This is the fourth and final part of this series in the build up to the 89th Academy Awards. By now I’ve been over what I thought about each of the nine Best Picture nominees and now I’m going to predict the winner in each and every category. I’m also going to say who would get my vote in each of the major categories where I’ve seen most if not all of the nominees. At the very end I’ll put a cap on 2016 by listing my personal top ten favorite movies of the year. Part one can be found here, part two can be found here, and part three can be found here.
(Please feel free to discuss your favorite movies of 2016 and post your predictions for the Oscars on the BSL Board here.)
BEST PICTURE
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
Will Win: La La Land
Should Win: Manchester By the Sea – Also would be happy with a Moonlight win
BEST DIRECTOR
Denis Villeneuve, Arrival
Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Will Win: Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Should Win: Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
BEST ACTOR
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington, Fences
Will Win: Denzel Washington, Fences – Its a coin flip between him and Casey Affleck but he’s my official prediction
Should Win: Casey Affleck, Manchester By the Sea
BEST ACTRESS
Isabelle Huppert, Elle
Ruth Negga, Loving
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Emma Stone, La La Land
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins
Will Win: Emma Stone, La La Land
Should Win: Natalie Portman, Jackie
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel, Lion
Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals
Will Win: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Should Win: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis, Fences
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea
Will Win: Viola Davis, Fences
Should Win: Michelle Williams, Manchester By the Sea
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Hell or High Water
La La Land
The Lobster
Manchester by the Sea
20th Century Women
Will Win: Manchester By the Sea – If La La Land wins this category (and its another coin flip) they might win everything.
Should Win: Manchester By the Sea
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Arrival
Fences
Hidden Figures
Lion
Moonlight
Will Win: Moonlight
Should Win: Moonlight
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
My Life as a Zucchini
The Red Turtle
Zootopia
Will Win: Zootopia
Should Win: Zootopia
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Fire at Sea
I Am Not Your Negro
Life, Animated
O.J.: Made in America
13th
Will Win: O.J.: Made in America
Should Win: 13th
Predictions for the Other Categories
Best Foreign Language Film: Toni Erdmann
Best Film Editing: La La Land
Best Original Score: La La Land
Best Original Song: “City of Stars”, La La Land
Best Cinematography: La La Land
Best Visual Effects: The Jungle Book
Best Costume Design: La La Land
Best Production Design: La La Land
Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Star Trek Beyond
Best Sound Mixing: La La Land
Best Sound Editing: Hacksaw Ridge
Best Live Action Short Film: Timecode
Best Documentary Short Film: The White Helmets
Best Animated Short Film: Piper
My Top 10 Movies of 2016
1. Manchester By the Sea
2. Moonlight
3. Everybody Wants Some!!
4. The Handmaiden
5. Arrival
6. American Honey
7. The Nice Guys
8. The Lobster
9. La La Land
10. Paterson
BSL Analyst
Bob is a co-host of ‘On the Verge’ an Orioles podcast focused on the O’s farm system here on BSL. He used to run the baseball blog ‘The Oriole Report’ before transitioning to podcasting about movies, TV, Video Games, and MMA. ‘The Redbox Report’ movie podcast was started in 2013 followed by ‘The Redbelt Report’ MMA podcast in 2016. Bob has also written for Konsume.com and BaltimoreSportsReport.com and delivers mail for a living in Baltimore County. Follow him on Twitter @TheOrioleReport.