Alright, it’s prediction time! With the Oscars this Sunday, it’s time for my annual try at getting the picks right, which is always a hit and miss affair. Two years ago I did the best I’ve ever done, last year was dreadful. Hopefully it swings back around again. I feel pretty confident about La La Land taking the lion’s share this year, but as always it’s harder to pick out the places where they might go somewhere else. As usual, we start with the techs, and today that’s the sound and effects awards, along with the three short categories.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
The visuals in 'The Jungle Book' have secured the visual effects prize
- Deepwater Horizon
- Doctor Strange
- Kubo and the Two Strings
- The Jungle Book
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
This one is going to The Jungle Book, which has won the effects award just about everywhere, including BAFTA and the Visual Effects Society. It’s a pretty easy call.
Winner: The Jungle Book
BEST SOUND MIXING
Sound mixing always goes to a musical...
- 13 Hours
- Arrival
- Hacksaw Ridge
- La La Land
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Ugh. Every year I bemoan the fact that they can’t just combine the two sound categories into one, and call it Best Sound. Come on, doesn’t that sound logical to everyone else? As it is, whenever there’s a musical nominated in the sound mixing category, it always wins, so it has to go to La La Land.
Winner: La La Land
BEST SOUND EDITING
...while sound editing usually goes to an action movie
- Arrival
- Deepwater Horizon
- Hacksaw Ridge
- La La Land
- Sully
This one’s actually trickier. Normally the two sound awards go hand in hand, so this could easily be La La Land’s as well, but the sound editing award has split in the past, and when it does it usually goes to a big loud action movie if there is one. This time I think that’s Hacksaw Ridge, so I’m tempted to do the unwise thing here and predict a split.
Winner: Hacksaw Ridge
Alternate: La La Land
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Syrian rescue workers in 'The White Helmets'
- Extremis
- 4.1 Miles
- Joe’s Violin
- Watani: My Homeland
- The White Helmets
I haven’t seen any of the shorts this year, so I’m kinda flying blind. I’m going by subject matter only. And I think given what happened with the Syrian rescue workers who were the subject of The White Helmets, and the fact that they are now coming to the Oscars only after that awful travel ban was lifted, gives that film the upper hand (and rightfully so- statements need to be made this year).
Winner: The White Helmets
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
A conversation about immigration is the subject in 'Ennemis Interieurs'
- Ennemis Intérieurs
- La Femme et le TGV
- Silent Nights
- Sing
- Timecode
I’m totally in the dark on this one. Gonna go with Ennemis Interieurs, due to the fact that it’s about immigration in France, and the timeliness will give it the edge.
Winner: Ennemis Intérieurs
BEST ANIMATED SHORT
Pixar's 'Piper' is the frontrunner
- Blind Vaysha
- Borrowed Time
- Pear Cider and Cigarettes
- Pearl
- Piper
Disney/Pixar almost always rules the day here, so gonna have to go with Piper, although Pearl and Pear Cider and Cigarettes are highly acclaimed as well.
Winner: Piper
Alternate: Pear Cider and Cigarettes
