My Oscars 2016 Predictions!

As I do every year, I’ve attempted to get through a good chunk of the Academy Award nominated films before the awards are given out on Sunday. Of the 42 features and 15 shorts, I’ve seen and reviewed nearly 30 of the feature films and 3 of the animated shorts which isn’t too bad.

Here are my predictions of the winners, with my preferred system of 1 for my first choice, 2 for what I think has an outside chance, and P for the film I personally would like to see win it. Points are then awarded with two points for a correct first choice, one point for a correct second choice and no points for personal preference as that’s just for interest and expression. With the 24 categories there are potentially 48 points up for grabs!

Print off or email this PDF OSCAR BALLOT 2016 sheet and challenge your friends to see who can predict the most winners!

Best Actor

Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
P. Matt Damon, The Martian – It is hard to pick my preference, Damon just nabs it for me, nothing against Leo just I found Matt Damon so very personable in this film.
1. Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
2. Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett, Carol
1P. Brie Larson, Room
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
2. Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Best Supporting Actor

Christian Bale, The Big Short
Tom Hardy, The Revenant
Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight
2P. Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
1. Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Best Supporting Actress

Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara, Carol
Rachel McAdams, Spotlight
1. Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl -though her performance in ‘Ex Machina’ should be the one getting praise, that may go in her favour here with people voting for this as that’s not available.
2P. Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Best Directing

Adam McKay, The Big Short
2. George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
1. Alejandro González Iñárritu, The Revenant
P. Lenny Abrahamson, Room
Tom McCarthy, Spotlight

Best Film Editing

2. The Big Short
1P. Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Spotlight
Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Best Foreign Language Film

Colombia, Embrace of the Serpent
2P. France, Mustang
1. Hungary, Son of Saul
Jordan, Theeb
Denmark, A War

Best Original Score

Thomas Newman, Bridge of Spies
Carter Burwell, Carol – While I’ve not seen the film I have listened to the soundtrack, it’s got a lightness and elegance to it that’s lovely, however I did find most of the tracks to be little more than a variation on the main theme, I’d like a bit more variety in the score.
1. Ennio Morricone, The Hateful Eight – I haven’t seen the film but I have had chance to listen to the score around the house and it really adds a lot of tension to buttering toast!
P. Jóhann Jóhannsson, Sicario
2. John Williams, Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Williams’ 50th nomination!

Best Picture

2. The Big Short – I don’t want this to win, I’d rather see ‘Spotlight’ nab it but sadly I think this may.
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
1. The Revenant
P. Room – It’s no surprise from my review that I’d like this to win but sadly it won’t. Abrahamson will get a best picture Oscar one day though.
Spotlight – I’d prefer to see this pull a surprise win rather than ‘The Big Short’ but it’s a close run for 2nd.

Best Production Design

Bridge of Spies
The Danish Girl
1. Mad Max: Fury Road
P. The Martian
2. The Revenant

Best Visual Effects

P. Ex Machina
2. Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Best Adapted Screenplay

1. The Big Short
Brooklyn
Carol
The Martian
2P. Room

Best Original Screenplay

Bridge of Spies
Ex Machina
2P. Inside Out
1. Spotlight
Straight Outta Compton – Not meaning to belittle the writers’ work, this film apparently has one offensive word every 10 seconds. I was always told that swearing profusely was a deficiency in one’s use of the English language, so I can’t see how a film with that level of strong language can win this award.

Best Animated Feature Film

2. Anomalisa
Boy and the World
1P. Inside Out
Shaun the Sheep Movie
When Marnie Was There

Best Cinematography

Carol
The Hateful Eight
2. Mad Max: Fury Road
1. The Revenant – Not what I think should win outright, impressive as it is, it really should tie with ‘Mad Max’ & ‘Sicario’, they are all brilliantly shot.
P. Sicario – I’m giving this my vote as I want to see Deakins win.

Best Costume Design

Carol
2P. Cinderella
The Danish Girl
1. Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant

Best Documentary – Feature

1P. Amy
2. Cartel Land
The Look of Silence
What Happened, Miss Simone?
Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom

Best Documentary – Short Subject – I’ve sadly not seen any so basing on what I’ve heard about.

1. Body Team 12
Chau, Beyond the Lines
Claude Lanzmann: Spectres of the Shoah
A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness
2. Last Day of Freedom

Best Makeup and Hairstyling – All are very good at this in different ways.

1. Mad Max: Fury Road
P. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
2. The Revenant

Best Original Song – Often the category for films not nominated otherwise, this year it is wholly that! I’m basing on sentiment I’ve heard and the quality of the songs alone not the films they’re in, all are worth a listen, see my YouTube playlist below.

P. “Earned It,” Fifty Shades of Grey – though the film is nominated for Razzies, the OST was rather excellent and this track in particular sounds epic on my sound system!
“Manta Ray,” Racing Extinction
“Simple Song No. 3,” Youth
1. “‘Til It Happens to You,” The Hunting Ground
2. “Writings on the Wall,” Spectre