Fandom Predicts the Winners of the 2017 Oscars

Drew Dietsch
Movies Marvel
Movies Marvel DC Star Wars

It’s time to break out the champagne and get sloshy: the Oscars are upon us! Who will make the most embarrassing speech? Who will wear the most embarrassing outfit? How many jokes will there be at the President’s expense? We’re not qualified to make those guesses, but we feel pretty confident about guessing who will win those coveted golden statues. Fan Contributor Brandon Marcus and I put on our rented tuxedos and took a swing at predicting this year’s Oscar winners. We guarantee we’ll get all of them right.*

*guarantee not valid in this iteration of the Multiverse

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR

Brandon’s Pick: La La Land

With a historic 14 nominations, it’s unfathomable that La La Land won’t win Best Picture. You know what, I don’t disagree. The movie is a marvel in many ways, from Emma Stone’s flat-out phenomenal performance to the choreography to the solid, adult script that deftly switches between a fun musical and a painfully real relationship drama. While I’m jazzed (hehe) to see La La Land go all the way, I can’t deny that I would love to see Arrival take the prize. It’s the sort of smart, grown-up and humane science fiction that we don’t get enough of. All in all, this is a strong category and we should be happy for that.

La La Land Oscars

Drew’s Pick: La La Land

I’m just happy to see Arrival on that list. That film is going to cement itself in film history regardless of what awards it does or doesn’t win. It’s clear that the Academy is trying to do some damage control from last year’s #OscarsSoWhite controversy. Could they pick something like Hidden Figures or Moonlight in order to make a statement? That would be pretty great but the safe bet is what we’re going with. Everyone is putting their money on La La Land and so are we.

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING

  • Denis Villeneuve (Arrival)
  • Mel Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge)
  • Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
  • Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea)
  • Barry Jenkins (Moonlight)

Brandon’s Pick: Damien Chazelle (La La Land)

Damien Chazelle makes me mad. The man is so insanely talented and accomplished and only a bit older than me. Way to make the rest of us look bad. As with many categories, La La Land will take this award. It’s a justified choice. Directing a musical must be hard and Chazelle does it with a loving, youthful and envy-inducing ease.

mel-gibson-hacksaw-ridge

Drew’s Pick: Mel Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge)

Another case where my pick would be Denis Villeneuve but I’m totally fine with Chazelle winning this one. But, the Academy loves a comeback story and they may vote for Gibson just to get him up on stage. Not who I would pick at all but I won’t be surprised when this happens.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

  • Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)
  • Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge)
  • Ryan Gosling (La La Land)
  • Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic)
  • Denzel Washington (Fences)

Brandon’s Pick: Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)

Affleck is looking more and more like a sure thing for Manchester by the Sea. He’s racking up awards left and right. I would love to see Mortensen on the stage because he holds a soft spot in my heart but this will be Affleck. However, if the controversy around his past abuse allegations creates enough clout, I wouldn’t be surprised (or disappointed) to see Gosling steal this.

casey affleck 2017 oscars

Drew’s Pick: Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)

He seems to be the obvious choice though it’d be great to have Denzel up on stage. Mortensen deserves this retroactively for A History of Violence though. That man is a treasure we aren’t properly acknowledging.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

  • Isabelle Huppert (Elle)
  • Ruth Negga (Loving)
  • Natalie Portman (Jackie)
  • Emma Stone (La La Land)
  • Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins)

Brandon’s Pick: Emma Stone (La La Land)

Emma Stone’s work in La La Land is phenomenal. It’s perhaps one of my favorite performances ever, certainly in the last decade. She will likely take this award unless Streep squeaks in, powered by her anti-Trump speech at the Golden Globes.

ruth negga loving 2017 oscars

Drew’s Pick: Ruth Negga (Loving)

I’m going against the tide here. Stone is fantastic, Streep is basically an Oscar staple, Portman could possibly steal this away, and no one is talking about Elle. But Ruth Negga is the Queen of Fandom and she deserves this one. I’m rooting for her.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

  • Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)
  • Jeff Bridges (Hell Or High Water)
  • Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea)
  • Dev Patel (Lion)
  • Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals)

Brandon’s Pick: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)

A great mix of nominees here but I’m guessing Ali takes the prize. After years of supporting roles, he’s officially entered the big time.

Drew’s Pick: Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water)

I want Ali to take this one but it might be Shannon’s time. He’s been skirting around the edges of an Oscar for a while, and this award usually goes to an older actor who has been around for a while. that’s why I’m actually going to bet on Jeff Bridges.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

  • Viola Davis (Fences)
  • Naomie Harris (Moonlight)
  • Nicole Kidman (Lion)
  • Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures)
  • Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea)

Brandon’s Pick: Viola Davis (Fences)

Man, Viola Davis is a powerhouse. It’s great to see her stand beside so many talented actresses, including two other terrific women of color. The Academy should be proud of their progress. Expect Davis to rightfully win here and expect one hell of a speech when she does.

viola davis fences 2017 oscars

Drew’s Pick: Viola Davis (Fences)

I’m with Brandon on this one. Davis has been sweeping up other awards and she really is a powerhouse. Can’t wait for that acceptance speech.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

  • Arrival, Eric Heisserer
  • Fences, August Wilson
  • Hidden Figures, Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi
  • Lion, Luke Davies
  • Moonlight, Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney

Brandon’s Pick: Moonlight, Barry Jenkins and Tarell Alvin McCraney

I feel like Moonlight won’t win many awards but it has a strong chance at taking this one home. There is stiff competition but without La La Land in the mix, I hope it nabs it.

Drew’s Pick: Arrival, Eric Heisserer

I’m going against my better judgment and picking the one I want to win. Arrival will probably go away empty-handed but this might be the one area where it could win.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

  • Hell or High Water, Taylor Sheridan
  • La La Land, Damien Chazelle
  • The Lobster, Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou
  • Manchester by the Sea, Kenneth Lonergan
  • 20th Century Women, Mike Mills

Brandon’s Pick: La La Land, Damien Chazelle

Chazelle’s script deserves more credit than it gets. It’s a surprisingly frank and tough drama underneath the veneer of a toe-tapping musical. I’m guessing Chazelle takes this though Lonergan might get the gold instead.

Drew’s Pick: Manchester by the Sea

La La Land could snag this but everyone seems to be in love with Manchester by the Sea. the Academy might go more dramatic with this pick.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR

  • A Man Called Ove (Sweden)
  • Land of Mine (Denmark)
  • The Salesman (Iran)
  • Tanna (Australia)
  • Toni Erdmann (Germany)

Brandon’s Pick: Toni Erdmann

Being an uninformed American, I’m a bit in the dark here but people I trust feel Toni Erdmann has a good chance so I’ll side with them.

toni erdmann 2017 oscars

Drew’s Pick: Toni Erdmann

This is the only film that’s getting an American remake, so I’m going to guess it’s one of the few the Academy voters watched.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR

Brandon’s Pick: Moana

This is a tough choice. I loved Moana and the message it sent. I think it’ll take the prize. However, Kubo and the Two Strings is a monumental achievement for Laika. While I would love to see them win, I’m betting Disney instead.

Drew’s Pick: Kubo and the Two Strings

This category is almost always a Disney lovefest, but Kubo just won big at the BAFTAs and it’s been getting a lot more notice since it left theaters. Gotta play hopeful on this one. God, I want this movie to win.

ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION DESIGN

Brandon’s Pick: La La Land

When in doubt, go with La La Land. Arrival or Fantastic Beasts could pull an upset but I think the Academy’s love for Land will win out.

hail caesar 2017 oscars

Drew’s Pick: Hail, Caesar!

Which Hollywood lovefest will win this one? I’m gonna give the Coens this one. The Academy has to leave a couple spots where La La Land doesn’t win, right?

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

  • Arrival
  • La La Land
  • Lion
  • Moonlight
  • Silence

Brandon’s Pick: Arrival

Though I usually err on the side of La La Land, something tells me Arrival could win cinematography. And it should, the film is flat-out beautiful.

Drew’s Pick: Arrival

I just want to double up on this because I would call this the Arrival Awards if I had my druthers.

ACHIEVEMENT IN COSTUME DESIGN

  • Allied
  • Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  • Florence Foster Jenkins
  • Jackie
  • La La Land

Brandon’s Pick: Jackie

This is a toss up for me. On one hand, Jackie faithfully recreates the clothing of the 1960s. On the other hand, La La Land. I’m guessing Jackie will pick up its only award here.

jackie 2017 oscars

Drew’s Pick: Jackie

The authenticity of this movie has been its biggest selling point. And the Academy loves fawning over period pieces.

ACHIEVEMENT IN FILM EDITING

  • Arrival
  • Hacksaw Ridge
  • Hell or High Water
  • La La Land
  • Moonlight

Brandon’s Pick: La La Land

It’s hard to make a musical. It’s even harder to make one that feels cohesive. La La Land should rightfully win Editing.

Drew’s Pick: Hacksaw Ridge

This is going to be a soft win for Ridge. It needs to walk away with something. Might as well be Editing.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

  • Fire At Sea
  • I am Not Your Negro
  • Life Animated
  • O.J.: Made in America
  • 13th

Brandon’s Pick: O.J.: Made in America

Is it a movie? Is it a TV show? No matter how you qualify it, O.J.: Made in America is a fantastic documentary that touches upon the Simpson trial, race relations in the US and so much more. This deserves to win no matter how you define it.

oj made in america 2017 oscars

Drew’s Pick: O.J.: Made in America

This is a hell of a category this year. What a fantastic list of nominees. This could go a lot of ways, so I have to go with my favorite of the bunch.

ACHIEVEMENT IN MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Brandon’s Pick: Suicide Squad

Gosh, could Suicide Squad win an Oscar? I think it’s likely. What a world we live in.

Drew’s Pick: Suicide Squad

Jared Leto is going to feel so vindicated.

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SCORE)

  • Jackie
  • La La Land
  • Lion
  • Moonlight
  • Passengers

Brandon’s Pick: La La Land

This one seems like a no brained. La La Land loses so much without its music. This is a sure fire win for the film.

Drew’s Pick: Passengers

Nah, just kidding. La La Land is a shoe-in.

ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES (ORIGINAL SONG)

  • La La Land – “Audition”
  • La La Land – “City of Stars”
  • Moana – “How Far I’ll Go”
  • Jim: The James Foley Story – “The Empty Chair”
  • Trolls – “Can’t Stop the Feeling”

Brandon’s Pick: La La Land – “City of Stars”

As much as I’d like to see Lin-Manuel Miranda achieve EGOT status, I feel the momentum for La La Land is just too strong. That’s okay, this is a great song. But maybe La La Land‘s two nominations will split the vote and Miranda slides through the middle? This is actually an interesting category to watch.

la la land 2017 oscars

Drew’s Pick: La La Land – “Audition”

This song is the mission statement of the film that’s going to sweep the Oscars. The story might lean towards Miranda getting EGOT status though. But, it wouldn’t be the Oscars without someone getting robbed.

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND MIXING

Brandon’s Pick: La La Land

A tough award to predict. Again, when in doubt go with La La Land.

Drew’s Pick: La La Land

Duh.

ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND EDITING

Brandon’s Pick: La La Land

It seems like sound mixing and editing should go together, right? I’d assume this will be another win for the Land.

Drew’s Pick: La La Land

Double duh.

ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS

Brandon’s Pick: Rogue One

Wow, what a list of films. Though I’d like to see Kubo get this one, Rogue One seems likely to win based on its tremendous success and its deft ability to mix Star Wars visuals in a more grounded, real setting. Despite the poor reception of the CG Tarkin, the effects in this film were top notch.

Drew’s Pick: The Jungle Book

Disney is gonna get some love here. The Academy likes to award effects that go for realism and that was The Jungle Book‘s whole selling point.

Who do you think will win the 2017 Oscars? Tweet @getfandom and let us know!

Drew Dietsch
Drew Dietsch has been professionally writing about entertainment for over a decade. His bylines include FANDOM - where he was a founding contributor and Entertainment Editor - Bloody Disgusting, SYFY WIRE, and more. He created and hosts GenreVision, a weekly film discussion show at genrevision.com.