List by film critic Jason Day of the nominees in the top five categories at the 2017 Academy Awards, my preferred winners.

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It’s that time of year again when, to paraphrase the immortal words of Leslie Nielsen, “a lot of familiar face-lifts” gather en masse in Hollywood to celebrate all that is great and good in the movie-making industry.

Or that’s the theory, anyway.

Below are the nominees in the main categories at the Academy Awards this year (to be screened later today), with the film’s or people I would like to win. If I think Oscar will vote differently, I’ve marked that down too. Links to my reviews are included.

We’ll see if I’m right on the night – but will you get more correct than me? Note down in the comments section what your winners are.

The full list of all nominees this year.

Best Picture

Some strong and varied contenders this year but, with its positive, romantic view of Los Angeles, superb performances and bright and breezy song and dance numbers, I would say La La Land will swipe the top prize.

Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land (My choice; Oscar’s choice)
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight

Best Director

Usually, it follows that the Best Picture director wins this award…but not always. I’m surprised that Denzel Washington doesn’t feature here, given the fierce performances on show in Fences. I suspect La La Land will win but if it goes to Moonlight, I’d be happy as well.

Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Having not seen Fences or Captain Fantastic yet, I feel unsure about this choice but, impressive though Andrew Garfield and Ryan Gosling were in their respective films, Casey Affleck was standout superb in his muted, quiet role.

Casey Affleck – Manchester By the Sea (My choice; Oscar’s choice)
Andrew Garfield – Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling – LaLa Land
Viggo Mortensen – Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington – Fences

Best Actress

I’ve been following Elle with keen interest; the storyline is incredible, although no screenings anywhere near where I live, so I have only the trailers to go on. I want Huppert to win for a brave turn in a brave film, but suspect this will go to Emma Stone. Again, I’ll be very happy with that as a win.

Isabelle Huppert – Elle (My choice)
Ruth Negga – Loving
Natalie Portman – Jackie
Emma Stone – La La Land (Oscar’s choice)
Meryl Streep – Florence Foster Jenkins

Best Supporting Actor

Oscar certainly knows how to throw some wild card entries into the mix. Perhaps someone was getting a bit confused with Lion, because I’m pretty sure Dev Patel has the leading role in this! Major mistake there. A great little performance but, if I was going to vote for anyone, it has to be Jeff Bridges in Hell Or High Water – a brilliantly amusing turn, both harsh and soft, dark and light. Mahershala Ali has received critical plaudits for his kindly drug dealer in Moonlight so might be in with a chance of a win.

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight (Oscar’s choice)
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water (My choice)
Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel, Lion
Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

Best Supporting Actress

If Viola Davis doesn’t win this award, all of the Oscar voters need to be taken outside and shot. Period. Again, I have only the trailer to go on, but there’s more grit in Davis’ performance than all of the others put together.

Viola Davis, Fences (My choice; Oscar’s choice)
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Again, a difficult one. Given the complex themes it explored so lucidly, I would prefer Arrival to win but, Fences does have some powerhouse dialogue from the powerhouse play so might just swipe it.

Arrival (My choice)
Fences (Oscar’s choice)
Hidden Figures
Lion
Moonlight

Best Writing (Original Screenplay)

Finally, a few different films! I haven’t seen 20th Century Women, but it’s a no-show in the other categories marks it as an outsider here. La La Land will win, but I would love the award to go to The Lobster. So wonderfully weird and deadpan!

Hell or High Water
La La Land (Oscar’s choice)
The Lobster (My choice)
Manchester by the Sea
20th Century Women