Birth of a Nation
4. Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins
5. Adam Driver, Silence

WHO SHOULD, BUT WON’T

1. John Goodman, 10 Cloverfield Lane

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Michelle Williams is back with Manchester by the Sea, while Kristen Stewart is looking for her first nomination in a crowded field.

PREDICTIONS

1. Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea
2. Aja Naomi King, The Birth of a Nation
3. Kristen Stewart, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
4. Naomie Harris, Moonlight
5. Laura Dern, Wilson

ANIMATED FEATURE

Watch out for Kubo and the Two Strings, plus the usual Disney contenders in Moana and Finding Dory.

PREDICTIONS

1. Moana
2. Kubo and the Two Strings
3. Zootopia
4. Finding Dory
5. The Red Turtle

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Tickled is hitting the right spot, but Weiner and Gleason will hope to be among the contenders this year.

PREDICTIONS

1. The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years
2. Tickled
3. Life, Animated
4. Weiner
5. Gleason

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Judging by Isabelle Huppert’s lauded leading performance, Elle looks like a likely submission from France and Germany’s Toni Erdmann looks strong, but submissions are still rolling in.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL CURRENT SUBMISSIONS

PREDICTIONS

1. Toni Erdmann, Germany
2. Elle, France
3. The Salesman, Iran

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Birth of a Nation is hanging on in there, but Woody Allen and Damien Chazelle will be big contenders here.

PREDICTIONS

1. Loving
2. Manchester By the Sea
3. The Birth of a Nation
4. La La Land
5. Cafe Society

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Expect the usual fare, though this could be the springboard for Nocturnal Animals‘ campaign.

PREDICTIONS

1. Silence
2. Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
3. Fences
4. Lion
5. Nocturnal Animals

CINEMATOGRAPHY

COMING SOON

FILM EDITING

COMING SOON

ORIGINAL SONG

It is widely understood that the most unpredictable category in the Oscars is that of Original Song. For the last few years there has been no apparent rhyme or reason for the choices made, which is somewhat refreshing but a nightmare for us critics.

Two songs that are being given a lot of publicity by the studios are Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake, who produced the soundtrack for Trolls, and The Lumineers’ Nobody Knows from Disney’s live action remake of Pete’s Dragon.

Disney could also be on to a winner with Moana. Their animated hits tend to get a push in this category, and trailer song We Know the Way is currently the one touted. But they have a third contender in Zootopia with Shakira’s Try Everything, while for something different Damien Chazelle will no doubt compete here with something from La La Land.

PREDICTIONS

1. Can’t Stop the Feeling from Trolls
2. Nobody Knows from Pete’s Dragon
3. Unknown from La La Land
4. Try Everything from Zootopia
5. We Know the Way from Moana.

ORIGINAL SCORE

COMING SOON

COSTUME DESIGN

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PRODUCTION DESIGN

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VISUAL EFFECTS

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MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

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SOUND EDITING

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SOUND MIXING

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DOCUMENTARY SHORT

COMING SOON

LIVE ACTION SHORT

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ANIMATED SHORT

COMING SOON