With the 90th annual Academy Awards less than 12 hours away, here are my, as usual, somewhat off-kilter predictions for each category. My family predicts each category, the more conspicuous categories being weighted, as our own little annual competition. It should be noted that I have only won once (the 2013 ceremony) and that my brother has won 8 times-4 in a row. I’m hoping this is my year to return to glory. Here are the picks:.

Best Picture (6 points): The Shape of Water

This is where I tend to outsmart myself. The smart money seems to be behind Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri. Add to that, Silence of the Lambs is the only horror film I can think of that won Best Picture, but Get Out was the best movie, and a cultural phenomenon. I’ll take my chance on it. Wait, no. I’m switching to The Shape of Water.

Ava: Get Out       David: Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri Dad: Get Out Mom: The Shape of Water

Best Director (5 points): Guillermo Del Toro

This one seems easy…a little too easy. But, again, I don’t want to outthink myself. He’s won just about everything else for his film The Shape of Water, which has the most nominations of any film. His win would make it 4 out of the last 5 years a Mexican director has won.

Ava: Guillermo Del Toro    David: Guillermo Del Toro Dad: Jordan Peele Mom: Guillermo Del Toro

Best Actor (5 points): Gary Oldman

I can’t remember the last time there was a surprise in this category. Adrien Brody? Before my time. There doesn’t appear to be any real competition. Daniel Day-Lewis has 3 already. Denzel has 2 and his film was medicore. Chalamet and Kaluuya are rookies. Go with the under-appreciated legend. He’s swept all previous awards.

Ava: Gary Oldman   David: Gary Oldman    Dad: Gary Oldman    Mom: Gary Oldman

Best Actress (5 points): Frances McDormand

I’d say she has it in the bag. Can’t even imagine someone else winning.

Ava: Frances McDormand  David: Frances McDormand    Dad: Frances McDormand    Mom: Saoirse Ronan

Best Supporting Actress (4 points): Allison Janney

I usually like to shake it up in the supporting categories, but this year, I’m playing it safe. I took my chance in the Best Picture category. That one’s for all the marbles. There’s no points to be won here since we all chose Janney for her performance in I, Tonya.

Ava: Allison Janney     David: Allison Janney   Dad: Allison Janney    Mom: Allison Janney

Best Supporting Actor (4 points): Sam Rockwell

Playing it safe. Although, if I’m correct so far, that would mean no black winners in the major categories, and this worries me. I have a feeling the Academy doesn’t want this to happen. Sam Rockwell is great in Three Billboards, and I see no chance at an upset here.

Ava: Sam Rockwell   David: Sam Rockwell       Dad: Sam Rockwell      Mom: Christopher Plummer

Original Script (3 points): Get Out

Here’s where I think Get Out takes something home. Lady Bird, The Shape of Water, Three Billboards, and The Big Sick are all serious contenders though, and, for me, I think it’s just a matter of the Academy splitting up the awards between Shape of Water, Get Out, and Three Billboards.

Ava: Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri      David: Get Out         Dad: Get Out     Mom: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Adapted Screenplay (3 points): Call Me By Your Name

James Ivory, famed director and writer of this script, is nearing 90 years old. I’m a huge fan of his films Howard’s End and The Remains of the Day. I’d be happy to see him win here, and I’m confident he will win. No one does adaptations better than him, especially when he was partnered with Ismail Merchant and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.

Ava: Call Me By Your Name      David: Call Me By Your Name       Dad: Call Me By Your Name   Mom: Molly’s Game

Animated Film (3 points): Coco

Documentary (2 points): Faces Places

Foreign-Language Film (2 points): The Insult

Editing (2 points): The Shape of Water

Cinematography (2 points): Blade Runner 2049

Sound-Mixing (2 points): Baby Driver

Sound Editing (2 points): Baby Driver

Original Song (2 points): Remember Me from Cco

Score (2 points): Phantom Thread

Live-action Short (1 point): DeKalb Elementary

Animated Short (1 point): Lou

Documentary Short (1 point): Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405

Visual Effects (1 point): Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Make-up (1 point): The Darkest Hour

Costume (1 point): Beauty and the Beast

Art Design (1 point): Beauty and the Beast

-Walter Howard-