It’s that time of the year when envelopes open and the announcements would be followed by a thunderous applause. Before the Golden Globes, we, at The Quint, look at stars who are poised to win and names that have the possibility to upset; all following the buzz of the awards season.
Best Picture, Drama
- Hacksaw Ridge
- Hell or High Water
- Lion
- Manchester by the Sea
- Moonlight
The buzz: If you look at the most acclaimed films of 2017, you’d find three top contenders: Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight and La La Land. Since La La Land has secured its nomination in the Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy category, the fight is now limited to magnificent insights about life. The critical clout for both Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight is so strong that the competition is neck to neck, but if the growing murmur is anything to go by, Barry Jenkins’ film will edge out Kenneth Lonergan’s effort. Also, remember #OscarSoWhite?
Possible upset: Never underestimate Hollywood’s love for war dramas, and Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge can totally put America’s conservatism to the forefront again.
Best Picture, Musical or Comedy
- 20th Century Women
- Deadpool
- Florence Foster Jenkins
- La La Land
- Sing Street
The buzz: This category is almost a no-brainer. Damien Chazelle’s foot-tapping colorful musical has been greeted with gargantuan mirth since it’s showing for its celebration and reverence for Hollywood musicals, the same rave that Michel Hazanavicius invited when he made The Artist as a hat tip to black-and-white silent films. The other choices in this category are either too indie or too obtuse for Hollywood’s popular taste. It’s locked, we say.
Possible upset: Don’t expect the unexpected.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
- Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
- Denzel Washington, Fences
- Joel Edgerton, Loving
- Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
- Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
The buzz: Denzel Washington and Andrew Garfield’s possibility can’t be negated for both the actors have been eulogized by critics for uplifting an average film with sheer artistic might. But nothing can quite match Casey Affleck’s comeback to the front row which has been praised across the quarters for bringing rare insight and understanding of a broken character. The early awards too suggest that Affleck would clinch it.
Possible upset: Denzel Washington can never be counted out.
Best Actress, Drama
- Amy Adams, Arrival
- Jessica Chastain, Miss Sloane
- Isabelle Huppert, Elle
- Ruth Negga, Loving
- Natalie Portman, Jackie
The buzz: Isabelle Huppert should win this trophy, all critics would argue, for she has brought life to a character that is so out of bounds for Hollywood’s morality. But Hollywood is hardly hot on actors in foreign films. So the skirmish has been reduced to Amy Adams for her humanistic approach to sci-fi, and Natalie Portman for portraying the first lady grappling with life post the assassination of her husband’s death. Real life characters have always been Hollywood’s favorite since the days of yore, and this year too, all eyes would be on Portman as Mrs. Kennedy.
Possible upset: The conservatives may want to change the perception and give it to the dark horse, aka the favorite of international press, Miss Huppert.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
- Ryan Gosling, La La Land
- Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool
- Colin Farrell, The Lobster
- Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins
- Jonah Hill, War Dogs
The buzz: Again, this looks locked for baby face Gosling. No other film has the swing of sunny side up than La La Land, and its lead guy is bound to benefit from it. Let’s move on to the next category please.
Possible upset: Not possible.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
- Emma Stone, La La Land
- Annette Bening, 20th Century Women
- Lily Collins, Rules Don’t Apply
- Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins
- Hailee Steinfeld, The Edge of Seventeen
The buzz: Again, La La Land. Starting with Volpi Cup for Best Actress last year, Emma Stone has been on a career high, pocketing kudos endlessly for her role in what has been termed as the musical revival. If there’s a beating heart in La La Land, it’s her, everyone would rejoice. The stars are so much in her favour that she looks like the only competition to Natalie Portman at the Oscars.
Possible upset: Again, let’s move on.
Best Director
- Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
- Damien Chazelle, La La Land
- Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
- Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
- Tom Ford, Nocturnal Animals
The buzz: Since this category merges both drama and musical, the contest becomes tougher. As we discussed in the beginning, only three films have the biggest critical push: Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight and La La Land. Out of these three, La La Land has the the sort momentum that seems impossible to beat. Chazelle’s pleasing foray into musicals with choreographed escapism is sure to win the top spot, for other votes would be split between two competent choices: Barry Jenkins and Kenneth Lonergan.
Possible upset: The critical sweetheart Barry Jenkins for Moonlight, if they get real serious.
Best Supporting Actor
- Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
- Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
- Simon Helberg, Florence Foster Jenkins
- Dev Patel, Lion
- Aaron Taylor Johnson, Nocturnal Animals
The buzz: Jeff Bridges is an old favourite, but Mahershala Ali is the one who’s on a sweeping move. And it would compensate if Moonlight fails to win the top prizes despite a critical thrust.
Possible upset: The only upset would be Jeff Bridges. No one else in sight.
Best Supporting Actress
- Viola Davis, Fences
- Naomie Harris, Moonlight
- Nicole Kidman, Lion
- Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
- Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea
The buzz: Michelle Williams may have devastated hearts in Manchester by the Sea, but Viola Davis has been pronounced as the sole winner in this category, so much so that her Oscar expectations are also sky-high.
Possible upset: Though deserving, Michelle Williams would be considered an upset.
Best Screenplay
- Damien Chazelle, La La Land
- Tom Ford, Nocturnal Animals
- Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
- Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
- Taylor Sheridan, Hell or High Water
The buzz: La La Land has lesser chances here, for the film is less about the screenplay, but more about the applied vision. But this is such a popular choice that it might pose as a possible threat to Barry Jenkins and Kenneth Lonergan, both praised heavily for having a stripped approach towards telling a drama. But it looks the rise and shine time for Kenneth Lonergan.
Possible upset: This is the only category where La La Land would be considered an upset if it wins.
(The writer is a journalist and a screenwriter who believes in the insanity of words, in print or otherwise; he tweets @RanjibMazumder)
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