Time for my Oscar predictions! This year is particularly wide open in the big categories, so I’m glad to start with the techs, as usual. I have a feeling I’m not going to do too well this year overall, because I already know I’m going to predict an upset for Best Picture, but maybe I’ll do better in these smaller categories.
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
- Edith + Eddie
- Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405
- Heroin(e)
- Knife Skills
- Traffic Stop
We start with the shorts, and as always, I have no way of seeing these, so I have to go by subject matter and reviews from the few people who have. I know that’s not very reassuring, but from what I’ve read, Heaven is a Traffic Jam seems to be the favorite, although Heroine, which is about opioids, apparently has its fans too.
Winner: Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405
Alternate: Heroin(e)
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
- DeKalb Elementary
- The Eleven O’Clock
- My Nephew Emmett
- The Silent Child
- Watu Wote/All of Us
I think this one will go to Dekalb Elementary, which is about a school shooting.
Winner: DeKalb Elementary
Alternate: The Eleven O’Clock
BEST ANIMATED SHORT
- Dear Basketball
- Garden Party
- Lou
- Negative Space
- Revolting Rhymes
So, Kobe Bryant has a short nominated here, so he’s a possibility, although I hear the film isn’t even very good. And I question whether they’d want to honor him in light of the #MeToo movement. So I’m going with the Pixar mainstay on this one.
Winner: Lou
Alternate: Dear Basketball
BEST SOUND MIXING
- Baby Driver
- Blade Runner 2049
- Dunkirk
- The Shape of Water
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Eh. I think I’m going with Dunkirk for both the sound categories- they usually pick the war movie or the musical for this. That gives Baby Driver an outside shot actually, but I’ll stick with Dunkirk.
Winner: Dunkirk
Alternate: Baby Driver
BEST SOUND EDITING
- Baby Driver
- Blade Runner 2049
- Dunkirk
- The Shape of Water
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Again, sticking with Dunkirk, but Baby Driver would not be a crazy prediction.
Winner: Dunkirk
Alternate: Baby Driver
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
- Blade Runner 2049
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
- Kong: Skull Island
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi
- War for the Planet of the Apes
I’m shaky on this one a little bit. In the precursors, Apes won the VFX Guild award, but Blade Runner won the BAFTA. My instinct would say Apes due to the “visual” part of what we’re awarding here, but I do think there’s a chance for Blade Runner.
Winner: War for the Planet of the Apes
Alternate: Blade Runner 2049
