Hey everyone, it’s that time again where The Oscars are around the corner, and I get to predict the winners. Last year I did pretty good, though that whole Moonlight and La La Land fiasco really messed with my head with confusion, but kudos to the people that made Moonlight. As for this year, i have to say this though, these films that are nominated are really subpar for me. These has to be the worst Oscar nominated films since the 2011 when that boring movie The Artist won it. So it is a shame, but the show must go on. Without further ado, here are my predictions. (Note: I decided to skip these awards because I’m just too ignorant when it comes to these categories: Best Foreign Language Film, Best Documentary- Feature, Best Documentary- Short Subject, Best Live Action Short Film, and Best Animated Short Film, though I’m pulling for Lou on that one.)

Best Visual Effects

Blade Runner 2049
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Kong: Skull Island
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
War for the Planet of the Apes

My Consensus:

-All these nominations are very deserving of winning it, but there can only be one, and it is a tough choice.

Prediction:

-I’m going to have to go with Star Wars: The Last Jedi, because their use of CGI and real special effects really blended well together to make this film great. If I have to pick a second one I may have to go with War for the Planet of the Apes, but it will also nice to see the Marvel Cinematic Universe finally win one as well. With all that said, I’m going with Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and I’m 60% sure of it.

Best Costume Design

Beauty and the Beast
Darkest Hour
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water
Victoria and Abdul

Consensus:

-This is another hard one, I believe Victoria and Abdul was good, and also The Shape of Water was good as well. I like Beauty and the Beast as well, but it isn’t that original if you ask me.

Prediction:

-It makes sense that a film about making high class dresses and fashion. It is probably going to Phantom Thread, and I’m 60% sure of it.

Best Makeup and Hair

Darkest Hour
Victoria and Abdul
Wonder

Who Should Have Been Nominated:

-I thought It had some really fantastic makeup especially making Pennywise really, really creepy. I thought they deserved at least a nod.

Consensus:

-This is another hard and comes down to two movies. I don’t count Wonder because I thought the makeup was terrible in it.

Prediction:

-I’m giving it to Darkest Hour mainly because they really made Gary Oldman look like Winston Churchill. Watching this movie I almost forgot that it is Gary Oldman, and that is in large part because of the makeup. So that’s my prediction and I’m 70% sure of it.

Best Production Design

Beauty and the Beast
Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water

Consensus:

-I can’t give it Dunkirk, because it is set outside, where no big production design was necessary. Darkest Hour and Blade Runner 2049 were too depressing for my taste in production design. So it comes down to two films.

Prediction:

-I loved Beauty and the Beast, and how it recreated this famous animated film into real life. However, I have to give it to The Shape of Water. Guillermo del Toro, really created a cool 50’s style of a production design, and really immerses you into that type of setting. The creativity was on point, and had it’s share of great color blends in each setting. So Shape of Water it is, and I’m 60% sure of it.

Best Sound Editing

Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Consensus:

-This is another tough one, but I really boiled it down to two movies.

Prediction:

-As much as Baby Driver is deserving, I have to give it to Dunkirk. I thought it is a good war movie where the sounds get you on the edge of your seat. Hearing those fighter planes going around and hearing machine guns really made this film very effective because of it sound editing. So Dunkirk it is, and I’m 70% sure of it.

Best Sound Mixing

Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Consensus:

-This one I boiled it down to one very deserving film, and don’t get me wrong, the other films were great but this one takes the cake.

Prediction:

-I’m giving this to Baby Driver. Not only that it has a great soundtrack, but the mixing of the music that Baby hears, and what is happening outside is truly art worthy. That’s what made Baby Driver so awesome to watch, and that sound mixing is magnificent. So Baby Driver takes the cake, and I’m 80% sure of it.

Best Film Editing

Baby Driver
Dunkirk
I, Tonya
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Consensus:

-For this category, I believe when it comes to editing, these films are subpar. So it was hard for me to pick a deserving winner.

Prediction:

-I’m going to have to give it to Dunkirk even though I thought their transitions were terrible. I thought the editing for the most part really made this a thriller to watch. I’m not confident, but I believe Dunkirk will take this and I’m 60% sure of it.

Best Cinematography

Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Mudbound
The Shape of Water

Consensus:

-I thought Mudbound, Darkest Hour, and Blade Runner 2049 are too depressing to get this type of award. So it goes down to two categories.

Prediction:

-Dunkirk was good, but not good enough. So I have to give it to The Shape of Water. The lighting was perfect for its scenes, and really brought out some great visuals and colors. The Shape of Water it is, and I’m 70% sure of it.

Dunkirk, Hans Zimmer
Phantom Thread, Jonny Greenwood
The Shape of Water, Alexandre Desplat
Star Wars: The Last Jedi, John Williams
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Carter Burwell

Consensus:

-It took me a lot of thinking and relistening to these soundtracks. So I boiled it down to two movies.

Prediction:

-Can it be that the great John Williams can win another Oscar by composing the same music as before, but making it ten times better with nostalgia. Unfortunately, no, but I ‘m giving it to another great composer who I’m surprised hasn’t one another Oscar since The Lion King, and that goes to Hans Zimmer for Dunkirk. This music is very epic and catchy, and although I’m not too confident in this pick, because i have been completely wrong with my selections, but Dunkirk is my pick. I’m 60% sure of it.

Best Original Song

“Mighty River” from Mudbound, Mary J. Blige
“Mystery of Love” from Call Me by Your Name, Sufjan Stevens
“Remember Me” from Coco, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez
“Stand Up for Something” from Marshall, Diane Warren, Common
“This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

Consensus:

-There are really two songs that I’m still singing in my head from time to time. That is what makes a great song.

Prediction:

-I really want Coco to win it for that emotional song “Remember Me.” However, even I have to realize that maybe that song is too short to win for Best Original Song. It will always have a place in my heart. My pick is “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman. This film has a great soundtrack, and I’m surprised more songs wasn’t nominated from it. “This is Me” is a powerful song about accepting who you are no matter what, and letting everyone know you’re not afraid. I’m looking forward to this performance at the Oscars. “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman will win it, and I’m 95% sure of it.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Call Me by Your Name, James Ivory
The Disaster Artist, Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber
Logan, Scott Frank & James Mangold and Michael Green
Molly’s Game, Aaron Sorkin
Mudbound, Virgil Williams and Dee Rees

Consensus:

-As much as I liked The Disaster Artist, politics will prevent it from winning it. I boiled it down to two films, but one of them is wishful thinking.

Prediction:

-Logan is a great comic book adaptation, and a powerful movie in itself, but I still have to accept the fact that comic book films will not win it, unless proven otherwise. So maybe it is a long shot, but I have to give it to Aaron Sorkin in Molly’s Game. I just really enjoy Sorkin’s work, and he really made the story in Molly’s Game his own with effective and strong dialogue. With that said, Sorkin has been receiving the wrong end of the stick with the Oscars, so that’s why I’m 50% sure of it.

Best Original Screenplay

The Big Sick, Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani
Get Out, Jordan Peele
Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig
The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Martin McDonagh

Consensus:

This is a really good category, because I believe all of them are deserving in its own right.

Prediction:

-I would love to see Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon win it, but sorry I believe it will go to another comedic writer. That is Jordan Peele for his film Get Out. That film’s story made it a rare powerful horror type of film with a strong message about race relations today, and slavery of today. I’m so surprised that Peele had something that original in his head, and executed very well. Get Out is nominated for a bunch of awards, but I believe this one will be the award they will get. I’m 80% sure of it.

Best Animated Feature

The Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
Coco
Ferdinand
Loving Vincent

Who Should of Been Nominated and Rant:

-I just don’t know why the Oscars are hating on these Lego movies, because they have been snubbed twice. What really infuriates me is that awful The Boss Baby movie gets a nod over The Lego Batman movie which I thought it is one of the best films of 2017. It is a disgrace, and they can sue, they should sue them for all they got, because this really is a travesty. It’s ok Lego Films, you will get your due, even if I have to find some way to fight it.

Consensus:

-I haven’t seen The Breadwinner or Loving Vincent, nor do I really care for it.

Prediction:

-Ferdinand is just happy to be nominated, because this year winner will be Coco, and Pixar will remain supreme in this category once again. Coco really hits it home for me, and really beautifully expresses the authenticity of the Latino culture which I was raised in. It is another film that brings out culture which this country definitely needs to be reignited in. The music, and the animation really sets it apart from the others, and it is one of the few movies that made me tear up. So Coco will win it, and I’m 95% sure of it. If it doesn’t I will be wrecking havoc on it.

Best Supporting Actress

Mary J. Blige, “Mudbound”
Allison Janney, “I, Tonya”
Lesley Manville, “Phantom Thread”
Laurie Metcalf, “Lady Bird”
Octavia Spencer, “The Shape of Water”

Consensus:

-On the real, there is one clear cut winner that really outshines the rest

Prediction:

-Allison Janney’s performance in I, Tonya was very intimidating playing the mother of Tonya Harding. She really divulged into that role, and was really powerful. She is one of the reasons why I, Tonya was such a good movie, and why she deserves this Oscar. I’m 95% sure of it.

Best Supporting Actor

Willem Dafoe, “The Florida Project”
Woody Harrelson, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Richard Jenkins, “The Shape of Water”
Christopher Plummer, “All the Money in the World”
Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

Consensus:

-There are some really good ones in this category. Like Woody Harrelson playing a dying cop trying to fight back. How about Christopher Plummer coming in the last minute replacing Kevin Spacey and putting on a tremendous acting display in so little time. Willem Defoe and Richard Jenkins were good, but not enough to win it. It goes down to one.

Prediction:

-Sam Rockwell playing a racist senile cop is a great spectacle to watch. He was funny because of his stupidity, powerful in showing how racism can take you over, and emotional when he decides to do something right. He was one of the reasons why I liked watching Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and deserves to win it. I’m 95% sure of it.

Best Actress

Sally Hawkins, “The Shape of Water”
Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
Margot Robbie, “I, Tonya”
Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird”
Meryl Streep, “The Post”

Consensus:

-This is a decent bunch of actresses. I liked Margot Robbie as ice skater Tonya Harding, Saoirse Ronan as a dramatic teenager, and Meryl “Might As Well Name This Award After Her” Streep as the leader of the Washington Post printing a story accusing the government. With all that said, there are two actresses that I really enjoyed watching.

Prediction:

-I loved Sally Hawkins performance in “The Shape of Water,” as a mute person falling in love with a sea monster. If it was any other year, I think she would’ve won it. However, Frances McDormand’s role in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” was spectacular. She was fun to watch as a mother looking for justice any way possible for the murder of her daughter. The grief, anger, and attitude she gives was funny and powerful at the same time. She made this movie great to watch, and I’m almost certain she will win it. I’m 95% sure of it.

Best Actor

Timothée Chalamet, “Call Me by Your Name”
Daniel Day-Lewis, “Phantom Thread”
Daniel Kaluuya, “Get Out”
Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour”
Denzel Washington, “Roman J. Israel, Esq.”

Who Should’ve Been Nominated:

-I know politics probably prevented James Franco from getting a nomination for “The Disaster Artist” as Tommy Wiseau. It’s a shame because I thought his portrayal of him was cinematic gold for sure.

Consensus:

-There are a lot of actors that are happy just to be nominated, and only one person really deserves this win.

Prediction:

-Ironically it is not Denzel Washington or Danial Day-Lewis. This award will go to Gary Oldman playing Winston Churchill. I didn’t like the movie too much, but it wasn’t Oldman just acting, that was Churchill. The makeup and everything really portrayed him very accurately. I believe it’s a shoe in for Oldman to win it, and I’m 99% sure of it.

Best Director

“Dunkirk,” Christopher Nolan
“Get Out,” Jordan Peele
“Lady Bird,” Greta Gerwig
“Phantom Thread,” Paul Thomas Anderson
“The Shape of Water,” Guillermo del Toro

Consensus:

-I’m glad Christopher Nolan finally gets an Oscar nomination which was way overdue. I’m also impressed that first time directors get an Oscar nomination on their first movie they directed in Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele. Paul Thomas Anderson is just happy to be there.

Prediction:

-This will be the time for Guillermo del Toro’s crazy mind to get his due. That fact that he actually completed a film that he started on was impressive in itself. He is one of the most creative directors out there, and The Shape of Water is well done in many different aspects. He will win it, and this decade has been a good decade for Mexican directors, and that puts a smile on my face. It will be a great moment for Del Toro, and I’m 95% he will win it.

Best Picture (Real Movie Critic Ratings After the Titles)

Call Me by Your Name (2.5 Stars)
Darkest Hour (2.5 Stars)
Dunkirk (4 Stars)
Get Out (4 Stars)
Lady Bird (4 Stars)
Phantom Thread (2.5 Stars)
The Post (4.5 Stars)
The Shape of Water (4 Stars)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (4 Stars)

What Should’ve Been Nominated:

-The Disaster Artist should’ve been nominated, but as I said before, politics probably prevented that from happening.

Consensus:

-As I said before I thought this year’s Oscar nominations for Best Picture is mediocre at best. Many people are upset that Logan or Wonder Woman didn’t make it, but that won’t happen until the old geezers at the academy die out.

Who I Want to Win:

-I really did enjoy The Post with the great acting from Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, and the great direction by Stephen Spielberg that made a movie about journalism thrilling. Since Spotlight won it a couple years ago, I guess it was too soon for that film. Though in my opinion that is the best Oscar nominated movie.

Prediction:

-This is a tough one for me, but i have to go with “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” The film is good enough with their strong acting, but I thought the politics of that film could’ve been a lot better. If I had to pick another movie, maybe “The Shape of Water”, or “Lady Bird” as my dark horse. Though I’m leaning towards “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” and I’m 75% sure of it.

Thanks everyone for reading. Feel free to comment and make your own predictions on who will win in this year’s Oscars. Until the next time, I will see you there!!!