Well, that was interesting! This morning the Oscar nominations were announced by Kumail Nanjiani and Tracee Ellis Ross. As per usual, the Oscar nominations gave us some unexpected results. Let’s dive in.
Surprises
Roma
Roma, Alfonso Cuarón’s personal tale of a domestic worker living through political turmoil in Mexico, came out with a total of ten nominations. While it was widely thought that Roma would receive nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Foreign Language Film, it exceeded expectations by garnering nominations for Best Actress (Yalitza Aparicio) and Best Supporting Actress (Marina De Tavira). Aparicio is the first indigenous person to receive a Best Actress nomination in the history of the Oscars.
Willem Dafoe in At Eternity’s Gate
Willem Dafoe picked up a surprise Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh in At Eternity’s Gate. Critics has praised Dafoe’s performance, but this film has been well under the radar. The first most people heard about it was when Dafoe was nominated for a Golden Globe. However, Dafoe prevailed proving that being a strong part of a small film is a lucky niche for him (see last year’s The Florida Project).
Sam Elliott in A Star is Born
If you look at my predictions from yesterday, you will see that I did say that one of the nominees could be Sam Elliott for his work in A Star is Born. I didn’t really think it would happen, though. This is the 74 year-old’s first nomination. On a personal note, my mother was overjoyed to hear about this nomination. I am pretty sure I heard her “woohoo”.
Snubs
Timothee Chalamet in Beautiful Boy
The biggest snub this year, in my opini on, was Timothee Chalamet as Best Supporting Actor for Beautiful Boy. He has received nominations from every major pre-Oscar award this year, but he somehow failed to get a second nomination.
John David Washington in BlacKkKlansman
John David Washington has gained a lot of attention since BlacKkKlansman came out last summer. He received nominations for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA, so it wasn’t a stretch to think he would follow in his father’s footsteps (his dad is Denzel Washington) and become an Oscar nominee. Unfortunately, it was not to be.
Emily Blunt in A Quiet Place
Why can’t Emily Blunt catch a break?? For years she has teetered on the edge of receiving an Oscar nomination. From her breakthrough role in The Devil Wears Prada to the historical drama Young Victoria, she has been heralded by critics and received award nominations galore. But she just cannot crack the Oscar’s code. She gave two great performances this year in Mary Poppins Returns and A Quiet Place, but she did not receive a nomination.
What do you think? Were you surprised by Black Panther’s Best Picture nomination? Amazed that Netflix just released a Best Picture nominee (Roma)? Hoping that Ruth Bader Ginsburg will show up at the ceremony? Let us know in the comments below!
–Ariadne Ansbro
Full List below:
Green Book
Best Picture Black Panther BlacKkKlansman Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite Green Book Roma A Star Is Born Vice
Melissa McCarthy in Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Best Actress Yalitza Aparicio, Roma Glenn Close, The Wife
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Marina de Tavira in Roma
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Amy Adams, Vice
Marina de Tavira, Roma
Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone, The Favourite
Rachel Weisz, The Favourite
Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Actor Christian Bale, Vice
Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen, Green Book
Adam Driver in BlacKkKlansman
Best Actor in a Supporting Role Mahershala Ali, Green Book Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman
Sam Elliott, A Star Is Born
Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Sam Rockwell, Vice
Pawel Pawlikowski directing Cold War
Best Director Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman
Pawel Pawlikowski, Cold War
Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite
Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Adam McKay, Vice
First Reformed
Best Original Screenplay The Favourite (Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara) First Reformed (Paul Schrader) Green Book (Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly) Roma (Alfonso Cuarón) Vice (Adam McKay)
If Beale Street Could Talk
Best Adapted Screenplay The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (Joel Coen & Ethan Coen) BlacKkKlansman (Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott & Spike Lee) Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty) If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) A Star Is Born (Eric Roth and Bradley Cooper & Will Fetters)
Never Look Away
Best Cinematography Łukasz Żal, Cold War
Robbie Ryan,The Favourite
Caleb Deschanel, Never Look Away
Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Matthew Libatique, A Star Is Born
Black Panther
Best Production Design Black Panther The Favourite First Man Mary Poppins Returns Roma
The Favourite
Best Costume Design Mary Zophres, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Ruth Carter, Black Panther
Sandy Powell,The Favourite
Sandy Powell, Mary Poppins Returns
Alexandra Byrne,Mary Queen of Scots
Mary Queen of Scots
Best Makeup and Hairstyling Border (Göran Lundström and Pamela Goldammer) Mary Queen of Scots (Jenny Shircore, Marc Pilcher and Jessica Brooks) Vice (Greg Cannom, Kate Biscoe and Patricia DeHaney)
Isle of Dogs
Best Original Score Ludwig Goransson, Black Panther Terence Blanchard, BlacKkKlansman
Nicholas Britell, If Beale Street Could Talk
Alexandre Desplat,Isle of Dogs
Marc Shaiman,Mary Poppins Returns
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Best Original Song “All the Stars,” Black Panther “I’ll Fight,” RBG
“The Place Where Lost Things Go,” Mary Poppins Returns
“Shallow,” A Star Is Born
“When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings,” The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
BlacKkKlansman
Best Film Editing BlacKkKlansman Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite Green Book Vice
A Quiet Place
Best Sound Editing Black Panther Bohemian Rhapsody First Man A Quiet Place Roma
A Star is Born
Best Sound Mixing Black Panther Bohemian Rhapsody First Man Roma A Star Is Born
Christopher Robin
Best Visual Effects Avengers: Infinity War Christopher Robin First Man Ready Player One Solo: A Star Wars Story
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Best Animated Feature Film Incredibles 2 Isle of Dogs Mirai Ralph Breaks the Internet Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Shoplifters
Best Foreign-Language Film Capernaum Cold War Never Look Away Roma Shoplifters
RBG
Best Documentary Feature Free Solo Hale County This Morning, This Evening Minding the Gap Of Fathers and Sons RBG
Period. End of Sentence.
Best Documentary Short Subject Black Sheep End Game Lifeboat A Night at the Garden Period. End of Sentence.
Late Afternoon
Best Animated Short Film Animal Behaviour Bao Late Afternoon One Small Step Weekends
Detainment
Best Live-Action Short Film Detainment Fauve Marguerite Mother Skin
Well, my little award show junkies, it is almost that time. The Oscar nominations are set to come out at an ungodly hour tomorrow morning. Prognosticators, like myself, have been waiting for this moment since the Golden Globe nominations came out in mid-December. We have studied the various guild award nominations, plugged all of the information into spreadsheets, put it through the super-secret computer program, and now we will let you all know what films will turn into “Oscar nominees”. Let’s get started
Best Actor
Christian Bale, ViceJohn David Washington, BlacKkKlansmanBradley Cooper, A Star is BornRami Malek, Bohemian RhapsodyViggo Mortensen, Green Book
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Christian Bale, Vice
Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born
Viggo Mortensen, Green Book
John David Washington, BlacKkKlansman
Rami Malek and Christian Bale both won Golden Globes earlier this month for their portrayals of Freddie Mercury and Dick Chaney, respectively. They are sure things in this category. Bradley Cooper will probably pick up his fourth acting nomination for his work in A Star is Born. It is entirely possible that he will also pick up a nomination for Best Director. While Green Bookwas largely forgotten by audiences, the critics and guilds have been bestowing heaps of praise and nominations on it. I would not be surprised if Viggo Mortensen is nominated for the film. The last spot will probably go to John David Washington for his work in BlacKkKlansman. If there is an upset, it could go to either Steve Coogan or John C. Riley who portray Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in Stan and Ollie. I don’t think that will happen, as this film has not received much attention from American audiences and has not had a wide release. Lucas Hedges also might sneak in for his work in Boy Erased.
Best Actress
Glenn Close, The WifeMelissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?Lady Gaga, A Star is BornOlivia Coleman, The FavouriteEmily Blunt, Mary Poppins Returns
Glenn Close, The Wife
Lady Gaga, A Star is Born
Olivia Coleman, The Favourite
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Emily Blunt, Mary Poppins Returns
I am going to get on my soapbox for a moment and just say why hasn’t Glenn Close won an Oscar yet??? I am hoping this is her year. She is all but guaranteed to receive her seventh Oscar nomination for her work in The Wife. Seven might be her lucky number (fingers crossed). Lady Gaga will probably pick up a acting nomination along with a nomination for Best Song for her work in A Star is Born. Olivia Coleman is perfectly horrid as a spoiled version of Queen Anne in The Favourite and Oscar will recognize her for it. Melissa McCarthy took a dramatic turn this year in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, the story of forger Lee Israel. She continues to be nominated for awards for this work (most recently she was nominated for a BAFTA) so she will pick up a nomination on Tuesday morning. The fifth spot is the hardest to call. Emily Blunt was nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG for her work in Mary Poppins Returns, so I am going to go with her. However, Viola Davis might steal the spot for her work in Widowsor Nicole Kidman’s work in The Destroyermay push her to a nomination.
Best Supporting Actor
Sam Rockwell, ViceMahershala Ali, Green BookTimothee Chalamet, Beautiful BoyRichard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman
Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Timothee Chalamet, Beautiful Boy
Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman
Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Sam Rockwell, Vice
The first four are pretty sure bets at this point. All four have received Golden Globe, SAG, and BAFTA nominations. I would really be surprised to hear that one of them didn’t make the list. That leaves one last spot. This will either go to Sam Rockwell for his portrayal of George W. Bush in Vice or Sam Elliott for A Star is Born. Both films have a lot of momentum going into the Oscars. Sam Elliott is a seasoned actor who has never received a nomination and Rockwell is coming off an Oscar win for last year’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. If I have to choose, I am going to say Rockwell. Oscar loves portrayals of real people, and that is Rockwell in this instance.
Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, ViceEmma Stone, The FavouriteRegina King, If Beale Street Could TalkRachel Weisz, The FavouriteMargot Robbie, Mary Queen of Scots
Emma Stone, The Favourite
Rachel Weisz, The Favourite
Amy Adams, Vice
Margot Robbie, Mary Queen of Scots
Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Stone, Weisz, and Adams have all been nominated for the major awards thus far. I would say they are the sure thing when it comes to the Oscars. The other two spots could go a number of different directions. Regina King won the Golden Globe for If Beale Street Could Talk, but the film has not gained much traction since that win. She did not receive a SAG nomination which is a huge blow to her odds of winning or even being nominated. Margot Robbie missed a Golden Globe nomination, but she did receive ones for the SAGs and the BAFTAs. Emily Blunt was widely praised for her work in A Quiet Placeearlier this year and was nominated for a SAG. If she misses a nomination for Mary Poppinsthis might be her condolence prize. Finally, Clare Foy has been nominated for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for playing Neil Armstrong’s wife, Janet, in First Man. I am going to pick Robbie and King as the final two nominees in this category.
Best Picture
The FavoriteRomaViceA Star is BornCrazy Rich AsiansBohemian RhapsodyBlack PantherGreen BookBlacKkKlansmanIf Beale Street Could Talk
The Favourite
Vice
Green Book
A Star is Born
Bohemian Rhapsody
Roma
BlacKkKlansman
Black Panther
Crazy Rich Asians
If Beale Street Could Talk
The Oscars may nominate anywhere from five to ten films each year for Best Picture. The first seven films I have listed above have great chances for being Best Picture nominees. The last three are real stretches, however, this is the whole reason for the Academy’s rule allowing up to 10 Best Picture nominees. Black Pantherhas received rave reviews throughout the year, and has been nominated for multiple awards including the Producers Guild Award. Crazy Rich Asians was a feel-good comedy based off of the best-selling novel. The film was as winning as the book with audiences and critics. Even though comedies are usually brushed to the side when it comes to Best Picture, this could be one that breaks the mold. Beale Street started off strong with multiple Golden Globe nominations, however, it hasn’t been heard of very much since then. It did get a Producers Guild nomination, which could remind people about the film.
The nominations will be announced tomorrow morning at 8:20 am ET/5:20 am PT by Kumail Nanjiani and Tracee Ellis Ross.
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
The Academy Award is the most coveted award in the film industry. When one receives this award, it translates to more parts, more fame, and bragging rights that for one year, “I was the best.” Or not. Since its inception, the Academy Awards have been known to be a bit of a popularity contest. This is not to say that it doesn’t get it right sometimes (Vivien Leigh winning for Best Actress in Gone with the Wind, Schindler’s List winning Best Picture, etc.). However, the Oscar prognosticators spend time analyzing the awards and looking to see who the Academy deems the most popular for that year, but not necessarily the best. There are classic Oscar missteps that have been addressed by many (see Shakespeare in Love winning for Best Picture instead of Saving Private Ryan or How Green was My Valley winning Best Picture over Citizen Kane). For this Throwback Thursday, managing editor John David West and awards season guru Ariadne Ansbro look back at some of the lesser known Oscar mistakes and tell you who they think should have won.
From top left: Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday, Bette Davis in All About Eve, and Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd.
1950 Best Actress
Judy Holliday, Born Yesterday
Anne Baxter, All About Eve
Bette Davis, All About Eve
Eleanor Parker, Caged
Gloria Swanson, Sunset Blvd.
Ari’s pick: This is a tough one for me. Judy Holliday was excellent at playing the dizzy blond Billie Dawn who starts to receive an education in Born Yesterday, but she was not even in the same league as Bette Davis or Gloria Swanson. Pitting Davis and Swanson against each other in career defining roles is an almost impossible choice. However, I am paid to make impossible choices, so I would have to say that the winner that year should have been Bette Davis. Her performance in All About Eve was the stuff of legends. Can you imagine anyone else saying, “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”?
David’s pick: Judy Holliday? Holliday is solid as Billie Dawn, the same role she played on Broadway, but let’s have a reality check here: Bette Davis in All About Eve and Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd. Choosing between those two is unfair (like Meryl Streep and Jessica Lange in 1982)—and that’s probably why Holliday won. They cancelled each other out. Since life is unfair, I’m going to make a choice and say that the 1950 Best Actress should have gone to Gloria Swanson for her larger than life performance in Sunset Blvd. Her movie icon status was solidified when she said, “All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.”
Charlton Heston in Ben-Hur and Jack Lemmon in Some Like it Hot
1959 Best Actor
Charlton Heston, Ben-Hur
Jack Lemmon, Some Like it Hot
James Stewart, Anatomy of a Murder
Laurence Harvey, Room at the Top
Paul Muni, The Last Angry Man
Ari’s pick: I am going to start by saying one of the most unpopular things I could ever say: I don’t like Ben-Hur. This does not mean that I cannot see past my dislike for a film, yet see the brilliance in a performance (i.e. Peter O’Toole in Lawrence of Arabia, don’t hate me). However, Charlton Heston played Charlton Heston. He was the exact same tough guy that he played in every movie before, and all of the Bible epics he did after. Laurence Harvey was wonderful in Room at the Top. I generally think that Harvey is an actor who is largely forgotten about, mostly due to his untimely death at age 45. James Stewart really played against type in Anatomy of a Murder as a slightly dubious defense attorney who defends a man accused of murder. In the end, I have to go with Jack Lemmon in Some Like it Hot. There are so many great things in this film, but Lemmon is a true stand out. Sadly, Oscar is not big on honoring comedic performances.
David’s pick: I have to confess, I’m not familiar with many in this category and not a fan of the tediously long Ben-Hur. My choice is Jack Lemmon in Some Like it Hot for his comic performance as a musician who is forced to dress as a woman in order to hide from the mob. It’s a solid iconic comic performance in one of cinemas great classic comedies.
Patty Duke in The Miracle Worker and Angela Lansbury in The Manchurian Candidate
1962 Best Supporting Actress
Patty Duke, The Miracle Worker
Angela Lansbury, The Manchurian Candidate
Mary Badham, To Kill a Mockingbird
Shirley Knight, Sweet Bird of Youth
Thelma Ritter, Birdman of Alcatraz
Ari’s pick: Patty Duke won an Oscar for her role as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker. This film was poised to pick up acting Oscars for both Duke and Anne Bancroft in the lead actress category, as the Oscars love to reward people for playing real people and characters who must overcome some sort of physical or mental disability (check and check). The problem is that years later, the performance that stands out the most in this category is Angela Lansbury in The Manchurian Candidate. These days it is hard to think of Lansbury playing someone so diabolical. Lansbury’s performance is so memorable that AFI named her portrayal of Mrs. John Iselin as one of the 50 best villains of all time.
David’s pick: Of all the fine supporting performances in 1962, it’s Angela Lansbury in The Manchurian Candidate, who should have won for her performance as the cold and calculating, communist agent who is part of a plot to brainwash her son to commit murder. Yes, that’s right, our beloved Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote played an evil communist operative. It’s an unforgettable performance that still holds up today. It’s a damn shame that Lansbury was overlooked for her most deserving Oscar.
Geraldine Page in A Trip to Bountiful and Whoppi Goldberg in The Color Purple
1985 Best Actress
Geraldine Page, A Trip to Bountiful
Anne Bancroft, Agnes of God
Jessica Lange, Sweet Dreams
Meryl Streep, Out of Africa
Whoopi Goldberg, The Color Purple
Ari’s pick: Over the years, the Academy has given out awards to actors for their body of work instead of their individual performance in the film for which they are nominated. For example, Henry Fonda for On Golden Pond and Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart. Both are fine performances, but no one would say that those were necessarily the “best” performances of their careers. Geraldine Page’s win in 1985 is much the same. She had been nominated seven times prior to this win and, as it turned out, didn’t have much longer to live (she died in 1987). So the Academy felt that it was her time. I don’t. Whoopi Goldberg should have won for The Color Purple. She was perfect as a woman trapped due to her circumstance, who eventually learns to find her voice. The Color Purple was nominated for 11 Oscars, and didn’t win any. What a shame.
David’s pick: This is a tough one for me because I’m pretty happy with Geraldine Page, but I have to admit that her Best Actress win does kind of feel like a lifetime achievement award. Streep and Lange are fantastic, and I was almost ready to go with Lange as Patsy Cline. But I have to go with Whoopi Goldberg for her breakout performance in The Color Purple. She was the most authentic and heartbreaking thing in a film that tended to be a bit stagy, over the top, and even silly; Goldberg kept it real.
Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive and Ralph Fiennes in Schindler’s List
1993 Best Supporting Actor
Tommy Lee Jones, The Fugitive
Leonardo DiCaprio, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?
Ralph Fiennes, Schindler’s List
John Malkovich, In the Line of Fire
Pete Postlethwaite, In the Name of the Father
Ari’s pick: This is a great category. Each of these performances were so intricate and mesmerizing that they are all memorable. However, there was one that was better than all the rest: Ralph Fiennesin Schindler’s List. In life, most people are not all good or all evil; everyone has nuance. Fiennes plays Amon Goeth as an evil, conniving, murderous bastard, but he also shows a human side to him. Fiennes was asked about how he could play Goeth as a human being and not as a mustache twirling villain. He said, “I mean, I could make a judgment myself privately, this is a terrible, evil, horrific man. But the job was to portray the man, the human being. There’s a sort of banality, that everydayness, that I think was important.” The best scene that illustrates this is when he attempts to show a human side and does not immediately punish a Jewish worker for not getting the stains off his bathtub. Watch it here.
David’s pick: 1993 was a great year at the Oscar, and this category is a difficult one. There’s not one clunker here. But Tommy Lee Jones Oscar for The Fugitive feels like he won for one of those big performances that inspires Academy voters to award more for career achievement than a specific performance. Without a doubt the Oscar should have gone to Ralph Fiennes in Schindler’s List as Amon Goeth, a Nazi concentration camp commandant. His portrayal of Amon was not just a two-dimensional evil Nazi that’s a pleasure to hate, but rather he played him with depth and complexity, which adds a level of tension and intensity.
Saoirse Ronan (with James McAvoy) in Atonement (2007)
We begin our celebration of Oscar season by celebrating the previous films of this year’s nominees. Saoirse Ronan is celebrating her third nomination this year for her performance in Lady Bird. Ronan is the second youngest woman (behind Jennifer Lawrence) to receive three nominations. Ronan received her first nomination at age 13 for her role as the little girl you love to hate in Atonement (2007).
They’re heeeeeeeeeere! That’s right, the Oscar nominations have come in. As usual, there were some surprises and some snubs that I may never forgive. Obviously, I have a masochistic relationship with the Oscars.
The Shape of Water
The Shape of Water received 13 nominations including Best Picture, Best Director (Guillermo del Toro), Best Actress (Sally Hawkins), Best Supporting Actor (Richard Jenkins), and Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer). This was followed by the wartime drama Dunkirk with eight nominations. Dunkirk received nominations in mostly technical categories, but it did receive nominations for Best Picture and Best Director (Christopher Nolan). SAG Awards darling Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri followed with seven nominations. As predicted, Three Billboards received nominations for Best Actress (Frances McDormand), Best Supporting Actor (Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson), and Best Picture.
Jordan Peele directing Get Out
After being snubbed at the Golden Globes, both Jordan Peele and Greta Gerwig were nominated in the Best Director category for their work on Get Out and Lady Bird, respectively. They also both received nominations in the Best Original Screenplay category. Gerwig is only the fifth woman to ever be nominated in this category, and the first woman nominated in eight years. Lady Bird made out pretty well, scoring nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress (Saoirse Ronan), and Best Supporting Actress (Laurie Metcalf). Similarly, Get Out was nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor (Danial Kaluuya).
Tom Hanks in The Post
Even though he received nominations for a Golden Globe and a SAG Award, I was not expecting to see Denzel Washington amongst the nominees for his work in Roman J. Israel, Esq. This is his eighth acting nomination and ninth career nomination (he received a nomination as a producer on last year’s Fences). Roman J. Israel, Esq. hit theaters back in November with little to no fanfare. The film itself received middling reviews scoring only 49% on Rotten Tomatoes. While I adore Denzel, I was rather disappointed that Tom Hanks wasn’t nominated. His work in The Post was well crafted, and definitely worthy of a nomination. The other surprise in the Best Actor category was the omission of James Franco for his work in The Disaster Artist. A nomination for Franco’s portrayal of The Room actor/director/producer Tommy Wiseau was widely considered a lock until the Golden Globes. After winning the award for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy, he was accused of sexual misconduct by several women who worked with him at his acting school. The nominations were accepted through January 19, so I would guess that it significantly hurt his chances of receiving a second nomination.
Lesley Manville in Phantom Thread
The omission of Holly Hunter in the Best Supporting Actress category astonishes me. She was divine in The Big Sick as the mother of a young woman in a coma attempting to bond with her daughter’s ex-boyfriend. On the plus side, The Big Sick did receive a nomination for Best Original Screenplay. For those of you who are unaware, the film is based on the real life romance of writers Kumail Nanjiani (who also starred in the film) and his wife, Emily V. Gordon. Octavia Spencer’s nomination did not seem to be earned to me. In The Shape of Water, she played a very similar character to the one she played in last year’s Hidden Figures. Since she received a nomination for that film as well, I would guess that it is a formula that works for her. British actress Lesley Manville surprised everyone by slipping into the Best Supporting Actress category for her role as the sister and business partner of couturier Reynolds Woodcock (fellow nominee Daniel Day-Lewis) in The Phantom Thread. Her inclusion in this category kicked out Downsizing’s Hong Chau.
Also, KOBE BRYANT RECEIVED A NOMINATION! His animated short film Dear Basketball was nominated. Wow, just wow.
The 90th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will be presented on March 4, 2018 on ABC.
-Ariadne Ansbro
Full List of Nominees:
Get Out
BEST PICTURE Call Me By Your Name Darkest Hour Dunkirk
Get Out
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Denzel Washington in 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.
Margot Robbie in I, Tonya
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
Greta Gerwig directing Lady Bird
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
Octavia Spencer in The Shape of Water
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
Richard Jenkins, 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
Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Logan
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
The Big Sick
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
Dunkirk
PRODUCTION DESIGN Beauty and the Beast
Blade Runner 2049 Darkest Hour Dunkirk The Shape of Water
Mudbound
CINEMATOGRAPHY Blade Runner 2049 Darkest Hour Dunkirk Mudbound The Shape of Water
Phantom Thread
COSTUME DESIGN Beauty and the Beast
Darkest Hour
Phantom Thread The Shape of Water Victoria & Abdul
Blade Runner 2049
SOUND EDITING Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049 Dunkirk The Shape of Water Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Baby Driver
SOUND MIXING Baby Driver Blade Runner 2049 Dunkirk The Shape of Water Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The Shape of Water
ORIGINAL SCORE Dunkirk Phantom Thread The Shape of Water Star Wars: The Last Jedi Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Kong: Skull Island
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
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
FILM EDITING Baby Driver Dunkirk I, Tonya The Shape of Water Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Victoria & Abdul
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING Darkest Hour
Victoria & Abdul Wonder
The Insult
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM A Fantastic Woman, Chile The Insult, Lebanon Loveless, Russia On Body and Soul, Hungary The Square, Sweden
Marshall
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
Loving Vincent
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM The Boss Baby The Breadwinner Coco Ferdinand Loving Vincent
Last Man in Aleppo
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Abacus: Small Enough to Jail Faces Places Icarus Last Man in Aleppo Strong Island
Dear Basketball
ANIMATED SHORT FILM Dear Basketball Garden Party Lou Negative Space Revolting Rhymes
My Nephew Emmett
LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM DeKalb Elementary The Eleven O’Clock My Nephew Emmett The Silent Child Watu Wote/All of Us
Edith and Eddie
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT Edith and Eddie Heaven Is A Traffic Jam on the 405 Heroin(e) Knife Skills Traffic Stop
It’s almost here! The nominations for the 90th Academy Awards will be announced tomorrow morning. The question that hangs in the air is, of course, who will get a nomination? With the Golden Globes, Critics Circle Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Producers Guild Awards all bestowing their honors in the past few weeks, the front-runners have emerged. However, there is always that dark horse that sneaks in at the last second (I’m looking at you Michael Shannon!). Here are my predictions for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.
Best Picture
Call Me By Your Name
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Get Out
Lady Bird
The Post
The Big Sick
Wonder Woman
The problem with this category is that the number of available spots varies from year to year. Since the Academy changed the rule regarding the number of Best Picture nominations (it can be anywhere between five and ten), the number has gone from nine to eight to seven. I am going to choose nine this year. The locks are Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Shape of Water, Lady Bird, and Call Me By Your Name. Get Out and Dunkirk are also pretty safe bets. Both have been nominated for Golden Globes, Producers Guild Awards, and Critics Circle Awards. They were also both on the AFI list of the best films of the year. The Post has the pedigree of an Oscar winner, however, its late release caused it to be completely blocked out of the SAG Awards. Other than the SAG shut out, it has been nominated for all of the major pre-Oscar awards. This leaves a couple more spots. I, Tonya was nominated for a Producers Guild Award and a Golden Globe, however, it received no love from the Critics Circle, AFI, or the BAFTAs. The unevenness of the film is probably what will keep it from being nominated in this category. The Florida Project is too small a film to get much more than an acting nomination this year. It has picked up a few nominations, but nothing prestigious, which makes me think that it probably will be left off this list. The Big Sick was widely acclaimed when it came out in the middle of the year. Surprisingly, it was noticeably absent from the Golden Globe nominations. It did gain some ground when it was nominated for almost every other award, excluding the BAFTAs. That leaves the real dark horse: Wonder Woman. The film has received nominations from the Producers Guild, the Critics Circle, and AFI. However, Oscar does not look kindly upon action movies. But, who knows? It may sneak in.
Best Actor
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
James Franco, The Disaster Artist
Timothée Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name
Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out
Tom Hanks, The Post
Gary Oldman went through four hours of make-up and donned a fat suit to portray one of the greatest figures of the 20th Century. That is basically Oscar porn. He’s a lock. Newcomer Timothée Chalamet has received raves for his work in Call Me By Your Name, and he has been nominated more times than I can count for this role. Daniel Kaluuya, the star of the hit horror film Get Out is also primed for a nomination. If you asked me two weeks ago, I would have said that the only maybe on this list would have been Tom Hanks. However, the recent allegations of sexual misconduct that James Franco has received put his nomination in jeopardy. The voting closed one week after the allegations surfaced, so he may have taken a big hit. I thought Tom Hanks was fantastic in The Post. It was not a normal role for him, and he really knocked it out of the park. However, he did not receive SAG or BAFTA nominations. I am going all in with Hanks, but Daniel Day-Lewis may edge his way in for his work in The Phantom Thread.
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
The first four ladies on this list can probably sleep in tomorrow, since it is pretty obvious that they will all receive a nomination for their strong work this year. The only one I am not completely confident about is Meryl Streep. However, every time I think that she will not receive another nomination I am proven wrong. I have learned my lesson: never bet against the Streep.
Best Supporting Actor
Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project
Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water
Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World
Sam Rockwell is going to win the Oscar for his tour-de-force performance in Three Billboards. Done. Period. Nothing more to be said. If he has competition, it would be Willem Dafoe for his work as a motel manager in The Florida Project. Richard Jenkins has received much acclaim for his role as the closeted neighbor of the mute Eliza in The Shape of Water, so he will probably receive his second Oscar nomination tomorrow. That leaves two spots. Woody Harrelson was a great foil to Rockwell’s character in Three Billboards, but he may not be recognized next to Rockwell. I am going to bet on him, though. That film will probably walk away with a bunch of nominations, and I can see it receiving two in this category. All of the controversy that has surrounded All the Money In the World will probably propel Christopher Plummer to a third Oscar nomination. He was fantastic in the role, and when you add in the fact that he was cast, and filmed the whole thing in about a week, it will probably push him over the edge and into the category.
Best Supporting Actress
Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Mary J. Blige, Mudbound
Hong Chau, Downsizing
Holly Hunter, The Big Sick
This is another one of those categories where the first four actress are almost guaranteed to receive a nomination. These names have been bandied about for months now, and tomorrow morning they will finally see all of their hard work pay off. That leaves one spot. I am going to give it to Holly Hunter in The Big Sick. The Academy loves her, and she had the perfect blend of humor, love, strength, and fight in what could have been a one note role.