4. Watch youtube clips or film trailers. I know not everyone has the freedom to go to the movies or even watch at home. Some categories like foreign film or short documentaries aren’t released near you or into mainstream. Unless you have kids, it’s unlikely you’ve caught all the animated films. Just search internet sites like Fandango, Moviefone or even the movies’ official website. You will find links to movie trailers and descriptions. Watch and read. This gives you a snapshot of what the overall film feels like. I did this successfully for the few movies I hadn’t seen in categories such as original score, animated film shorts, and costume and makeup.
5. The Good, the Bad & the Ugly. When looking at the individual categories for Best Actor & Actress it should be obvious by now … Transformation takes the prize. Whether packing on the pounds or dropping to starvation, Oscars go more to those who aren’t afraid to get ugly, like Charlize Theron in Monster, Halle Berry for Monster’s Ball, Robert De Niro in Raging Bull. The movies that tear your heart out or make you feel good inside are often on equal footing.
6. Go with your gut. At the end of the day, your taste is your own. You can pick who you think will win or who you want to win. My tools will only increase your probabilities of taking the prize. 2016 looks like those are in alignment for Leonardo DiCaprio's nomination for Best Actor. I loved him in Revenant and he’s already won the Golden Globe and SAG awards.
You can use my successful tools to ace your Oscar party ballot, but if all else fails, each time a winner is announced, jump up and down enthusiastically, and say “YES! I got that one." No one needs to know that you never even filled out a ballot. And this year’s Oscar goes to …