Everyone has their favourite performances and movies and hopes that those performances and films are duly rewarded. That is not always the case however, as the Academy for one reason or another, can sometimes surprise with their choices.
With that being the case, I have perused through the acting categories, Best Film and Best Director and have chosen my own personal favourites from the selected nominations and I have also predicted what film or who will collect that presidous gong on the night:
Best Picture:
A solid yet predictable list here with no surprises like the Mad Max nomination of last year (which was a brilliant film by the way). Drama seems to be the leading genre with some hard hitting pieces nominated. My own choice for this award would be the marevelous Moonlight with an honourable mention for the innovative Arrival but I suspect that La la Land will add to its huge awards haul already and win the Best Picture Oscar for, which in my mind, wouldn't be the worst decision in the world.
My selection: Moonlight ; Predicted winner: La la Land
Best Actor:
This category is filled with big performances by outstanding experienced actors with roles in all types of movies from action to comedy through to drama. Whilst Andrew Garfield is outstanding in Hacksaw Ridge and Viggo Mortenson is excellent in Captain Fantastic this a three way shootout between Denzel Washington, Ryan Gosling and Casey Affleck. I would personally chose Casey Affleck for an extremely powerful yet subtle performance in Manchester by the Sea but it just may be Denzel's year with his preformance in Fences giving him the nod.
My selection: Casey Affleck; Predicted winner: Denzel Washington
Best Actress:
Another strong field makes up the Best Actress category with Meryl Streep acquiring her customary nomination again this year. She won't win it however, for her marvelous performance in Florence Foster Jenkins. Neither will Isabelle Hubbert for her fantastic role in Elle. As much as we would like to be celebrating the first Irish winner of the Best Actress Academy Award for Ruth Negga it won't be happening this year, with what should be a head to head between Natalie Portman and Emma Stone. Natalie Portman would be my choice for her mesmerising role as Jackie but again I fear the Academy will not agree with my choice and give the Oscar to Emma Stone for her excellent preformance in La La Land.
My selection: Natalie Portman; Predicted winner: Emma Stone
Best Supporting Actor:This one is really a one horse race with Mahershala Ali out in front for his incredible (if somewhat short on screentime) performance in Barry Jenkins Moonlight. It is somewhat strange that even though Aaron Taylor Johnson won the Golden Globe in this category for his role in Nocturnal Animals that it is Michael Shannon (who was also brilliant in the film) who is nominated for this category for his role in the same movie.
Dev Patel (who should really be nominated in Best Actor category), Jeff Bridges and Lucas Hedges all produce fine peformances but this has to be a dead cert for the excellent Mahershala Ali.
My selection: Mahershala Ali; Predicted winner: Mahershala Ali.
Best Supporting Actress:
Another list of excellent performances make up this category and one that may be difficult to call such is the quality on show. Naomi Harris and Michelle Williams just edge out the others in this category in my opinion but I think the Academy will give the Oscar to Viola Davis for her quite brilliant performance in Fences which would be richly deserved.
My selection: Naomi Harris; Predicted winner: Viola Davis
Best Director:No surprises nomination wise here and it's also great to see Mel Gibson back in such esteemed company after an absence of 22 years for his magnificent work on Hacksaw Ridge. I fear Mel and his other compatriots will lose out to Damien Chazelle for another award on what promises to be a successful night for all concerned with the movie La la Land. Personally, I'm torn between Dennis Villeneuve and Barry Jenkins for their masteful work on Arrival and Moonlight respectively but if put under pressure would probably choose Barry Jenkins for the wonderful Moonlight but he may have to make do with the Osacr for adapted screenplay instead.
My selection: Barry Jenkins; Predicted winner: Damien Chazelle
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