Oscars 2018: Here Are Some Bold Predictions

Every year I present my guesses as to what will win at the Oscars. This is all done in fun, of course and (even though I run a contest), I do not consider myself an expert. I have only once run the table with a perfect ballot and, most years, I miss between three and five categories. This year, I fully expect to miss four: two of the three genuine “toss-up” (those are Picture, Original Screenplay, and Visual Effects) and two that come out of left field. When it comes to most of the technical categories, I play the odds. Sometimes, for the majors, if something isn’t a “lock”, I play a hunch.

For those who are curious or want to laugh at me when I miss something obvious, here are my fearless predictions. (Because of the contest, I can’t wait until the day before to post them.)

• Picture
  Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
• Lead Actress
  Frances McDormand (Three Billboards)
• Lead Actor
  Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour)
• Supporting Actress
  Allison Janney (I, Tonya)
• Supporting Actor
  Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards)
• Director
  Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water)
• Animated Feature Film
  Coco
• Documentary Feature
  Faces Places
• Foreign Language Film
  A Fantastic Woman
• Adapted Screenplay
  Call Me by Your Name
• Original Screenplay
  Get Out
• Cinematography
  Blade Runner 2049
• Film Editing
  Dunkirk
• Costume Design
  Phantom Thread
• Production Design
  The Shape of Water
• Makeup and Hair
  Darkest Hour
• Sound Editing
  Dunkirk
• Sound Mixing
  Dunkirk
• Visual Effects
  War for the Planet of the Apes
• Original Song
  Coco (“Remember Me”)
• Original Score
  The Shape of Water

This piece first appeared in Reelviews and has been republished here with permission.