The 89th Academy Awards are almost here! On Feb. 26, the very best films, performances, technical achievements, and other important efforts will be recognized with pageantry and, of course, highly coveted Oscars. For movie fans, this is your biggest night! (Although, some might argue that the opening night of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” will be the biggest evening of 2017, but I digress.)
Let’s not digress from a completely fun element of the Academy Awards: making predictions.
Admittedly, my crystal ball sometimes contains a cloudy haze, and my fortune teller skills cannot find – let alone read – a lifeline, but I do love movies and outstanding performances. Rather than only offer my picks for the top categories, I also include who “should” win and who “should” have been nominated. Enjoy the Oscars, cinema’s biggest night!
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Who will win: Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”)
Who should win: Eric Heisserer (“Arrival”)
Who should have been nominated: Seo-kyeong Jeong and Chan-wook Park (“The Handmaiden”)
Best Original Screenplay:
Who will win: Kenneth Lonergan (“Manchester by the Sea”)
Who should win: Efthimis Filippou and Yorgos Lanthimos (“The Lobster”)
Who should have been nominated: Noah Oppenheim (“Jackie”)
Best Supporting Actress:
Who will win: Viola Davis (“Fences”)
Who should win: Michelle Williams (“Manchester by the Sea”)
Who should have been nominated: Lily Gladstone (“Certain Women”)
Best Supporting Actor:
Who will win: Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight”)
Who should win: Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight”)
Who should have been nominated: Ben Foster (“Hell or High Water”) and Jeremy Irons (“The Man Who Knew Infinity”)
Best Actress:
Who will win: Emma Stone (“La Land”)
Who should win: Natalie Portman (“Jackie”)
Who should have been nominated: Annette Bening (“20th Century Women”), Jessica Chastain (“Miss Sloane”) and Sandra Huller (“Toni Erdmann”)
Best Actor:
Who will win: Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”)
Who should win: Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”)
Who should have been nominated: Ryan Gosling (“The Nice Guys” instead of “La La Land”)
Best Director:
Who will win: Damien Chazelle (“La La Land”)
Who should win: Damien Chazelle (“La La Land”)
Who should have been nominated: Yorgos Lanthimos (“The Lobster”)
Best Picture:
What will win: “La La Land”
What should win: “La La Land”
What should have been nominated: “The Lobster”, “The Witch” and “Captain Fantastic”
