The Oscars 2016. Results.

Film Thanks to my current contract with the devil, I was able to watch the Oscars live for the first time in I don't know how long (over a decade at least) via the NowTV streaming app. Apart from not having to spend the following morning trying to imagine what the ceremony had been like via The Guardian live blog, Buzzfeed and dodgycam YouTube footage which has never been a proper substitute, it meant I could enjoy Chris Rock's performance and the reaction to Chris Rock's performance on social media in real time.

Straight afterwards, I think we agreed that he nailed it, offering the Oscars own equivalent of the Newsnight episode criticising Newsnight's own failed journalism.  A few question marks later.  Was it necessary to make fun of the #AskHerMore campaign in what seemed like a proffer of false equivalency?  Isn't it also true that although lynchings are rare, that Black people have other problems as serious to complain about right now?  Also why the exclusivity, isn't #oscarssowhite about the fact that all races are under-represented and stereotyped in Hollywood and beyond?

But the fact that people are asking such questions, debating the implications of the opening monologue is a major step up from what's previously been a space for fluff and jokes about how many people Jack Nicholson has slept with.  Plus the thank you scroll now pretty much asks awards winners to utilise their platform for campaigning and political ends which also has to be a good thing and I think pretty much every post-win speech included the representation of some cause or other in a show which despite dwindling US ratings is still watched by a massive global audience.

Anyway, here's a survey of how well I predicted the winners.  You'd forgotten about that, hadn't you?

Best original screenplay
SPOTLIGHT - WINNER!
I said: Ex Machinca

Best adapted screenplay
THE BIG SHORT - WINNER!
I said: The Big Short

Best supporting actress
ALICIA VIKANDER, THE DANISH GIRL - WINNER!
I said: Alicia Vikander

Best costume design
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD - WINNER!
I said: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best production design
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD - WINNER!
I said: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best make-up and hair
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD - WINNER!
I said: The 100-Year Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared (although I was joking) (I think)

Best cinematography
THE REVENANT - WINNER!
I said: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best editing
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD - WINNER!
I said: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best sound editing
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD - WINNER!
I said: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best sound mixing
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD - WINNER!
I said: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best visual effects
EX MACHINA - WINNER!
I said: Star Wars

Best animated film
INSIDE OUT - WINNER!
I said: Inside Out

Best supporting actor
MARK RYLANCE, BRIDGE OF SPIES - WINNER!
I said: Stallone

Best documentary
AMY - WINNER!
I said: The Look of Silence

Best foreign language film
SON OF SAUL - WINNER!
I said: Didn't. Shrugs.

Best original score
ENNIO MORRICONE, THE HATEFUL EIGHT - WINNER!
I said: Star Wars.

Best original song
WRITING’S ON THE WALL, SPECTRE - WINNER!
I said: The Hunting Ground

Best director
ALEJANDO GONZALEZ INARRITU, THE REVENANT - WINNER!
I said: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, The Revenant

Best actress
BRIE LARSON, ROOM - WINNER!
I said: Brie Larson

Best actor
LEONARDO DICAPRIO, THE REVENANT - WINNER!
I said: Leonard DiCaprio

Best picture
SPOTLIGHT - WINNER!
I said: The Revenant

Twelve on twenty-one after predicting Mad Max would sweep the craft categories. About the usual then.