It’s that time again where we all sit down and watch the awards given out to all the best movies that came out over the past year. Now that I’ve seen practically all the movies nominated this year I figured I should throw my predictions, at least for the main ones. Follow below and let me know if you agree or not. Just note that last year I didn’t miss one category! 100%! Think I can do it again?
Just like last year I hope for tomorrow night is we can focus on movies and not hear politics from a bunch of millionaires — just be quiet.
Cinematography —
One of my favorite movies of the past year has been ‘Blade Runner 2049!’ The entire movie is jaw dropping and I haven’t seen anything like it in years. There are people that literally didn’t understand the movie, but loved the way it looks. This film screams WIN! I’d be upset if it didn’t.
Original Screenplay —
This was the movie everyone was talking about and it deserves all the praise, no doubt. I don’t think it’s last Oscars’ ‘Moonlight.’ It didn’t have that same effect and it doesn’t hold a candle to ‘Moonlight.’ This whole movie was original and I believe it will take home the win in this category, easily, but this will be it’s only win.
Adapted Screenplay —
As one half of the powerhouse filmmaking team Merchant-Ivory, Ivory has created pieces lioke “A Room With a View,” “Howards End” and “The Remains of the Day.” He is 89 years old and this gay coming-of-age novel turned film is going to give him the win!
Best Animated Film —
Despite his family’s generations-old ban on music, young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead. Pixar doesn’t know how to loose and this might be the biggest shoe in of the night. This is going to WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN. Great movie, great music, great story. Trophies.
Supporting Actress —
This category has some heavy hitters in it, but Allison Janney’s performance as LaVona Golden, mother of the disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding, will take the cake. She’s already won for the role at multiple other awards, so this will continue the roll it’s on. Easy, another shoe in.
Supporting Actor —
Sam Rockwell & Woody Harrelson from Three Billboards lead the Supporting Actor category with a couple others, who won’t be forgotten either. I feel Christopher Plummer is only there out of respect from the situation he was in and Willem Dafoe’s role wasn’t rememberable enough, at least to me.
He stars as a dimwitted, racist police officer and he pulls it off from start to finish. There is a lot to this character transformation, and without any spoilers…… he does it flawlessly! He should be bringing the award home.
Best Director —
This really pains me…. it really does. My favorite director of all time, Christopher Nolan is in this category for ‘Dunkirk.’ While his masterful work can be shown across every movie in various different genres, Guillermo Del Torro’s ‘Shape of Water’ is indescribable. It leads the night with a total of 13 nominations and this is sure to be one that will be tallied at the end of the night.
Best Actress —
Frances McDormand’s plays Mildred, a mother whose grief over her daughter’s unsolved murder hardens into vengeance and rage. Her performance was so strong and I will be rooting for her the same way I was rooting for her in ‘Three Billboards.’ In my opinion, the biggest person getting screwed is Sally Hawkins, any other year and she would have won. The steamroll of wins coming to Frances will continue with another win on Sunday night.
Best Actor —
While Gary Oldman has created and mastered many different characters, nothing has the biggest amount of potential than playing Winston Churchill. He has a big uphill battle for that win as he is facing two new stars in Timothée Chalamet and Daniel Kaluuya, plus two veterans in Daniel Day-Lewis and Denzel Washington. All the hard work, prosthetics, makeup and transformation techniques will be worth it.
Best Picture —
What to do. What to do.
I find myself at the place I was last year with ‘Moonlight’ and ‘La La Land.’ Now it’s ‘Three Billboards,’ and ‘The Shape of Water.’ Last year I really thought ‘La La Land’ was going to take it home…. because, Hollywood. Even still, I went with my heart on what I really thought was the film that deserved to win. This year I am going to have to do the same thing, while I think ‘Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri’ will win, I’m going with my gut and pushing all the chips in on ‘The Shape of Water.’
The movie was amazing and I was enthralled start to finish. The story, the characters, the ending…. It’s classic storytelling Hollywood at it’s best.
“Unable to perceive the shape of You, I find You all around me. Your presence fills my eyes with Your love, It humbles my heart, For You are everywhere.”
Let’s see what happens Sunday night.
Cheers,
Matt.
