There definitely IS a difference!
My personal preferences are not necessarily what I am actually picking to win in Sunday night’s 89th annual ACADEMY AWARDS hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
I believe the only real contest this year is in the Best Actor category where Denzel Washington (‘Fences’) is running neck-and-neck with Casey Affleck (‘Manchester By The Sea‘) and Ryan Gosling (‘La La Land’) for top honors.
If it were up to me the Oscar would go to Denzel Washington.
But reality should see Casey Affleck making the acceptance speech.
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Best Actress?
My choice AND pick is LA LA’s Emma Stone. No contest here.
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Ditto my choice as well as pick for Best Supporting Actress.
Viola Davis is the shoe-in for her powerful performance in FENCES.
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When it comes to the Best Supporting Actor however, I would present the Oscar to Jeff Bridges as the foul mouthed Texas Ranger in HELL OR HIGH WATER—which was also my favorite film of the entire 2016 summer movie season.
But reality of how this category will play out Sunday night has me seeing the Oscar being presented to Mahershala Ali for MOONLIGHT.
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That leaves two Academy Awards to go in the six categories that matter most.
The first is for Best Director.
And even though there won’t be much of a contest here, my personal tip of the hat would go to—wait for it—Mel Gibson.
The way Gibson pulled off those incredible battle sequences in HACKSAW RIDGE was nothing short of miraculous.
But being a realist it goes without saying that the Academy will reward Damien Chazelle for his ‘never give up’ fortitude of bringing LA LA LAND to the screen.
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That brings me to the Best Picture of the year.
14 Oscar nominations.
A nostalgic industry pad on its own back.
The darling of Hollywood.
It HAS to be LA LA LAND.
My choice? I’m not even going there…….
If Denzel Washington and Casey Affleck are literally equal in their performances in their respective films, you know damn good and well who is getting that Oscar.
They better be right. I just called them in to my bookie!