I’ll admit that I get overly excited for one television event of the year, the 89th Academy Awards. Like most do on the Sunday in February that the Superbowl falls on, I too, meticulously plan out my Oscars event. Countless hours are spent watching and rewatching the nominees, arguing with friends as for who will win what category and meticulously planning what party food I will make. The Oscars is my Superbowl and I am coincidentally both artsy, yet lame for saying that.
This year, the Oscars boast nine nominated films up for “Best Picture” and it seems like frontrunner films, “Moonlight” and “La La Land” will be neck and neck to take home the award. And from the horrible “Oscars so white” fiasco from the previous year, it is nice to note that each category has several stunning film in their brackets. I have broken down the brackets with a “Will win” (because I suspect the Academy will vote on their win) and “Want to win” (because this is film/performance I would select if I was allowed to vote).
Let’s see if I am right on Sunday.
Best Picture:
- Will Win: “La La Land”
- Want to Win: “Moonlight” or “Arrival”
Best Director:
- Will Win: Damien Chazelle, “La La Land”
- Want to Win: Barry Jenkins, “Moonlight”
Best Actor:
- Will Win: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”
- Want to Win: Denzel Washington, “Fences”
Best Actress
- Will Win: Emma Stone, “La La Land”
- Want to Win: Natalie Portman, “Jackie”
Best Supporting Actor
- Will Win: Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight”
- Want to Win: Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight” (but it would be a lot of fun if Michael Shannon won for “Nocturnal Animals”)
Best Supporting Actress
- Will Win: Viola Davis, “Fences”
- Want to Win: Viola Davis, “Fences” (As my friend aptly stated, “Viola for life.”)
Best Original Screenplay
- Will Win: “La La Land”
- Want to Win: “The Lobster” or “Hell or High Water”
Best Adapted Screenplay
- Will Win: “Moonlight”
- Want to Win: “Moonlight” or “Arrival”
Best Animated Feature
- Will Win: “Zootopia”
- Want to Win: Moana or Kubo and the Two Strings (Please Academy, show Kubo some love since almost no one saw this wonder of a film in theaters.)
Best Documentary Feature
- Will Win: “O.J.: Made in America”
- Want to Win: “13th”
The 89th Academy Awards ceremony can be watched on ABC this Sunday starting at 7:30 p.m.
