Oscars 2016: August Predictions

Hello, Bloggers, it is now August which means I have updated my Oscar predictions. Just as a heads up, next month, I will update my predictions after the Venice and Toronto film festivals take place so that we get a clearer idea of what the contenders will be. Here we go:

Best Picture:
Beasts of No Nation
Carol
The Danish Girl
Inside Out
Joy
The Revenant
Steve Jobs
Suffragette
Youth

Left out Brooklyn in favor of Beasts of No Nation. It's a war film and it's premiering at Venice and Toronto. That, to me, is very key.

Dark Horses: Black Mass, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, The Hateful Eight, In The Heart Of The Sea, Mad Max: Fury Road (I'll be beating the drum for this one), Trumbo, The Walk

Best Director:
Cary Fukunaga, Beasts of No Nation
Todd Haynes, Carol
Tom Hooper, The Danish Girl
Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, The Revenant
David O. Russell, Joy

Replaced Sarah Gavron with Cary Fukunaga.

Dark Horses: Danny Boyle, Steve Jobs, Sarah Gavron, Suffragette, Ron Howard, In The Heart Of The Sea, Paolo Sorrentino, Youth, Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight

Best Actor:
Michael Caine, Youth
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Johnny Depp, Black Mass
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl

Replaced Tom Hiddleston and Leonardo DiCaprio with Bryan Cranston and Johnny Depp. Hiddleston's film seemingly not working the festival circuit isn't the greatest sign and with the love/hate relationship DiCaprio has with the Academy, I wouldn't hold my breath. The nostalgic factor could help Cranston's chances due to him playing a blacklisted screenwriter and the physical transformation/career redemption could benefit Depp.

Dark Horses: Don Cheadle, Miles Ahead, Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant, Ben Foster, The Program, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Snowden/The Walk,  Tom Hanks, Bridge of Spies, Tom Hiddleston, I Saw The Light, Jason Segel, The End Of The Tour

Best Actress:
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
Julianne Moore, Freeheld
Carey Mulligan, Suffragette
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Bumped Vikander up into Lead and replaced Saoirse Ronan and Lily Tomlin with Vikander and Julianne Moore. With the boxes Moore checks off (gay, dying, fresh off Oscar win in the same category), she should have no issue making it in here. But Blanchett and Lawrence, I have a feeling, will stay on my predictions until Nomination Day. Possibly even Mulligan depending on the reviews for Suffragette.

Dark Horses: Cate Blanchett, Truth, Emily Blunt, Sicario, Marion Cotillard, Macbeth, Brie Larson, Room, Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years, Lily Tomlin, Grandma, Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Supporting Actor:
Robert De Niro, Joy
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
Tom Hardy, The Revenant
Michael Keaton, Spotlight
Harvey Keitel, Youth

Replaced Seth Rogen and Benicio Del Toro with Idris Elba and Harvey Keitel. While Leonardo DiCaprio has such a love/hate relationship with Oscar, they still like to shine a light on his co-stars. So Tom Hardy could land a nod. Plus, this category loves a good villain. That's why Idris Elba could land a nod as well.

Dark Horses: Steve Carell, Freeheld, Benedict Cumberbatch, Black Mass, Benicio Del Toro, Sicario, Ralph Fiennes, A Bigger Splash, Samuel L. Jackson/Bruce Dern/Demian Bichir/Walton Goggins, The Hateful Eight, Seth Rogen, Steve Jobs

Best Supporting Actress:
Helena Bonham Carter, Suffragette
Jane Fonda, Youth
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Rooney Mara, Carol
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs

Now that Alicia Vikander is bumped into Lead, in her place here, I went with Jennifer Jason Leigh, who went back to my predictions for The Hateful Eight. Quentin Tarantino has a habit for recognizing leading men and women seemingly forgotten by Hollywood (John Travolta, Kurt Russell, etc.). So that could work wonders with her. I also replaced Diane Ladd with Helena Bonham Carter. Although I wouldn't underestimate Diane Ladd's ability to sneak in.

Dark Horses: Diane Ladd, Joy, Rachel McAdams, Spotlight, Elizabeth Olsen, I Saw The Light, Ellen Page, Freeheld, Julie Walters, Brooklyn

So those are my predictions for six of the major categories at the Oscars. Whether you agree or disagree with my predictions, please feel free to write your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for reading and since it is getting closer and closer, here is to a great awards season!