Casey Affleck & Emma Stone backed in for 2017 Oscars gongs
PUNTERS are tipping a big night for the cast and crew of La La Land when the red carpet rolls out for the 89th Academy Awards.
Damien Chazelle’s musical ode to Hollywood is a -714.29 runaway favourite for Best Picture at online bookmaker Sportsbet.com.au.
The only other other film paying under a tenner is Moonlight (+650), which is expected to deliver a Best Supporting Actor gong for Mahershala Ali (-1000).
La La Land‘s leading lady, Emma Stone, is the -588.24 fancy for Best Actress, although there is some interest in Natalie Portman at +400 for her portrayal of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the Fox Searchlight biopic, Jackie.
Chazelle is also the hot tip for Best Director at -2000, while the musical’s composer, Justin Hurwitz, is the obvious choice in the Best Original Score category at -769.23.
With a record-tying 14 nominations (only Titanic and All About Eve have ever had so many), La La Land is paying -200 to snag nine Oscars or more.
One of the most hotly contested markets this year is the coveted Best Actor award, where Casey Affleck (-175.44 has won heavy backing and critical acclaim for a mature and heart-felt turn in Manchester By The Sea.
But he faces stiff competition from a former winner in Denzel Washington, who is quoted at +125 for his performance as Troy Maxson in the adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Fences.
That is one of the few categories in which La La Land is an outsider, with Ryan Gosling back in the field at +1100.
The 89th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2017 in Los Angeles (Monday, February 27 for Australian viewers).
2017 Oscars betting markets
All odds by Sportsbet.com.au
Best Picture
La La Land – -714.29
Moonlight – +650
Hidden Figures – +1200
Manchester By The Sea – +1200
Lion – +6000
Fences – +6600
Hacksaw Ridge – +6600
Arrival – +10000
Hell Or High Water – +10000
Best Actor
Casey Affleck (Manchester By The Sea) – -175.44
Denzel Washington (Fences) – +125
Ryan Gosling (La La Land) – +1100
Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge) – +3500
Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic) – +8000
Best Actress
Emma Stone (La La Land) – -588.24
Natalie Portman (Jackie) – +400
Isabelle Huppert (Elle) – +900
Ruth Negga (Loving) – +4000
Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins) – +6600
Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) – -1000
Dev Patel (Lion) – +700
Jeff Bridges (Hell Or High Water) – +1200
Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animal) – +1200
Lucas Hedges (Manchester By The Sea) – +1600
Best Supporting Actress
Viola Davis (Fences) – -2000
Michelle Williams (Manchester By The Sea) – +1000
Naomie Harris (Moonlight) – +1400
Nicole Kidman (Lion) – +2500
Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures) – +8000