My 2020 Oscar Predictions

I wasn't sure I would be able to see all the Best Picture nominees this year with the shorter window of time, but I managed to finish them all this week. I have listed my predictions in the post, but will follow up with more detail on each of the Best Picture nominees soon. I listed the Best Picture nominees in order of my personal preference below. Additionally, in italics I indicated who I think the Academy will award and placed an asterisk next to who I believe should be awarded.

Best Picture:

Parasite*

Ford v Ferrari

Little Women

Jojo Rabbit

1917

Joker

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Marriage Story

The Irishman

Lead Actor:

Antonio Banderas in Pain and Glory (DID NOT SEE)

Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Adam Driver in Marriage Story

Joaquin Phoenix in Joker*

Jonathan Pryce in The Two Popes

Lead Actress:

Cynthia Erivo in Harriet

Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story

Saoirse Ronan in Little Women

Charlize Theron in Bombshell

Renee Zellweger in Judy*

Supporting Actor:

Tom Hanks in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Anthony Hopkins in The Two Popes

Al Pacino in The Irishman*

Joe Pesci in The Irishman

Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Supporting Actress:

Kathy Bates in Richard Jewell (DID NOT SEE)

Laura Dern in Marriage Story

Scarlett Johansson in Jojo Rabbit

Florence Pugh in Little Women

Margot Robbie in Bombshell*

Director:

Martin Scorsese for The Irishman

Todd Phillips for Joker

Sam Mendes for 1917

Quentin Tarantino for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Bon Joon Ho for Parasite*

Who are your favorites this year?

Andrea :)

Best Picture Nominees

All of the Best Picture nominees were interesting this year. They each had positives whether it be underlying theme or a phenomenal performance. Most of them contained both. There were a few that could have been a tad shorter, but overall it was a great selection of movies. Here are my thoughts on each of the nominees.

I didn't have one bit of interest in this movie when I saw it was about car racing so imagine my shock when it completely captured my attention. In fact, it ended up being my second favorite out of the whole group. The story is both identifiable and intriguing even if you don't have interest in cars and/or racing. While it did run a tad long, the fantastic performance by Christian Bale kept me totally engrossed. How he didn't end up nominated for his acting in this one is beyond me. The story was two-fold and one about loyalty and knowing when to hold your ground and when to concede. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Chris and I watched this one in two parts. It was just so so so long! Its length dwarfed its impact in my opinion. Maybe we didn't need to see quite so much of the build up of DeNiro's character or maybe we didn't need to see quite so much of the back and forth drama of Pacino's character and Pesci's troupe or maybe we didn't need to see quite so much about the side characters. I'm not entirely sure what needed to be cut, but it just seemed like a real slog to get through to the end. Needless to say, DeNiro, Pacino, and Pesci all performed at the very top of their game in this one. They were phenomenal to watch together.

This dark comedy took me by surprise. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get past the weirdness of it, but I really enjoyed it. That being said it certainly isn't for everyone. It was a quite bizarre (and sad) story. I loved the theme of love and acceptance for all that it drove home albeit in a strange manner. Sam Rockwell and Scarlett Johansson were both great in their supporting roles. It was refreshing to see this time period through the eyes of seemingly innocent children though.

Ironically, Chris and I watched this one the night before the nominees were announced because we had heard such varied reviews about it from friends. Neither of us particularly cared for the movie as a whole, but it definitely packed some punch. It was such a sad, sad story. Phoenix was stunningly phenomenal in it. I was in complete awe of his performance despite finding the movie as a whole quite difficult to watch.

I watched this one with parents on Christmas Day. It was a refreshing angle on a classic story. I enjoyed following the sisters throughout each of their ups and downs with love and career. It definitely has the tear jerker element that seems to always accompany these types of tales, but it didn't stand out in too many other ways for me. The story is solid. The acting is good. The film just didn't leave a particularly lasting impression on me.

I watched this one alone in a couple of spurts so maybe I need to give it a go again all in one sitting, but I didn't find anything particularly great about it. It was a story about a crumpling marriage and all that entails when a child is involved, but I didn't find it all that interesting. There were two specific scenes that I really liked - the opening montage with voice overs and the scene in which Adam Driver's character is desperately trying to impress the emotionless social worker to prove he is worthy of child custody. I did appreciate the comedic relief throughout, but the movie just wasn't super interesting to me as a whole.

In my somewhat unpopular opinion, I simply thought this was your standard war movie. It was incredibly predictable and followed the typical trajectory for these types of films. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it. The story was moving and the cinematography was fantastic, but overall it was just average. Your run of the mill war tale. Most definitely worth watching and even stunning in presentation throughout, but the story was far too familiar.

I watched this one via Redbox during one of Olivia's long naps one afternoon. It was fun to watch Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt play buddies...and aging Hollywood legends - ha! Overall, it didn't strike me as particularly interesting though. I enjoyed watching LDC's (as Pitt affectionately referred to him at the Golden Globes) character wrestle with the aging process as he progressed from main attraction to final fling in his career. It was quite poignant. My guess is it likely felt all too real for DiCaprio though I by no means think he is in the twilight of his career at this point. Pitt was fantastic. His character was fun and truly the life of this film. It was exciting to watch him in this role. Overall, the movie had high points via the actors selected to fill the lead and supporting roles; however, it would have been unwatchable for me if less well-known/liked actors filled those shoes.

I loved this film! It was incredible in every way imaginable. It had the perfect mix of everything - comedy, suspense, social commentary, drama. It was a gripping tale of the haves and have nots. The subscripts made no difference to me at all. In fact, I'm not certain it would have felt the same if it had contained Americans speaking English. Part of the appeal of the film was the feeling that I was learning more about a different culture while at the same time realizing that culture was identical to my own. I can't wait to watch it again with Chris. The hype is 100% well deserved! Make it a priority to watch this one - exhilarating and fascinating from start to finish. It had me on the edge of my seat at every turn!

Did you see any of the Best Picture nominees this year?
Which did you enjoy most?

Andrea :)

My 2019 Oscar Predictions

I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to see almost all of the movies nominated in the Best Picture and Actor/Actress categories. There was one exception due to this horrible winter weather...and it was one of the ones I was looking most forward to watching, too. No worries though - I'll be sure to see it in the next couple weeks when it's out on Redbox. Unfortunately, I also ran out of time to see the shorts this year as well. Chris has assured me those show up as an on demand feature in the next few weeks so I am looking forward to catching them that way this year.

Nevertheless, here are my favorites in each category. My vote for winner is in italics. I have also put the best picture nominees in order of how well I liked them. However, please note that I enjoyed all the nominees this year and would recommend all of them!

Best Picture

Green Book
BlackkKlansman

Vice
Black Panther

Roma
The Favourite

A Star is Born

Bohemian Rhapsody

Best Actor

Christian Bale, Vice

Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born

Willem Dafoe, Eternity's Gate

Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody

Viggo Mortenson, Green Book

Best Actress

Yalitza Aparicio, Roma

Glenn Close, The Wife

Olivia Coleman, The Favourite

Lady Gaga, A Star is Born

Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Best Supporting Actor

Maharshala Ali, Green Book
Adam Driver, BlackkKlansman
Sam Elliott, A Star is Born
Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Sam Rockwell, Vice

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, Vice

Marina de Tavira, Roma
Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk (Did Not See)
Emma Stone, The Favourite
Rachel Weisz, The Favourite

What are your favorites this year?

Andrea :)

Best Picture Nominees - Part 2

If you missed Part 1, please find it here.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed The Favourite. It was the one movie I wasn't really looking forward to watching, but I am glad I made time for it. What a dreadful, terrible Queen! What fantastic acting from Olivia Coleman! She was wonderful. The movie follows her relationship with two different ladies in her court. Lots of twists and turns and a multitude of deception.

Green Book was my favorite of all the movies this year. Mahershala Ali was amazing! He and Viggo had great chemistry. So much talent. Despite the reason for the story (segregation), it was exciting to watch. It kept me wondering what would happen next. Of course, it was heart warming to watch the characters grow and develop throughout the movie as well. I loved the story that much more knowing that it was based on truth. It is a great story of the power of friendship.

Roma was tough for me to watch. There were SO many struggles to overcome for nearly all of the characters! It also seemed a bit long to me. I felt such sadness for the lead character. She had so many highs and lows. It was really just hard to watch, particularly so close to the birth of my daughter.

Vice was an unexpected joy. I didn't anticipate liking this political story as much as I did. It was told in a manner that really appealed to me. Christian Bale blew me away. Totally blew me away. What a fantastic actor! Sam Rockwell was SO good as George W. Bush, too. The story follows Dick Chaney's VP experience. It was extremely well told. Definitely recommend seeing this one!

Did you have any Oscar favorites this year?

Andrea :)

Best Picture Nominees - Part 1

I really enjoyed all the Best Picture nominees this year. You really can't go wrong checking out any of them. Maybe its because there were a handful of my favorite genre - memior based films. If you are looking for a good movie, here are my thoughts...

A Star is Born wasn't at the top of my list though it certainly had mega chemistry between the main characters and some breathtaking vocal talent by Lady Gaga. I just thought the story was incredibly predictable. To be honest, the characters weren't all that likable for me either - especially Bradley Cooper's character. The highlight was definitely the undeniable chemisty between Lady Gaga and Cooper - wowza!!

We watched Black Panther for Chris' birthday nearly a year prior to the Oscars. Even though I'm not a big comic book movie fan, I thought this one was interesting. I am a Michael B. Jordan fan so I enjoyed seeing him even if he was the bad guy. It held my interest (mostly) and that is FAR more than I can say for any of the other comic book movies I have attempted to watch.

BlacKkKlansman was one of my favorites. The story was true, but new to me so I was really on the edge of my seat wondering how it would all play out. Such a fascinating story! I was also super excited to see my old NFL Europa buddy (John David Washington) play the lead. Unfortunately, I don't have any photo evidence, but I can definitely say I knew him when...

Chris loves Queen so he was nitpicking the timeline and various scenes throughout Bohemian Rhapsody. I enjoyed it as someone with minimal knowledge of the backstory of Queen and Freddie Mercury. It could have been a little shorter and still driven home the main points of the movie, but it was an interesting look into one of the greatest bands of all-time.

Andrea :)

My 2018 Oscar Predictions

It's finally Oscar Night!! I always love tuning in to see the show and hear the speeches. Below, I indicated my choice for winner in italics for each of the categories where I saw all of the nominees. You can see my reviews here, here, and here. I'm expecting it to be a fun night of celebration for these fantastic actors and actresses. Enjoy!

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

Lead Actor

Timothee Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name

Daniel Day-Lewis in Phantom Thread

Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out

Gary Oldman in Darkest Hour

Denzel Washington in Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Lead Actress

Sally Hawkins in The Shape of Water

Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Margot Robbie in I, Tonya

Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird

Meryl Streep in The Post

Supporting Actor

Willem Dafoe in The Florida Project

Woody Harrelson in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Richard Jenkins in The Shape of Water

Christopher Plummer in All the Money in the World

Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Supporting Actress

Mary J. Blige in Mudbound

Allison Janney in I, Tonya

Lesley Manville in Phantom Thread

Laurie Metcalf in Lady Bird

Octavia Spencer in The Shape of Water

Director

Christopher Nolan for Dunkirk

Jordan Peele for Get Out

Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird

Paul Thomas Anderson for Phantom Thread

Guillermo del Toro for The Shape of Water

Original Screenplay

The Big Sick

Get Out

Lady Bird

The Shape of Water

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Animated Short

Dear Basketball

Garden Party

Lou

Negative Space

Revolting Rhymes



Live Action Short

DeKalb Elementary

The Eleven O'clock

My Nephew Emmett

The Silent Child

Watu Wote/All of Us

Documentary Short

Edith+Eddie

Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405

Heroin(e)

Knife Skills

Traffic Stop

Have you seen any of the nominated films?

Which are your favorites?

Andrea :)

Other Oscar Nominated Movie Reviews...

I was able to see a number of movies nominated in other categories this year. Some of them I liked quite a bit more than a handful of the Best Picture nominations (Part 1 and Part 2). I'll share a quick review of each I saw in case you are looking for a good recommendation.

Lead and/or Supporting Actor and/or Actress Categories

 

I, Tonya - If you remember living through the whole Harding/Kerrigan Olympics ordeal, watch this one. It was a really interesting look at Harding's life in a faux documentary style. If Janning doesn't win the Oscar for supporting actress, it will be a crying shame. She was fantastic!

The Florida Project - I had high hopes for this one, but it didn't quite live up to them. It was an interesting exposition on child welfare in extremely low-income single-parent families that permanently reside in barely livable motels in Florida. If you have an interest in taking a closer look at our broken child welfare system then I highly recommend watching this insightful movie. It is also filmed in a bit of a documentary style.

Mudbound - This one started a little slow, but then really picked up in the last half. In the end, I really enjoyed it. It takes place in the time frame around World War II following both a black and white family in rural Mississippi farming country. The story takes some twists and turns with the two families continually intertwining. This one is available on Netflix and worth checking out.

Roman J. Israel, Esq. - As a true Denzel fan, I saw this one in theaters. I was surprised by how much I liked it overall. Colin Ferrell was great in it. Colin's performance ranked right up there with Denzel's in this film. The movie is a bit slow to get started, but worth a watch if you like Denzel.

All the Money in the World - I didn't have much interest in this one until I heard some rumblings about it being pretty good. It certainly didn't disappoint. I was engaged the entire movie and really found the premise fascinating. I can't even fathom being a little bit rich so to have unlimited resources (and not be willing to use them to save your grandson!!) was really beyond the realm of my brain to comprehend. As I've mentioned in the past, based on a true story movies are my cup of tea. They always speak to me and this one was no different.

Screenplay

 

Molly's Game - I loved this movie from beginning to end. It was uniquely told and exciting to watch. I am really disappointed it didn't get some recognition for Best Picture. I would definitely put it ahead of at least four (maybe five) of the films nominated in that category. I thought Jessica Chastain was phenomenal. And Idris Elba was awesome, too. If you don't watch any others I mention, watch this one. You won't be disappointed.

The Big Sick - We saw this one in the theater this past summer. I remember being pleasantly surprised by how well it integrated comedy into a generally sad story. Ray Romano played a fantastic character in this movie. His role was perfect and much needed. This one is worth watching even if it isn't quite your typical romantic comedy.

Animated

 

Boss Baby - I laughed out loud at the previews every single time I saw them for this movie. Unfortunately, most of the best moments were in those previews. It is a really cute movie, but not my favorite of the season.

Coco - Since my high school Spanish class, I've been intrigued by the idea of the Dia de la Muerta (Day of the Dead) tradition. Coco fully explores that tradition in a unique story. I'm not certain it would be my first choice for children (particularly those unfamiliar with the tradition or really even the idea of death), but as an adult I enjoyed it. The vibrant colors and lovely music really give the movie an edge.

Ferdinand - I watched this one with my parents and niece and nephew over Christmas. I really liked some of the characters, but the story wasn't anything that completely blew me away. Seemed to be your pretty standard animated flick. It's worth noting that my 4 1/2 year old nephew commented that it was a little long at the conclusion. My 5 1/2 year old niece requested a potty break midway through so I don't think it was entirely holding her full attention either.

Oscar Shorts: Animated, Live Action, Documentary

All of the animated films were good. Each was unique and entertaining in its own way. If you like animation, I would definitely see this set. Lou was my favorite, but it was tough to decide.

I really enjoyed all of the live action shorts. I would highly recommend checking them out if they are showing anywhere near you. My top three were The Silent Child, My nephew, Emmitt, and The Eleven O'Clock. All were really good though.

Chris and I went to see the documentaries together. They were all interesting, but I liked Knife Skills, Edith+Eddie, and Herion(e) the most. All were worth watching and touched on very relevant topics.

Have you seen any great movies in the past year?

What is your favorite genre to watch?

Andrea :)

Best Picture Nominees - Part 2

If you missed Part 1 of my Best Picture nominees post yesterday, click here. Otherwise, please proceed...

#6 - Lady Bird

I had really high hopes for this one, but I was let down. Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf are both fantastic actresses. They both did a wonderful job in this film (particularly Metcalf), but the story simply wasn't anything new or really all that strong. It was a simple coming of age story. Ronan's character does all the typical things - fights with mom, ditched best friend for cooler crowd, finds a popular boyfriend by acting out. It's all been done before. I was bored by the story even though I enjoyed the performances from the actresses.

#7 - Phantom Thread

Phantom Thread surprised me in a good way with its storyline, but it took FAR too long to get there. I had a hard time finding common ground with any of the characters. Everyone seemed annoying in their own way. I was bored for the first half of the movie before any substantial action really occurred. There were some twists and turns in the second half that had me intrigued, just don't expect much action until about midway through.

#8 - Darkest Hour

Gary Oldman plays a great Churchill, but this movie completely bored me. I couldn't understand parts of the dialogue and the most entertaining part was when Churchill ventured out via public transportation. Darkest Hour had a stellar character, but it just need a little more umph. It was easily the least interesting to watch for me.

#9 - Call Me By Your Name

From the previews, I could tell this movie was going to bother me. It was billed as a romance movie, but that romance takes place between a teenager and an adult. I really can't get behind that idea. I was really bothered by the fact that the movie never really addresses the age factor head on. It does take place in Italy so perhaps there are some cultural norms that I am unaware of that would permit this type of relationship. However, the adult is an American. I just didn't feel comfortable about the idea of a child being romantically involved with an adult (even if it did take a bit of time for him to "give in"). It really rubbed me the wrong way. Outside of that fact, similar to Lady Bird, this one was a coming of age story. It really wasn't anything spectacular. Just a story of the teen falling in love with this visiting scholar. I mean, I've been there. I get it. There is something attractive about that substitute teacher type, but as a teenager you have to realize it ends at fantasy.

Have you seen any of the Best Picture nominees this year?

Andrea :)

Best Picture Nominees - Part 1

For the past few years, I have made it a point to watch all the Best Picture nominees. The past couple years, I have really enjoyed most of them. This year, I wasn't a big fan of about half the selections. Not that the movies themselves were bad necessarily. I just didn't think ALL nine movies were unique or different in a way that set them apart as a Best Picture nominee. It really made me wish they would just go back to the old system with five solid nominees. At any rate, I've provided my thoughts on each movie in order of how much I enjoyed them starting with my favorite.

#1 - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

I was blown away by both the acting and the story. What a fascinating look at a little town in the middle of nowhere. There were so many things happening, but also nothing happening at the same time. I loved it. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is easily my hands down favorite of the bunch this year. Frances McDormand was phenomenal...and Sam Rockwell wasn't too far behind her. Flawless acting. Outstanding movie that left me with lots to think about.

#2 - The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water was also a really great movie. I loved the two main characters, but overall it was a tad too predictable (and sci-fi) for my tastes. I enjoyed watching it, but toward the end the story took a turn that made it difficult for me to logically connect with reality. It kept my full attention and I can't imagine how difficult the role must have been for Sally Hawkins, but I needed it to be a little more plausible in the end to totally win me over.

#3 (tie) - Get Out

Chris and I saw this one in the theater back when it was released last spring. It is thought provoking and quite spooky at times. Not your typical Oscar nominee, but the acting is great and it certainly makes a point. We re-watched it recently, and I liked it even better the second time. Knowing the twists and turns and watching how fantastic the actors truly were throughout made me realize the true brilliance of the film.

#3 (tie) - The Post

Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep. Do you really need much more? Seriously though, I enjoyed this story in a way that I didn't anticipate. It's a story about Streep's character coming into her own as much as it was about The Post breaking a story. I really enjoyed following Streep's journey. Not to mention so much of the movie could have been set in the present day because the media and our current administration seem to be having a similar go round with facts and the duty to report them.

#5 - Dunkirk

Of all the nominees, Dunkirk surprised me the most. I was dreading watching this one. War movies just aren't my thing. I put it off even though I had been told that I might find it more interesting than I imagined. From the beginning, I was hooked into the idea that the story would be told from three different perspectives (land, air, sea) as well as three different time frames (a week, a day, within hours). It was exciting to see how these stories collided and built on one another. In the end, some of the gunfire and general war movie setting wore on me, but I did like the unique perspectives this movie shared with its audience.

Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow.

Have you seen any of the Best Picture nominees this year?

Andrea :)

My 2017 Oscar Predictions

It is one of my favorite days of the year! For two reasons this year since it is also Chris' birthday today. Happy Birthday to my lovely husband (who so graciously agreed to watch the Oscars with me tonight even though award shows aren't exactly his cup of tea). I definitely have a great man on my hands! I'll share more about his celebration soon. Today, I want to quickly fill you in on my predictions for each of the coveted Oscar nominations.

I watched nearly every nominated movie in all of the categories this year so I am extra excited to see who takes home each Oscar. There weren't any of the nine Best Picture nominees that I didn't enjoy on some level. Of course, some I liked better than others, but each had an interesting story to tell. I recommend watching them all when you have a chance.  I'll rank the Best Picture nominees (and the shorts categories) in order of how I preferred the films. For all other categories, I'll indicate my favorite with asterisks as well as who I predict will actually win the OSCAR.

Best Picture

1 - Hidden Figures

2 - Hacksaw Ridge

3 - Fences

4 - Moonlight

5 - La La Land

6 - Manchester by the Sea

7 - Hell or High Water

8 - Lion

9 - Arrival

OSCAR goes to La La Land.

Actor in Leading Role

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge

*Ryan Gosling, La La Land*

Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic

Denzel Washington, Fences

OSCAR goes to Denzel Washington, Fences.

Actor in Supporting Role

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water

Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea

Dev Patel, Lion

*Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals*

OSCAR goes to Mahershala Ali, Moonlight.

Actress in Leading Role

Isabelle Huppert, Elle

Ruth Negga, Loving

*Natalie Portman, Jackie*

Emma Stone, La La Land

Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

OSCAR goes to Emma Stone, La La Land.

Actress in Supporting Role

*Viola Davis, Fences*

Naomie Harris, Moonlight

Nicole Kidman, Lion

Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures

Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

OSCAR goes to Viola Davis, Fences.

Animated Short Film

1 - Pearl

2 - Piper

3 - Blind Vaysha

4 - Pear Cider and Cigarettes

5 - Borrowed Time

OSCAR goes to Piper.

Directing

Denis Villeneuve, Arrival

Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge

Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea

*Barry Jenkins, Moonlight*

OSCAR goes to Damien Chazelle, La La Land.

Documentary (Feature)

Fire at Sea (did not see)

I Am Not Your Negro

Life, Animated (did not see)

*O.J.: Made in America*

13th

OSCAR goes to 13th.

Documentary (Short Subject)

1 - Joe's Violin

2 - Watani: My Homeland

3 - The White Helmets

4 - Extremis

5 - 4.1 Miles

OSCAR goes to The White Helmets.

Live Action Short Film

1 - Sing

2 - La Femme et le TGV

3 - Timecode

4 - Silent Nights

5 - Ennemis Interieurs

OSCAR goes to Timecode.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Arrival

Fences

*Hidden Figures*

Lion 

Moonlight

OSCAR goes to Hidden Figures.

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Hell or High Water

*La La Land*

The Lobster (did not see)

Manchester by the Sea

20th Century Women (did not see)

OSCAR goes to La La Land.

Did you see any of the nominated films? Which did you enjoy?

Andrea :)

My Oscar Predictions

Despite all the controversy, I really enjoyed watching the films nominated in each of the major categories this year.  I wish there was time for me to delve into the documentaries and the animated films, too.  In short, I love the movies.  And I enjoy the Oscars' celebration of them.  However, I do sincerely hope the Academy is serious about making changes that will enhance the opportunities for all races to star in leading roles as well as be recognized for their outstanding work.  It will only make the whole that much better!  And now for my preferences and predictions...

Best Picture 

(in order of my preference)

1 - Brooklyn

2 - Spotlight

3 - Room

4 - The Martian

5 - Bridge of Spies

6 - The Revenant

7 - The Big Short

8 - Mad Max: Fury Road

*However, I think The Revenant will win Best Picture and Directing this year.*

Actor - Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)

Supporting Actor - Christian Bale (The Big Short)

Actress - Brie Larson (Room)

Supporting Actress - Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight)

*In case you missed it yesterday, check out the reasoning behind my selections in the Actor and Actress categories here.*

Regardless of which individuals take home the golden statues, I'm looking forward to an exciting show with Chris Rock at the helm on Sunday!  Cheers to another wonderful year of movies!

Andrea :)

A Look at Actors and Actresses...

This year, I perhaps went a bit overboard by not only watching all the Best Picture nominees (there were eight this year), but also watching the additional eight movies that had individuals nominated in the actress and actor categories.  To be honest, there were a couple of the latter movies (Trumbo and The Danish Girl) that I enjoyed a great deal more than most of those nominated in the Best Picture category!

Supporting Actress Nominees:

Rachel McAdams (Spotlight)
Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs)

*Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight)*
Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl)

Rooney Mara (Carol)

I'll go ahead and just say that I wasn't a fan of Carol.  It was slow and boring.  And the story line was predictable and not very interesting.  Spotlight was great, but I didn't think McAdams performed in any particularly spectacular manner.  The other three nominees - Winslet, Vikander, and Leigh - were phenomenal.  Any of them would be more than deserving, but my vote goes to Leigh (with an extremely close second to Vikander).  Leigh simply blew me away in her role (and I actually really liked the story of The Hateful Eight, too).

Supporting Actor Nominees:

*Christian Bale (The Big Short)*
Tom Hardy (The Revenant)
Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight)
Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies)
Sylvestor Stallone (Creed)

I was unimpressed with many of these characters.  Hardy was good, but better in Mad Max: Fury Road.  Stallone was solid, but not spectacular.  Rylance and Ruffalo really weren't that special.  Bale was great in a difficult role so he takes this category fairly easily in my opinion.  If I could nominate a write-in candidate it would be Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight - he was fantastic!

Best Actress Nominees: 

Cate Blanchett (Carol)

Charlotte Rampling (45 Years)

*Brie Larson (Room)*
Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn)
Jennifer Lawrence (Joy)

As I already mentioned, I wasn't impressed with Carol.  Unfortunately, that wasn't the worst performance in this category - Rampling was by far the least impressive nominee I've ever see.  I can't understand why she was nominated at all.  Her male counterpart was far more impressive than she in 45 Years - though neither did enough to hold my interest for longer than 45 minutes.  Easily my least favorite of all the movies I watched this season.  But back to the much more fabulous actresses in this category - Lawrence, Ronan, and Larson.  Lawrence wasn't super special, but she did carry the film.  Ronan and Larson were both wonderful.  I'm already looking forward to future films where they are cast. Ultimately, I selected Larson to win this year.

Best Actor Nominees:

 Bryan Cranston (Trumbo)
*Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant)*

 Matt Damon (The Martian)
Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs)

Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl)

Wow!  The actors in this category were each fantastic.  Damon is the weakest link by a pretty fair margin, but still did a fine job.  The other four - Redmayne, Fassbender, DiCaprio, and Cranston - were tremendous in four quite different and distinct roles.  First, The Danish Girl was a wonderful film.  I was disappointed it was not named a Best Picture nominee since it would have been in my top three without a doubt.  Redmayne is nothing short of phenomenal...and at this point I honestly wouldn't expect anything less.  Fassbender as Steve Jobs (what a complete jerk!) is amazing.  I haven't watched the other Steve Jobs movies, but this guy was on point.  And well supported by Kate Winslet and Jeff Daniels.  I've been a Cranston fan since my Breaking Bad binge days, but he really outdoes himself as Dalton Trumbo.  Trumbo is an absolute must-see movie.  Chris and I loved it!  Honestly, it was quite difficult for me to select a winner here.  I finally decided it was Leo's time.  He played an extremely difficult role with the majority of the lengthy film featuring his solo struggle to survive.  I'd be happy for any of these men to collect an Oscar, but I think it will be DiCaprio's night.

Do you have actor and actress predictions?

Andrea :)

Best Picture Review - Spotlight

The Boston Globe's "Spotlight" team of reporters dig deep into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church.  Their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishments setting off a wave of revelations around the world.

Having recently watched All the President's Men, Spotlight felt like a modern day version with a more wide spread and heart wrenching impact on local communities. I was fully engaged throughout the entire movie.  I never got bored or disinterested.  Each new turn or seeming dead-end held my attention.  The fact that it was a true story made it increasingly interesting as well.  I was stunned by the lengths that the Catholic Church made to cover-up for the inhumane priests that were abusing children.  Many of them simply being reassigned to other areas of the country.  It was sickening and frightening, but seeking truth remains paramount from beginning to end with each reporter playing a crucial part in telling the whole story.  I believe this is an important movie for all to see.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Other Nominations:

Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Supporting Actress (Rachel McAdams), Directing (Tom McCarthy), Film Editing, Writing (Original Screenplay)

Have you seen Spotlight yet?

Andrea :)

Best Picture Review - Room

A single mother (Brie Larson) has been held captive for nearly a decade.  She has converted a tiny shed into a living space for her and her five-year-old son (Jacob Tremblay).  It's time to break free from their captor, but it won't be an easy feat.  This movie is a touching tale of survival, isolation, and the struggle to adjust to an ever-changing society. The movie is based on the novel by Emma Donoghue.

Such an emotional journey!  I immediately felt strangely vested in these two characters and their well being.  And I was incredibly impressed with how the movie was filmed as well.  Half the movie takes place in a room roughly the size of my former Manhattan apartment.  Fortunately, I had the ability to leave my room.  I was blown away with their creativity and resourcefulness - they truly built their own little world inside that room.  The latter portion of the film where they attempt to integrate themselves into a world they've been absent from for far too long was fascinating.  I can only imagine how difficult that situation would be for not only those held captive, but also for their loved ones that had likely long ago given up hope they would ever return.  Certainly an emotional portrayal with solid acting throughout.  I didn't realize it was based on a book, but that book is definitely on my to read list now! 

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Other Nominations:

Best Actress (Brie Larson), Directing (Lenny Abrahamson), Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Have you seen Room yet?

Andrea :)

Best Picture Review - The Revenant

Set in the 1820's, Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his son, Hawk, live on a settlement with other fur trappers. After attack by a native Arikara Indian tribe, a small group of the hunting party escapes into the vast wilderness. Fellow fur trader John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) tried to start trouble by antagonizing Hawk. Glass defends his son and attempts to make peace in the group.  However, things begin to rapidly go downhill for Glass after a nearly fatal bear attack.  Without going into all the details, Glass, boasting a number of injuries and ailments, is eventually left for dead by members of his own hunting party.  His survival does not look promising, but he is quite resourceful.  A final confrontation with Fitzgerald proves the climax of this long and winding tale.

Leonardo DiCaprio, who I have loved for ages now, and Tom Hardy were both fantastic in this film.  While I did thoroughly enjoy certain scenes, I didn't love the movie overall.  It was entirely too long.  Entirely.  Life was a struggle for Glass.  I understood that after one or two scenes.  I didn't need an hour worth of incident after incident to comprehend it was NOT a fun and exciting adventure.  This is a survival story.  This is a revenge story.  This is not a walk in the park for any of the characters involved.  I got it.  I typically like a story based on true events, but this one was a little over the top (particularly the bear scene).  The Revenant is an extremely intense film that just didn't manage to captivate me like it did so many others.  I loved the actors - truly superb.  I just didn't love the movie.  I'm not too surprised because I didn't really care for Alejandro G. Inarritu's Birdman last year either.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Other Nominations:

Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Supporting Actor (Tom Hardy), Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing (Alejandro G. Inarritu), Film Editing, Makeup & Hairstyling, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects

Have you seen The Revenant yet?

Andrea :)

Best Picture Review - The Martian

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a wild storm and left behind by his crew. Remarkably, Watney manages to survive and wakes to find himself stranded and alone. With only meager supplies, his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to live allow him to find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home with the whole world watching and cheering for a safe return.

I heard wonderful things about this book and intended to read it before I watched the film, but I simply ran out of time.  I thought the movie was a much needed change from the other astronaut movies in recent years (Interstellar, Gravity) using humor to lighten many intense and stressful situations throughout the film.  I'm not a huge Matt Damon fan, but he forced me to like him in this role.  He spends a majority of the movie talking straight into the camera, but it is filmed in a way that makes the movie quite watchable.  I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it.  Definitely a fun movie that will have you rooting for all involved in keeping "the Martian" from having to eat next to nothing for even one more sol.  Definitely gets a thumbs up from me!

My Rating: 4 stars

Other Nominations:

Best Actor (Matt Damon), Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects, Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Have you seen The Martian yet?

Andrea :)

Best Picture Review - Mad Max: Fury Road

Mad Max: Fury Road is an apocalyptic story set in a desert landscape where humanity is broken. Everyone is fighting for the necessities of life.  Water is a hot commodity. Within this world, two rebels on the run - Max (Tom Hardy), a former policeman seeking peace of mind following the loss of his wife and child in the aftermath of the chaos AND Furiosa (Charlize Theron), a woman who believes her path to survival may be achieved if she can make it across the desert back to her childhood homeland - attempt to restore order.

This movie is all action!  Not exactly my type of movie, but it honestly wasn't as terrible as I anticipated.  I really liked Charlize Theron.  I think she performed in this role just as well as many others nominated in the actress category.  Perhaps even better than a few.  The high speed car chases, violent battles, and other makeup and costume feats were certainly well executed and no doubt made for an exciting story, but it's just not my cup of tea.  I need something based a bit more in the reality of the here and now.  If you enjoy action, I hope you make time for this one!

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Other Nominations: 

Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing (George Miller), Film Editing, Makeup & Hairstyling, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects

Have you seen Mad Max: Fury Road yet?

Andrea :)

Best Picture Review - Brooklyn

Eilis (Saoirse Ronan), a young Irish woman travels to the United States in the 1950's in hopes of a better future.  She suffers from a severe case of homesickness initially, but eventually finds her way in Brooklyn.  Eilis lives at an Irish boarding house where she dines each night with the traditionalist landlady and her fellow residents, a truly comical crew.  She secures a job and meets a lovely Italian gentleman, Tony (Emory Cohen).  Then come some unexpected twists and turns that I don't want to spoil for you.

I absolutely loved this film.  Absolutely!  It is easily my favorite of all the nominees.  Perhaps it was because I identified with so many of the feelings that Eilis experienced along her journey.  But it couldn't be just that.  This film is the perfect mix of humor and drama.  I laughed many times, but also teared up right along with Eilis on a number of occasions.  I also really enjoyed Saoirse in this role.  She was a fresh face and quite talented as she truly carried this film from beginning to end.  We are planning to see her live in Arthur Miller's The Crucible on Broadway this spring.  Super excited to see more from this lovely leading lady!  Please find a way to check out Brooklyn - you won't regret it!!

My Rating: 5 stars

Other Nominations: 
Best Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Have you seen Brooklyn yet?

Andrea :)