What a mess of a year. And in all that white noise, there were a number of important films that do not get duly recognized. One of the most unfortunate film victims of this changing time in Hollywood was perhaps First Man, a biopic about a white stoic man being sent to the Moon. It's a tremendous technical marvel, and a deeply emotional film that only hits at the very end (so it appears for the most part to be cold and distant, reflecting the man that he was). There were other gems swept aside as well, but I suppose I should celebrate the success of some unexpected films, namely Spiderman and A quiet place. It took a while to get around to writing, but here it is. I hope to give some internet love to the ones that deserve to be heard here, and that years from now one can look back at 2018 as a year of the greats.
The Wild Pear Tree
CINEMAPS' TOP 10
01. Ahlat Ağacı (The wild pear tree; Ceylan) ****1/2 Tree comes off the screen as dense as literature, and as a visually spectacular and expansive film as any moving epic. Time does past, and it's as unexpectedly surreal as life at times. A film for troubled times, and for those who struggle to change and find themselves back where they started for brand new lessons.
02. First Man (Chazelle) ****1/2 I saw this in IMAX and it was worth every penny. The experience of watching it was so, so tense that I found myself being literally physically stressed at times. Gosling's acting is precise, as usual, and Foy carries her part well. Damien's best seems to also be most ignored, which is a shame because the film really is deeply moving and an important account of the risks these amazing people put themselves in to push beyond the bounds of our obvious limits.
03. Roma (Cuarón) ****1/2 What a marvelous time capsule for Cuarón and all those who had the nurturing love of a supposed stranger growing up - be it a nanny or a babysitter. Beautifully and sensitively rendered - it is big time epic. Beware though, lots of dog crap!
04. Annihilation (Garland) **** Part Aliens, part psychedelic psy-fi, all Garland. It's simultaneously a story about a personal journey of a woman into herself, and a story of humanity struggling to right itself in the world. Everything here is startlingly darker and more beautiful than you'd expect. There's a sequence with a particular beast that is the stuff of total nightmares. You've been warned.
05. Widows (McQueen) **** Unlike Ocean's 8, Widows delivers on the promise of a proper action film that treats women like people who matter. It is exciting, tense, and dangerous in all the right ways. McQueen outlines the women's relegated characters in broad strokes, and gives them space to fill the screen with their character's anger, anguish, and determination. This has become one of my favourite heist films, regardless of the gender of the protagonist. That's such a pleasure to say.
06. Beoning (Burning; Lee) **** Expect Lynchian-like throughline, if you're not familiar with the strange metaphysical world of Haruki Murakami. It's a lot of fun to dissect the many mysteries it offers, and viewers are asked to be patient as it lucidly moves through unexpected turns. Steven Yeun is an inspired casting choice here.
07. Mademoiselle de Joncquieres (Mouret)***1/2 A fun and breathtakingly beautiful tapestry of romance and revenge. The story is beside the point - the storytelling is the point. If you delight in witty bantering, this is a delicious feast for you.
08. The Favourite (Lanthimos)***1/2 This is the most straight forward Lanthimos film yet, and another great outing for one of his regulars, the wonderful Rachel Weisz. This time, he adds the heartbreaking Olivia Colman, and the spunky Emma Stone for good measures. Tremendous fun - expect a generous helping of woozy fish eye lens shots and pointed physical (if not a little juvenile) comedy.
09. Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse (Ramsey, Persichetti, & Rothman) ***1/2 An unexpectedly on-point interpretation of the Spiderman spirit - a distinct sweetness colours both its dramatic and comedic turns, imbuing emotional heft that belies an animated superhero film such as this. In other words, I cried and laughed a lot.
10. A quiet place (Krasinski) ***1/2 Oh Emily Blunt. Is there any genre you can't do? I had such a fun time waiting to be scared at the theatre. To its credit, the 'silence' gimmick seems to be a starting point rather than the whole story. This is an affirming film for loving parents everywhere.
Widows
Grin and Pulse The most fun I had watching a movie this past year
First Man
Avengers: Infinity war
Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse
Widows
A quiet place
Frames Impressive, memorable staging of a shot or series of shots
Cruising and descending on the moon, First Man
The 'confrontation', Burning
New York battle, Avengers: infinity war / Washroom brawl, Mission impossible: Fallout / the heist, Widows
Hatice meeting Sinan, talking shots interspersed with silence, The Wild Pear Tree
Through-the-window, framed by rustling trees shot of the artist looking at his canvas, Never look away
Director Confident storytelling, with a touch of "wow"
Nuri Bilge Ceylan, The wild pear tree
Damien Chazelle, First Man
Lee Chang-Dong, Burning
Alex Garland,Annihilation
Alfonso Cuaron, Roma
Olivia Colman in The Favourite
Performance I feel you
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Bradley Cooper, A star is born
Ryan Gosling, First Man
Viggo Mortensen, Green book Mahershala Ali, Green book Zain al Rafeea, Capernaum
Matej Zemljic, Consequences
Emily Blunt, A quiet place
Joanna Kulig, Cold War
Regina King, If Beale street could talk
Special mention: not an acting performance, but made me feel so much anyway
Fred Rogers, Won't you be my neighbor?
Writing Create interesting, layered, cohesive universe; would make for a great read on its own
Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Ebru Ceylan & Akin Aksu, The wild pear tree
Emmanuel Mouret, Mademoiselle de Joncquieres
Alex Garland, Annihilation
Oh Jung-mi & Lee Chang-dong, Burning
Olivier Assayas, Non-fiction
Burning
Editing Interesting, effective cuts and stitches that support and move the story visually
First man
Widows
The wild pear tree
Burning
Monrovia, Indiana
Cinematography Takes my breath away
The Wild Pear Tree
Roma
Mademoiselle de Joncquieres
Cold War
First reformed
Mademoiselle de Joncquieres
Art Direction / Production Design Transportive, impactful set design
Annihilation
The Favourite
Black Panther
Mademoiselle de Joncquieres
Loro
Effects Movie Magic
Annihilation
First man
Avengers: Infinity War
Ant man and the Wasp
Isle of Dogs
Sound Amplify the visuals and enrich my sensory experience
First Man
A quiet place
Roma
Widows
A star is born
Score Was it memorable?
First Man
Cold War
Isle of dogs
Widows
Stray comments:
- Buckets of tears ranking: Won't you be my neighbor, Spiderman: into the Spiderverse, First Man, A star is born, Roma
- So glad to see such a weird sci-fi picture featuring black protagonists in Sorry to Bother You
- Cooper bested Gaga
- The action films this past year were on point - Henry Caville in Mission Impossible was just impeccable.
- Man, do I hate Ocean's 8.
Uncharted Films I'm intending to see that could make a dent on the list above
The rider
Eight grade
Can you ever forgive me?
Suspiria
Vox Lux
Paddington 2
Leave no trace
Minding the gap
The sisters brothers
Charted Ranked out of *****
****1/2
The wild pear tree (Ceylan)
First Man (Chazelle)
Roma (Cuarón)
****
Annihilation (Garland)
Widows (McQueen)
Burning (Lee)
Mademoiselle de Joncquieres (Mouret)
The Favourite (Lanthimos)
***1/2
Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse (Ramsey, Persichetti, & Rothman)
A quiet place (Krasinski)
Shoplifters (Kore-eda)
Mission Impossible: Fallout (McQuarrie)
Avengers: Infinity war (Russo)
Sorry to bother you (Riley)
First reformed (Schrader)
Hereditary (Aster)
Cold war (Pawlikowski)
The ballad of Buster Scruggs (Coen)
If Beale street could talk (Jenkins)
Monrovia, Indiana (Wiseman)
Hold the dark (Saulnier)
Border (Abbasi)
Consequences (Štante)
Free Solo (Chin &Vasarhelyi)
***
A star is born (Cooper)
Won't you be my neighbor? (Neville)
Non-fiction (Assayas)
High life (Denis)
Green book (Farelly)
BlacKkKlansman (Lee)
Isle of dogs (Anderson)
Black Panther (Coogler)
Solo: a Star Wars story (Howard)
**1/2
Incredibles 2 (Bird)
Deadpool 2 (Leitch)
Antman and the Wasp (Reed)
Loro (Sorrentino)
Bad times at the El Royal (Godard)
Red sparrow (Lawrence)
3 faces (Panahi)
Museo (Ruizpalacios)
Capernaüm (Labaki)
The hate u give (Tillman, Jr.)
Tomb raider (Uthaug)
**
Game night (Daley & Goldstein)
Werk ohne Autor (Never look away; von Donnersmarck)
The spy who dumped me (Fogel)
Ready player one (Spielberg)
Ash is purest white (Jia)
Winchester (Spierig & Spierig)
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (Bayona)
Vice (McKay)
The following prediction depends on one version of the night, the one in which Green Book's controversies catch up to it and it loses all that it's up for. The film should have had this in the bag, but we're in a different time, and this version is going to mark this change in the sand. The other version brings us back to more a more aw-shucks Oscars year, so brace yourself for a very bad time if it wins. It'll be better for everyone if it loses, including for the film itself. I would really hate to read anything follow up on that alternate universe version of the night. My friend Griz's predictions in purple. PICTURE
Roma Alt. BlacKkKlansman
Once upon a time, The Favourite had a chance. That was before people got to the bunny ending. Sadly, the mass is not ready for that, and most importantly, neither is the Academy. Admired and respected, yes. Awarded best pic? What's that Spike Lee film?
Green Book Alt. Roma
DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuaron Alt. Spike Lee
It's possible for Spike to strike here, depending on how American leaning the Academy is going to go. I wouldn't be too surprised, as Cuaron already got an Oscar recently.
Alfonso Cuaron - Roma Alt. Spike Lee - BlacKkKlansman
ACTRESS
Glenn Close - The Wife Alt. Olivia Colman
So sad that Glenn Close is going to win this for being due and Olivia is going to lose it for not being due (and actually being amazing and memorable in a great role). Nonetheless, I'm glad Olivia had her time in the sun before tomorrow. What a gal.
Glenn Close - The Wife Alt. Olivia Colman - The Favourite
ACTOR
Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody Alt. Christian Bale
I guess it's a forgone conclusion. Rami is a sweet guy, but who would've thunk he'd be where he's at today, a shoo-in for best actor?
Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody Alt. Christian Bale - Vice
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Regina King - If Beale Street Could Win Alt. Rachel Weisz - The Favourite
A hard category to favour, but I'm going to give it to King for a beautiful motherly portrayal.
Regina King - If Beale Street Could Talk Alt. Rachel Weisz - The Favourite
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali - Green Book Alt. Richard E. Grant - Can you ever forgive me?
I can't believe Ali is about to have two statues. He's got some very productive roles in the past few years huh?
Mahershala Ali - Green Book Alt. Richard E. Grant - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Favourite Alt. Green Book
The Favourite should win this, and it would be bad for Green Book to win here. But obviously without a win here, the film would be less likely to win Best Picture with just one other win (Ali)? I guess it means if you're going to ride Green Book, you're going to ignore the favourite here (haha pun).
Green Book Alt. The Favourite
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
BlacKkKlansman Alt. Can You Ever Forgive Me?
A place to award Spike Lee if they don't give him Director.
BlacKkKlansman Alt. Can You Ever Forgive Me?
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Roma (Mexico) Alt. Cold War (Poland)
It'd be weird if anything else wins this category but Roma.
Roma (Mexico) Alt. Cold War (Poland)
ANIMATED
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Alt. The Incredibles 2
There's no other way.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Alt. Incredibles 2
DOCUMENTARY
Free Solo Alt. Minding the gap
The incredible shots from Free Solo should help it win this field.
Free Solo Alt. RBG
EDITING
Bohemian Rhapsody Alt. Vice
I know Vice is all like, I'M HERE, but I loathe to put it down for anything. Which probably means it'll win. Hm.
Vice Alt: Bohemian Rhapsody
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Roma Alt. Cold War
Battle of the black and white foreign films, from foreign land, where they still like black and white.
Roma Alt. Cold War
PRODUCTION DESIGN
The Favourite Alt. Black Panther
There's a huge American threat in this line up.
The Favourite Alt. Mary Poppins Returns
VISUAL EFFECTS
Avengers: Infinity War Alt. First Man
Although I do quite like the Avengers' effects, they don't need this! If there's an Oscars god, please let First Man win everything it's up for. *prays*
First Man Alt. Avengers: Infinity War
SOUND MIXING
Bohemian Rhapsody Alt. A Star is Born
Battle of the musicals - I'm giving the edge to Bohemian simply because it seems to have more support, sight unseen.
Bohemian Rhapsody Alt. A Star Is Born
SOUND EDITING
Bohemian Rhapsody Alt. First Man
This is surprisingly the most fierce battle for the win - A quiet place is not that far behind.
Bohemian Rhapsody Alt. First Man
MAKE UP & HAIRSTYLING
Border Alt. Mary Queen of Scots
How did The Favourite not get in?
Vice Alt. Border
COSTUME
The Favourite Alt. Black Panther
Panther is a real threat here, and it would be a travesty if it should pull an upset at the expense of the deserving Favourite.
The Favourite Alt. Black Panther
SCORE
Black Panther Alt. If Beale Street Could Talk
I don't care, they did not nominate First Man. This category is dead to me. Awards-race wise, this would be the one category they could award Beale Street with.
Black Panther Alt. Mary Poppins Returns
SONG
A star is born Alt. Black Panther
I'd love for a surprise Black Panther win here. Just for this one though. Please. A Star Is Born Alt. Black Panther
Ahhh Oscars is nigh! So many problems, so little time! Added my friend Griz's predictions in purple. May the best prognosticator win at life and everything. (Actual results will be in red).
PICTURE
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite First Man x
Green Book If Beale Street Could Talk x
Roma
A star is born
Vice
Alt. Cold War
I'm predicting Black Panther because everyone else is, not because of its worth or that I think the Academy would typically go for it. It's because I want to fit in. And also because I don't want to be foolish in not accounting for this very politicized period of time in Hollywood. Of this field, my horses are First Man, The Favourite, and Roma. First Man is most in danger of missing, which is a shame. If that's the case, I hope Cold War sneaks in! As a side note, I hope Green Book gets loads of nominations, because the 'backlash' against this film is so manufactured and silly and frankly counterproductive.
SO ... this category is a major disappointment in that First Man missed AND it's a short one! Really, Academy?
Bohemian Rhapsody
BlacKkKlansman
Black Panther
The Favourite
First Man
Green Book
If Beale Street Could Talk
Roma
A Star Is Born
Vice
DIRECTOR Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born xAdam McKay - Vice
Alfonso Cuaron - Roma Peter Farrelly - Green Book x
Yorgos Lanthimos - The Favourite
Spike Lee - BlacKkKlansman
Alt. Pawel Pawlikowski – Cold War
This category may have an upset. Come on, Pawel! The most deserving person who'd not be nominated is Damien Chazelle. That's okay, he's already got an Oscars, and he'll be good for a long time. That's what I tell my sheep when I go to sleep at night.
Woot! Pawel! Sorry Damien. :(
Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born
Alfonso Cuaron - Roma
Peter Farrelly - Green Book
Yorgos Lanthimos - The Favourite
Spike Lee - BlacKkKlansman
Alt. Adam McKay – Vice
ACTRESS Emily Blunt - Mary Poppins Returns xYalitza Aparicio - Roma
Glenn Close - The Wife
Olivia Colman - The Favourite Viola Davis - Widows x
Melissa McCarthy - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Alt. Lady Gaga – A Star is Born
I just don't want to live in a world where Lady Gaga gets a nom for a remake and an uneven performance at best (in some parts she was down right terrible!). But then again, there's Trump as a POTUS in this world, so, I should reconsider my priorities. Go kick her off, Viola! You know what would be good, too? Joanna Kulig! I suppose Yalitza could pick up a nomination, but ... is Hollywood THAT self-corrective?
Wow Ya ... litza! (Sorry) I guess Hollywood is THAT self-corrective.
Emily Blunt - Mary Poppins Returns
Glenn Close - The Wife
Olivia Colman - The Favourite
Lady Gaga - A Star Is Born
Melissa McCarthy - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Alt: Yalitza Aparicio - Roma
ACTOR
Christian Bale - Vice
Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born Ethan Hawke - First Reformed xWillem Dafoe - At Eternity's Gate
Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen - Green Book
Alt. John David Washington – BlacKkKlansman
Ethan Hawke surprisingly did not make SAG. I say surprising, because it's a showy performance, not because I know anything about SAG's love for him. I'm putting him in because I find it hard to believe people are voting for Washington's performance in that film. But there are other unbelievable things in the world. Like, salt lake in the ocean. More importantly, would the optics look bad if in a film called BlacKkKlansman, the actor to get nominated is white (see below)?
It's neither! I haven't seen Dafoe's performance but I'm sure it's classic Dafoe?
Christian Bale - Vice
Bradley Cooper - A Star Is Born
Ethan Hawke - First Reformed
Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen - Green Book
Alt: Willem Dafoe - At Eternity's Gate
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams - Vice Claire Foy - First Man xMarina de Tavira - Roma
Regina King - If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone - The Favourite
Rachel Weisz - The Favourite
Alt. Michelle Yeoh – Crazy Rich Asians
This category could look REALLY politically correct, Oscars. Go Regina! You can do it!
What a stunning inclusion - probably my favourite surprise. Go Marina!
Amy Adams - Vice
Claire Foy - First Man
Regina King - If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone - The Favourite
Rachel Weisz - The Favourite
Alt: Margot Robbie - Mary Queen of Scots
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali - Green Book Timothee Chalamet - Beautiful Boy xSam Rockwell - Vice
Adam Driver - BlacKkKlansman
Sam Elliott - A Star Is Born
Richard E. Grant - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Alt. Daniel Kaluuya – Widows
I wish there'd be a Widows wave tomorrow morning. And if Oscars really watches non-mainstream movies and wants to be even more politically correct, Steven Yeun would be nominated for Burning. Sam Rockwell should not make this category. I don't even know why Vice is so award popular?
Ugh.
Mahershala Ali - Green Book
Timothee Chalamet - Beautiful Boy
Adam Driver - BlacKkKlansman
Sam Elliott - A Star Is Born
Richard E. Grant - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Alt: Sam Rockwell - Vice
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Favourite
Green Book
First Reformed
Roma
Vice
Alt. Cold War
Of the Foreign Film noms, Cold War is more likely than Shoplifters to make it in.
Yay, a complete category for once!
The Favourite
Green Book
First Reformed
Roma
Vice
Alt: Cold War
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
BlacKkKlansman
Can You Ever Forgive Me? First Man xThe Ballad of Buster Scruggs
If Beale Street Could Talk
A Star Is Born
Alt. Annihilation
Come on, Alex!
Dammit, First Man lost out. But, Ballad wasn't bad, so not as hard as other First Man losses to come. *cries*
BlacKkKlansman
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
First Man
If Beale Street Could Talk
A Star Is Born
Alt: The Death of Stalin
FOREIGN LANGUAGE Burning (South Korea) x
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Alt. Never look away (Germany)
I've
seen all five films I'm predicting of the short listed, so that's how I'm making them now.
Having now seen Never Look Away, man what an atrocious inclusion. I can not understand its nomination when a superior film that's in a similar territory is also included (Cold War). Burning should have been here!
Burning (South Korea)
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Alt: The Guilty (Denmark)
ANIMATED
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Alt. Early Man
This feels like all the players are here.
Make that two complete categories! I'm on a rollllll.
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Alt: The Grinch
DOCUMENTARY
Hale county this morning, this evening Won't you be my neighbor? xOf fathers and sons
Minding the gap
RBG Three identical strangers
Alt. Free Solo
Griz is sitting this category out, but I feel obligated so I'm going to do it anyway. Bonus points for me. :p I went a little more political this time.
I've seen Won't you be my neighbor, and it made me cry so much sunshine tears. But as a feature documentary, it doesn't quite provide anything stunningly unique so I can understand its shocking miss ... somewhat. That or people just want to wait for the Tom Hanks pic for all the awards?
EDITING
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite First Man xBlacKkKlansman Roma xGreenbook A Star Is Born
Alt. Vice
The best picture winner typically hides in here, but I'm not so sure if this little magical happenstance works this year (depending on how much the Oscar voters read the internet). I'm a little shakey about the First Man nomination, but it would be a crime if it misses.
This category hurts so much. First Man so deserves this, and what the hell is with the Academy. I hate this miss so much that I'm only now coming back to look at this. Grrrr.
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
First Man
Roma
A Star Is Born
Alt: Vice
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Cold War
The Favourite Green Book xNever Look Away
Roma
A Star Is Born
Alt. If Beale Street Could Talk
Green Book should get a nom here if it's got any tech support for a Best Picture win. Cold War and Roma should get in for being black and white. The Favourite is a period film. A Star is Born is ... I don't know, popular? I wish First Man would get in but the amount of support for this film is too sad for what it is.
Never Look Away surprises and overperforms, though this is indeed its strength.
Cold War
The Favourite
First Man
Roma
A Star Is Born
Alt: The Rider
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Black Panther
The Favourite Fantastic Beasts xRoma
Mary Poppins Returns
First Man
Alt. Crazy Rich Asians
Period piece, period piece. Wouldn't it be something if Annihilation makes it?
Roma overperforms here, but yay for First Man!!!!!
Fantastic Beasts 2
The Favourite
First Man
Mary Poppins Returns
Roma
Alt: Black Panther
VISUAL EFFECTS
Avengers: Infinity War Black Panther xChristopher Robin
First Man
Ready Player One Mary Poppins Returns xSolo
Alt. Welcome to Marwen
Avengers should be nominated here for the battle in New York alone! I'm a little sad that Annihilation is not being remembered - just think of the bear!
The Academy remembers Solo!
Avengers: Infinity War
Black Panther
First Man
Ready Player One
Welcome to Marwen
Alt: Mary Poppins Returns
SOUND MIXING Mary Poppins Returns xRoma
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man A Quiet Place x
A Star Is Born
Alt. Black Panther
I don't get why Black Panther would get a sound mixing over Avengers, but here we are. I'm predicting all the musicals.
A quiet place wuz robbed!
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
A Quiet Place
A Star Is Born
Alt: Mary Poppins Returns
SOUND EDITING
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
A Quiet Place Ready Player One xBlack Panther A Star Is Born
Alt. Roma
First man should just take this already.
Black Panther? Why???
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
A Quiet Place
Ready Player One
A Star Is Born
Alt: Black Panther
MAKE UP & HAIRSTYLING Bohemian Rhapsody xBorder
Mary Queen of Scots
Vice
Alt. Black Panther
Old people make up!
Dammit! Should've remembered Border!
Bohemian Rhapsody
Mary Queen of Scots
Vice
Alt: Black Panther
COSTUME
Black Panther Crazy Rich Asians xThe Ballad of Buster Scruggs
The Favourite
Mary Poppins Returns
Mary Queen of Scots
Alt. Fantastic Beasts
Maybe all the dresses in Asians will push a nomination here. For the glitz.
Hahahahaha. Wow not even this.
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Mary Poppins Returns
Mary Queen of Scots
Alt: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
SCORE
Black Panther First Man xBlacKkKlansman
If Beale Street Could Talk
Isle of Dogs
Mary Poppins Returns
Alt. Annihilation
First Man's the only score I remember.
*cries again, cries harder*
Black Panther
First Man
If Beale Street Could Talk
Isle of Dogs
Mary Poppins Returns
Alt: A quiet place
SONG
Black Panther Dumplin' xThe Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Mary Poppins Returns
RBG
A Star Is Born
Alt. Mary Poppins Returns
I have no clue, but it does not matter as Shallow will win.
Surprise, Scruggs made it in for its one song. The power of Coens!
Black Panther
Dumplin'
Mary Poppins Returns
RBG
A Star Is Born
The good:
- Send up of Gaga's oft-repeated line about 99 people not believing in her
- Colourful dresses! Saoirse Ronan's barely-there, Catherine Zeta-Jones' green dress, Nicole Kidman's wine dress, Janelle Monae's holy-crap what is that outfit? Halle Berry is how old?
- Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph, always making me laugh
- Christian Bale's speech and taking cues from his wife, so cute!
- Gosh dang that butt ugly Chris Pine
- Jeff Bridges' ramblings LMPO
- That dude 'trembling like a leaf'
- Colman's win! Her dress, her speech, her everything!
- Glenn Close's win!
The head-scratching thing that happened
- Bohemian Rhapsody leapfrogs into the front
The bad:
- Kate Mara's dress
- Jamie Lee Curtis out Cruella-Deville Glenn Close
BEST PICTURE (DRAMA)
Bohemian Rhapsody
Huh.
BEST PICTURE (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Green Book
Dammit, why didn't I listen to my own gut?
BEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuarón - Roma
They seem to like this one.
BEST ACTRESS (DRAMA)
Glenn Close - The wife
Haha no Gaga. But most importantly, the race for that Best Actress Oscars begins!
BEST ACTOR (DRAMA)
Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody
I guess this is going to be a thing.
BEST ACTRESS (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Olivia Colman - The Favourite
Yes please!
BEST ACTOR (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Christian Bale - Vice
Aw, Christian, I'm going to pretend this win is for all your other movies.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Regina King - If Beale Street could talk
Yes, ma'am!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali - Green Book
I have a feeling Ali is going to be like Tom Hanks for a while, getting nominated with every role.
BEST SCREENPLAY
Green Book
Well this was an unexpected loss for The Favourite. They were roundly ignored for most of the night, most unfortunately.
Well, I missed the nomination predictions, again. But, fear not! Here are some last minute winner predix! Purple is my friend and long time guest, Griz.
BEST PICTURE (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
The Favourite Alt: Green Book
Green Book Alt: The Favourite
I really want to go with the crowd-pleaser, but, for some reason, it is not really burning up this award season. What gives? Anyway, I guess I could go with the Favourite because it stars three powerhouse winning performances and the tide may be in favour of the women?
BEST PICTURE (DRAMA)
A star is born Alt: Black Panther
A star is born Alt: Bohemian Rhapsody
Given that this category is a joke, A Star is Born may as well win. Is there any other choice? I mean, my alt is a superhero picture! I figure Beale Street and BlacKkKlansman will split votes, and why would anyone vote for Bohemian Rhapsody over A Star is Born?
BEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuaron - Roma Alt: Bradley Cooper - A Star is Born
Alfon Cuaron - Roma Alt: Bradley Cooper - A star is Born
Cuaron should win, but the foreign press may go for Star all the way.
BEST ACTRESS (DRAMA)
Lady Gaga - A Star is Born Alt: Glenn Close - The Wife
Lady Gaga - A star is Born Alt: Melissa McCarthy - Can you ever forgive me?
I'm a little preemptively disappointed that Gaga is going to get an Oscar nomination for her uneven performance, and so I'm gonna pretend like nothing happens when she wins the Globes simply based on low expectations.
BEST ACTOR (DRAMA)
Bradley Cooper - A Star is Born Alt: Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody
Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody Alt: Bradley Cooper - A Star is Born
If Gaga is getting hers, Bradley better gets his! I'm betting Globes will go with STARS.
BEST ACTRESS (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Olivia Colman - The Favourite Alt: Emily Blunt - Mary Poppins Returns
Olivia Colman - The Favourite Alt: Emily Blunt - Mary Poppins Returns
There can only be Olivia.
BEST ACTOR (COMEDY/MUSICAL)
Viggo Mortensen - Green Book Alt: Christian Bale -Vice
Christian Bale - Vice Alt: Viggo Mortensen - Green Book
Both actors gained weight for their role, but Viggo's performance is a touch above the caricature that Christian unfortunately falls into. Hopefully that translates to a win here, but there's also Lin-Manuel Miranda. Who the heck knows? I ain't watching no Mary Poppins!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Emma Stone - The Favourite Alt: Regina King - If Beale Street Could Talk
Rachel Weisz - The Favourite Alt: Emma Stone - The Favourite
I find it hard to believe Globes will pass the chance to reward Stone in this delish role, but my Regina King alt may just sneak in for diversity sake (and also because she deserves it!).
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali - Green Book Alt: Richard E. Grant - Can you ever forgive me?
Richard E. Grant - Can you ever forgive me? Alt: Mahershala Ali - Green Book
Maybe Adam Driver will come through after all, but I'm going for the obvious here first.
BEST SCREENPLAY
The Favourite Alt: Green Book
The Favourite Alt: Roma
The Favourite should win here, but watch out for Green sneak attack!
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Shallow Alt: All the stars
Shallow Alt: All the stars
As if they'd not go Gaga.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Black Panther Alt: Mary Poppins Returns
First Man Alt: Black Panther
Why not.
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Spider-man: into the Spider-verse Alt: The Incredibles 2
The Incredibles 2 Alt: Spider-man: into the Spider-verse
Have yet to see Spidey but this category is a little weak this year?
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Roma (Mexico) Alt: Capernaum (Lebanon)
Roma (Mexico) Alt: Girl (Belgium)
Roma should win, given that Alfonso shows up in the Director category. But just in case of an upset, watch out for the horde of little street kids to steal your Globe.
Subscribe
