13 Days Until Oscar. Three Questions
Monday, February 13, 2017 at 11:30AM 
OSCAR VOTING HAS NOW OFFICIALLY BEGUN! The Academy now has just eight days to make the tough choices like Denzel vs Casey, La La Land versus everything else for the craft prizes, The Salesman vs Toni Erdmann (all of which were just discussed on the podcast), Mahershala vs Dev, and so on.
I am not a superstitious person. It annoys me that 13th floors do not exist in buildings. I have walked under ladders if it was the quicket path to get somewhere. I welcome black cats crossing my path because I love cats of all colors. But let's play along with the #13 being unlucky for the purposes of today's Oscar countdown.
Answer me these questions three...
• What is the worst possible outcome for Oscar night that you actually fear?
• Who do you think has been unluckiest with Oscar over the years?
• If one of the nominees accidentally breaks a mirror on Oscar night and gets seven years of bad luck who would you have it be?
FYC, Oscars (16), Punditry, polls
Reader Comments (65)
1) The worst possible nightmare would be Hacksaw Ridge sweeping, right? La La Land will certainly win a hefty amount of Oscars but I don't think it'll win Screenplay. That's a perfect place to reward Barry Jenkins and Moonlight.
2) Most unlucky: I like the Mia Farrow mention. It's absolutely stunning she was never nominated for an Oscar. Just bonkers, especially considering her hot streak with one of the Academy's favorites (Woody Allen). Perhaps she'll receive a Jean Hersholt Honorary Oscar for her humanitarian efforts.
3) Mean question, but obviously Mel Gibson.
In response to Emma, in a way, I think it may be a good thing that other Asian American actresses missed out on Emma Stone's role in Aloha. That was a dreadful, atrocious film on every level. Cameron Crowe needs to hang it up. Hasn't made a decent film since Vanilla Sky.
1. Moonlight goes home empty handed
2. Glenn Close.
3. Hard for me to say because I don't want to wish any sort of ill will on another person. But I'll go with Casey Affleck.
@ Aaron
LLL and Moonlight aren't competing in the same screenplay category.
1. That some weird, gross Hollywood truth is revealed on Oscar night like if they give Affleck a standing O or Moonlight walks away with nothing because black and gay. Or Mel wins BD in a shock that they then all love. I'd hate all of that.
2. Anyone with double digits nods who've never won. That's pretty shitty luck, by all accounts. Deakins, Newman, O'Connell.
3. Should never fling ill will, so no one really... but I never wanna hear about another Mel Gibson film ever again.
• What is the worst possible outcome for Oscar night that you actually fear?
- 'La La Land' not winning Best Picture. Bring on the hate.
• Who do you think has been unluckiest with Oscar over the years?
- SO many. Donald Sutherland for one. Ewan McGregor for the "newer" generation.
• If one of the nominees accidentally breaks a mirror on Oscar night and gets seven years of bad luck who would you have it be?
- Mel Gibson. Though I fear for Damien Chazelle. People are practically setting him up and eagerly waiting for him to fail.
1. Realistically scary? La La Land wins everything it can, and Moonlight is shutout.
2. I wanna say someone like Glenn Close, but I would go with Annette Bening. I don't even love her as much others here but she's been runner up numerous times, lost to the same person twice, and this year was shutout for a career high.
In terms of un-nominated people, I'd say Cameron Diaz, who was snubbed twice despite having precursor support that would indicate an impending nomination both times.
Also Scarlet Johansson, who just can't catch a break with The Academy.
3. I don't know. I don't really see Mel Gibson coming back anytime soon, so I'd choose Casey Affleck. Even aside from the allegations, he has been such an unbearable presence this awards season.
Actually, just for fun/to be controversial, I'll say Meryl Streep for the last answer lol. Then she can come back after seven years, win her fourth and be done. :-)
1.The idea that Isabelle Huppert towering performance might lose to anyone.
2. As far as actors go, I wouldn't consider any who scored either nominations or lifetime achievement awards. Both signify levels of Academy acknowledgment. I'd go instead with actors who've deserved multiple nominations, yet never received any.
From the past: Dana Andrews who between the years 1943 to 1950 should have racked up 6 or 7 nominations including a couple of wins (The Ox-Bow Incident, Laura, Fallen Angel, A Walk in the Sun, The Best Years of Our Lives, Daisy Kenyon, Where the Sidewalk Ends).
Among current actors, I'd certainly agree with Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor.
3. Wishing no bad luck to anyone - but probably for selfish reasons because that kind of wish has a habit of boomeranging back to its source.
I am impressed that so many readers are like "that's a mean question"... because it is. I just thought it was silly because of superstition but i'm proud of y'all for calling me on it. I also wish no ill will on anyone. Life is hard enough!
1. Isabelle Huppert not winning best actress after two blindingly exceptional performances for Elle and L'Avenir. But I know the best don't always get rewarded.
2. Agnes Moorehead, Judith Anderson, Barbara Stanwyck, Emmanuelle Riva, Glenn Close
3. I am embarrassed to answer this question since this is mean-spirited and brings out the vileness in people.
I am impressed that so many readers are like "that's a mean question"... because it is. I just thought it was silly because of superstition but i'm proud of y'all for calling me on it. I also wish no ill will on anyone. Life is hard enough!
Point well taken, thank you.
1) La La Land winning sound editing and art direction, or Can't Stop the Feeling winning song (seriously, this might be the worst nominee in this category like...ever?)
2) Ed Harris (one might argue about Meryl Streep - 20 nominations and only 3 wins?)
3) Nobody, really. Maybe Gibson
Nice website
1. Meryl Streep wins cause haters will eat her alive!
2. Michelle Pfeiffer won almost every critic awards and then Jessica Tandy got The Oscar in 1990.
1) Arrival n Moonlight go home empty handed
2) Deborah Kerr, Thelma Ritter, Garbo, Stanwyck, Rosalind Russell, Amy Adams, The Bening, Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton, Nick Nolte n Tom Cruise.