Welcome back, my award season fanatics! It is officially that time of year: when we get up at ungodly times on a weekday to see the announcement of the Golden Globe/SAG/Oscar nominations. The award season for the films of 2018 got off to a start with Thursday’s announcement of the Golden Globe nominations.
Vice
Vice, Adam McKay’s semi-true story about Dick Chaney and his relationship with George W. Bush, received at total of six nominations, the most of any film this year. It received nominations for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Christian Bale), Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (Sam Rockwell), Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Amy Adams), Best Director (Adam McKay), and Best Screenplay (Adam McKay).
Green Book
Three films received five nominations apiece: A Star is Born, Green Book, and The Favourite. Each film was nominated in the Best Motion Picture category (Star as a Drama, and Green Book and The Favourite as Musical or Comedy). Each film also garnered multiple acting nominations: Bradly Cooper and Lady Gaga for A Star is Born, Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali for Green Book, and Olivia Coleman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Wietz for The Favourite.
Constance Wu in Crazy Rich Asians
While the Academy Awards have been plagued in the past few years with a lack of diversity in its nominees, the Golden Globes has not had those problems. This year, several films featuring mostly minority casts were nominated for Best Motion Picture and in several of the acting categories. The critically acclaimed superhero film Black Panther was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama. Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman picked up nominations for Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama (John David Washington). Barry Jenkins’s If Beale Street Could Talk also picked up a nomination for Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Regina King). King was also nominated for Best Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie for her work in Seven Seconds. Crazy Rich Asians was nominated for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Constance Wu is the first Asian actress to be nominated in the Best Actress Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy category in more than 40 years. If she takes home the prize, she will be the first Asian actress to do so.
So, what do you think of the nominations? Are you surprised/bemused/irrationally angry/indifferent about the nominations? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook.
The Golden Globes will be announced on January 6, 2019.
-Ariadne Ansbro
Full List Below:
Black Panther
Best Motion Picture – Drama “Black Panther”
“BlacKkKlansman”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
“A Star Is Born”
Glenn Close in The Wife
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Glenn Close (“The Wife”)
Lady Gaga (“A Star Is Born”)
Nicole Kidman (“Destroyer”)
Melissa McCarthy (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”)
Rosamund Pike (“A Private War”)
Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Bradley Cooper (“A Star Is Born”)
Willem Dafoe (“At Eternity’s Gate”)
Lucas Hedges (“Boy Erased”)
Rami Malek (“Bohemian Rhapsody”)
John David Washington (“BlacKkKlansman”)
The Favourite
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy “Crazy Rich Asians”
“The Favourite”
“Green Book”
“Mary Poppins Returns”
“Vice”
Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Emily Blunt (“Mary Poppins Returns”)
Olivia Colman (“The Favourite”)
Elsie Fisher (“Eighth Grade”)
Charlize Theron (“Tully”)
Constance Wu (“Crazy Rich Asians”)
Robert Redford in The Old Man & the Gun
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Christian Bale (“Vice”)
Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Mary Poppins Returns”)
Viggo Mortensen (“Green Book”)
Robert Redford (“The Old Man & the Gun”)
John C. Reilly (“Stan & Ollie”)
Regina King in If Beale Street Could Talk
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture Amy Adams (“Vice”) Claire Foy (“First Man”) Regina King (“If Beale Street Could Talk”)
Emma Stone (“The Favourite”)
Rachel Weisz (“The Favourite”)
Adam Driver in BlacKkKlansman
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture Mahershala Ali (“Green Book”)
Timothee Chalamet (“Beautiful Boy”)
Adam Driver (“BlacKkKlansman”)
Richard E. Grant (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”)
Sam Rockwell (“Vice”)
Isle of Dogs
Best Motion Picture – Animated “Incredibles 2”
“Isle of Dogs”
“Mirai”
“Ralph Breaks the Internet”
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
Roma
Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language “Capernaum”
“Girl”
“Never Look Away”
“Roma”
“Shoplifters”
Spike Lee directing BlacKkKlansman
Best Director – Motion Picture Bradley Cooper (“A Star Is Born”)
Alfonso Cuaron (“Roma”)
Peter Farrelly (“Green Book”)
Spike Lee (“BlacKkKlansman”)
Adam McKay (“Vice”)
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture Alfonso Cuaron (“Roma”)
Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara (“The Favourite”)
Barry Jenkins (“If Beale Street Could Talk”)
Adam McKay (“Vice”)
Peter Farrelly, Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie (“Green Book”)
A Quiet Place
Best Original Score – Motion Picture Marco Beltrami (“A Quiet Place”)
Alexandre Desplat (“Isle of Dogs”)
Ludwig Göransson (“Black Panther”)
Justin Hurwitz (“First Man”)
Marc Shaiman (“Mary Poppins Returns”)
A Private War
Best Original Song – Motion Picture “All the Stars” (“Black Panther”)
“Girl in the Movies” (“Dumplin’”)
“Requiem For a Private War” (“A Private War”)
“Revelation’ (“Boy Erased”)
“Shallow” (“A Star Is Born”)
The Americans
Best Television Series – Drama “The Americans”
“Bodyguard”
“Homecoming”
“Killing Eve”
“Pose”
Sandra Oh in Killing Eve
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama Caitriona Balfe (“Outlander”)
Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”)
Julia Roberts (“Homecoming”)
Keri Russell (“The Americans”)
Richard Madden in Bodyguard
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama Jason Bateman (“Ozark”)
Stephan James (“Homecoming”)
Richard Madden (“Bodyguard”)
Billy Porter (“Pose”)
Matthew Rhys (“The Americans”)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy “Barry” (HBO)
“The Good Place” (NBC)
“Kidding” (Showtime)
“The Kominsky Method” (Netflix)
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon)
Candace Bergan in Murphy Brown
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy Kristen Bell (“The Good Place”)
Candice Bergen (“Murphy Brown”)
Alison Brie (“Glow”)
Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”)
Michael Douglas in The Kominsky Method
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy Sacha Baron Cohen (“Who Is America?”)
Jim Carrey (“Kidding”)
Michael Douglas (“The Kominsky Method”)
Donald Glover (“Atlanta”)
Bill Hader (“Barry”)
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television “The Alienist” (TNT)
“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” (FX)
“Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime)
“Sharp Objects” (HBO)
“A Very English Scandal” (Amazon)
Connie Britton in Dirty John
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Amy Adams (“Sharp Objects”)
Patricia Arquette (“Escape at Dannemora”)
Connie Britton (“Dirty John”)
Laura Dern (“The Tale”)
Regina King (“Seven Seconds”)
Hugh Grant in A Very English Scandal
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Antonio Banderas (“Genius: Picasso”)
Daniel Bruhl (“The Alienist”)
Darren Criss (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”)
Benedict Cumberbatch (“Patrick Melrose”)
Hugh Grant (“A Very English Scandal”)
Patricia Clarkson in Sharp Objects
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Patricia Clarkson (“Sharp Objects”)
Penelope Cruz (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”)
Thandie Newton (“Westworld”)
Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Henry Winkler in Barry
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television Alan Arkin (“The Kominsky Method”)
Kieran Culkin (“Succession”)
Edgar Ramirez (“The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story”)
Ben Whishaw (“A Very English Scandal”)
Henry Winkler (“Barry”)
New York Comic Con packed into Javits Center last week with an invitation to “Walk in, Geek Out” and that’s exactly what we at MoviefiedNYC did. Two joyful days with thousands of happy fans made up of nerds, jocks, and fans of all shapes and sizes, a crowd of all colors, boys, girls, straight, gay, queer, trans, old and very young (see Darth Vader baby below); there were US citizens and global citizens, but more importantly, there were Comic Con citizens that made one big happy, geeky family. Each year we return toNYCC, it’s like coming home. [Photos by John David West]
Burt Reynolds and Candice Bergen in Starting Over (1979). Reynolds gives a very human and sensitive performance as Phil Potter, a newly divorced man navigating life as a single adult dating and ultimately having to choose between his ex wife (Candice Bergen) and the new love in his life, Marilyn (Jill Clayburg). Watching Reynolds in Starting Over reminds us how his presence in film made “breathing easier.” He breathed beautifully fun life into cinema during the 70s and 80s. #RIP Burt!
“My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.” Ronald Reagan brought that oops moment to the world as he tested a microphone before a radio address; later that November Regan won a landslide re-election. That was the peak of the Reagan era. That was 1984.
1984 was, indeed, an unforgettable year!Mary Lou Retton won gymnastic gold and American hearts at the L.A. Olympics. The reining Miss America, Vanessa Williams, was stripped of her title because of a nude photo spread in Penthouse magazine. Madonna became everyone’s “boy toy” with her “Like a Virgin” performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. Marvin Gaye was killed by his father; Bernie Goetz gunned down four muggers in the NYC subway; millions starved in Ethiopia; and Bob Geldoff responded with “Do They Know it’s Christmas Time.” Thousands died in the Union Carbide Corporation disaster in Bhopal, India; and Clara Peller asked, “Where’s the Beef?” Cindy Lauper proclaimed that “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”; Prince let us know what it sounds like “When Doves Cry”; and Tina Turner made a big comeback and asked, “What’s Love Got To Do With It?”
Clearly, 1984 was a year of big news, big events, and, thanks to the number one TV show, Dynasty, really of big shoulder pads! But as the ashes of have long since settled, it’s ’84’s hit movies that remain with us and have stood the test of time.
Besides being the year that introduced the first PG-13 movie, (Red Dawn), 1984 was the birth year for a number of hit features that spawned numerous sequels: The Terminator, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Ghostbusters, The Karate Kid, Beverly Hills Cop, and Police Academy. Comedies were probably the most notable feature of ’84. While the year didn’t produce any great American Film Institute darlings as weighty as Citizen Kane, it did, however, release an impressive number of comedies that are still fresh and still freakin’ funny today. Already mentioned are Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, and Police Academy; but also there are All of Me, This is Spinal Tap, Splash, Revenge of the Nerds, and Romancing the Stone.
1984 didn’t just release blockbusters that kept bottom line obsessed studio heads filled with coke and lap dancing blonds, it also saw the release of some lesser known films that have endured to become classics, films such as Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time in America; Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas; Jim Jarmusch’s Stranger Than Paradise. And the cult classics such as John Sayles The Brother from Another Planet, and the NYC cult horror flick C.H.U.D.
1984 saw Regan era teen angst approach its peak, while the John Hughes’ teen classic, Sixteen Candles, solidified Molly Ringwald as the ’80s’ ginger teen queen and—along with Weird Science that same year—shot Anthony Michael Hall to geek teen stardom, as its new nerd on the rise. The Karate Kidtaught us to “Wax on, Wax off,” and A Nightmare on Elm Street introduced slasher fans to a terrifying new evil villain, Freddy Krueger, who entered our nightmares and has remained with us nine sequels later. Not only did teen anxiety influence cinema, but also the collective unease of the Cold War, as 1984 released a cinematic Soviet Union invasion of the U.S.A. in cinematographer and director John Milius’s Red Dawn. The first film to receive a PG-13 rating, Red Dawn was perhaps a bit unbelievable but cathartic, and filled with up-and-coming young stars (Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, and Charlie Sheen); it was a definite reaction to the Cold War anxieties of the 1980s.
Sixteen Candles, Molly Ringwald
1984 was a year of movies filled with classic pop music in such films such as Prince’s Purple Rain, which produced an enduring soundtrack that still holds up today. The concert film Stop Making Sense featured the Talking Heads and was directed by a relative newcomer, Jonathan Demme. Beat Street andBreakin’ capitalized on the popularity of break dancing, and Footloose danced into theaters with its MTV look and a soundtrack that garnered six Billboard magazine top 40 hits. Footloose was promoted again and again; each subsequent music video featured clips from the film, and ultimately kept those bottom-line-obsessed studio heads “Dancing in the Sheets,” and laid the foundation for Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.
In celebration of that most unforgettable year, I have listed my twenty essential movies of 1984, films that have endured, some that are well crafted, some that capture the spirit of the ’80s—thirty-year-old movies that make us think, sing, dance, scream and, above all else, laugh out loud!
—John David West
Writer-director Paul Lieberstein (Toby from The Office) stars in his first feature film, Songs of the Back and Neck. As odd and slightly cumbersome as the title is, it works for this sweet and funny story which is one of self-discovery. Fred (Lieberstein) is a hapless paralegal at his father’s law firm. Constantly put down by young attorneys at the firm and crippled by back and neck pain, Fred struggles to get through each day, physically and emotionally. When the beautiful and charming Regan (Rosemary DeWitt) walks into his office looking for a divorce, Fred is smitten. She suggests Fred visit an acupuncturist, who helps Fred both relieve his pain and discover an unusual gift. Bonding through their shared neck and back pain, Fred and Regan embark on a romance to heal their broken hearts and aching torsos.
Lieberstein created a very true to life story which allows the audience to empathize with the character’s disenchantment with his life, but also delivers some unexpected belly laughs. Songs of the Back and Neck is well worth the price of admission. The film premiered on April 23 at the Tribeca Film Festival. There is one more showing at the Festival on Saturday, April 28, so be sure to check it out!
Sam Rockwell, Frances McDormand, Allison Janney, and Gary Oldman
It went off without a hitch! This year, the Best Picture winner was Guillermo del Toro’s love story from the Black Lagoon, The Shape of Water. We’re sure. We checked the envelope. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were on hand again this year to present the big award as a do-over from last year’s infamous envelope gaffe. The Shape of Water was the big winner of the night, picking up four awards: Best Picture, Best Director (Guillermo del Toro), Best Original Score, and Best Production Design.
Frances McDormand calling the female nominees to rise
The awards were spread around evenly to the Best Picture nominees, with the exception of Lady Bird. Greta Gerwig’s coming of age story set in 2002 Sacramento was nominated for five Oscars, and it did not win any. The people of the Internet are displeased. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won awards for Sam Rockwell as Best Supporting Actor and Frances McDormand as Best Actress. McDormand gave a rousing speech asking all of the nominated females in all of the categories to stand up and be recognized. She then challenged the studio heads and production companies to set a meeting with these women to tell their stories.
Jordan Peele celebrating his Oscar win with presenter Nicole Kidman
Gary Oldman won his first Oscar for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. Oldman received a standing ovation from his peers as he walked to the stage to accept his award. As is customary, he thanked his wife, his children, and mentioned his mother who will be 99 later this year. One interesting note: Oldman was previously married to another of the night’s nominee’s, Phantom Thread’s Lesley Manville. Allison Janney picked up the award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in I, Tonya, and thanked her avian costar for his help on the film. Jordan Peele made history as the first African-American to win the award for Best Original Screenplay for his film Get Out. I will admit, I was hoping that he would accept the film by doing his President Obama impression. Overall, the big prizes of the night went to the frontrunners. The only surprises were that Icarus won for Best Documentary Feature and Blade Runner 2049 won the award for Best Cinematography.
Guillermo del Toro
The other big winner of the night was Mexican and South American culture. The Pixar animated film about Dia de los Muertos, Coco, won awards for Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song (“Remember Me”). Mexican director Guillermo del Toro won the award for Best Director, as well. The phrase “Viva la Mexico” was uttered more times than in any other Oscar telecast. The winner of the Best Foreign Language Film was A Fantastic Woman from Chile, the first time Chile has won in this category and only its second nomination. This was Hollywood’s way of telling President Donald Trump where he could stick his wall.
Helen Mirren on a Jet Ski with costume designer Mark Bridges
Ultimately, the show was a bit of a dud. Jimmy Kimmel’s opening was bland and safe. The only thing slightly edgy he said was the Oscar was the perfect man because in a post-Harvey Weinstein Hollywood, a man who can keep his hands to himself and doesn’t have a penis is the best kind of man. Other than that, it was highly unmemorable. Throughout the show, things seemed to get progressively worse. He decided to take a field trip with a group if 10-15 A list stars to the movie theater across the street. The idea was to show the movie-going public the industry’s appreciation. Like last year’s tourists who walked into the Dolby Theater, the bit fell flat and lasted far too long. Kimmel also tried a bit where his 9 year-old self met the cast of Star Wars. It was the most awkward two minutes of the show. One ongoing gag that did work was the fact that Kimmel tried to get the night’s winners to keep their acceptance speeches short and sweet by telling them that the shortest speech would receive a Jet Ski. Helen Mirren even came out to be the Price is Right-esque model and show it off while it spun around on a platform. The winner of the Jet Ski, Mark Bridges, the costume designer of Phantom Thread with a speech that was 29 seconds long.
The best part of the show was seeing Oscar winners of the past present several of the awards. 1954’s Best Supporting Actress winner for On The Waterfront, Eva Marie Saint presented the award for Best Costume Design, 1961’s Best Supporting Actress winner for West Side Story, Rita Morano (wearing the same dress that she wore to the Oscars when she won in 1962) presented the award for Best Foreign Language Film, and 1978’s Best Supporting Actor winner for The Deer Hunter, Christopher Walken presented the award for Best Original Score. Due to allegations of sexual harassment, last year’s Best Actor winner, Casey Affleck declined the Academy’s invitation to present the award for Best Actress this year. Instead, the award for Best Actress was presented by two-time Best Actress winner for The Accused and Silence of the Lambs Jodie Foster and the Best Actress winner for Silver Liniings Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence. Not to be outdone, the Best Actor award was not presented by last year’s winner Emma Stone. It was instead presented by Hollywood royalty Jane Fonda (Best Actress winner for Klute and Coming Home) and Helen Mirren (Best Actress winner for The Queen). Stone was given the honor of presenting the award for Best Director.
That’s it; I officially declare the 2017/2018 Awards Season closed! What did you think of the show? Were you hoping for a surprise ending like last year’s best picture mess-up? Did you like Jimmy Kimmel? Weren’t Maya Rudolph and Tiffany Haddish the best part of the show? Let us know what you think! Leave us a comment below or contact us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
-Ariadne Ansbro
Full list of winners:
The cast and crew of The Shape of Water
BEST PICTURE Call Me By Your Name Darkest Hour Dunkirk
Get Out
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
The Post WINNER: The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Gary Oldman
BEST ACTOR Timothée Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread
Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out WINNER: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq.
BEST ACTRESS Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water WINNER: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Margot Robbie, I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
Meryl Streep, The Post
BEST DIRECTOR Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan Get Out, Jordan Peele Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig Phantom Thread, Paul Thomas Anderson WINNER: The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro
Allison Janney
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Mary J. Blige, Mudbound WINNER: Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread
Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project
Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water
Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World WINNER: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY The Big Sick, Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani WINNER: Get Out, Jordan Peele Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Martin McDonagh
James Ivory wins for Call Me By Your Name
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
WINNER: Call Me By Your Name, James Ivory The Disaster Artist, Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber Logan, Scott Frank, James Mangold, Michael Green Molly’s Game, Aaron Sorkin Mudbound, Virgil Williams and Dee Rees
PRODUCTION DESIGN Beauty and the Beast
Blade Runner 2049 Darkest Hour Dunkirk WINNER: The Shape of Water
CINEMATOGRAPHY
WINNER: Blade Runner 2049 Darkest Hour Dunkirk Mudbound The Shape of Water
The visual effects team from Blade Runner 2049
VISUAL EFFECTS
WINNER: Blade Runner 2049 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Kong: Skull Island Star Wars: The Last Jedi War for the Planet of the Apes
COSTUME DESIGN Beauty and the Beast
Darkest Hour WINNER: Phantom Thread The Shape of Water Victoria & Abdul
SOUND EDITING Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049 WINNER: Dunkirk The Shape of Water Star Wars: The Last Jedi
SOUND MIXING Baby Driver Blade Runner 2049 WINNER: Dunkirk The Shape of Water Star Wars: The Last Jedi
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
WINNER: Dear Basketball Garden Party Lou Negative Space Revolting Rhymes
LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM DeKalb Elementary The Eleven O’Clock My Nephew Emmett WINNER: The Silent Child Watu Wote/All of Us
Alexandre Desplat wins for The Shape of Water
ORIGINAL SCORE Dunkirk Phantom Thread WINNER: The Shape of Water Star Wars: The Last Jedi Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
FILM EDITING Baby Driver WINNER: Dunkirk I, Tonya The Shape of Water Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
WINNER:Darkest Hour
Victoria & Abdul Wonder
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM WINNER: A Fantastic Woman, Chile The Insult, Lebanon Loveless, Russia On Body and Soul, Hungary The Square, Sweden
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT Edith and Eddie WINNER: Heaven Is A Traffic Jam on the 405 Heroin(e) Knife Skills Traffic Stop
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Abacus: Small Enough to Jail Faces Places WINNER: Icarus Last Man in Aleppo Strong Island
“Remember Me” from Coco
ORIGINAL SONG “Mighty River,” Mudbound
“Mystery of Love,” Call Me By Your Name WINNER: “Remember Me,” Coco
“Stand Up For Something,” Marshall
“This Is Me,” The Greatest Showman
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM The Boss Baby The Breadwinner WINNER: Coco Ferdinand Loving Vincent
This weekend, the 90th Academy Awards will be held and Hollywood will bestow its highest honor to a deserving few. If you are going to an Oscar party and haven’t had time to see all of the nominated films, fear not, the MoviefiedNYC team has done all of the leg work for you. Managing Editors John David West and Myrna Duarte share their predictions along with Award Season Guru Ariadne Ansbro and Eddie Mouradian cinephile MoviefiefiedNYC contributor. Below are our picks for who will win and which of the nominees should win.
Call Me By Your Name, Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, Get Out, Lady Bird, Phantom Thread, The Post, The Shape of Water, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Picture:
Call Me By Your Name, Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, Get Out, Lady Bird, Phantom Thread, The Post, The Shape of Water, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Ari: Who will Win: This is really a toss-up. The Shape of Water and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri have collectively picked up all of the pre-Oscar awards, and split them almost evenly. I am going to say that ultimately, the fishman will steal the show and The Shape of Waterwill be the big winner. Who Should Win: The film that really impressed me the most this year was Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. This film could have been very depressing a la Rabbit Hole, but it wasn’t. It actually ended on a positive note, which was refreshing.
David: Who will Win: The Shape of Water. Who Should Win: The Shape of Water with a Dunkirk chaser! I would love to see a Dunkirk upset.
Eddie: Who will Win: Smart money is on Three Billboards because we live in a world where racists get a redemption arc or The Shape of Water because #FishmanSex (and it’s beautiful). But I’ve never been smart of had money so I’m calling for a Get Out upset. Who Should Win: It’s a great year for movies when the best Steven Spielberg film in years is basically given a consolation prize. Lady Bird and Call Me By Your Name spoke to the anguished teen inside me, but no movie–maybe ever–has made me think more than Get Out.
Myrna: Who will Win: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouriand I don’t understand why. Who Should Win: The Shape of Water, a beautiful haunting political fairytale,but wouldn’t it be great to have a real upset and have the un-nominated Florida Project win.
The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro, Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan, Get Out, Jordan Peele, Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig, Phantom Thread, Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Director:
Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan Get Out, Jordan Peele Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig Phantom Thread, Paul Thomas Anderson The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro
Ari: Who will Win: The Mexican and Spanish directors have been cleaning up in recent years. Welcome to their ranks, Guillermo del Toro. Who Should Win: I would really be happy if any of them would win. They all did a phenomenal job.
David: Who will Win and should win: Guillermo del Toro for the The Shape of Water. Would love to see Christopher Nolan,or Paul Thomas Anderson,or Jordan Peele win as well.
Eddie: Who will Win: Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water has this locked up. And it’s well-deserved and about time. Who Should Win: Sorry folks, but Christopher Nolan‘s direction of the oddly forgotten Dunkirk was next level.
Myrna: Who will Win and Should Win: The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro, there are few directors that can take you into their dreams. The only upset I could live with is Jordan Peele for Get Out.
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour, Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread, Timothée Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name, Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out, Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq
Best Actor:
Timothée Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread
Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq.
Ari: Who will Win: This is Gary Oldman’s year. The only way he does not walk out of there with an Oscar is if Timothée Chalamet runs up on stage, steels it, and runs away. Who Should Win: While it may be passe, I really enjoyed Oldman’s performance in Darkest Hour. The film was very meh, but he elevated it and truly disappeared inside of Churchill.
David: Who will Win and should win: Gary Oldman in the Darkest Hour. It’s his to lose. If they’re running of time, Oscar telecast could just skip this category and have Emma Stone deliver the Oscar to his seat in the front row. Timothée Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name is a very close second.
Eddie: Who will Win: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour. I assume the space is already on his shelf. Who Should Win:Timothée Chalamet, Call Me By Your Namewas revelatory and shouldn’t be denied his Oscar just because he’ll surely have other opportunities in the future.
Myrna: Who will Win and Should Win: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hourthough I am concerned with all the brouhaha about Phantom Thread being Day-Lewis’s last film that he could steal the award from Oldman.
Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water, Margot Robbie, I, Tonya, Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird, Meryl Streep, The Post
Best Actress:
Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water
Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Margot Robbie, I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
Meryl Streep, The Post
Ari: Who will Win: Frances McDormand is about to become a two-time Academy Award winner. Who Should Win: I will probably be hanged for this, but Meryl Streep. Her portrayal of Katherine Graham was filled with so many layers. Her inner conflict and trepidation were palpable.
David: Who will Win: Frances McDormand Who Should Win: Margot Robbie, I, Tonya. Oh, and where is Annette Bening’s name on this list? She was a bit more deserving for her performance in Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool than a few of the other nominees this year–but I’m on team Robbie.
Eddie: Who will Win: Frances McDormand, Three Billboard Outside Ebbing, Missouri will deservedly join an elite group of double Best Actress winners. Who Should Win: I’m not mad that Franny is going to win her second Oscar, but Meryl Streep in The Postthough…
Myrna: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. I love Frances McDormand but I don’t think this is an award-winning role for her. Who Should Win: Margot Robbie in I, Tonya truly disappears into the role of Tonya Harding.
Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project, Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water, Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World
Best Supporting Actor:
Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project
Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water
Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World
Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Ari: Who will Win: This is Sam Rockwell’s year. From the minute I saw Three Billboards, I knew that he would be the one to beat come Oscar season. Who Should Win: Sam Rockwell. I know that my fellow writers all think there were some writing flaws to his character, but I disagree. He was just great in a great role.
David: Who will and Should Win: Sam Rockwell, despite some script problems, Rockwell rises above the material and delivers a killer performance in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
Eddie: Who will Win: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, MissouriWho Should Win: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri–it’ s not his fault his character has a weirdly problematic and completely unearned redemption arc.
Myrna: Who will Win: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Who Should Win: Willem Dafoe, The Florida Projecta film that deserved more nominations than it received.
Allison Janney, I, Tonya, Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird, Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread, Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water, Mary J. Blige, Mudbound
Best Supporting Actress:
Mary J. Blige, Mudbound
Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread
Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water
Ari: Who will and should win: Allison Janney for her role as the tough as nails mother of figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya. Janney’s film work has been as exceptional as her television work and it is about damn time she was recognized. The bird deserves an award, too.
David: Who will and should Win: Allison Janney, I, Tonya. She killed, she owned it, she rocked–give Janney the prize! HOWEVER, I would LOVE to see Lesley Manville win!
Eddie: Who will Win: Allison Janney, I, Tonya – great performance, even greater bird. Who Should Win: Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird gave my favorite performance of the year.
Myrna: Who will Win and Should Win: Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Logan
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Call Me By Your Name, James Ivory The Disaster Artist, Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber Logan, Scott Frank, James Mangold, Michael Green Molly’s Game, Aaron Sorkin Mudbound, Virgil Williams and Dee Rees
Ari: Who will Win: James Ivory (of Merchant-Ivory fame) will pick up his first Oscar for his adaptation of André Aciman’s pretentious novel, Call Me By Your Name Who Should Win: Aaron Sorkin, Molly’s Gameshould win for anything he ever does. His writing is always head and shoulders above anyone else’s.
David: Who will and Should Win: Call Me By Your Name,James Ivory. After three previous nominations, this is his time.
Eddie: Who will Win: Call My By Your Name, James Ivory Who Should Win: Despite the protests of the comic book nerd and West Wing fan inside me, Call My By Your Name, James Ivory.
Myrna:Who will Win: Molly’s Game, Aaron Sorkin Who Should Win: The script for Logan by Scott Frank, James Mangold, and Michael Green brings us the emotional and character-driven Wolverine film we have all been waiting for.
The Big Sick
Best Original Screenplay:
The Big Sick, Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani Get Out, Jordan Peele Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Martin McDonagh
Ari: Who will Win: This is another close category. Martin McDonagh has been receiving accolades for his script of Three Billboards and since he did not receive a directing nomination, this may be his conciliation prize. However, I would have to give the edge to Jordan Peele for his truly innovative and original script for Get Out. Who Should Win: The Big Sickwas the best film that I saw this year. Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani crafted a brilliant script out of the story of how they fell in love.
David: Who will Win: Get Out, Jordan Peele, this is an opportunity to give best the picture nominee Get Out an award.Who Should Win: Get Out, Jordan Peele or even The Big Sick, but certainly not Martin McDonagh clunky Billboards.
Eddie: Who will Win: Get Out, Jordan Peele Who Should Win: Toughest category of the night: Get Outcouldn’t be more relevant, hilarious, frightening and eye-opening, but with Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig redefined herself and spoke to the teenage girl living inside all of us.
Myrna: Who will Win: Get Out, Jordan Peele for a film that defines our time. Who Should Win: The Big Sick, Emily V. Gordon, and Kumail Nanjiani for a film that defines our heart.
Coco, The Boss Baby, Ferdinand, The Breadwinner, Loving Vincent
Best Animated Feature:
The Boss Baby The Breadwinner Coco Ferdinand Loving Vincent
Ari: Who will Win: Never bet against Pixar. Coco for the win. Who Should Win: Loving Vincent was one of the most visually stunning films I have ever seen. I would give it to that.
David: Who will and Should Win: Coco. The Breadwinner was a powerful and captivating work but I have to go with Coco.
Eddie: Who will Win & Should Win: Coco, because Pixar.
Myrna:Who will Win and Should Win: Coco, a joyous and stunning tribute to family and culture.
Garden Par
Best Animated Short:
Dear Basketball Garden Party Lou Negative Space Revolting Rhyme
Ari: Who will Win: Even though it was the weakest of the shorts, it will probably go to Dear Basketball. Everybody loves Kobe Bryant. Who Should Win: Revolting Rhymes
David: Who will Win: Dear Basketball. The weakest of the group but the cool factor of Kobe Bryant winning, plus a score by John Williams may be too hard to resist for Academy voters. Who Should Win: Garden Party appealed to my darker taste but Revolting Rhymes might be the best of a strong group.
Myrna: I am sad to say I missed the shorts this year
Mudbound
Best Cinematography:
Blade Runner 2049 Darkest Hour Dunkirk Mudbound The Shape of Water
Ari: Who will Win: The Shape of Water was tailor made for this category. Welcome to the Winners Circle Dan Laustsen. Who Should Win: I was really taken with the photography of Mudbound. Rachel Morrison really captured the feeling of a post WWII Mississippi farm.
David: Who will Win: Dan Laustsen, The Shape of Water Who Should Win: Blade Runner 2049.
Eddie: Who will Win: This will be the test to see how deep into The Shape of Water the Academy is. I think Dan Laustsen takes it for that visually sumptuous film. Who Should Win: I’m not mad at a The Shape of Water win, but did you see Blade Runner 2049? It was too beautiful to comprehend.
Myrna: Who will Win: Dan Laustsen forcapturing the gritty beauty of fantastical filmThe Shape of Water Who Should Win: The 14-time Oscar nominee Roger Deakins forthestunning Blade Runner 2049 and so many other films.
Phantom Thread
Best Costume Design:
Beauty and the Beast Darkest Hour Phantom Thread The Shape of Water Victoria & Abdul
Ari: Who will and should Win: Phantom Threadno contest. Dresses in the style of Charles James? I am so on board.
David: Who will and should win: Phantom Thread.
Eddie: Who will Win: I think this is where Phantom Thread picks up a win. It’s about clothes! (Well, not really.) Who Should Win: Phantom Thread.
Myrna: Who will Win and Who Should Win: Luis Sequeira for The Shape of Water. ‘Make it like a George Clooney of fish-men!’ – Guillermo del Toro
Faces Places
Best Documentary:
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail Faces Places Icarus Last Man in Aleppo Strong Island
Ari: Who will Win: Faces Places was a lighter film with beautiful imagery. I think it will probably get the award. Who Should Win: Yance Ford’s Strong Island was a brilliant depiction of injustice and racism in what is supposed to be a progressive place.
David: Who will and Should Win: Faces Places is unforgettable for finding the extraordinary beauty in ordinary people. It will be a treat to see Agnès Varda, the mother of the French New Wave win an Oscar.
Eddie: Who will Win: Faces Places Who Should Win: Last Man in Aleppo
Myrna: A difficult category but Faces Places will and should win. I am still haunted by the beautiful imagery of this documentary.
Baby Driver
Best Film Editing:
Baby Driver Dunkirk I, Tonya The Shape of Water Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Ari: Who will and should Win: Dunkirk.While it annoys me that Christopher Nolan always has to do something weird with time in his films, he does it brilliantly with the help of long-time collaborator Lee Smith. Not to mention he was robbed of a nomination for Inception.
David: Who will Win: I have a feeling that Baby Driver may be the upset here however, usually the best editing winner is also the best picture winner. So, I’m going with Dunkirk—what? Who Should Win: Baby Driver
Eddie: Who will Win & Should Win: Dunkirk, although the editing of I, Tonya was practically another lead character.
Myrna: Who will Win:Dunkirk for its amazing layering of time. Who Should Win: Baby Driver for being an action dance piece set to music.
A Fantastic Woman, Chile
Best Foreign Language Film:
A Fantastic Woman, Chile The Insult, Lebanon Loveless, Russia On Body and Soul, Hungary The Square, Sweden
Ari: Who will Win: A Fantastic Woman will probably resonate with Academy voters. Who Should Win: The Square
David: Who will Win: A Fantastic Woman. Who Should Win: I only saw The Square in this category and I don’t feel this one is strong enough to win.
Eddie: Who will Win & Should Win: The Square. That’s what you get for putting Elisabeth Moss in your movie!
Myrna: Who will Win and Who Should Win: The Square, Sweden
Heaven Is A Traffic Jam on the 405
Best Documentary Short:
Edith and Eddie Heaven Is A Traffic Jam on the 405 Heroin(e) Knife Skills Traffic Stop
Ari: Who will Win: Netflix should pick up its second win in this category for Heroin(e). Who Should Win: Heaven Is A Traffic Jam on the 405, even though I haven’t seen it, I would give it a win for the name.
David: Who will Win: word on the street (the web) is that this one will go to Heaven Is A Traffic Jam on the 405.
Myrna: Who will Win: Heroin(e)Who Should Win: Knife Skills a powerful film about second chances.
Watu Wote/All of Us
Best Live Action Short:
DeKalb Elementary The Eleven O’Clock My Nephew Emmett The Silent Child Watu Wote/All of Us
Ari: Who will Win: DeKalb Elementary, unfortunately, became all too real two weeks ago at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Who Should Win: The Silent Child really brought you into the world of the deaf.
David: Who will Win: DeKalb Elementary is actually the weakest of the group, but I think the subject will resonate with voters. Who Should Win: The Silent Child.
Myrna: This is a hard category, I liked all the nominees but I believe My Nephew Emmett will win but it is The Silent Child that should win for truly immersing us into the world of a deaf child.
Wonder
Best Makeup and Hairstyling:
Darkest Hour Victoria & Abdul Wonder
Ari: Who will and should Win: Darkest Hour for putting Gary Oldman in a fat suit.
David: Who will and should win: Darkest Hour. Gary Oldman’s transformation into Winston Churchill by David Malinkowski, Lucy Sibbick, Anita Burger was brilliant.
Eddie: Who will Win & Should Win: Darkest Hour. Don’t even talk to me about Wonder.
Myrna:Darkest Hour will win but I, Tonyashould win.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Best Original Score:
Dunkirk Phantom Thread The Shape of Water Star Wars: The Last Jedi Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Ari: Who will Win: Alexandre Desplat has been pulling in all of the pre-Oscar awards. I would expect him to take home the gold for The Shape of Water. Who Should Win: Hans Zimmer did a truly incredible job with this work on Dunkirk.
David: Who will Win: The Shape of Water. Who Should Win: This was a strong year for movie scores. I loved Jonny Greenwood’s score for Phantom Thread, it complements the lush visual textures of the film, but I have to go with Hans Zimmer’s score for Dunkirk, it was essential to the film.
Eddie: Who will & Should Win: Dunkirk because it’s the only score that defined the movie.
Myrna:Alexandre Desplat for The Shape of Waterwill win, deservedly so but the sonic wonder of Dunkirk could come in as an upset.
“This Is Me,” The Greatest Showman
Best Original Song:
“Mighty River,” Mudbound
“Mystery of Love,” Call Me By Your Name
“Remember Me,” Coco
“Stand Up For Something,” Marshall
“This Is Me,” The Greatest Showman
Ari: Who will Win: “This Is Me” from The Greatest Showman since it is so hummable. Who Should Win: “Remember Me” from Coco. I have loved Kristin Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez since Avenue Q.
David: Who will Win: “Remember Me,” Coco. Who Should Win: “Mystery of Love,” Call Me By Your Name.
Eddie: Who will Win: “Remember Me” Coco. Who Should Win: I’m actually humming “This Is Me” right now.
Myrna:“This Is Me,” The Greatest Showman will win, the Academy loves a good anthem but it’s “Remember Me,”Coco thathas my heart.
The Shape of Water
Best Production Design:
Beauty and the Beast Blade Runner 2049 Darkest Hour Dunkirk The Shape of Water
Ari: Who will and should Win: The Shape of Water was so visually stunning for both its cinematography and its production design. This one should take home the prize.
David: Who will Win: The Shape of Water Who Should Win: The Shape of Water
Eddie: Who will Win & Should Win: The production of The Shape of Water was almost too beautiful.
Myrna: The Shape of Water will win and should win. Guillermo del Toro’s and Paul Austerberry’s visual storytelling take us to a dreamy, romantic, fantastical world I never want to leave.
Dunkirk
Best Sound Editing:
Baby Driver Blade Runner 2049 Dunkirk The Shape of Water Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Ari: Who will and should Win: Dunkirk¸ full stop.
David: Who will and Should Win:Dunkirk
Eddie: Who will Win & Should Win:I couldn’t imagine a movie more deserving than Baby Driver… until I saw Dunkirk.
Myrna:Dunkirk will win but I am voting for Blade Runner 2049 and it’s wonderful use of silence.
Baby Driver
Best Sound Mixing:
Baby Driver Blade Runner 2049 Dunkirk The Shape of Water Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Ari: Who will and should Win: See above
David: Who will Win: Who Should Win:
Eddie: Who will Win & Should Win: Please see my above answer for film editing. Dunkirk.
Myrna: Dunkirk will win and it would be totally deserving but there was some special kind of magic going on in Baby Driver.
Blade Runner 2049
Best Visual Effects:
Blade Runner 2049 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Kong: Skull Island Star Wars: The Last Jedi War for the Planet of the Apes
Ari: Who will Win: I am going to go out on a limb and say Blade Runner 2049 will pick up this award, but I would not be surprised if War for the Planet of the Apes is victorious. Who Should Win: Blade Runner 2049
David: Who will Win: This one will go to the amazing motion capture performances of War for the Planet of the Apes. Who Should Win: I loved Blade Runner but I think the Apes have it.
Eddie: Who will Win: The sheer number of below-the-line nominations Blade Runner 2049 has received shows The Academy’s appreciation for the technical marvel. This will be a category where that appreciation pays off. Who Should Win: Is it crazy to say that sadly forgotten Kong: Skull Island?
Myrna: War for the Planet of the Apesthe last film in the trilogy will win but it really belongs to Blade Runner 2049with the Best Cinematography award for Roger Deakins.
The 90th Academy Awards will be announced on Sunday, March 4 on ABC. Join MoviefiedNYC for live streaming at @MoviefiedNYC
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