Oscars schmoscars

Last month, I tried to predict the outcome of the Oscars. To demonstrate why I'm not much of a betting man, here's a summary of last night's winners against my predictions. Let's see how I did.

88th Academy Awards Nominations

Best Picture
Prediction: The Revenant
Winner: Spotlight
Score: 0/1

Actor in a Leading Role
Prediction: Leonardo DiCaprio - The Revenant
Winner: Leonardo DiCaprio - The Revenant
Score: 1/2

Actor in a Supporting Role
Prediction: Sylvester Stallone - Creed
Winner: Mark Rylance - Bridge of Spies
Score: 1/3

Actress in a Leading Role
Prediction: Charlotte Rampling - 45 Years
Winner: Brie Larson - Room
Score: 1/4

Actress in a Supporting Role
Prediction: Jennifer Jason Leigh - The Hateful Eight
Winner: Alicia Vikander - The Danish Girl
Score: 1/5

Directing
Prediction: Alejandro González Iñárritu - The Revenant
Winner: Alejandro González Iñárritu - The Revenant
Score: 2/6

Animated Feature Film
Prediction: Anomalisa
Winner: Inside Out
Score: 2/7

Costume Design
Prediction: The Danish Girl
Winner: Mad Mad: Fury Road
Score: 2/8

Documentary Feature
Prediction: Winter on Fire
Winner: Amy
Score: 2/9

Documentary Short
Prediction: Last Day of Freedom
Winner: A Girl in the River
Score: 2/10

Makeup and Hairstyling
Prediction: Mad Max: Fury Road
Winner: Mad Max: Fury Road
Score: 3/11

Original Song
Prediction:Writing’s on the Wall - Spectre
Winner: Writing’s on the Wall - Spectre
Score: 4/12

Animated Short
Prediction: Bear Story
Winner: Bear Story
Score: 5/13

Sound Editing
Predicted: The Revenant
Winner: Mad Mad: Fury Road
Score: 5/14

Cinematography
Predicted: The Revenant
Winner: The Revenant
Score: 6/15

Film Editing
Predicted: The Big Short
Winner: Mad Max: Fury Road
Score: 6/16

Foreign Language
Predicted: Mustang
Winner: Son of Saul
Score: 6/17

Music - Original Score
Predicted: Bridge of Spies
Winner: The Hateful Eight
Score: 6/18

Production Design
Prediction: Bridge of Spies
Winner: Mad Max: Fury Road
Score: 6/19

Live Action Short
Prediction: Day One
Winner: Stutterer
Score: 6/20

Sound Mixing
Predicted: The Revenant
Winner: Mad Mad: Fury Road
Score: 6/21

Visual Effects
Prediction: The Martian
Winner: Ex Machina
Score: 6/22

Writing - Adapted Screenplay
Prediction: Brooklyn
Winner: The Big Short
Score: 6/23

Writing - Original Screenplay
Prediction: Bridge of Spies
Winner: Spotlight
Score: 6/24

So how did I do? A frankly appalling 25% hit rate, barely better than putting a blindfold on and sticking a pin in the list. In my defence, my predictions were based on what I've seen, read and heard about these films as, to date, I have only seen one of the titles mentioned on this list (and you're unlikely to guess which one - let's just say it only received one nomination, in a lesser category, and didn't win).

Basically, what I'm saying is, I've got an excuse for this year but unless I watch a lot of films in 2016 I won't be trying this predictions lark again next year.