How to Win Your Oscar Pool

Each year , Hollywood ’s biggest stars condescend on , well , Hollywood to celebrate a year in flick at the Academy Awards . And each year , you and a bunch of friends cram into a living room , watch eagerly as winners are nominate , and pray those three movies you contend to catch in theaters gave you a leg up in your Oscar consortium .

Well , this twelvemonth , you ’re going to win . Or , we ’re settle for you . And we ’re here to help oneself . We ’ve been watch movies all year , analyzing the awards - time of year contests , and are ready to declare predictions with confidence in our step . Are we 100 % certain who ’s going to take home Best Sound Mixing ? No . But we’reprettysure . So read on for Oscar - syndicate cheat sheets – and a few recommendation on how to fool the competition .

Best Picture

Nominees : The Big Short , Bridge of Spies , Brooklyn , Mad Max : Fury Road , The Martian , The Revenant , Room , SpotlightWhat to break up : The RevenantLet us explain : The big competition of the dark is alsothe toughest to call . The frontrunners –The Big Short , huffy Max : Fury Road , The Revenant , andSpotlight– have each picked up major honour during awards season . What givesThe Revenantthe border ? As you ’ll see below , the snowball effect . masses may loveMad Max , but it ’s only going to win technical laurels . The self-aggrandising ShortandSpotlightcouldn’t muscle into the acting categories in serious way . The Revenanthas it all . How to foil the competition:“Hey , everyone , do n’t let the buzz get you down . Do n’t allow ' The Man ' tell you how to live . You do it , brainsick Max ? Vote forMad Max . Be true to yourself . Vote from the affection . "

Best Actress

nominee : Cate Blanchett , Carol ; Brie Larson , Room ; Jennifer Lawrence , Joy ; Charlotte Rampling,45 Years ; Saoirse Ronan , BrooklynWho to pick : Brie LarsonLet us excuse : Larson is The Next Big Thing and will be anointed on Oscar Nox . Blanchett and Lawrence are human dynamo who ’d normally put up a scrap , but they ’ve also won trophies in the last five years . clock time for new blood . How to scotch the competition:“Aw , there ’s Jennifer Lawrence again . America ’s sweetie . She ’s unstoppable . Really . My word . "

Best Actor

Nominees : Bryan Cranston , Trumbo ; Matt Damon , The Martian ; Leonardo DiCaprio , The Revenant ; Michael Fassbender , Steve Jobs ; Eddie Redmayne , The Danish GirlWho to pick : Leonardo DiCaprioLet us explain : The done mint of the year . Accept it . Move on . How to thwart the competition:“Um , await over there . "

Best Supporting Actress

Nominees : Jennifer Jason Leigh , The Hateful Eight ; Rooney Mara , Carol ; Rachel McAdams , Spotlight ; Alicia Vikander , The Danish Girl ; Kate Winslet , Steve JobsWho to find fault : Alicia VikanderLet us explain : Kate Winslet is a legit challenger in this class , having advance both a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for her work as Steve Jobs ' number two . But go against the metric grain ! After a killer year that includedEx MachinaandTheMan from U.N.C.L.E. , we cogitate Vikander ’s breakout status collapse her the edge . Oscar political science forced her into this category , dominatingThe Danish Girlas Eddie Redmayne ’s co - lead , but oh well . We ’re happy when fresh grimace win grownup . How to foil the competition:“Huh ? What was that ? I ’m still lost in Rooney Mara ’s wide - eyedCarolgazes , sorry . "

Best Supporting Actor

Nominees : Christian Bale , The Big Short ; Tom Hardy , The Revenant ; Mark Ruffalo , Spotlight ; Mark Rylance , Bridge of Spies ; Sylvester Stallone , CreedWho to pick : Sylvester StalloneLet us excuse : Everyone loves a comeback . Forty old age after first play Rocky , Stallone reprize the role yet again . He ’s already picked up a Golden Globe for his body of work this twelvemonth – the first step towards Academy Awards aura . The problem : he did not make headway a desired Screen Actors Guild Award originally this calendar month . His Oscar chances would be refutable if it were n’t for the fact that Idris Elba , who won the SAG dirty money forBeasts of No Nation , was n’t even name . How to bilk the competition:“Don’t forget : Rocky lose in the firstRocky . He ’s a expectant loser . "

Best Director

nominee : Adam McKay , The Big Short ; George Miller , Mad Max : Fury Road ; Alejandro G. Iñárritu , The Revenant ; Lenny Abrahamson , Room ; Tom McCarthy , SpotlightWho to clean : Alejandro G. IñárrituLet us excuse : Mr. Birdmandoes it again . Like Best Picture , this family was ( and could still be ) up in the line until the final leg of the race . possibly voters would separate Picture and Director to honor Miller forMad Max . mayhap McKay or McCarthy would see dear for enacting their snappy script . Abrahamson andRoomwere total surprises , but hey , peradventure that means something . The one - two puncher of a Golden Globes and Directors Guild Awards win should put your stake on Iñárritu , who will earn the rare distinction of gain back - to - back in this family . The Academy loves its glide long shots , apparently . How to cross the competition:“Roomreally had some awe-inspiring mise - nut - scène . What , you do n’t bang mise - nut - scène ? intrust me . "

Best Adapted Screenplay

Nominees : The Big Short , Brooklyn , Carol , The Martian , RoomWhat to pick : The Big ShortLet us explain : The screenwriters guild honoredAnchormanwriter - theater director Adam McKay for his foray into dramatic play , and the Oscars will in all probability be . Even act upon off root textile , Michael Lewis ' nonfictional prose rule book of the same name , The Big Shortfeels inventive , with its blistering humour and impromptu fame lessons . There ’s rigid contender , but McKay ’s flick has weight . How to scotch the competition:"‘Science the shit out of it . ' Ha , ha , ha . The Martianwas screaming ! ! entire winner . "

Best Original Screenplay

nominee : Bridge of Spies , Ex Machina , Inside Out , Spotlight , Straight Outta ComptonWhat to pluck : SpotlightLet us explain : debate a Best Picture frontrunner , the Catholic church sexual urge - dirt movie will likely settle for this writing award , piggyback off its screenwriters gild win in the same category . Everyone praisesSpotlightfor condensing a straggle investigation down to coherent screen story . This is where the props finally turn to gold . How to foil the competition:“This isStraight Outta Compton ’s only nomination . Must mean something . "

Best Animated Feature

Nominees : Anomalisa , Boy and the World , Inside Out , Shaun the Sheep Movie , When Marnie Was ThereWhat to clean : Inside OutLet us explain : Stare into Bing Bong ’s dying eyes and severalise me Pixar ’s latest wo n’t woo the crowd . How to foil the competition:“A very respected and handsome criticonce saidAnomalisawas the most human motion picture of the year . "

Best Foreign Language Film

nominee : Embrace of the Serpent , Mustang , Son of Saul , Theeb , A WarWhat to pick : Son of SaulLet us excuse : count against the award - winning , fitly laud Holocaust play ? What do we take care like?How to baffle the competition:“Embrace the Serpent ? Do n’t beware if I do . "

Best Documentary Feature

Nominees : Amy , Cartel Land , The Look of Silence , What happen , Miss Simone?,Winter on Fire : Ukraine ’s fighting for FreedomWhat to pick : AmyLet us explain : There ’s been an uptick in artist - centrical Best Documentary winners in the last decade , and with a tragic mavin at the centre , Amyhas all the makings of an Oscar winner . Plus , it ’s great ! Whine when the earth - shatteringThe Look of Silenceloses , but do n’t deny the obvious . How to frustrate the competition:“Did you seeMiss Simoneon Netflix ? That ’s correct , Netflix possess it . And you could follow it on Netflix . You love Netflix . Netflix : so hot right now . "

Best Visual Effects

Nominees : Ex Machina , unbalanced Max : Fury Road , The Martian , The Revenant , Star state of war : The Force AwakensWhat to cull : The RevenantLet us explicate : You’d guess this would go to one of the big activity movies , but open your mind , military personnel . WhileStar Warspicked up a number of trophies at the one-year Visual Effects Awards , place in the brilliance ofThe Revenant ’s CG bear . Each year , Industrial Light & Magic VFX artist Todd Vaziribreaks downthe historical and actual information that manoeuvre to a succeeder . He saysThe Revenant , so we ’re sayingThe Revenant . How to baffle the competition:“I liked the raging robot inEx Machina . "

Best Cinematography

Nominees : Carol , The Hateful Eight , Mad Max : Fury Road , The Revenant , SicarioWhat to blame : The RevenantLet us excuse : In 2014 , Emmanuel Lubezki won this awarding forGravity . In 2015 , he win forBirdman . In 2016 , he ’ll win forThe Revenant , which could easy be retitledScreensaver : The Movie . Every systema skeletale of the American frontier - set movie is arresting , and his fellow agree – Lubezki took home the cinematography order ’s 2016 award , too . MaybeMad Max : Fury Road , which force 73 - year - old John Seale out of retirement to capture its flaming - red insanity , could pull upset . But probably not . It’sThe Revenant . How to foil the competition:“Well , Sicariodid have that night - vision vista … "

Best Original Score

campaigner : Bridge of Spies , Carol , The Hateful Eight , Sicario , Star Wars : The Force AwakensWhat to pick : The Hateful EightLet us explain : The 87 - twelvemonth - sometime legend Ennio Morricone , whose westerly licks transformed Clint Eastwood into a cowpuncher , is beloved . Quentin Tarantino adore him . Hollywood adores him . Voters will adore him . And in all his eld , with scads of musical scores up for thoughtfulness , he has never advance an Oscar . Until now . How to foil the competition:“Name a composer . Oh , John Williams ? Ha , funny , he ’s actually up for an Oscar … "

Best Original Song

Nominees:“Earned It " fromFifty Shades of Grey , " Manta Ray " fromRacing Extinction , " Simple Song # 3 " fromYouth , " Til It happen to You " fromThe Hunting Ground , " Writing ’s on the Wall , " fromSpectreWhat to pick:“Til It come about to You , " fromThe Hunting GroundLet us excuse : Between her Golden Globes advance forAmerican Horror Storyand blow out " The Star - Spangled Banner " at this yr ’s Super Bowl , Lady Gaga is have a year . The singer will occur one step closer to EGOT status when she wins here for the song she perform in this herculean intimate violation - focused documentary . How to foil the competition: ♫ “THE WRIIIIITINGGG’SSSS OOOOON THEEEEE WAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL ! ! ! ! ! ! " ♫

Best Production Design

Nominees : Bridge of Spies , The Danish Girl , frantic Max : Fury Road , The Martian , The RevenantWhat to pluck : sick Max : Fury RoadLet us explain : At the Oscars , " best " can often scan as " most " to voters . Both apply inMad Max ’s slip , a moving-picture show that fits right in line with late class winners likeAlice in Wonderland , Avatar , andThe Lord of the Rings : Return of the King . How to baffle the competition:“You did n’t seeBridge of Spies ? Guess you did n’t see the bridge … "

Best Costume Design

Nominees : Carol , Cinderella , The Danish Girl , Mad Max : Fury Road , The RevenantWhat to nibble : Mad Max : Fury RoadLet us excuse : Carolis an en - vogue period objet d’art . The existence of Disney’sCinderellaremake is vindicated by its munificent gown . History severalize us one of these two should gain . But both flick were designed by costumer Sandy Powell . We say she splits the voter turnout , clearing the way forMad Max : Fury Roadto add another nick to its War Boy belt . How to scotch the competition:“How does anything beatCinderella ? Her shoes were made out of Swarovski crashing watch glass ! "

Best Makeup & Hair

Nominees : Mad Max : Fury Road , The 100 - yr - Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and disappear , The RevenantWhat to piece : Mad Max : Fury RoadLet us explain : All of DiCaprio ’s frozen snot was real , so this ’ll go to the movie with face - painted , furuncle - encrust mutants . ( The movie also won the hair and make-up guild ’s 2016 award , so there ’s common law . ) Sweden’s100 - Year - Old Man , congrats on join the party!How to foil the competition:“The alien film no one ’s ever heard of always gain ! Every clock time ! ! "

Best Film Editing

Best Sound Mixing

Nominees : Bridge of Spies , Mad Max : Fury Road , The Martian , The Revenant , Star war : The Force AwakensWhat to pluck : The RevenantLet us explain : For the delicate unconscious process of keep Leo ’s on - location oink sounding guttural , the Cinema Audio Society , Hollywood ’s well-grounded professional clique , awardedThe Revenantits top Sound Mixing honour . We take full responsibility ifMad Maxsnatches this one away ( orThe Revenantsteals the Sound Editing award).How to cross the competition:“Did you know they sent a investigation to Mars just to captivate ground noise forThe Martian ? It ’s dead on target . "

Best Sound Editing

Nominees : unhinged Max : Fury Road , The Martian , The Revenant , Sicario , Star war : The Force AwakensWhat to foot : Mad Max : Fury RoadLet us explicate : Remember , sound editors are the folks who fulfill out a motion picture ’s soundscape with onomatopoeia - desirable effects . Mixers take sounds , bed in the recorded dialogue , cover it with ambience , and level out the movie ’s audio arras . For its transcendental approach to vehicular havoc , we suggestMad Max , sinceThe Revenantis all over the major prizes . The momentous undertaking of giving sonic life to the sound of guzzolane pumping through the War Rig is easily pick out . How to thwart the competition:“Man , how many blaster noises do you think they had to stratum intoStar war ? What a task . "

Best Documentary Short

campaigner : organic structure Team 12,Chau , Beyond the Lines , Claude Lanzmann : Spectres of the Shoah , A missy in the River : The Price of Forgiveness , Last twenty-four hours of FreedomWhat to break up : Body Team 12Let us excuse : Every one of this yr ’s documentary shorts will wreck you . Maybe the Holocaust - themedClaude Lanzmann : Spectres of the Shoahslips in here , but we have faith inBody Team 12 . The movie stands out for being an HBO output ( corporate power ! ) and having a character deserving settle down for . The motion picture profile the only female phallus of a team collecting the bodies of those who die out during the 2014 Ebola outbreak . Not an upper of a moving picture , but a hero ’s tale . How to foil the competition:“Who bets against the Holocaust drama ? "

Best Short Film – Live Action

Nominees : Ave Maria , Day One , Everything Will Be Okay ( Alles Wird Gut),Shok , StuttererWhat to cull : ShokLet us explain : Welcome to the shot - in - the - dark categories . Each yr , the Academy ’s light - picture show race construct and breaks many an Oscar vote . Here ’s some comfort : we ’ve seen the movies . This year , gamble onShok , the story of two young son living in Kosovo circa 1998 . warfare take fire , and so does their friendship . A devastating portraiture of conflict that surely made an impact on voters . But , hey , smile ! You may win this class . How to frustrate the competition:“Is our Oscar pond like the SATs ? Is it better to exit a category blank than occupy in a wrong answer ? "

Best Short Film – Animated

campaigner : Bear Story , Prologue , Sanjay ’s Super Team , We Ca n’t go Without Cosmos , World of TomorrowWhat to foot : Bear StoryLet us excuse : This is a family with fierce competition . Standouts includeWorld of Tomorrow , a heady , stick - figure - illustrated sci - fi parable andSanjay ’s Super Team , a Pixar little that turns Hindu gods into superheroes . But piece the ChileanBear Story . It ’s the touching taradiddle of an artist … who bump to be a bear . And asThe Revenantproves , bears are very in this yr . How to foil the competition:“Did I observe the superhero movie is Pixar ? Yeah , THE Pixar . "

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Matt Patches is Thrillist ’s Entertainment editor program . He antecedently wrote for Grantland , Esquire.com , Vulture , The Hollywood newsman , andThe Guardian . He was really pulling forThe Big Shortthis twelvemonth , but alas . Find him on Twitter:@misterpatches .