Guess Who's Sleeping with Oscar: Our Award Picks

Our early calls for who may be headed to the podium to pick up some hardware on Hollywood’s biggest night.

Best Picture

Could Win: Contenders include the harrowing religious drama Silence, subtle social commentary Loving, well-built prestige project Fences, auspicious alien thriller Arrival, war and peace epic Hacksaw Ridge, heartstring-tugger Lion and the playful musical La la Land.
Should Win: Cinematically poetic coming-of age story Moonlight.
Will Win: The best bet currently seems to be funereal festival favorite Manchester by the Sea.

Best Actor

Could Win: Andrew Garfield in either Hacksaw Ridge or Silence, Dev Patel in Lion, Denzel Washington in Fences, Ryan Gosling in La La Land or perrenial favorite Tom Hanks in Sully.
Should Win: Joel Edgerton’s brilliantly understated performance in the title role of Loving or Dave Johns for his authenticity and humanity in I Am Daniel Blake.
Will Win: Casey Affleck ‘s career redefining turn in Manchester by the Sea.

Best Director

Could Win: Damien Chazelle brought levity to La La Land, Denis Villeneuve made a thoughtful crowd pleaser with Arrival, Denzel Washington did double duty in Fences and Martin Scorsese speaks volumes in Silence.
Should Win: Jeff Nichols for Loving or Andrea Arnold for American Honey: consistently excellent directors at their best.
Will Win: Kenneth Lonergan for Manchester by the Sea or Barry Jenkins for Moonlight.

Best Actress

Could Win: This crowded field includes Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea, Amy Adams in Arrival, Annette Bening in 20th Century Women, Emma Stone in La La Land, Meryl Streep in Florence Foster Jenkins and Marion Cotillard in Allied.
Should Win: Impressive Isabelle Huppert in Elle or nuanced Ruth Negga in Loving.
Will Win: Negga, though there’s also buzz around Natalie Portman in Jackie and Viola Davis in Fences.

Best Foreign

Could Win: With 85 entries it’s a tough call, but standouts include Germany’s Toni Erdmann, Israel’s Sand Storm, Russia’s Paradise, Spain’s Julieta, Venezuela’s From Afar, Greece’s Chevalier, Canada’s It’s Only The End of the World, Iran’s The Salesman, Romania’s Sierranevada, and Korea’s The Handmaiden.
Should Win: Italian doc Fire at Sea or Chile’s remarkably soulful Neruda.
Will Win: France’s Elle may have the edge.