Oscars 2017: Dark Horse/Upset Predictions
By Jenn Reid
BEST ACTOR: Denzel Washington
Frontrunner: Casey Affleck
Potential Upset: Denzel Washington
Casey Affleck’s quiet, understated performance in Manchester by the Sea has had him as the frontrunner for the Best Actor trophy since the film first screened in September. Since then, however, two things have happened: news reports of Affleck’s past abuse against female coworkers have come to light, and Denzel Washington starred in Fences.
Washington is a much-loved Hollywood icon and previous Oscar winner for both Lead (Training Day) and Supporting Actor (Glory). In Fences, he both directs and stars alongside presumptive Best Supporting Actress winner Viola Davis. He’s a likable star, the film has good reviews and is already likely to be a winner on Oscar night. That all looks good for Denzel, who also got a bump from winning the SAG Award in January.
While Affleck has won the Golden Globe and the BAFTA, the SAG Award is usually a good indicator of who will win on Oscar night. The SAG voters line up pretty closely with the acting branch of the Academy and can show where hearts and minds lie.
When it comes down to it, Hollywood might prefer to celebrate one of their own and finally lift Denzel up to the level of three-time Oscar winners alongside Jack Nicholson and Daniel Day-Lewis.