The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing

Best Sound Mixing
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Sully

Other Contenders - Deepwater Horizon, Patriot's Day, Doctor Strange, The Jungle Book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Florence Foster Jenkins, Passengers, Live By Night, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Jason Bourne, Captain America: Civil War, Hell or High Water, Moana, Sing Street, Star Trek Beyond, Allied, The BFG

Commentary - It has been awhile since the CAS nods have gone 5/5 at the Oscars. I think Hacksaw, La La Land, and Rogue One are probably the locks, and the three battling it out for the win.

Best Sound Editing
Arrival
Deepwater Horizon
Hacksaw Ridge
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Sully

Other Contenders - Patriot's Day, Doctor Strange, La La Land, The Jungle Book, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Florence Foster Jenkins, Passengers, Live By Night, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Jason Bourne, Captain America: Civil War, Hell or High Water, Moana, Sing Street, Star Trek Beyond, Allied, The BFG

Commentary - Usually, these categories are pretty damn close, about 4/5. Musicals tend to only make a dent in the Mixing category, so that leaves La La Land out, and someone looking for the fifth slot. Doctor Strange and The Jungle Book are possibilities, but Peter Berg makes technically excellent films, and the sound categories went for Lone Survivor. So my guess is that Deepwater Horizon, with the same guy from Lone Survivor once again gets the love of this branch,

Best Visual Effects
Arrival
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Doctor Strange
The Jungle Book
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Other Contenders - Captain America: Civil War, Kubo and the Two Strings, Deepwater Horizon, Passengers, The BFG

Commentary - I feel like four of these folks are safe: The Jungle Book, Doctor Strange, Arrival, and Rogue One. It is that fifth slot that I am a bit hesitant. The last Captain America movie got in here, Kubo is a awesome, and Deepwater Horizon got some love from the VES. But so did Fantastic Beasts, and it got the BAFTA. It's hard to tell how such a small branch is going to vote, but those two precursors spell potential Oscar success.