Oscars 2017: Nominations Analysed

As Oscar season approaches, once again the Academy has released their shortlist of the most elite aspects of film from over the past year. 

Coming as a shock to very few, Damien Chazelle's La La Land was roundly popular with members of the Academy, with the Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling led musical/drama/love story receiving a record tying 14 nominations across multiple categories. 

In this article we'll give a rundown of which films managed to clinch a nomination, as well as our view on who the likely recipient of the 13 and a half inch tall golden statue.

For Best Picture, the nominees are “Arrival,” “Fences,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” “Hell or High Water,” “Hidden Figures,” “La La Land,” “Lion,” “Manchester by the Sea” and “Moonlight.”

With the Academy implementing a new system in this category meaning that more than five films can receive a nomination, the melting pool of releases up for the biggest award of the night is more diverse this year. 

However even though there are a greater number of options, there is a sense that La La Land is being willed by the Academy itself to winning the top prize. The mix of being easily accessible for all ages, big leading names and shining Hollywood as a beacon of culture play right into the Academy's specifications that they very rarely stray from. 

PREDICTED WINNER: La La Land                     POSSIBLE CONTENDER: Moonlight

For Best Director, the nominees are Damien Chazelle (“La La Land”), Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”), Kenneth Lonergan (“Manchester by the Sea”), Denis Villeneuve (“Arrival”) and Mel Gibson (“Hacksaw Ridge”).

The biggest news coming out of this category was the inclusion and return of Mel Gibson in the Academy's choices, as there are many who think he should not be included in any form of award show given his past transgressions with Hollywood. 

La La Land is likely to nab this one too although Arrival could provide strong competition. 

PREDICTED WINNER: La La Land                     POSSIBLE CONTENDER: Arrival

For Best Actress, the nominees: Emma Stone (“La La Land”), Natalie Portman (“Jackie”), Isabelle Huppert (“Elle”), Meryl Streep (“Florence Foster Jenkins”), Ruth Negga (“Loving”).

The Academy once again proves that it just can't resist nominating Meryl Streep for awards. Despite her filmography in the past obviously being impressive, her best performances (Sophie's Choice) are decades behind her. 

Amy Adams was also unlucky to miss out in this category for her performance in both Arrival and Nocturnal Animals in the past year. 

PREDICTED WINNER: Meryl Streep                 POSSIBLE CONTENDER: Emma Stone

For Best Actor, the nominees: Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”), Andrew Garfield (“Hacksaw Ridge”), Ryan Gosling (“La La Land”), Viggo Mortensen (“Captain Fantastic”) and Denzel Washington (“Fences”).

Arguably the best performance in this pool of candidates goes to Casey Affleck for his personal performance in the emotionally gut wrenching Manchester by the Sea, however given that he is in competition with La La Land, and the politically charged Fences, his chances of winning may be slim this year. 

PREDICTED WINNER: Denzel Washington       POSSIBLE CONTENDER: Ryan Gosling