It is the time of the year again, where we review and award the performances by talented actors and actresses from Singapore in 2016. The Star Awards ceremony has a change of format this year. Instead of having two live shows in the past, it now has four (three are like preludes, with one main show)! With most of the backstage awards such as Best Director, Best Variety Producer and so on given out in the past three preludes, we are left with the main awards - highly anticipated Best Leading and Supporting Actor and Actress, Best Programme Host, Best Drama, Best Variety Programme, Best Theme Song, Best Evergreen Artiste, Rocket Award and the Top 10 Most Popular Male and Female Artist.
This time round we are trying to place our stakes on Drama related awards only as it would be unfair for us to judge Variety related awards without watching all the variety shows.
BEST ACTOR 最佳男主角
We say: Andie Chen as He Daxian (If Only I Could...)
When we first started watching If Only I Could, we could not take our eyes away from Rui En's transformation into a fat, haggard Ahjumma, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. But when Andie came into action, his portrayal as the good-for-nothing husband of Rui En is surreal. Sometimes, one look into his eyes is all you need to know what he is trying to say. There is just so much feels in his acting that I don't call it acting anymore! Without any lovey dovey scenes, we could actually sense his love towards his wife - only with gestures and eye contact. That when we know, yes - he is up for Best Actor. And now, yes - he is gonna win it!
The odds: 2/3
Dark Horse: Chen Hanwei as Zhang Naiping (The Gentlemen)
The King of Transformation is up for the run again. This time, he is running with the irritating machismo Zhang Naiping. Well, many may say that the character is flat by nature, in which I have to agree, but you have to admit that you enjoyed his performance as a male chauvinist who ended up working as a nanny and finally, starting his business in providing confinement meals to post-pregnancy ladies. If there is one word to describe his portrayal, I would say "natural". Plus, the competition wasn't too tough in this category. So really, who else but the four-time Best Actor winner.
The odds: 4/1
The Media's Choice is Shaun Chen for his portrayal of a smart and intellectual gangster. We are pretty much enough with his gangster portrayal. Though it's pretty much different from his award-winning character Zhang Jia, Fada is still a gangster. And, we are not surprised by his performance.
The odds: 17/3
The other nominees of this category are:
Pierre Png as Zhang Nailiang (The Gentlemen)
Zhang Zhenhuan as Zhang Lixing (The Dream Job)
BEST ACTRESS 最佳女主角
We say: Rui En (If Only I Could...)
As mentioned, our eyes are glued to Rui En's take as an aunty in If Only I Could. If Andie won his first Best Actor award tonight, then Rui En should definitely take home her third. Why? Because an actor excellence depends on their co-actors as well as themselves. Rui En put on weight, took off her make up and shed lots of tears for this drama, and I know for sure, her sacrifices are worth it. Why, because. Her acting has been elevated to another level. And that means, she should win her third Best Actress award.
The odds: 3/7
Dark Horse: Rebecca Lim (You Can Be An Angel 2)
Rebecca may seem very so-so as a nurse manager in You Can Be An Angel 2, but the twist of her story comes in when her son dies of electrocution. And soon after, she lost her unborn baby. The mixed emotions she had, while arguing with her screen husband (portrayed by Bryan Wong) is definitely Best Actress worthy, but of course, not as worthy as Rui En in this case.
The odds: 17/3
The Media's Choice is none other than the Queen of Mediacorp, Zoe Tay! We admit she is good in her work as the nurse manager who was diagnosed with breast cancer, but she is the Ah Jie for a reason. She is excellent in every single character she portrays. The only reason why she may lose out this time round is because of the more sophisticated backstory her competitors' characters have. But still, she has a chance no doubt!
The odds: 9/1
The other nominees of this category are:
Jeanette Aw as Cheng Huishan (The Dream Job)
Jesseca Liu as Zhang Weixiong (Hero)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 最佳男配角
We say: Andie Chen as Ou Jin'guang (Hero) [also Media's Choice!]
Bowl-shaped haircut and and a blurry face together with his slow speech, 'nuff said - he is no doubt the winner. In fact, no one in this category comes even close to snatching the award from him. His portrayal as the kind and slow (and sometimes foolish - in a good way) Jin Guang is no doubt one of his best ever. Jin Guang has become one of his top representative pieces after 10 years of acting. So judges, keep your eyes open and give him the award!
The odds: 3/17
Dark Horse: Ian Fang as Lin Zijie (The Dream Job)
Alright, we have to admit that Ian has the bad boy look so his portrayal as the good-for-nothing Zijie is really convincing. He is not exactly a "bad boy", he is just an adult who acts like a child. In other words, he is just a spoiled brat, and guess what, Ian spoiled himself really well for this drama, and so, he is next in line for this award.
The odds: 9/1
The other nominees of this category are:
Romeo Tan as Tim Goh (The Dream Job)
Chen Shu Cheng as Chuang Dexian (Fire Up)
Jeffrey Xu as Lu Xiaoqiang (Peace and Prosperity)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 最佳女配角
We say: Paige Chua as Ou Jinxuan (Hero) [also Media's Choice!]
Paige gave us a jaw drop when she portrayed a money-minded sister of Jin'guang. She played around with Chen Hanwei's feelings and always dream of marrying a rich man. After many attempts to achieve her dreams, she ended up giving up life. That's when you will see the goddess-like Paige in her worst form. Untidy hair, no makeup, dirty and lifeless - that's the Paige you will see. What a breakthrough I would say - and a breakthrough deserves an award.
The odds: 1/4
Dark Horse: Pan Lingling as Xiao Jiahui (Hero)
We can't help to emphatise Ling Ling's character Jiahui when she started to lose her memory and recalls only the past whenever asked after she lost her husband (whose death is partly caused by her onscreen son - portrayed by Ian Fang). When we watched her performance in Hero, we are so sure that she will be nominated in this category and so she did! And she, may have a chance to win her second Best Supporting Actress award for her portrayal as a pitiful daughter and mother-in-law.
The odds: 9/1
The other nominees of this category are:
Bonnie Loo as Guan Meimei (Hero)
Aileen Tan as Huang Lili (Hero)
Ya Hui as Wu Xixi (House of Fortune)
BEST THEME SONG 最佳主题曲
We say: 年轮 from The Dream Job
This year we have a pretty tough time predicting the winner of this category. Thankfully, our mum was there to help us decide and after a series of "discussion", we have decided that the theme song from The Dream Job fits the bill. Soothing and much feels are the only words we could think of to describe this song. And not to mention, it was performed by one of the best Singaporean songwriter Jim Lim and OST Queen Sing Chew - what's more to ask really?
The odds: 1/1
Dark Horse: 吃饱没 from Eat Already
Jiak, jiak, jiak, Jiak ba buey - a catchy song that could easily make everyone moves their feet and body without fail. Who else but the trio who sang this wonderful Hokkien tune if the award was not given to the previously mentioned?
The odds: 7/3
The other nominees of this category are:
最美的时光 from If Only I Could...
天使 from You Can Be An Angel 2
人生无所畏 from Life Fear Not
BEST DRAMA 最佳电视剧
We say: Hero
This drama is a neighbourhood drama in which it brings viewers into the hearts of Dakota Crescent's citizens. The drama is close to the hearts of the people, with many A-list actors and actresses casted. This drama managed to showcase the acting chops of Andie Chen, Paige Chua and Bonnie Loo and scored the most nominations in this years awards show. So, we are definitely not surprised if it wins Best Drama.
The odds: 1/1
Dark Horse: The Dream Job
This drama is the mid-year blockbuster of 2016 and it was also led by A-listers and also Hong Kong based Singaporean actor Hugo Ng. The winning point of this drama is its refreshing story line. It may seemed like the typical "family feud" drama but in reality, its a touching drama which brings out the best and worst of people during desperate situations. This is why we think it is the dark horse of this category.
The odds: 3/2
The other nominees of this category are:
You Can Be An Angel 2
Fire Up
C.L.I.F. 4
That's the end of our predictions - let's just wait and see how much of our bets would bear fruit!
Watch Star Awards 2017 LIVE on Channel 8 Singapore and Astro Shuang Xing (CH307 & CH324) Malaysia!
Star Awards 2017 - Walk of Fame
Time: 5:30 PM
Singapore Channel 8
Malaysia Astro On The Go
Star Awards 2017 - Main Show
Time: 7:00 PM
Singapore Channel 8
Malaysia Astro On The Go & Astro Shuang Xing
