Best Visual Effects
My prediction: The Jungle Book. Actual winner: The Jungle Book.
An incredible achievement in effects work was rewarded.
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
My prediction: A Man Called Ove. Actual winner: Suicide Squad.
I didn’t want Suicide Squad to win and picked against it for spite. My mistake.
Best Cinematography
My prediction: La La Land. Actual winner: La La Land.
Best Production Design
My prediction: La La Land. Actual winner: La La Land.
I thought the beginning freeway scene was enough to justify this win.
Best Sound Mixing
My predicton: Rogue One. Actual winner: Hacksaw Ridge
I’m clueless about this category, and I didn’t think Hacksaw Ridge would win anything.
Best Sound Editing
My prediction: Arrival. Actual winner: Arrival.
This category is predisposed to loud, sci-fi type films.
Best Film Editing
My prediction: La La Land. Actual winner: Hacksaw Ridge
I didn’t see Hacksaw Ridge getting this level of support.
Best Costume Design
My prediction: La La Land. Actual winner: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
I thought La La Land would have down ballot strength. I was wrong.
Best Original Song
My prediction: “City of Stars” from La La Land. Actual winner: “City of Stars.”
Best Original Score
My prediction: La La Land. Actual winner: La La Land.
It’s been awhile since a film was so tied to its score. One of the easier picks of the night.
Best Animated Short
My prediction: Borrowed Time. Actual winner: Piper.
I knew there would be a Pixar connection, but I failed to account for how many people saw Piper before Finding Dory.
Best Live Action Short
My prediction: Le Femme et le TGV. Actual winner: Sing.
I enjoyed Sing, but I thought it was a little slight. I was wrong.
Best Documentary Short
My prediction: Joe’s Violin. Actual winner: The White Helmets
I thought the plethora of refugee stuff would cancel each other out, but I was wrong.
Best Adapted Screenplay
My prediction: Moonlight. Actual winner: Moonlight.
Best Original Screenplay
My prediction: La La Land. Actual winner: Manchester by the Sea.
I thought La La Land was gonna sail through here, but it’s unusual for someone to win Best Director and Best Screenplay in the same year. The two areas are very jealous and antagonistic of each other. My guess is, the writers knew Chazelle was going to win Director, so they went somewhere else.
Best Documentary
My prediction: O.J.: Made in America. Actual winner: O.J.: Made in America
This was a powerhouse category this year, but OJ was a towering achievement and obvious winner.
Best Animated Feature
My prediction: Zootopia. Actual winner: Zootopia.
I think most voters don’t really follow these films, but are largely swayed by box office results. My strategy worked this year.
Best Foreign Film
My prediction: The Salesmen. Actual winner: The Salesman
As soon as the controversy over President Trump’s travel ban began, you knew the Academy would use this category to make a statement. It didn’t hurt that The Salesman is a very good movie and Farhadi’s won before.
Best Supporting Actress
My prediction (and everyone else’s): Viola Davis. Actual winner: Viola Davis.
Best Supporting Actor
My prediction: Mahershala Ali. Actual winner: Mahershala Ali.
Best Actress
My prediction: Emma Stone. Actual winner: Emma Stone.
Best Actor
My prediction: Casey Affleck. Actual winner: Casey Affleck.
Casey was the early frontrunner. Denzel closed, but it wasn’t enough.
Best Director
My prediction: Damien Chazelle. Actual winner: Damien Chazelle.
Best Picture
My prediction: La La Land. Actual winner: Moonlight.
I noted Friday I could feel momentum building for Moonlight, but I mistakenly thought there wasn’t enough time. I thought La La Land was in a better position and falsely thought it was back to the norm of Best Director and Best Picture closely tied together, but it seems the Academy may have decided to use the two awards to spread the love out.
So to recap, I predicted 16 of the 24 categories.
I thought La La Land would be the big winner and it did win 6, but I thought it would sneak two more. I misjudged the support of Hacksaw Ridge. The shorts categories are a crap shoot (even if you’ve seen all of them).