#does Taylor hate jon and Emily though?

[mssamericana]

Honestly this is a better idea anyway!

[locke-writes]

what are your thoughts on the oscar nominations?

We’re doing this as a category by category breakdown and I’m prefacing this by saying this is just my opinion as a viewer and filmmaker.

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”

This is probably one of the toughest Best Picture categories I’ve seen in years. All in all such strong films. I am worried about what will happen should Get Out lose because I have a feeling it will. While it may be a strong film with a good centralized message it doesn’t stand in the same league as films like Call Me By Your Name, Lady Bird, or The Shape of the Water. It doesn’t have many high profile names attached and it’s not so much an art film like the rest could be perceived as. If it doesn’t win I anticipate backlash against the Academy for racism and if it does win I anticipate backlash against the Academy for not choosing a film that would typically win. That being said I don’t think it will win but I could be wrong. All the film on this list have incredible stories and are beautifully shot films with strong performances by their actors. There’s a few that I want to win but I’d be happy with most of them taking home the Oscar.

Lead 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.”

I was surprised to see Denzel nominated not because it was a bad performance but because so few saw the film. I think the top contenders are Daniel Day-Lewis and Gary Oldman as both their performances were incredible and they encapsulated their characters in every way possible. Timothée most likely will not win although his portrayal of Elio could be matched by no other actor in my opinion. However he’s currently filming (or maybe it’s in post) a movie that if it is done properly most likely will bring him back to the Oscars. Kaluuya seems like the odd man out although his performance was great. He might win it but again with heavyweights in this category I can only see it going to either of them. I’d be pleasantly surprised though.

Lead 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”

Again these are practically all heavyweight actors. Great performances all around but I’m not sure about Margot or Saoirse winning. They played equally excellent roles but with the pattern of wins in this category it seems more than likely that Frances will get it. Personally would like to see Sally Hawkins get the Oscar because she played a mute woman which is a difficult performance for an actor. Pulling all emotion into facial expression and in this case also ASL hand movements. I’d be happy with any outcome here though.

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”

A little disappointed that Armie Hammer didn’t get a nom for Call Me By Your Name but it’s a good list nonetheless. Dafoe would be my pick but I’m cautiously doubtful and predict it going to either Rockwell or Harrelson. All in all the supporting cast for each of these films was excellent and tied everything together so I really think there’s some strong contenders even if some did happen to get snubbed in my opinion.

Supporting Actress:

Mary J. Blige, “Mudbound”Allison Janney, “I, Tonya”Lesley Manville, “Phantom Thread”Laurie Metcalf, “Lady Bird”Octavia Spencer, “The Shape of Water”

If Mudbound wins it’ll be a win for Netflix. The film industry hates streaming. Doubtful that Blige will win though what with who all is nominated. I’d love to see Spencer or Metcalf take it home but Manville might just beat them out based on her performance. Janney could take it based on the praise surrounding her performance it wouldn’t be surprising. Strong performances and some beautiful films chosen

Director:

“Dunkirk,” Christopher Nolan“Get Out,” Jordan Peele“Lady Bird,” Greta Gerwig“Phantom Thread,” Paul Thomas Anderson“The Shape of Water,” Guillermo del Toro

It’s del Toro or Nolan. Gerwig is the fifth female director to be nominated in this category but I’d be very shocked if the Oscar went to her. Lady Bird was great and it clearly was done but an excellent director but when you’re in a category with del Toro and Nolan and with del Toro winning most of the Best Director awards I feel like she won’t win it. It’s about time another female director has been nominated though. Personally I’d like to see it go to del Toro, Shape of the Water was one of my favorite films of the year and the message that it brought with it is a poignant one. It was just wonderfully crafted and crafted with love clearly. PTA and Phantom Thread made for an intricate work of art as well and would not be surprised if he took it home. I’d be disappointed but not surprised.

Animated Feature:

“The Boss Baby,” Tom McGrath, Ramsey Ann Naito“The Breadwinner,” Nora Twomey, Anthony Leo“Coco,” Lee Unkrich, Darla K. Anderson“Ferdinand,” Carlos Saldanha“Loving Vincent,” Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman, Sean Bobbitt, Ivan Mactaggart, Hugh Welchman

I have a feeling it’s going to go Coco because of Pixar. Pixar always tends to win Best Animated Feature but I would like to see Loving Vincent take it. The concept and execution were so unique and different from any animated film out there that I’d like to see the team rewarded for it.

Animated Short:

“Dear Basketball,” Glen Keane, Kobe Bryant“Garden Party,” Victor Caire, Gabriel Grapperon“Lou,” Dave Mullins, Dana Murray“Negative Space,” Max Porter, Ru Kuwahata“Revolting Rhymes,” Jakob Schuh, Jan Lachauer

Unfortunately animated shorts are hard to come by when they run the festival circuit alone so I didn’t get to see any of these. Revolting Rhymes and Negative Space have great titles though and when I see the little preview at the Oscars I’ll be hunting down a way to watch them all.

Adapted Screenplay:

“Call Me by Your Name,” James Ivory“The Disaster Artist,” Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber“Logan,” Scott Frank & James Mangold and Michael Green“Molly’s Game,” Aaron Sorkin“Mudbound,” Virgil Williams and Dee Rees

For pue shock value I’d like Logan to take it. Highly highly doubtful because you’ve got Aaron Sorkin in the category but it is Screenplay and the Screenplay category doesn’t necessarily go to some of the higher valued films. Comic book films and random action films have been known to win based on the script alone so this category really is a toss up and I’d be very intrigued if Logan or even The Disaster Artist won.

Original Screenplay:

“The Big Sick,” Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani“Get Out,” Jordan Peele“Lady Bird,” Greta Gerwig“The Shape of Water,” Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” Martin McDonagh

This might actually be the one category Get Out wins because of the interesting concept and it’s screenplay. The Shape of the Water or Three Billboards most likely will as they’re considered larger Oscar type art films (they’re not technically art films but they're more of the Oscar kinda films if you get what I’m trying to say). This category is again very up for grabs based on writing alone and it could go any which way. 

Cinematography:

“Blade Runner 2049,” Roger Deakins“Darkest Hour,” Bruno Delbonnel“Dunkirk,” Hoyte van Hoytema“Mudbound,” Rachel Morrison“The Shape of Water,” Dan Laustsen

Although I don’t think she’ll win the Oscar can we first talk about how amazing it is that Rachel Morrison is even nominated. Cinematography is a male dominated field with a low percentage amount of female cinematographers so first for any film this year to have a female cinematographer is sorta a big deal. The bigger deal is her nomination because she's the first female cinematographer nominated ever at the Oscars. That’s 90 years and not one female cinematographer. Really pretty damn cool. Having said that just going purely off the aesthetic of each film because cinematography is the aesthetic category (the angles and lighting and way the film was shot), Blade Runner 2049 or The Shape of Water might take it. Dunkirk and Darkest Hour are also very plausible.

Best Documentary Feature:

“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail,” Steve James, Mark Mitten, Julie Goldman“Faces Places,” JR, Agnès Varda, Rosalie Varda“Icarus,” Bryan Fogel, Dan Cogan“Last Men in Aleppo,” Feras Fayyad, Kareem Abeed, Soren Steen Jepersen“Strong Island,” Yance Ford, Joslyn Barnes

I haven’t seen any of these so I really can’t say much about any. 

Best Documentary Short Subject:

“Edith+Eddie,” Laura Checkoway, Thomas Lee Wright“Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405,” Frank Stiefel“Heroin(e),” Elaine McMillion Sheldon, Kerrin Sheldon“Knife Skills,” Thomas Lennon“Traffic Stop,” Kate Davis, David Heilbroner

I legit don’t know what Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405 is truly about but fuck the 405 and I’m intrigued. I only saw the preview for Edith+Eddie because it’s only on a festival circuit right now but it seems like a heart-wrenching documentary. Don’t have any preference on these so I’d be pleased with any result.

Best Live Action Short Film:

“DeKalb Elementary,” Reed Van Dyk“The Eleven O’Clock,” Derin Seale, Josh Lawson“My Nephew Emmett,” Kevin Wilson, Jr.“The Silent Child,” Chris Overton, Rachel Shenton“Watu Wote/All of Us,” Katja Benrath, Tobias Rosen

Again I haven’t seen any of these nor do I know any of the filmmakers so I can’t speak much on this category.

Best Foreign Language Film:

“A Fantastic Woman” (Chile)“The Insult” (Lebanon)“Loveless” (Russia)“On Body and Soul (Hungary)“The Square” (Sweden)

A Fantastic Woman was a wonderful film and if that won I’d be pleased. Not only for the fact that it is a beautiful film but they cast a trans woman as the lead which shouldn’t be surprising but too many trans characters are played by cis actors. Other than that I’ve not seen the rest and can’t say anything for their merit. Have heard The Square is a great film though.

Film Editing:

“Baby Driver,” Jonathan Amos, Paul Machliss“Dunkirk,” Lee Smith“I, Tonya,” Tatiana S. Riegel“The Shape of Water,” Sidney Wolinsky“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” Jon Gregory

I just. All of the editing was fantastic for each of these films. The Shape of Water and Dunkirk are the two top contenders but I’d like to see Baby Driver win it. Any editor will know that editing to music is easy but editing on beat is very incredibly difficult. And for a movie that’s wall to wall sound with a precisely cultivated soundtrack it makes it even more impressive.

Sound Editing:

“Baby Driver,” Julian Slater“Blade Runner 2049,” Mark Mangini, Theo Green“Dunkirk,” Alex Gibson, Richard King“The Shape of Water,” Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira“Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” Ren Klyce, Matthew Wood

Dunkirk or The Shape of Water might get it. Would be surprised to have Star Wars win the category even though the sound editing was phenomenal. Baby Driver had some insane sound work which might make it also a top contender but either way no one cares about this category but me. I’ll be fine with either Baby Driver or The Shape of Water winning. Either way this goes the sound for all of these films was gorgeously crafted.

Sound Mixing:

“Baby Driver,” Mary H. Ellis, Julian Slater, Tim Cavagin“Blade Runner 2049,” Mac Ruth, Ron Bartlett, Doug Hephill“Dunkirk,” Mark Weingarten, Gregg Landaker, Gary A. Rizzo“The Shape of Water,” Glen Gauthier, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern“Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” Stuart Wilson, Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick

Again no one cares about this category but me. I’d like to see Baby Driver win this due to the carefully crafter sound wall they built. I mean sound is such an integral part of film which often goes taken for granted. The one rule of sound is if the audience didn’t notice it then you did your job right. Which basically means if you don't get recognition then you did something right because if they noticed you fucked up. All in all gorgeous sound mixing for each so I’d be pleased all the way around.

Production Design:

“Beauty and the Beast,” Sarah Greenwood; Katie Spencer“Blade Runner 2049,” Dennis Gassner, Alessandra Querzola“Darkest Hour,” Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer“Dunkirk,” Nathan Crowley, Gary Fettis“The Shape of Water,” Paul D. Austerberry, Jeffrey A. Melvin, Shane Vieau

Difficult category. The sets for every film were so well put together and the entire design for each film was magnificent. I have a hard time picking and whoever wins certainly deserves the award.

Original Score:

“Dunkirk,” Hans Zimmer“Phantom Thread,” Jonny Greenwood“The Shape of Water,” Alexandre Desplat“Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” John Williams“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” Carter Burwell

I’m not a composer but I can appreciate music. Scores were beautiful all around. Would like to see Desplat take it because his score was very central to the film as a whole what with there being such a dialogue gap in scenes because Eliza can’t speak. Again, this category is very well chosen and I have no qualms with whoever wins.

Original Song:

“Mighty River” from “Mudbound,” Mary J. Blige“Mystery of Love” from “Call Me by Your Name,” Sufjan Stevens“Remember Me” from “Coco,” Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez“Stand Up for Something” from “Marshall,” Diane Warren, Common“This Is Me” from “The Greatest Showman,” Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

First of I’m just surprised the Mystery of Love got put on here. Personally I would have gone with Visions of Gideon instead but either way I love all the songs on this list and I just really wanna see the This Is Me performance so uh I really don’t care who wins I love them all.

Makeup and Hair:

“Darkest Hour,” Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski, Lucy Sibbick“Victoria and Abdul,” Daniel Phillips and Lou Sheppard“Wonder,” Arjen Tuiten

Give it to the Darkest Hour please. Like you knew it was Gary Oldman but there was no resemblance at all which is hard to do. The makeup and hair was fantastic for all three so either way it’s a good win.

Costume Design:

“Beauty and the Beast,” Jacqueline Durran“Darkest Hour,” Jacqueline Durran“Phantom Thread,” Mark Bridges“The Shape of Water,” Luis Sequeira“Victoria and Abdul,” Consolata Boyle

I’d be surprised if Phantom Thread doesn't win because it’s about a fashion designer so that's what you have to work with as a costume designer. However the costumes for all fit their characters perfectly so any which way this goes they all had fantastic costume designers.

Visual Effects:

“Blade Runner 2049,” John Nelson, Paul Lambert, Richard R. Hoover, Gerd Nefzer“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Jonathan Fawkner, Dan Sudick“Kong: Skull Island,” Stephen Rosenbaum, Jeff White, Scott Benza, Mike Meinardus“Star Wars: The Last Jedi,”  Ben Morris, Mike Mulholland, Chris Corbould, Neal Scanlan“War for the Planet of the Apes,” Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, Daniel Barrett, Joel Whist

The visual effects intensity for each is immense. I know how much time and effort goes into visual effects work on films such as this so personally all of the visual effects artists deserve Oscars. I have no real choice because all these films were made by the visual effects. The performances were needed but lacking that perfect amount of visual effects each would have fallen flat. I feel like perhaps Blade Runner 2049 might take it but so could War for the Planet of the Apes or GOTG 2.