OXYGEN’S OSCAR PREDICTIONS

Another year, another arbitrary list of Oscar winners, and so another arbitrary list of Oscar predictions! We at Oxygen.ie are here to compile the 100% guaranteed list of winners that will probably only be about half right. Using our skills at guessing, pondering, and saying ‘Sure why not?’ we’ve decided upon the sure-fire candidates, (and all the other ones too).

 

Best Film – The Big Short

Although the award could easily go to The Revenant on the night thanks to its wins at the BAFTAs and the Globes, the smart money is still on The Big Short. Having won the big prize at the Producers’ Guild of America Awards (a strong Oscar indicator), it’s a timely message on greed and has intelligence and fair to boot.

 

Best Director – Alejandro G. Iñárritu for The Revenant

The fact that people have learned how to pronounce his name is a testament to Iñárritu’s abilities. Having won an Oscar for directing Birdman, Iñárritu is the frontrunner to win again at this year’s Oscars. Although people may doubt the storytelling in The Revenant, it is clearly a singular directorial vision. Having already won the BAFTA, the Globe, and – most importantly – the Directors’ Guild Award, Iñárritu should probably start prepping his Oscar speech.

 

Best Actor – Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant

Winning an acting Oscar can sometimes devolve to how much suffering you’re willing to do. The lengths an actor goes to in order to deliver a performance is often enough to secure them an Oscar, regardless of actual acting. Although some would argue Leo is the weakest actor in The Revenant (I wouldn’t, but some, ‘they’), he does swim in freezing water, eat bison liver, and sleep naked in a horse (insert bestiality joke here). Having won every award on the circuit, Leo is worth betting your house/room/Pot-Noodle on.

 

Best Actress – Brie Larson for Room

Although Cate Blanchett seemed a sure thing for Carol only a few months ago, she seems to have been forgotten since. Perhaps this had to do with all the faffing with categories (isn’t Rooney Mara the lead actress in Carol?), but it probably had more to do with the release of Room, in which Brie Larson knocks it out of the park. Unselfish, unglamorous, and bolstered by the fact Room deserves something, Larson has scooped up every award on her way to the Oscars, and so, why stop there?

 

Best Supporting Actor – Mark Rylance for Bridge of Spies

When Stallone won the Golden Globe, everyone wondered, could this be his year? No, of course not. Stallone has been a stain on cinema for the last 10 years, churning out crap like The Expendables, Rambo 4, and nameless others (Escape Plan is actually enjoyably ridiculous). Instead the award will go to Mark Rylance, an actor’s actor, who is seeing his transfer from stage to cinema go rather well.

 

Best Supporting Actress – Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl

 A category ruined by fraud, as both Alicia Vikander and Rooney Mara are the leads in their respective films, leaving only Kate Winslet and Jennifer Jason Leigh as the authentic candidates. Rachel McAdams is there because they needed another white woman to fill up the five slots. Vikander will win, as 2015 has truly been her year (although arguably her best performance was in Ex-Machina.) However, if ever there was a category where anyone could win, it’s this one. Except for Rachel McAdams.

Best Original Screenplay – Spotlight

spotlight

A strong category, but as Spotlight won’t win any of the other big awards, the award will go to Tom McCarthy for his work on the Catholic Church scandal film. It’s clear, clean storytelling and has already been recognized at the Writers’ Guild Awards.

 

Best Adapted Screenplay – The Big Short

the big short

Worst case scenario, The Big Short wins Best Adapted Screenplay to make up for the fact it wins nothing else. Best case scenario, it wins Best Adapted Screenplay to go nicely with its Best Picture win. Although a very, very strong category, and probably more evenly split than Best Supporting Actress (even without Sorkin’s wonderful Steve Jobs script), The Big Short will most likely bring home gold.

 

Best Animated Film – Inside Out

An animated film so good, it made everyone forget that Pixar released another film this yea (The Good Dinosaur). Although Anomalisa is picking up plaudits worldwide, animation is still seen as ‘Best Kids’ Film’ by many, so family favourite Inside Out will surely win.

 

The other ones no one cares about…

 

Best Cinematography – The Revenant

Best Foreign Language Film – Son of Saul

Best Editing – Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Costume Design – Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Production Design – Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Make-up – Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Sound Mixing – Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Sound Editing – Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Score – The Hateful Eight

Best Song – Til it Happens to You

Best Documentary – Amy

Best Visual Effects – Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Best Short – Ave Maria

Best Animated Short – Sanjays Super Team

Best Documentary Short – Body Team 12

 

Rían Smith

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