Eclectic Pop

Predicted Winner: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
If there is one lock this year it is Leonardo DiCaprio. “The Revenant” marks his sixth acting Oscar nomination and after losing every time and being looked over for countless other worthy performances, it appears 2016 will finally be his year. Twenty three years after his first Oscar nomination for “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”, DiCaprio has given the Academy a performance they really can’t ignore this time around.

He took “suffering for your art” to a whole new level on the arduous filming of “The Revenant” and there’s nothing the Academy loves more than a grueling transformation. DiCaprio has been nominated and won the Golden Globe, SAG, BAFTA and the Critics Choice Award – there’s no way he’ll be going home empty handed…again.

Predicted Winner: Brie Larson, Room
Like DiCaprio; Brie Larson is an absolute lock to win for her role as a kidnapped mother in Lenny Abrahamson’s adaptation of “Room”. An early favorite since the movie premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, Larson has maintained her winning momentum throughout the awards season. Having garnered the Golden Globe, SAG, BAFTA and Critics Choice Award, it would require a ginormous upset for Larson to lose the Best Actress prize.

Predicted Winner: Sylvester Stallone, Creed
This is another category that is truly a toss-up. Given the way previous awards have swung, the race appears to be between Stallone and “Bridge of Spies” star Mark Rylance. This is a very complex category to judge because Rylance secured nominations at the Golden Globes, SAGS, Critics Choice Award, and the BAFTAs. However, he’s only won the BAFTA. Meanwhile, Stallone was only nominated at the Globes and Critics Choice Award, where he won both awards. That means Stallone beat out Rylance in the only two match-ups they had.

Predicted Winner: Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
In an unpredictable 2015 race, Vikander appears to be the favorite going into Sunday night, having secured the Critics Choice Award and the SAG for her role as Gerda Wegener in Tom Hooper’s glossy drama “The Danish Girl”. Her stiffest competitor is Kate Winslet, who won the BAFTA and the Golden Globe for her work in “Steve Jobs”. On the surface it sounds like there’s a deadlock between the two, however upon closer examination it becomes clear Vikander has the edge.

Why She Will Win | There’s no way the Oscars would put an end to her winning streak. Of particular interest with Arquette’s awards sweep is the character she portrays is the most ordinary of the lot. The Academy breaks a tradition of sorts with this vote, given their propensity to recognize the performances of actors who portray characters dealing with larger than life tribulations. “Boyhood” as a whole breaks that pattern.