2016 Academy Awards: Who Will and Should Win?

February 28, 2016 Leave a Comment by Mike Shutt Awards

The Academy Awards are just a few hours awards, and the nightmare of trying to figure out what will win will finally be over. This year has been a bit more exciting than usual. I will give it that, but it is time to move on to 2016 (where The Birth of a Nation is already the frontrunner). So, let’s get this over with, and below are my picks for not only what will win the Oscar but what I would vote for if I was a voter, and that is obviously the more important/correct picks.

Best Picture

What Will Win: The Big Short
What Should Win: Room

This pick could really come back to bite me. The Revenant has been picking up a lot of steam, and I would not be surprised in the slightest if it won. I just think the preferential ballot the Oscars use for voting could hurt it quite a bit. Yes, many people really like it, but a good percentage of people really don’t. This type of ballot has only been used with the Producers Guild Awards, and there, The Big Short came out victorious. The PGA has been an excellent predictor for the Oscars, so I’m going with that. Though, The Revenant could definitely take it.

Best Director

Who Will Win: Alejandro González Iñárritu – The Revenant
Who Should Win: George Miller – Mad Max: Fury Road

Iñárritu has been picking up all the awards, and I don’t see that stopping when he picks up his second straight Oscar. I think he deserved it last year, not so much this year, but you know, it never goes the way you want.

Best Actress

Who Will Win: Brie Larson – Room
Who Should Win: Brie Larson – Room

I mean, come on…

Best Actor

Who Will Win: Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
Who Should Win: Michael Fassbender – Steve Jobs

It’s Leo’s year. You know it. I know it. Vegetable Lasagna, here, knows it. Unfortunately, it’s nowhere near his best work.

Best Supporting Actress

Who Will Win: Alicia Vikander – The Danish Girl
Who Should Win: Jennifer Jason Leigh – The Hateful Eight

This is a 50/50 toss-up between Alicia Vikander and Kate Winslet. They have split their awards down the middle, but when Winslet has won, Vikander was nominated for The Danish Girl in the leadin category. When she is brought down to supporting, she wins. I think that will happen here.

Best Supporting Actor

Who Will Win: Sylvester Stallone – Creed
Who Should Win: Mark Rylance – Bridge of Spies

Stallone has not had many precursor awards to test this, but it is hard to deny him being the sentimental favorite. Also, it’ll be exciting when they blast the Rocky theme when he wins.

Best Animated Feature

What Will Win: Inside Out
What Should Win: Anomalisa

Best Documentary Feature

What Will Win: Amy
What Should Win: The Look of Silence

Best Foreign Language Feature

What Will Win: Son of Saul
What Should Win: Son of Saul

Best Original Screenplay

What Will Win: Spotlight
What Should Win: Ex Machina

Best Adapted Screenplay

What Will Win: The Big Short
What Should Win: Room