The Oscar’s are here and as the Movie Critic for the Crusader Chronicle here are the categories and my personal picks for who will win.

BEST PICTURE

Arrival

Fences

Hacksaw Ridge

Hell or High Water

Hidden Figures

La La Land

Lion

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

My pick for best picture is Moonlight. I thought it was a phenomenal film that deserves some recognition. Its heartbreaking as we see a kid grow up in the harsh conditions of the ghetto. As much as I hate to say it, La La Land will have pretty good odds and will probably win this category.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge

Ryan Gosling, La La Land

Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic

Denzel Washington, Fences

If I’m being reasonable I would say Ryan Gosling will win this category but since this is my opinion, I feel that Andrew Garfield should win the Oscar. He did a fantastic job and really sold me the character of Desmond Doss. The movie itself was almost unbelievable and frightening at times and Andrew Garfield sold the reactions and emotions of what I assume a soldier would have during war.

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Isabelle Huppert, Elle

Ruth Negga, Loving

Natalie Portman, Jackie

Emma Stone, La La Land

Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

I feel like La La Land actually should win because I think this was Emma Stone’s career best performance so I feel like she deserves it and probably will get it.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water

Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea

Dev Patel, Lion

Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

I think Mahershala Ali should win the Oscar because he sold me the roll of a sympathetic drug dealer who also raises this young kid in the beginning stage of his life. I think Mahershala is a underrated actor and I think he should get recognition for this performance.

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Viola Davis, Fences

Naomie Harris, Moonlight

Nicole Kidman, Lion

Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures

Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

I think this is a tie between Naomie Harris and Viola Davis for me. I think they gave two very different performances but both were outstanding. In Moonlight, Naomie Harris played a mother who was also drug addict who could not understand the changes her son I going through on top of her being irresponsible for raising her son the way she does in the film. Viola Davis played a devoted wife in Fences and I thought she also gave one of her career best performances as she seemed to really put her all into the role.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

Kubo and the Two Strings

Moana

My Life as a Zucchini

The Red Turtle

Zootopia

I think Kubo and the Two Strings should win the Oscar even though Zootopia is way more likely to win. I liked the message a lot more and it resonated with me more than Zootopia even though the message in Zootopia is also great. Kubo had great animation and I think what Laika Studios is doing is great and I want them to keep up the good work!

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Arrival

La La Land

Lion

Moonlight

Silence

This is also another tie between Arrival, La La Land, and Moonlight. All three films were shot beautifully and I really can’t decide one over the other but I think all of the cinematographers did a fantastic on these films.

 COSTUME DESIGN

Allied

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Florence Foster Jenkins

Jackie

La La Land

I think La La Land should win the Oscar because the costumes are just outstanding. Since it was shot in 35 millimeter, it really made the colors pop in a way that I didn’t think was possible but I think this is a well deserved award.

 DIRECTING

Arrival

Hacksaw Ridge

La La Land

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

I think its also a tie between Arrival, La La Land, and Moonlight again because all of the directing was top notch. I think all three are pretty much flawless movies. I feel deep down I want Denis Villeneuve to win for Arrival because I think he is a very underrated director and he did phenomenal with Prisoners and Sicario so I really feel he should win because he deserves some recognition although all of the directors did a equally great job with their films.

DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)

Fire at Sea

I Am Not Your Negro

Life, Animated

O.J.: Made in America

13th

I haven’t seen any of these documentaries but based on descriptions and reviews I would go with I Am Not Your Negro because it seems like a very powerful piece and I think since the academy has been under fire it’s a good choice to show that they aren’t bias. I think if there is a better piece then this, I don’t think they should award it to repair their image.

FILM EDITING

Arrival

Hacksaw Ridge

Hell or High Water

La La Land

Moonlight

I think Moonlight really had phenomenal editing and there wasn’t a shot that was out of place and I think they spent enough time on each character or each stage of the main character’s life and that’s due to the editing so I think it deserves the Oscar.

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

A Man Called Ove

Star Trek Beyond

Suicide Squad

I think since Suicide Squad was pretty much trashed by critics it won’t win and the costumes won’t save the movie. So, I would say Star Trek Beyond instead because it was a pretty solid movie and I thought the character Krall had the best make up and the most make up on so I think Star Trek can take this award home.

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)

Jackie

La La Land

Lion

Moonlight

Passengers

I think its painfully obvious which movie is going to win this category but I want to mention the score for Moonlight, specifically The Middle of the World song which resonated with me as it is kind of a classical sounding song that is beautiful but also very tragic. La La Land definitely will win and I agree and besides, it’s a musical!

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

“Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” from La La Land

Music by Justin Hurwitz; Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

“Can’t Stop The Feeling” from Trolls

Music and Lyric by Justin Timberlake, Max Martin and Karl Johan Schuster

“City Of Stars” from La La Land

Music by Justin Hurwitz; Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

“The Empty Chair” from Jim: The James Foley Story

Music and Lyric by J. Ralph and Sting

“How Far I’ll Go” from Moana

Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda

I think “City of Stars” has one all of the awards and will win this Oscar because it is really a good song and its pretty darn catchy!

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Arrival

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Hail, Caesar!

La La Land

Passengers

I think passengers had really cool set design but I think La La Land was better because of the dance numbers and particularly at the end when they are actually dancing on a movie set. I think La La Land also deserves this Oscar.

SOUND EDITING

Arrival

Deepwater Horizon

Hacksaw Ridge

La La Land

Sully

I think La La Land had really good sound editing because the music flowed nicely with the scenes.

VISUAL EFFECTS

Deepwater Horizon

Doctor Strange

The Jungle Book

Kubo and the Two Strings

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

This would be a tie between Doctor Strange, The Jungle Book, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story but since Kubo and The Two Strings is in this category, I really think this should win because the animation is spectacular. So, Kubo and the Two Strings is my pick and I think it would be a well deserved win.

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

Arrival

Fences

Hidden Figures

Lion

Moonlight

I think this is a tie between Arrival and Moonlight because both had really good source material and the execution is great. I think either should win.

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)

Hell or High Water

La La Land

The Lobster

Manchester by the Sea

20th Century Women

I think  La La Land should win because it is a very refreshing story and the film is nearly flawless.

The Oscars are hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and are on Sunday, February 26 at 5:30 PM on ABC.