2018 Oscar Predictions

In an awards season that has been continually full of surprise, we will find out in just one week who will take home to coveted Academy Award.

So who will win? You’ll have to see during the 90th Academy Awards on March 4th, 8 PM EST on ABC.

But for now, here is a breakdown of who I think SHOULD win and who WILL win in this year’s top categories:

BEST PICTURE

• “Call Me by Your Name”
• “Darkest Hour”
• “Dunkirk”
• “Get Out””
• “Lady Bird”
• “Phantom Thread”
• “The Post”
• “The Shape of Water”
• “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

SHOULD WIN: Get Out. Jordan Peele’s Get Out is nothing short of a masterpiece. It reflects timely issues plaguing our society and challenges us as an audience. There is no better time for this film to be recognized and it would be a huge milestone for the horror genre. The Academy Awards should continue to award and celebrate films that challenge the art, and Get Out does just that. Personally, I would be ECSTATIC to see this film go home with the best picture.

WILL WIN: To be honest, this is the most uncertain I have ever felt about a “Best Picture” winner. I have debated long and hard for the last couple of weeks and think the race is truly down to The Shape of Water or Three Billboards Over Ebbing Missouri. Both are cinematic marvels in their own right. The Shape of Water has scored the top honor at Directors Guild of America and Producers Guild of America awards while Three Billboards Over Ebbing Missouri have took home the top award at the Golden Globes, Screen Actor Guild and most recently the British Academy Film Awards.

Both films have received their fair share of criticism and controversy – Three Billboards Over Ebbing Missouri in regards to its portrayal of racism and Shape of Water in regards to plagiarism. It comes down to which boat the Academy wants to rock. Although I would not be disappointed with either winning “best picture”, I think the members of the Academy are clearly favoriting  Three Billboards Over Ebbing Missouri. Therefore I choose Three Billboards Over Ebbing Missouri to take the night’s top award.

BEST DIRECTOR

• “Dunkirk” Christopher Nolan
• “Get Out” Jordan Peele
• “Lady Bird” Greta Gerwig
• “Phantom Thread” Paul Thomas Anderson
• “The Shape of Water” Guillermo del Toro

SHOULD WIN: Guilmero del Toro. He has created a dark, fantastical world that absolutely immerses its viewers into the watery world of Elisa and the creature. The Shape of Water is without a doubt, del Toro’s masterpiece, and definitely deserves the praise. Statistically speaking, Guilmero del Toro is  favorite to win.

WILL WIN: Guilmero del Toro.

BEST ACTOR

• Timothée Chalamet, “Call Me by Your Name”
• Daniel Day-Lewis, “Phantom Thread”
• Daniel Kaluuya, “Get Out”
• Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour”
• Denzel Washington, “Roman J. Israel, Esq.”

SHOULD WIN: Gary Oldman. His performance as Churchill in The Darkest Hour transcends all prior portrayals of the icon, absolutely disappearing into the character. Oldman is THAT incredible and is a sure favorite to win.

WILL WIN: Gary Oldman. Hands down.

BEST ACTRESS

• Sally Hawkins, “The Shape of Water”
• Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
• Margot Robbie, “I, Tonya”
• Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird”
• Meryl Streep, “The Post”

SHOULD WIN: With a year full of powerful performances, none truly stick out as much as Frances McDormand as grieving mother in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. She is full of fire and fury making her absolutely unforgettable in this matriarchal role and a clear frontrunner in the category, sweeping most of the top award shows this season. Also, I just want to watch another epic Frances McDormand acceptance speech.

WILL WIN: Frances McDormand.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Willem Dafoe, “The Florida Project”
• Woody Harrelson, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
• Richard Jenkins, “The Shape of Water”
• Christopher Plummer, “All the Money in the World”
• Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”

SHOULD WIN: Sam Rockwell is a force to be reckoned this season as the VERY troubled Dixon in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Rockwell is so extraordinary, even outshining McDormand at times.

WILL WIN: Sam Rockwell.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Mary J. Blige, “Mudbound”
• Allison Janney, “I, Tonya”
• Lesley Manville, “Phantom Thread”
• Laurie Metcalf, “Lady Bird”
• Octavia Spencer, “The Shape of Water”

SHOULD WIN: Without a doubt, Allison Janney has been the frontrunner and fan favorite all season. Her monster mom portrayal of LaVona Golden in I, Tonya is a showstopper. She is terrifying and dominates every scene she is in.

WILL WIN: Is there even a question at this point? Allison Janney takes the cake.

So, who do you think will take home the top prizes next Sunday? Tell me in the comment section below.