Part of the fun of watching the Academy Awards -- which will air at 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC -- is trying to predict the winners.
That's why we asked people to vote for their picks in the five biggest Oscar categories in a poll on WCPO.com. And according to the results, several favorites have emerged.
Best Actor: You picked Leonardo DiCaprio
A majority of voters (71 percent) agreed with "Good Morning Tri-State" anchor Kathrine Nero on her pick for best actor.
“Leonardo DiCaprio will win best actor … or he will die trying. And I mean that literally,” Nero said, tongue firmly planted in cheek, of the star who put himself through brutal conditions while filming “The Revenant.”
WCPO anchors Carol Williams and Craig McKee said they agree that DiCaprio should, or would, win the category. Kristen Schlotman, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Film Commission, put a fine point on DiCaprio's expected honor.
“If someone else did win, that would be the biggest talk of the Oscars,” Schlotman said.
Best Picture: You picked The Revenant
Things got a little murkier when it came to which movie would win best picture. “The Revenant” earned 38 percent of the popular vote, followed by “Spotlight” at 25 percent and “The Martian” at 19 percent. “The Big Short” and “Bridge of Spies” didn’t even move the needle.
Schlotman and Nero said they believe “The Revenant” will win because of the buzz surrounding it. Williams begrudgingly agreed, though she said “Spotlight” should win. McKee stood out as the bold contrarian by picking “Spotlight.”
“I’m a little torn on who should take this category,” McKee said. “I could certainly see 'The Revenant' upset as it’s getting a ton of buzz. It was a good movie, but I walked away with a feeling of I was entertained but didn’t take anything away with me except DiCaprio’s character got revenge. I really enjoyed 'The Martian,' too. However, as a journalist, this movie does more than entertain. It educates.”
Best Actress: You picked Cate Blanchett
Many people seemed to vote with their hearts in the best actress category. Cate Blanchett received 60 percent of the vote to win an Oscar. Schlotman understands: She helped bring Blanchett to the Queen City in 2014 to film “Carol,” the movie for which she is nominated.
“Selfishly, I am obviously cheering for 'Carol,'” Schlotman said.
However, Scholtman does not think Blanchett will win. She sees the actress as a package deal with "Carol" co-star Rooney Mara, who was nominated for best actress in a supporting role.
Instead, Schlotman said she sees the award going to Bree Larson for “Room.” Larson came in second with 20 percent of the vote in the poll.
“Bree just sort of commanded ‘Room,'" Schlotman said.
Perhaps we should call the result of this next category “The Titanic Effect.” Almost everyone agreed Kate Winslet should win best actress in a supporting role for her part in “Steve Jobs.” She earned 43 percent of the vote.
“Come on. If Leo wins and Kate wins, it’s like going back to Titanic!” McKee said.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: You picked Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone drew 47 percent of the votes for best actor in a supporting role in the poll.
As Nero said in picking him, “I have no real critical reason for this. I just want to see Sylvester Stallone win. America loves a comeback story.”
A significant number of voters, 27 percent, sided with Williams, who said Mark Ruffalo would win for his impassioned role in “Spotlight.”
Who is right? Will there be an upset? Follow along with us on air and here on WCPO.com on Sunday night.
If you feel like watching with a crowd, the film commission will be hosting an Oscars watch party at the Esquire Theatre in Clifton starting at 7 p.m. Sunday.
“If people just want to come out in the beginning and celebrate film with us for the first half before going home and watching the end on the couch, that’s more than fine, too,” Schlotman said.
