My Picks – Oscars 2017

As per the rules for my Online Oscar Contest, here are my picks. It’s not too late to join in and win a book or some sweet Amazon monies! For those who enter, know that I’m going to watch the show tomorrow night (recorded), so results will go out some time on Tuesday.

I saw almost all of the Best Picture nominees this year. Tough choices. When in doubt, Hollywood loves a good movie about Hollywood. La La Land to sweep!

Best Picture (3 pts): La La Land

Directing (2 pts): Damien Chazelle – La La Land

Original Screenplay (2 pts): Manchester by the Sea

Adapted Screenplay (2 pts): Arrival

Leading Actor (2 pts): Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea

Leading Actress (2 pts): Isabelle Huppert – Elle

Supporting Actor (2 pts): Mahershala Ali – Moonlight

Supporting Actress (2 pts): Viola Davis – Fences

Production Design (1 pt): La La Land

Documentary Feature (1 pt): O.J. Made in America

Documentary Short(1 pt): The White Helmets

Animated Short(1 pt): Piper

Live Action Short Film (1 pt): Silent Nights

Foreign Language Film (1 pt): The Salesman (Iran)

Animated Feature (1 pt): Kubo and the Two Strings

Film Editing (1 pt): La La Land

Sound Editing (1 pt): La La Land

Sound Mixing (1 pt): La La Land

Cinematography (1 pt): La La Land

Visual Effects (1 pt): Kubo and the Two Strings

Costume Design (1 pt): Jackie

Makeup and Hairstyling (1 pt): A Man Called Ove

Original Score (1 pt): La La Land – Justin Hurwitz

Original Song (1 pt): City of Stars – La La Land

Oscars 2016 – My Picks

The 88th Academy Awards are tonight! As promised, below are my picks. And if you haven’t joined in yet, you have until the first award is announced to submit your own for a chance to win free books or Amazon money. Good luck, participants!

Best Picture (3 pts): The Big Short
Directing (2 pts): George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road
Original Screenplay (2 pts): Spotlight
Adapted Screenplay (2 pts): The Big Short
Leading Actor (2 pts): Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
Leading Actress (2 pts): Brie Larson – Room
Supporting Actor (2 pts): Tom Hardy – The Revenant
Supporting Actress (2 pts): Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl
Production Design (1 pt): Mad Max: Fury Road
Documentary Feature (1 pt): Winter on Fire: Ukraines Fight for Freedom
Documentary Short(1 pt): Body Team 12
Animated Short(1 pt): World of Tomorrow
Live Action Short Film (1 pt): Shok
Foreign Language Film (1 pt): Embrace of the Serpent – Colombia
Animated Feature (1 pt): Inside Out
Film Editing (1 pt): Mad Max: Fury Road
Sound Editing (1 pt): Mad Max: Fury Road
Sound Mixing (1 pt): Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Cinematography (1 pt): The Revenant
Visual Effects (1 pt): Mad Max: Fury Road
Costume Design (1 pt): Cinderella
Makeup and Hairstyling (1 pt): The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
Original Score (1 pt): The Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone
Original Song (1 pt): “Til It Happens to You” from The Hunting Ground

RESULTS — Online Oscar Pool

Okay, so I hope no one went out and put money on my picks. I voted with my heart, not with my head–that is to say… I got crushed.

Sad Oscar

Here are this year’s winning filmmakers:

Best Picture (3 pts): Argo
Directing (2 pts): Life of Pi
Original Screenplay (2 pts): Django Unchained
Adapted Screenplay (2 pts): Argo
Leading Actor (2 pts): Daniel Day-Lewis in “Lincoln”
Leading Actress (2 pts): Jennifer Lawrence in “Silver Linings Playbook”
Supporting Actor (2 pts): Christoph Waltz
Supporting Actress (2 pts): Anne Hathaway in “Les Misérables”
Production Design (1 pt): Lincoln
Documentary Feature (1 pt): SUGAR MAN
Documentary Short(1 pt): “Inocente”
Animated Short(1 pt): “Paperman”
Live Action Short Film (1 pt): CURFEW
Foreign Language Film (1 pt): “Amour” – Austria
Animated Feature (1 pt): BRAVE
Film Editing (1 pt): ARGO
Sound Editing (1 pt): SKYFALL & ZD30
Sound Mixing (1 pt): LES MIS
Cinematography (1 pt): “Life of Pi”
Visual Effects (1 pt): “Life of Pi”
Costume Design (1 pt): ANNA KARANINA
Makeup and Hairstyling (1 pt): LES MIS
Original Score (1 pt): LIFE OF PI
Original Song (1 pt): “Skyfall” from “Skyfall”

Out of a possible 32 points, our winning entrant earned 26. I earned 9.

This is how I looked after tallying the results.

I’d like to think this means there were a lot of excellent contenders this year. However, I promised a free e-copy of INFECTED to anyone who beat me… and just about everyone did.

Winners, expect a confirmation email soon. Thanks for playing, everyone!