The end is nigh for this year’s award season! To cap it off, here are our predictions for Sunday’s Oscars…
Due to the nature of release dates and accessibility, we’ve not included Foreign Language Film, Documentary or the Shorts as we haven’t seen enough to make judgements.
BEST PICTURE
In a tight race to the top we recon that Del Toro’s Shape of Water will pip Three Billboards to the top prize, despite the latter having the Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG. We ay be letting bias get the better of us but there’s no questioning that The Shape of Water has proved the less controversial of the two.
Will win: The Shape of Water – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
DIRECTING
It’s been a few years since the Oscars for Picture and Directing married up (last in 2015 with Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Birdman) and we’re backing it to happen this year. Nolan’s strong competition and is sure to bag an Academy Award someday; as will the rookies: Gerwig and Peele.
Will win: Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk)
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
In another year, Daniel Day-Lewis’ swansong would have had a fairytale finish at the Oscars but this year Oldman’s all conquering.
Will win: Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour) – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: Daniel Day-Lewis (Phantom Thread)
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Like Oldman, McDormand seems to have this one in the bag, given her success with the role thus far (and she’s brilliant!) Were Hawkins to come to the fore it’d be a welcome surprise, as would Robbie and Ronan. Streep has plenty.
Will win: Frances McDormand (Three Billboards) – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water)
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Another SAG, BAFTA et al winner, Rockwell should make it a good night for Three Billboards on the acting front but we’re rooting for Defoe, who’s lovely turn in The Florida Project has been sorely overlooked.
Will win: Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards)
Could win: Willem Defoe (The Florida Project) – OUR FAVOURITE
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Again, we’re backing the candidate we see missing out on the night for Supporting Actress. It’s brash vs pathos but both are worthy.
Will win: Allison Janney (I, Tonya)
Could win: Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird) – OUR FAVOURITE
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Coco has this by a mile so we’d just like to take the opportunity to scoff at the blatant injustice that is its competition. The Boss Baby? Ferdinand? Did the Academy fall asleep through 2017 and miss Captain Underpants and The Lego Batman Movie?
Will win: Coco – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: Loving Vincent
CINEMATOGRAPHY
After thirteen misses, this fourteenth nomination for Roger Deakins needs to be a win.
Will win: Blade Runner 2049 – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: The Shape of Water
COSTUME DESIGN
Perhaps the Academy were wooed by Belle’s dress but we see this one going to Phantom Thread and quite right. Any film could make good costumes, it takes a great one to place them at the heart of the on-screen maker’s characterisation.
Will win: Phantom Thread – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: Beauty and the Beast
FILM EDITING
A Summer hit, Baby Driver‘s been all but forgotten in the awards season but that should be remedied here by the terrific work of Paul Machliss and Jonathan Amos.
Will win: Baby Driver – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: I, Tonya
MAKE UP AND HAIRSTYLING
If Gary Oldman wins Actor, it is a victory that owes some debt to his film’s Make Up department – who surely pushed him the extra mile towards getting into character.
Will win: Darkest Hour – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: Wonder
ORIGINAL SCORE
When we interviewed Early Man co-composer Tom Howe he picked out Alexandre Desplat’s Shape of Water score as his winner and we totally agree. That said, Dunkirk and Phantom Thread are both right in the mix.
Will win: The Shape of Water – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: Dunkirk
ORIGINAL SONG
Difficult to call, this one. On top of our picks here, Sufjan Stevens’ “Mysteries of Love” is also a strong contender and it likely depends on which of these was ear-wormed into the members at the time of voting. Due to its sheer ubiquity even now, months after release, we’ve gone for Keale Settle and the song, written by last year’s winners: Pasek and Paul.
Will win: “This is Me” – The Greatest Showman – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: “Remember Me” – Coco
PRODUCTION DESIGN
We see this as a fourth win for The Shape of Water and its dazzling marine-like design aesthetics.
Will win: The Shape of Water – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: Blade Runner 2049
SOUND EDITING
Just so we’re clear, Sound Editing is the act of actually producing and composing a film’s sounds, whilst Sound Mixing is bringing it all together and harmonising it for the final feature in the edit. Either way, we recon Dunkirk for both.
Will win: Dunkirk – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: Baby Driver
SOUND MIXING
Will win: Dunkirk – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: Baby Driver
VISUAL EFFECTS
Seeing as Andy Serkis will probably never win an Actor prize for his motion capture work, we’re giving this one to him as much as the incredible team who brought it all to life for the Matt Reeves’ threequel.
Will win: War for the Planet of the Apes – OUR FAVOURITE
Could win: Blade Runner 2049
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Call Me By Your Name has been generally scooping this one elsewhere and is hot favourite here. Our pick would be Netflix’s sublimely written Mudbound.
Will win: Call Me By Your Name
Could win: Mudbound – OUR FAVOURITE
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
To top off another successful night for Martin McDonagh, we see this one tipping in the favour of Three Billboards. Don’t rule out Gerwig’s Lady Bird script though and many will be rooting for Peele and Get Out.
Will win: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Could win: Get Out
The Film Blog 
My picks/what I think will win:
1. BEST PICTURE:
Should win: Phantom Thread
Will win: Three Billboards (it just has that typical/traditional Oscar winning plot that Shape of Water doesn’t)
2. BEST DIRECTOR:
Should win: Christopher Nolan
Will win: Guillermo del Toro
3. BEST ACTOR:
Should win: Daniel Day-Lewis
Will win: Gary Oldman (haven’t seen Darkest Hour, to be fair. Basing this on awards buzz)
4. BEST ACTRESS:
Should win: Sally Hawkins
Will win: Frances McDormand
5. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Should win: Willem Dafoe
Will win: Sam Rockwell
6. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Should and will win: Laurie Metcalf
6.BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Should and will win: Blade Runner 2049
7. BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Should win: Logan
Will win: Call Me By Your Name
8. BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Should win: The Shape of Water
Will win: Three Billboards
Aaand don’t know enough to comment on the rest, ha.
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Nice choices!
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Personally I adore ‘Remember Me’ more than any songs in The Greatest Showman. I’m also rooting for Dunkirk to win at least best directing. The editing in Baby Driver is excellent, so I totally agree with your verdict on that one. I also personally love the story in Get Out, so I hope it wins in any of the categories!
Still, have yet to watch both The Shape of Water and Three Billboards so I have no idea which one deserves to win best picture more.
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You should definitely make a point of seeking out Three Billboards and The Shape Of Water to watch!
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Great pics for both your favourites and what could most likely win. I agree with most of those choices for front runners and he could upset. I would see that Timotee was front runner early and I’d be happy with Dafoe or Rockwell. I also think Original Screenplay is locked as concession prize for Gerwig or Peele. I also would give Visual Effects to Blade Runner 2049.
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I’d love Gerwig or Peele to win for their debuts, that would mark a terrific launchpad for them
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There’s precedence, Robert Redford although to be fair I really Ordinary People. It’s dated a little now but it must have hit like a sledgehammer back in the day. I’ll come clean Get Out and Lady Bird didn’t do it for me the way I hoped but I just think one of them will get the Best Original Screenplay. It’s the go to win for the hip young director when you don’t want to give them the director Oscar or picture one. I’m also looking forward to what Gerwig and Peele do next, I enjoyed their movies and think they are great talents but I’m not upset that they won’t get Best Picture.
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