Before the 88th annual Academy Awards air this Sunday, February 28, at 7:00 PM EST, The Chant‘s staff predicts the night’s big winners.

Anabel Prince

Emmett: Spotlight recreated one of the most controversial events in history in the best way possible. By going step-by-step in the process behind The Boston Globe, they showed what the writers went through to publish this very important story for the world to see. By reliving the moments of the Spotlight team in a very intricate way, its victory will not come as a surprise.

Kat: For Best Picture, I cannot decide between The Revenant winning for shock value and cinematography or Spotlight winning for storytelling. On top of that, I think if the voting ends up splitting, then a movie like Mad Max or Room could upset this. Personally, I choose Spotlight’s compelling story even though I have no idea which one will win.

Dylan: I predict The Revenant will clean house this academy season because of its pure uniqueness apart from the rest. It tells a beautiful and dark story with intensity across the entire movie. The acting in the movie proved exceptional especially from DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, making you root for or hate the characters wholeheartedly. The style of cinematography in the film astounds, using a single sweeping shot following the entire movie making you feel in the action, keeping your heart in your throat the whole time.

Fatima: I had no idea what to expect when walking into the movie theater for Mad Max: Fury Road, and it honestly blew me away. The amazing cinematography, the important themes addressed, and the fantastic acting propelled this film into its nomination and allows it to win a well-deserved award.

Caroline: When watching Room, I connected with the characters and the struggles they faced. The cinematographers beautifully shot the film, and the muted colors expressed exactly how the characters (especially that of Brie Larson) felt.  

Anabel Prince
Anabel: While I personally think Leonardo DiCaprio deserved the award for The Wolf of Wall Street in 2014, he never fails in committing to his characters, which stands exceptionally apparent in The Revenant. With five academy award nominations under his belt, it’s time Leo receives the recognition he deserves for undoubtedly proving himself one of the best actors of the 21st century.  

Kat: I agree Leo should have won for The Wolf of Wall Street in 2014 and his portrayal in The Revenant did not impress me enough to be Oscar-worthy (I think I love him most as the really rich guy with questionable morals à la Catch Me If You Can, The Great Gatsby, and the previously mentioned Wall Street), the sheer shock value of The Revenant will catapult him to his first Oscar.

Riley: Eddie Redmayne already captured my heart in Les Miserables, but I fell in love with his performance all over again in The Danish Girl. Redmayne’s total commitment to the role transformed the audience’s’ perception of love and sexuality, creating an impact that no other nominee matched.

Alex: Leonardo DiCaprio will have to suffer another year without a win. Although his performance in The Revenant was indeed remarkable, Eddie Redmayne outshined him in The Danish Girl. Not only was this film revolutionary, but Redmayne also played the part with poise and incredible attention to detail.

Anabel Prince
Fatima: While actresses on this list performed well and possibly better than Jennifer Lawrence, the Academy loves her and her acting in a mediocre film elevates her performance and makes it appear even greater. Thus, because of the buzz surrounding her, I must go with Jennifer Lawrence for the win.

Kat: Because of her reputation with The Academy, I have no doubt that Jennifer Lawrence will take the Oscar for this one, even though I feel it should go to Brooklyn’s shining star Saoirse Ronan. Ronan pulled together the perfect aesthetic with dashes of romance and drama and her acting ability greatly exceeded Lawrence’s.

Emmett: Brie Larson won the hearts of many watchers in Room, giving her spot for a nomination. Taking over the single mom role, raising her son in a very different environment, she really portrayed the struggles of this and made it come to life. No doubt in my mind Larson will go home happy.  

Anabel: The amount of mental training Brie Larson underwent for her performance in Room stands unmatched by the other nominees in my opinion. The obstacles she faced to develop a mindset where she could believably portray a victim of abuse and captivity undoubtedly earn her this award.

Anabel Prince
Riley: Although Sylvester Stallone didn’t deliver the most Oscar-worthy performance within his film, his seemingly inexplicable nomination pales those of his category counterparts in comparison. Amidst public groans of another resurrection of the Rocky franchise, Stallone managed to deliver a convincing performance in a role well-suited to him. I hope Stallone finds a moment in his acceptance speech to acknowledge Michael B. Jordan, Creed’s actor who actually deserves an Oscar.

Anabel: As Creed shockingly received no other major nominations I predict the award will go to Sylvester Stallone for his role of Rocky. Tapping into the mindset of a character one portrayed over thirty years ago proves a heavy task– one that Stallone delivered in this film.

Emmett: ROCKY, ROCKY, ROCKY… ROCKY? Despite Sylvester Stallone’s comeback in Creed, Christian Bale played a miraculous role in The Big Short as a rebellious money manager. Bale used his intellectual and hardcore skills to take over Michael Burr and prove his place for an award. I honestly believe that he deserves a lead actor award, but the academy does not agree, and will give him the next best acting award.

Alex: Contrary to most, I believe that Christian Bale will bring home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Big Short. Bale not only gave the film a comedic side, but he was honestly the backbone of the entire movie.

Anabel Prince
Dylan: Jennifer Jason Leigh will absolutely win best supporting actress, the rest of the field is mediocre at best with Kate Winslet offering the only real competition. Leigh stole the show in The Hateful Eight the majority of the time with her nasty attitude and savage role. She played a different role than ever held before and it became totally believable that it was her who was on screen, and it is unbelievably good.

Emmett: Rachel McAdams played the female reporter, going out of her way to get interviews and information. She showed the audience the experience of covering this story and how it felt to go out and talk to all these people about it. An outstanding role played, I just wish more people in this movie were nominated for an award.

Anabel: As the academy also skimped out on nominations for The Hateful Eight, I believe Jennifer Jason Leigh will earn the award as consolation prize, as the same thing happened last year at the Oscars with Boyhood.

Alex: I am not exactly a fan of anyone on this list, however I do believe that Rooney Mara’s role in Carol will bring her the win on Sunday. Although her role in this movie was played sub-par, I still think she will go home happy.

Anabel Prince

Kat: Oh I have so many feelings about this. I think the clear winner out of all of the options will be Disney’s Inside Out, one of Pixar’s best in years. Nevertheless, the Studio Ghibli newbie When Marnie Was There gets my secret vote. Marnie blends a coming of age film with riveting mystery (think Perks of Being a Wallflower mixed with The Sixth Sense) to create an indie animated film that quickly made its way into my favorite animated movies.

Riley: Beside my partiality towards Disney for bestowing a charismatic name upon this film’s main character, I feel Inside Out stands as the obvious winner for Best Animation. Through animation that raises the standard for all animated films, Inside Out delivers a heartfelt message that has already cemented a place in the hearts of families worldwide.

Emmett: UPSET OF THE CENTURY. Everyone expects Inside Out to take the title, mainly because no one recognizes the other films. But how can you overlook Shaun the Sheep? After many seasons of the clay sheep, the movie finally came together and proved its spot for best animated, which it will take home with huge surprise this Sunday.

Anabel: Inside Out led me to experience emotions I did not even deem possible. Based on the sheer relatability of the movie and how its simple storyline resonates with adults and children alike with such impact, I hold no doubts it will win the award. Also, BING BONG?! I’m still bawling. Anabel Prince

Kat: If not for anything else but the cinematography and storytelling, Iñárritu has this one in the bag. His ability to craft the story of The Revenant into the movie that hit theaters lived up to the standards he previously set with last year’s Birdman.

Dylan: Iñárritu by far is the most talented director on this list. He has taken a story which could make a great action movie and created a tale of love, revenge, drama and suspense. The way The Revenant was shot also was absolutely beautiful using a style which puts you in the place of DiCaprio using a long moving single shot with no cuts. For cinematography The Revenant should be a movie which is studied for film students.

Alex: From the beautiful film style to the gripping storyline, Iñárritu delivered a truly spectacular movie and for that he will most likely take home the Oscar for Best Director. Truly a masterpiece.

Anabel: Simply reading about the massive difficulties the entire team on The Revenant dealt with during filming ensures Iñárritu the award for the second year in a row. The Academy should see his determination to capture this story through strictly natural light as true cinematographic passion, a quality not many directors still hold in current times.