Oscars 2017: Results & Final Thoughts

So…that was memorable…

I’m sure every movie fan in the world is reacting with disbelief and bewilderment at what happened during the 89th Academy Awards.

So here are the winners, in comparison with my Oscar predictions and my thoughts.

BEST PICTURE

My Prediction: Moonlight

Actual Winner: Moonlight

Steve Harvey: “No one will ever top what I did at Miss Universe.”

Oscars 2017: “Hold my drink.”

Joking aside, I do feel sorry for everyone involved for La La Land.  I enjoyed the film very much in a wonderful escapism from reality.  While this event will now become a quiz question for years to come, but I did predict Moonlight would win and I’m very happy for the film.  It’s a film which speaks volumes of our society and youth.  Given the last two Academy Awards where they’ve gone against the populist grain, seeing Moonlight declared as the actual winner was not a surprise because it was 100% deserved.  It is an outstanding film and it’s a shame it missed out on having that instantaneous and euphoric reaction to the win.  Everything that transpired and unfolded during the announcement was just awkward.

The mishap is not a true reflection on the quality of both films and I seriously hope that people remember that instead of the gaffe.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

My Prediction: Denzel Washington (Fences)

Actual Winner: Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)

This was a bit of a surprise.  At first I did go for Casey in Manchester by the Sea but ultimately went for Denzel based off his SAG award earlier this year.  Traditionally actors who’ve won a SAG award have gone on to Oscar success but clearly the academy went down a different path.

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

My Prediction: Emma Stone (La La Land)

Actual Winner: Emma Stone (La La Land)

I will still say it – Amy Adams should have been nominated in this category for Arrival.  But in the end, this was expected and was as straightforward as anyone could predict.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

My Prediction: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)

Actual Winner: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)

I really enjoyed Shannon’s performance in Nocturnal Animals and Dev Patel could have pulled off a shock, just like his BAFTA win for his role in Lion.  But Mahershala Ali was the correct result.  By winning the award he becomes the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar.

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

My Prediction: Viola Davis (Fences)

Actual Winner: Viola Davis (Fences)

Nothing to see here.  Well deserved queen.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

My Prediction: Kubo and the Two Strings

Actual Winner: Zootopia

Kubo and the Two Strings in my opinion is the strongest film but considering that Disney/Pixar have dominated this field for years, Zootopia winning did not come as a shock and was probably an easy decision.  Both films are great and was hoping for an upset but Zootopia’s great message of unity in a divided world ultimately swung it.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

My Prediction: Arrival

Actual Winner: La La Land

La La Land is a worthy winner with its dreamscape fantasy but went for Arrival because of its atmospheric and haunting setting.

COSTUME DESIGN

My Prediction: Florence Foster Jenkins

Actual Winner: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Wow – now this was a surprise.  Some love for the Harry Potter franchise!  Considering that the franchise has been nominated in the past but never won an Oscar, it’s nice to be proven wrong by my prediction and to finally see some recognition.

DIRECTING

My Prediction: La La Land

Actual Winner: La La Land

While he may have lost the big award of the night, if there’s a little comfort for Damien Chazelle, then winning best director is not bad at all.  It’s a testament to his energetic commitment and at 32 years of age, he becomes the younger director to win the award.  The award also puts him in a unique position of further controlling and having a final say on his film projects.  It will be interesting to see how his next project, the Neil Armstrong biopic – First Man will turn out.

DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)

My Prediction: 13th

Actual Winner: O.J.: Made in America

The best documentary category was a tough call.  My personal favourite was 13th which if you’ve seen, the documentary provides context and understanding in regards to race relations in America.  It’s a phenomenal piece of work.  However, O.J.: Made in America is the most comprehensive documentary I’ve seen in a long time.  American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson was just a small piece of that puzzle.  Don’t be put off by its massive runtime.  This is a documentary not to be missed.

FILM EDITING

My Prediction: Hacksaw Ridge

Actual Winner: Hacksaw Ridge

Despite feeling like two films rolled into one, my gut feeling of Hacksaw Ridge picking up the editing award paid off.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

My Prediction: Toni Erdmann

Actual Winner: The Salesman

This award was always a two-way fight between The Salesman and Toni Erdmann.  I didn’t want to base my prediction solely on the travel ban which would have stopped Asghar Farhadi from attending the Oscars but boycotted the ceremony out of respect.  However he certainly made his point as two Iranian-Americans accepted his award on his behalf with a heartfelt speech.

Now that Toni Erdmann is now going for a Hollywood remake, who’s to say it won’t be up again for Oscars?

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

My Prediction: Suicide Squad

Actual Winner: Suicide Squad

Let this sink in for a minute!  Yes Suicide Squad won an Oscar.  A DC Universe film won an Academy Award.  Who would have believed it?  But as my prediction goes, I called it correct because despite the obvious dissatisfaction towards the film itself, makeup and hairstyling was one of the defining things about the film.  Of course I feel sorry for Star Trek Beyond but I could only see one winner for this category.

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)

My Prediction: La La Land

Actual Winner: La La Land

For a soundtrack that got me listening to it for a solid week like an addiction, it was definitely the right winner.

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

My Prediction: “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” from La La Land

Actual Winner: “City Of Stars” from La La Land

I think any other year Justin Timberlake would have walked away with the award for Trolls but La La Land was always going to clean up this one.  It was a little unfair that two songs were nominated – one place could have gone to another nominee.  While “City of Stars” takes the plaudits, “Audition” was the better song.

PRODUCTION DESIGN

My Prediction: La La Land

Actual Winner: La La Land

The real shock would have been Passengers but thankfully no surprises here.  La La Land winning this category was deserved for its outstanding sets which are a modern look to 50s Hollywood.

SOUND EDITING

My Prediction: Hacksaw Ridge

Actual Winner: Arrival

As annoying as this is (because I predicted Arrival to win Best Sound Mixing), I’m very happy that Arrival did not leave empty-handed.  It’s a shame this was it’s only award.  It deserved a hell of a lot more than that.  But if I look on the bright side, some of my favourite films missed out on Oscars – doesn’t make them a bad film!

SOUND MIXING

My Prediction: Arrival

Actual Winner: Hacksaw Ridge

See above.  Got them the wrong way round.  Woe is me 😦

VISUAL EFFECTS

My Prediction: The Jungle Book

Actual Winner: The Jungle Book

It would have been cool to see Kubo or even Rogue One pick up this award but this was always going to The Jungle Book.

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

My Prediction: Moonlight

Actual Winner: Moonlight

It’s a shame that Hidden Figures couldn’t pick up an award but just like Arrival, it was always going to be a tough ask.  That being said, Moonlight overall deserved this award.  When you have a story that means a lot to both director Barry Jenkins and writer Tarell Alvin McCraney, every fibre of that story is on that screen.

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)

My Prediction: Manchester by the Sea

Actual Winner: Manchester by the Sea

Just like the adapted screenplay Kenneth Lonergan’s highly realistic look at past mistakes and redemption meant there was always going to be one winner.

Prediction score: 12 out of 21

There it is.  Not bad on the prediction score, could do better but this was a tough battle all round with the real winner being film itself.  Diversity may have made a statement but ultimately this is just one step and it needs to keep going.  Hopefully we will see more positive strides going forward in the 90th Academy Awards.

Congratulations to all the winners.  Let’s see what 2017 can bring.