In the past, somebody has usually created a thread before now about Oscar predictions etc. It's a bit late considering the ceremony is tomorrow night, but hey ho. Let's start this off with your thoughts/predictions, and follow up with thoughts on the results.
Full lists are here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/90th_Academy_Awards#Nominees
Here's mine, not including s**te that nobody watches (foreign language, documentary etc.) or overly technical categories.
Best Picture
I've seen all of these now. Well, apart from The Post, which I gave up on halfway through. I think at least 5 of the 9 can be totally discounted to be honest.
Personal Choice: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Likely Winner: The Shape of Water, or Get Out as a bit of an underdog
Best Director
Got a feeling it could turn into a bit of a political/statement vote on this one.
Personal Choice: Guillermo Del Toro
Likely Winner: Guillermo Del Toro, but Greta Gerwig or Jordan Peele are also very likely given recent awards/Hollywood controversies, not that either one isn't deserving since both of their films were excellent.
Best Actor
I haven't seen the film with Denzel Washington, but that doesn't stop me "knowing" it won't be him.
Personal Choice: Daniel Kaluuya, though, honestly, none of them have blown me away. Not a strong year.
Likely Winner: equal chance between Daniel Day Lewis, since it's his "final" film, or Gary Oldman because impersonations always do well and it's his "turn".
Best Actress
Really strong category here, apart from the obvious inclusion of Meryl Streep for no reason other that it's Meryl Streep. Nope.
Personal Choice: Saoirse Ronan - effortless, but it's not her time yet.
Likely Winner: Frances McDormand - also totally deserved
Supporting Actor
I haven't seen Christopher Plummer's film, but as an "impersonation" role, he could get it.
Personal Choice: Sam Rockwell, but there's little to no chance since the "Ebbing, Missouri" vote will be split between him and Woodie Harrelson.
Likely Winner: Willem Defoe - deserved, since he was excellent in The Florida Project, but it's also his "turn".
Supporting Actress
Again, very strong.
Personal Choice: Laurie Metcalf - brilliant in Lady Bird and deserves more recognition generally.
Likely Winner : Alison Janney - not mad at this either; she's great in the role and again deserves the recognition.
Original Screenplay
I didn't see The Big Sick, but given its lack of nominations in other areas, it's not happening.
Personal Choice: Very torn between Three Billboards and Lady Bird - both were really witty, intelligent scripts
Likely Winner: Three Billboards, but it could very easily go to Lady Bird or Get Out
Adapted Screenplay
I haven't seen Mudbound, so no idea and don't know enough to make a judgement call. However:
Personal Choice: Molly's Game - it deserves a bit more recognition really.
Likely Winner: Call me by Your Name - because that boring load of s**te has to get something, and it's not taking the Acting or Picture awards.
Animated Feature Film
This is the one that annoys me every year since they vote "incorrectly". The vote should be for the best FILM that happens to be animated, but they always vote for the best animation, as in the technique. It's why s**t like Brave won; a f**king awful film with amazingly-animated hair. Anyway, this is a two-horse race between Coco and Loving Vincent. A shockingly bad selection apart from those two.
Personal Choice: Coco - Fantastic film, and it also has a very good chance because the animation is also gorgeous
Likely Winner: Loving Vincent - and this will be down to the animation technique; it's not as strong an overall package
Original Score
Honestly, I'm having to choose based on what I noticed/remember, which doesn't necessarily mean it's the best.
Personal Choice: Jonny Greenwood/Phantom Thread - gorgeous, very classic Hollywood/Max Steiner style
Likely Winner: Hans Zimmer/Dunkirk - because it really stood out in the film and was very in-your-face, it'll be remembered more by voters
Original Song
Hmmmmm, didn't think this was too strong this year.
Personal Choice: Mighty River - because Mary J. Blige
Likely Winner: This is Me - because it was f**king everywhere despite being all kinds of cliched triteness.
Production Design
I didn't see Blade Runner, but I don't think it's in with a chance anyway.
Personal Choice: Beauty and the Beast. Close second is The Shape of Water.
Likely Winner: Dunkirk - because war films always do well and it's less likely to win elsewhere - but Shape of Water could easily clinch it.
Cinematography
Haven't seen Mudbound.
Personal Choice: The Shape of Water
Likely Winner: Dunkirk (see above)
Sick of this now, can't be arsed with make-up/costume etc.
Full lists are here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/90th_Academy_Awards#Nominees
Here's mine, not including s**te that nobody watches (foreign language, documentary etc.) or overly technical categories.
Best Picture
I've seen all of these now. Well, apart from The Post, which I gave up on halfway through. I think at least 5 of the 9 can be totally discounted to be honest.
Personal Choice: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Likely Winner: The Shape of Water, or Get Out as a bit of an underdog
Best Director
Got a feeling it could turn into a bit of a political/statement vote on this one.
Personal Choice: Guillermo Del Toro
Likely Winner: Guillermo Del Toro, but Greta Gerwig or Jordan Peele are also very likely given recent awards/Hollywood controversies, not that either one isn't deserving since both of their films were excellent.
Best Actor
I haven't seen the film with Denzel Washington, but that doesn't stop me "knowing" it won't be him.
Personal Choice: Daniel Kaluuya, though, honestly, none of them have blown me away. Not a strong year.
Likely Winner: equal chance between Daniel Day Lewis, since it's his "final" film, or Gary Oldman because impersonations always do well and it's his "turn".
Best Actress
Really strong category here, apart from the obvious inclusion of Meryl Streep for no reason other that it's Meryl Streep. Nope.
Personal Choice: Saoirse Ronan - effortless, but it's not her time yet.
Likely Winner: Frances McDormand - also totally deserved
Supporting Actor
I haven't seen Christopher Plummer's film, but as an "impersonation" role, he could get it.
Personal Choice: Sam Rockwell, but there's little to no chance since the "Ebbing, Missouri" vote will be split between him and Woodie Harrelson.
Likely Winner: Willem Defoe - deserved, since he was excellent in The Florida Project, but it's also his "turn".
Supporting Actress
Again, very strong.
Personal Choice: Laurie Metcalf - brilliant in Lady Bird and deserves more recognition generally.
Likely Winner : Alison Janney - not mad at this either; she's great in the role and again deserves the recognition.
Original Screenplay
I didn't see The Big Sick, but given its lack of nominations in other areas, it's not happening.
Personal Choice: Very torn between Three Billboards and Lady Bird - both were really witty, intelligent scripts
Likely Winner: Three Billboards, but it could very easily go to Lady Bird or Get Out
Adapted Screenplay
I haven't seen Mudbound, so no idea and don't know enough to make a judgement call. However:
Personal Choice: Molly's Game - it deserves a bit more recognition really.
Likely Winner: Call me by Your Name - because that boring load of s**te has to get something, and it's not taking the Acting or Picture awards.
Animated Feature Film
This is the one that annoys me every year since they vote "incorrectly". The vote should be for the best FILM that happens to be animated, but they always vote for the best animation, as in the technique. It's why s**t like Brave won; a f**king awful film with amazingly-animated hair. Anyway, this is a two-horse race between Coco and Loving Vincent. A shockingly bad selection apart from those two.
Personal Choice: Coco - Fantastic film, and it also has a very good chance because the animation is also gorgeous
Likely Winner: Loving Vincent - and this will be down to the animation technique; it's not as strong an overall package
Original Score
Honestly, I'm having to choose based on what I noticed/remember, which doesn't necessarily mean it's the best.
Personal Choice: Jonny Greenwood/Phantom Thread - gorgeous, very classic Hollywood/Max Steiner style
Likely Winner: Hans Zimmer/Dunkirk - because it really stood out in the film and was very in-your-face, it'll be remembered more by voters
Original Song
Hmmmmm, didn't think this was too strong this year.
Personal Choice: Mighty River - because Mary J. Blige
Likely Winner: This is Me - because it was f**king everywhere despite being all kinds of cliched triteness.
Production Design
I didn't see Blade Runner, but I don't think it's in with a chance anyway.
Personal Choice: Beauty and the Beast. Close second is The Shape of Water.
Likely Winner: Dunkirk - because war films always do well and it's less likely to win elsewhere - but Shape of Water could easily clinch it.
Cinematography
Haven't seen Mudbound.
Personal Choice: The Shape of Water
Likely Winner: Dunkirk (see above)
Sick of this now, can't be arsed with make-up/costume etc.