Academy Awards - 2017

No rant this year; just a quick rundown of my guesses on how Sunday’s Academy Awards show will go. And with La La Land set to win it all – or most anyway – why bother with analysis. Right?

But, this is my digital stage and would like to point out one observation. I don’t think the rolling number of Best Picture selections is working as it was intended to do, at least for this year. The idea behind the concept was to allow more mainstream, if not, gasp and shock, critically-achieved blockbusters, into the mix allowing a more open and fun debate. This year, all nine films, with the exception of Hacksaw Ridge – and maybe Arrival – are essentially the same: art-house awards fodder or select genre niches (one western, one musical). This year lacks that Mad Max: Fury Road or Martian or American Sniper. That one dark horse contender people smile about. Then again, maybe 2016 didn’t have the chance to present such a film. Except for seeing Captain America and Iron Man go all fisticuffs on each other and a CG Princess Leia, perhaps smiles were at a minimum this past year, meaning the movie-making business on a whole is failing at its one cultural responsibility.

My entries below are who I think will win, along with a very few comments. Before that, some quick analytics based on those choices. I have La La Land set to win 9 of its 14 noms. Fences gets two, both acting. Disney family films = 3. Films set in space (Star Trek Beyond) and Iran (The Salesman) will each get one. But, alas, no Oscar gold for The Lobster, regardless how original the story.

As Always,

theJOE

PICTURE / ACTING CATEGORIES

Best Picture: La La Land

Best Director: Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Best Actor: Denzel Washington, Fences

Best Actress: Emma Stone, La La Land

Best Supporting Actor: Jeff Bridges, Hell Or High Water (Mahershala Ali, from Luke Cage, I mean, Moonlight, is the favorite to win, and very well could, but Bridges is Hollywood royalty and with La La Land set to win, I think the Academy will maintain that “awarding Hollywood” sensability)

Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences

SCRIPTING / MUSIC CATEGORIES

Best Adapted Screenplay: Moonlight (but really, Arrival should win)

Best Original Screenplay: Manchester By The Sea

Best Original Score: La La Land

Best Original Song: “City of Stars,” from La La Land

OTHER RACES

Best Cinematography: La La Land

Best Film Editing: La La Land

Best Animated Feature: Zootopia

Best Costume Design: Jackie

Best Documentary: O.J.: Made In America

Best Foreign Film: The Salesman

Best Makeup: Star Trek Beyond

Best Production Design: La La Land

Best Sound Editing: Arrival (although La La Land could win this one)

Best Sound Mixing: La La Land (although Hacksaw Ridge could win)

Best Visual Effects: Jungle Book

Best Documentary Short Subject: Joe’s Violin

Best Animated Short: Piper

Best Live Action Short: Sing