Monday, January 29, 2018

London Film Critics Circle Award Winners

FILM OF THE YEAR
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
Elle

DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
I Am Not Your Negro

BRITISH/IRISH FILM OF THE YEAR: The Attenborough Award
Dunkirk

DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Sean Baker – The Florida Project

SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
Martin McDonagh – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

ACTRESS OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by Heaven Skincare
Frances McDormand – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Timoth̩e Chalamet РCall Me By Your Name

SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by Cameo
Lesley Manville – Phantom Thread

SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Hugh Grant – Paddington 2

BRITISH/IRISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Sally Hawkins – The Shape of Water/Maudie/Paddington 2

BRITISH/IRISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by Millbank & CooperSearle
Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out

YOUNG BRITISH/IRISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by The May Fair Hotel
Harris Dickinson – Beach Rats

BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH/IRISH FILMMAKER: The Philip French Award
Francis Lee – God’s Own Country

BRITISH/IRISH SHORT FILM OF THE YEAR
We Love Moses – Dionne Edwards

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Blade Runner 2049 – Dennis Gassner, production design

EXCELLENCE IN FILM: The Dilys Powell Award
Kate Winslet

Sunday, January 28, 2018

The 60th Annual Grammy Awards

I will update throughout the afternoon/evening:

Album of the Year - Bruno Mars "24K Magic"
Record of the Year - Bruno Mars "24K Magic"
Song of the Year - Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip "That's What I Like" (Bruno Mars)
Best New Artist - Alessia Cara
Best Pop Vocal Album - Ed Sheeran "Divide"
Best Pop Solo Performance - Ed Sheeran "Shape of You"
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance - Portugal the Man "Feel It Still"
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album - Tony Bennett Celebrates 90
Best Rap Album - Kendrick Lamar "DAMN."
Best Rap Performance - Kendrick Lamar "HUMBLE."
Best Rap/Sung Performance - Kendrick Lamar feat. Rihanna "Loyalty"
Best Rap Song - K. Duckworth, Asheton Hogan & M. Williams II "HUMBLE"
Best R&B Album - Bruno Mars "24K Magic"
Best Urban Contemporary Album - The Weeknd "Starboy"
Best R&B Performance - Bruno Mars "That's What I Like"
Best Traditional R&B Performance - Childish Gambino "Redbone"  
Best R&B Song - Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip "That's What I Like"
Best Country Album - Chris Stapleton "From A Room, Vol. 1"
Best Country Solo Performance - Chris Stapleton "Either Way"
Best Country Duo/Group Performance - Little Big Town "Better Man"
Best Country Song - Mike Henderson & Chris Stapleton "Broken Halos"
Best Alternative Music Album - The National "Sleep Well Beast"
Best Rock Album - The War on Drugs "A Deeper Understanding"
Best Rock Performance - Leonard Cohen "You Want It Darker"
Best Rock Song - Foo Fighters "Run"
Best Metal Performance - Mastodon "Sultan's Curse"
Best Dance/Electronic Album - Kraftwerk "3-D Catalogue"
Best Dance Recording - LCD Soundsystem "Tonite"
Best Americana Album - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit "Nashville Song"
Best American Roots Song - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit "If We Were Vampires"
Best American Roots Performance - Alabama Shakes "Killer Diller Blues"
Best Gospel Album - CeCe Winans "Let Them Fall in Love"
Best Roots Gospel Album - Reba McEntire "Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope"
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album - Zach Williams "Chain Breaker"
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song - Hillsong Worship "What a Beautiful Name"
Best Gospel Performance/Song - CeCe Winans "Never Have to Be Alone"
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media - La La Land
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media - La La Land
Best Song Written for Visual Media - Moana - How Far I'll Go
Best Spoken Word Album - Carrie Fisher "The Princess Diarist"
Best Comedy Album - Dave Chappelle "The Age of Spin & Deep in the Heart of Texas"
Best Musical Theater Album - Dear Evan Hansen
Best Latin Pop Album - Shakira "El Dorado"
Producer of the Year (Non Classical) - Greg Kurstin
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical - Bruno Mars "24K Magic"
Best Remixed Recording - Depeche Mode "You Move (Latroit Remix)"
Best Music Video - Kendrick Lamar "HUMBLE"
Best Music Film - The Defiant Ones

Art Directors Guild (ADG) Award Winners

PERIOD FILM
THE SHAPE OF WATER
Production Designer: PAUL DENHAM AUSTERBERRY

FANTASY FILM
BLADE RUNNER 2049
Production Designer: DENNIS GASSNER

CONTEMPORARY FILM
LOGAN
Production Designer: FRANÇOIS AUDOUY

ANIMATED FILM
COCO
Production Designer: HARLEY JESSUP

ONE-HOUR PERIOD OR FANTASY SINGLE-CAMERA SERIES
GAME OF THRONES: “Dragonstone,” “The Queen`s Justice,” “Eastwatch”
Production Designer: DEBORAH RILEY

ONE-HOUR CONTEMPORARY SINGLE-CAMERA SERIES
THE HANDMAID’S TALE: “Pilot, Offred,” “Birth Day,” “Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum”
Production Designer: JULIE BERGHOFF

TELEVISION MOVIE OR LIMITED SERIES
BLACK MIRROR: “USS Callister”
Production Designers: JOEL COLLINS, PHIL SIMS

HALF HOUR SINGLE-CAMERA SERIES
GLOW: “Pilot,” “The Wrath of Kuntar,” “The Dusty Spur”
Production Designer: TODD FJELSTED

MULTI-CAMERA SERIES
WILL & GRACE: “Eleven Years Later,” “A Gay Olde Christmas”
 Production Designer: GLENDA ROVELLO

SHORT FORMAT: WEB SERIES, MUSIC VIDEO OR COMMERCIAL
STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT II: “Rivalry / PS4”
Production Designer: JASON EDMONDS

VARIETY OR COMPETITION SERIES/AWARDS OR EVENT SPECIAL
PORTLANDIA: “Portland Secedes,” “Ants,” “Fred`s Cell Phone Company”
Production Designer: SCHUYLER TELLEEN

Saturday, January 27, 2018

45th Daytime Emmy Pre-Nomination Lists

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Sharon Case, as Sharon Newman
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Eileen Davidson, as Ashley Abbott
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Melissa Claire Egan, as Chelsea Newman
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Judi Evans, as Adrienne Kiriakis/Bonnie Lockhart
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Mary Beth Evans, as Kayla Johnson
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Nancy Lee Grahn, as Alexis Davis
General Hospital, ABC

Marci Miller, as Abigail Deveraux
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Kelly Monaco, as Sam McCall
General Hospital, ABC

Gina Tognoni, as Phyllis Summers
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Maura West, as Ava Jerome
General Hospital, ABC

Laura Wright, as Carly Corinthos
General Hospital, ABC

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES 
Peter Bergman, as Jack Abbott
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Scott Clifton, as Liam Spencer
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Michael Easton, as Hamilton Finn
General Hospital, ABC

Billy Flynn, as Chad DiMera
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Galen Gering, as Rafe Hernandez
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Eric Martsolf, as Brady Black
Days of Our Lives, NBC

John McCook, as Eric Forrester
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Billy Miller, as Jason Morgan/Drew
General Hospital, ABC

Stephen Nichols, as Steve “Patch” Johnson
Days of Our Lives, NBC

James Reynolds, as Abe Carver
Days of Our Lives, NBC

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES 
Marla Adams, as Dina Mergeron
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Nadia Bjorlin, as Chloe Lane
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Eileen Davidson, as Susan Banks/Kristen DiMera/Sister Mary Moira
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Camryn Grimes, as Mariah Copeland
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Susan Hayes, as Julie Williams
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Elizabeth Hendrickson, as Chloe Mitchell
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Lisa LoCicero, as Olivia Falconeri
General Hospital, ABC

Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, as Steffy Forrester Spencer
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Mishael Morgan, as Hilary Curtis
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Arianne Zucker, as Nicole Walker
Days of Our Lives, NBC

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES 
Darin Brooks, as Wyatt Spencer
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Steve Burton, as Jason Morgan/Patient 6
General Hospital, ABC

Chad Duell, as Michael Corinthos
General Hospital, ABC

Bryton James, as Devon Hamilton
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Wally Kurth, as Ned Quartermaine
General Hospital, ABC

Chandler Massey, as Will Horton
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Anthony Montgomery, as Dr Andre Maddox
General Hospital, ABC

Greg Rikaart, as Kevin Baldwin
The Young and the Restless, CBS

James Patrick Stuart, as Valentin Cassadine
General Hospital, ABC

Greg Vaughan, as Eric Brady
Days of Our Lives, NBC

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Reign Edwards, as Nicole Avant Forrester
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Hayley Erin, as Kiki Jerome
General Hospital, ABC

Cait Fairbanks, as Tessa Porter
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Courtney Grosbeck, as Coco Spectra
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Olivia Rose Keegan, as Claire Brady
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Victoria Konefal, as Ciara Brady
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Chloe Lanier, as Nelle Benson
General Hospital, ABC

Eden McCoy, as Josslyn Jacks
General Hospital, ABC

Paige Searcy, as Jade Michaels
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Lexie Stevenson, as Mattie Ashby
The Young and the Restless, CBS

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Lucas Adams, as Tripp Dalton
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Rome Flynn, as Zende Forrester
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Pierson Fode, as Thomas Forrester
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Noah Alexander Gerry, as Charlie Ashby
The Young and the Restless, CBS

James Lastovic, as Joey Johnson
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Tristan Lake Leabu, as Reed Hellstrom
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Casey Moss, as JJ Deveraux
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Garren Stitt, as Oscar Nero
General Hospital, ABC

Anthony Turpel, as Ridge Forrester Jr “RJ”
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Hudson West, as Jake Webber
General Hospital, ABC

68th Annual American Cinema Editors (ACE) Eddie Award Winners

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (DRAMATIC):
Dunkirk
Lee Smith, ACE

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (COMEDY):
I, Tonya
Tatiana S. Riegel, ACE

BEST EDITED ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
Coco
Steve Bloom

BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE):
Jane
Joe Beshenkovsky, ACE, Will Znidaric, Brett Morgen

BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY (NON-THEATRICAL):
Five Came Back: The Price of Victory
Will Znidaric

BEST EDITED COMEDY SERIES FOR COMMERCIAL TELEVISION:
black-ish: “Lemons”
John Peter Bernardo, Jamie Pedroza

BEST EDITED COMEDY SERIES FOR NON-COMMERCIAL TELEVISION:
Curb Your Enthusiasm: “The Shucker”
Jonathan Corn, ACE

BEST EDITED DRAMA SERIES FOR COMMERCIAL TELEVISION:
Fargo: “Who Rules the Land of Denial”
Andrew Seklir, ACE

BEST EDITED DRAMA SERIES FOR NON-COMMERCIAL TELEVISION:
Handmaid’s Tale: “Offred”
Julian Clarke, ACE & Wendy Hallam Martin

BEST EDITED MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE FOR TELEVISION:
Genius: Einstein “Chapter One”
James D. Wilcox

BEST EDITED NON-SCRIPTED SERIES:
VICE News Tonight: “Charlottesville: Race & Terror”
Tim Clancy, Cameron Dennis, John Chimples & Denny Thomas

STUDENT COMPETITION WINNER
Mariah Zenk – Missouri State University

ACE Golden Eddie Honoree
Vince Gilligan

Career Achievement Honorees
Mark Goldblatt, ACE
Leon Ortiz-Gil, ACE

Friday, January 26, 2018

The 8th Annual Awards Psychic Award Winners

Best Picture - Drama
Winner - Dunkirk
Runners Up - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Shape of Water, Call Me By Your Name, and The Post
Commentary - In a close race, it is Dunkirk that comes out on top. It was so ethereal, so quiet, so expansive. It is a technical achievement that was unmatched this year, and is the type of war movie that isn't made. It didn't show excessive amounts of gore, it was not excessively long. It showed that sometimes the most harrowing part of war is the silence, the wait, the unknown. It was a brilliant take on a war that has gotten its fair share of film versions over the last eighty years, and Nolan managed to bring a new vision and breathe new life into a well-worn subject. The results were fantastic.

Best Picture - Comedy/Musical
Winner - Lady Bird
Runner Up - The Big Sick and Get Out
Commentary - Lady Bird is easily my favorite film of 2017. Greta Gerwig brought charm, wisdom, and a beautiful eye to her script and direction. The cast, led by Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf, are all fantastic, charming, and funny. How can you not fall in love with this film? Lady Bird is just one of those films that you can't help but smiling the whole way through and long after you leave the theater. It is a triumph.

Best Picture - Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror
Winner - Blade Runner 2049
Runners Up - Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Wonder Woman, and Logan
Commentary - Unlike the whiny Star Wars fans who will not shut up, I thoroughly enjoyed Last Jedi. I also, once again, am amazed at projects like Logan and Wonder Woman, which prove that you really can elevate comic book movies to greatness. But Denis Villeneuve's box-office bomb, yet critical favorite Blade Runner 2049 wins this race in a close one. Of course it was not going to make a lot of money. It was too smart, too ethereal, too visually stunning for general audiences to grasp just how brilliant this film was. Like the original, a decade from now, we will all look back and realize just how great its sequel was.

Best Picture - Animated
Winner - Coco
Runner Up - Loving Vincent
Commentary - Pixar once again knocked it out of the park with Coco, a vibrant experience that presents an important cultural experience of love, family, loss, and music. Easily the best animated film of the year.

Best Picture - Documentary
Winner - (TIE) Faces Places and Ex Libris - The New York Public Library
Runners Up - Jane and Step
Commentary - Faces Places is a great tribute to the work of the legendary Agnes Varda. But I could not leave this year without honoring Frederick Wiseman's work highlighting the work, history, and love for the New York Public Library. In December, I graduated with a Masters Degree in Library Science, and have worked at a public library for over five years. The biggest threat to public libraries is not the Internet, streaming video, or e-books. The biggest threat we face is the perception that we are no longer relevant. We are relevant. Libraries are transforming into modern technology centers, important community places that focus on providing needed services to the communities they serve. Our programs, services, literacy efforts, and technology training are building a better future for all of us. Thank you Mr. Wiseman for highlighting one of the biggest and best public libraries in the world, and for giving a voice to a profession and an institution that is a cornerstone of our society.

Best Actor - Drama
Winner - Gary Oldman "Darkest Hour"
Runners Up - Timothee Chalamet "Call Me By Your Name" and Harris Dickinson "Beach Rats"
Commentary - I, like most of us, have loved Gary Oldman for years. I am so happy that he is finally starting to get the recognition he deserves for a magnificent turn as Winston Churchill and for a career that has placed him among some of the best actors of his generation. The next generation is in good hands as well with newcomers like Timothee Chalamet and Harris Dickinson, but this is Oldman's time to shine, and he deserves it.

Best Actress - Drama
Winner - Frances McDormand "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Runner Up - Jessica Chastain "Molly's Game"
Commentary - Frances McDormand is a goddess. My first experience with her was in Almost Famous, which still remains my favorite film of all time, as the loving and overbearing college professor mother who lets her son go on the road with a rock band. Then I saw Fargo, and it only confirmed what I knew, and apparently what the whole world already knew: that Frances McDormand is one of the finest actresses to ever grace the silver screen. I am so thrilled to give her one of these awards, for a jaw-dropping, bad-ass performance that is an instant classic in an already impressive filmography.

Best Actor - Comedy/Musical
Winner - Kumail Nanjiani "The Big Sick"
Runner Up - Daniel Kaluuya "Get Out"
Commentary - Kumail Nanjiani is getting more credit for his writing than his acting, but it should not diminish what he did on-screen. He was hilarious, as expected, but was also charming, emotional, and a joy to watch.

Best Actress - Comedy/Musical
Winner - Saoirse Ronan "Lady Bird"
Runner Up - Margot Robbie "I, Tonya"
Commentary - Two of the best young talents in this business gave stellar performances this year. Margot Robbie transformed into Tonya Harding, and deserves all the praise she can get. But in a close race, I am going with Saoirse Ronan. She has been building an incredible resume over the years, and her exuberance, her charm, her frustration in Lady Bird was magnificent, and her onscreen chemistry with Laurie Metcalf is what made my favorite film of the year so special.

Best Supporting Actor
Winner - Patrick Stewart "Logan"
Runners Up - Woody Harrelson "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri", Mark Hammill "Star Wars: The Last Jedi", Sam Rockwell "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Commentary - Mark Hammill, despite some of the un-please-able Star Wars fans, ended her career as Luke on a high note, and the two guys from Three Billboards were fantastic. But since I saw Patrick Stewart in Logan many months ago, his final shot at Charles Xavier has lingered with me. Stewart is a master performer, who has always been under-rewarded throughout what has been a long and distinguished career. And Professor X was one of his most iconic performances. But until Logan, it was more iconic because it was a legendary character, and less because it was jaw-dropping good (although I would argue in X2, he was fantastic). Logan changed that perception a lot. This role became iconic, because we got to see it through, we got to witness the whole experience start to finish, and we got to see a master veteran end his run, in one of the most successful film franchises of all time, on top.

Best Supporting Actress
Winner - (TIE) Carrie Fisher "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" and Laurie Metcalf "Lady Bird"
Runners Up - Tiffany Haddish "Girls Trip"
Commentary - First, let's start with Laurie Metcalf. A veteran of television, she was the other half of the dynamic duo of Lady Bird. Her love, her toughness, her dedication. What could have been another standard "mom" role was transformed because Metcalf made it her own, connected so well with Ronan, and gave it the kind of maturity and rare artistic form it needed to soar. But I could not leave this year without honoring one of our finest. Carrie Fisher, as a person, will be remembered as a tortured, yet kind and tough soul, who overcame her battles, used them to inspire and help others, and someone who never gave up. She also created one of the most iconic characters in the history of American film. Leia was the kind of woman that young moviegoers should look up to. She was spy, a general, a warrior. She inspired others, she fought for the causes and the people she believed in, she always did her best, and she used her mistakes as a lesson for the next generation. I will always miss Leia, especially as this Star Wars saga appears to have no end in sight. But mostly,  I will miss Carrie. I grew up on Star Wars, like many of us. Our love for this saga is about nostalgia and our beloved characters. When Carrie died, a piece of my childhood died with it, as I'm sure it did for many others. We will never forget her, we will always love her, she will always be our general, our friend, and our beloved princess.

Best Voice Acting/Motion Capture Performance
Winner - Andy Serkis "War For the Planet of the Apes"
Runner Up - Anthony Gonzalez "Coco"
Commentary - Andy Serkis revolutionized the motion-capture genre, and his work as Caesar in this finale, as well as a the whole current Planet of the Apes trilogy was once again worthy of Oscar contention, and once again, ignored. One day, the Academy will catch up, and they will eventually recognize the difficulty and the art of voice and motion capture acting. Until then, here is an incredibly small honor, for one of our generations most ignored talents.

Best Director
Winner - Christopher Nolan "Dunkirk"
Runner Up - Greta Gerwig "Lady Bird"
Commentary - I hate to be repetitive, so mostly look at the top category. Basically, Nolan created a visually-stunning masterpiece to add to his already impressive filmography, and was easily the best choice for this category, in my opinion.

Best Ensemble
Winner - The Post
Runner Up - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Girls Trip, and The Big Sick
Commentary - I really was amazed at just how deep this cast was. You come for the Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep show, but you stay for the amazing work of some of the finest television, veteran character, and even stage actors. To prove just how impressive this cast is, I think it is simpler to just list a few of the names: Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Carrie Coon, Tracey Letts, Jesse Plemmons, Zach Woods, Bradley Whitford, Bruce Greenwood, Alison Brie, Matthew Rhys, Jessie Mueller, Stark Sands and Michael Stuhlbarg.

Best Adapted Screenplay
Winner - James Ivory "Call Me By Your Name"
Runner Up - Aaron Sorkin "Molly's Game"
Commentary - James Ivory beautifully adapted Andre Aciman's novel, and gave it the heart, tension, heartbreak, and caring touch it deserved. Ivory has been writing beautiful personal dramas for years, but this might be his true late-career masterpiece.

Best Original Screenplay
Winner - Greta Gerwig "Lady Bird"
Runner Up - Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani "The Big Sick"
Commentary - This was a tough category because both The Big Sick and Lady Bird were such funny, touching, and personal stories, whose witty dialogue, and beautifully drawn characters were magnificently constructed. But Lady Bird wins in a tight one.

Best Cinematography
Winner - Roger Deakins "Blade Runner 2049"
Runners Up - Hoyte Van Hoytema "Dunkirk" and Rachel Morrison "Mudbound"
Commentary - GIVE. THIS. MAN. A. DAMN. OSCAR

Best Visual Effects
Winner - War for the Planet of the Apes
Runners Up - Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Blade Runner 2049
Commentary - War for the Planet of the Apes, like its predecessors easily had the best visual effects of the year, and even great work like Star Wars and Blade Runner really could not compete.

Worst Film of the Year
Loser - The Dark Tower
Runners Up - Justice League and The Snowman
Commentary - Stephen King's book series of The Dark Tower is a towering literary masterpiece. It is such a shame that its film adaptation was such a jumbled, poorly constructed mess of a film. When Idris Elba can't save a film, you know it is really bad.

Top Twenty Films of 2018
1. Lady Bird
2. Dunkirk
3. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
4. The Big Sick
5. Call Me By Your Name
6. Blade Runner 2049
7. The Shape of Water
8. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
9. The Post
10. Logan
11. Wonder Woman
12. Wind River
13. Get Out
14. Phantom Thread
15.  Darkest Hour
16. (TIE) Faces Places and Ex Libris – The New York Public Library
17. Mudbound
18. Molly’s Game
19. Girls Trip
20. I, Tonya

Thursday, January 25, 2018

2018 Grammy Winner Predictions

Album of the Year - Bruno Mars "24k Magic"
Record of the Year - Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber "Despacito"
Song of the Year - Alessia Caracciolo, Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, Arjun Ivatury,  Khalid Robinson & Andrew Taggart "1-800-273-8255"
Best New Artist - Alessia Cara
Best Pop Vocal Album -  Ed Sheeran "Divide"
Best Pop Solo Performance - Ed Sheeran "Shape of You"
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance - Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber "Despacito"
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album - Michael Buble "Nobody But Me"
Best Rock Album - Metallica "Hardwired...To Self-Destruct"
Best Rock Performance - Leonard Cohen "You Want it Darker"
Best Rock Song - Foo Fighters "Run"
Best Alternative Music Album - LCD Soundsystem "American Dream"
Best R&B Album - Bruno Mars "24k Magic"
Best Urban Contemporary Album - Childish Gambino "Awaken, My Love!"
Best R&B Performance - Bruno Mars "That's What I Like"
Best Traditional R&B Performance - Childish Gambino "Redbone"
Best R&B Song - Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip "That's What I Like"
Best Rap Album - Kendrick Lamar "DAMN"
Best Rap Performance - Kendrick Lamar "HUMBLE"
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration - Kendrick Lamar feat. Rihanna "LOYALTY"
Best Rap Song - K. Duckworth, Asheton Hogan & M. Williams II "HUMBLE"
Best Country Album - Chris Stapleton "From a Room, Vol. 1"
Best Country Solo Performance - Chris Stapleton "Either Way"
Best Country Duo/Group Performance - Little Big Town "Better Man"
Best Country Song - Taylor Swift "Better Man"
Best Comedy Album - Dave Chappelle "The Age of Spin & Deep in the Heart of Texas"
Best Spoken Word Album - Carrie Fisher "The Princess Diarist"
Best Musical Theater Album - Dear Evan Hansen
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media - La La Land
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media - La La Land
Best Song Written for Visual Media - City of Stars from La La Land
Best Music Video - Kendrick Lamar "HUMBLE"

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

The Oscar Narrative: First Winner Predictions

Best Picture - Lady Bird
Best Director - Guillermo Del Toro "The Shape of Water"
Best Actor - Gary Oldman "Darkest Hour"
Best Actress - Frances McDormand "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Best Supporting Actor - Sam Rockwell "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Best Supporting Actress - Allison Janney "I, Tonya"
Best Adapted Screenplay - James Ivory "Call Me By Your Name"
Best Original Screenplay - Greta Gerwig "Lady Bird"
Best Animated Feature - Coco
Best Documentary Feature - Faces Places
Best Foreign Language Film - The Square (Sweden)
Best Cinematography - Roger Deakins "Blade Runner 2049"
Best Costume Design - Phantom Thread
Best Film Editing - Dunkirk
Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Darkest Hour
Best Original Score - Alexandre Desplat "The Shape of Water"
Best Original Song - Coco - Remember Me
Best Production Design - The Shape of Water
Best Sound Editing - Dunkirk
Best Sound Mixing - Dunkirk
Best Visual Effects - Blade Runner 2049
Best Animated Short - Dear Basketball
Best Documentary Short - Edith + Eddie
Best Live Action Short - DeKalb Elementary

The Oscar Narrative: Surprises and Snubs

Surprises
The biggest surprise for me the surge of Phantom Thread, especially in Best Picture and Best Director. Lesley Manville's inclusion was less of a surprise since she got the BAFTA nomination, but even the ,JBrits did not forecast the much broader appeal of this film. Other than that there are no real jaw-dropping surprises. The Post only got two nominations, but we knew it was on shaky ground from the guilds. Darkest Hour may have been surprising for some, but after its BAFTA haul, I knew it had enough support to breakthrough. There were definitely some snubs on the acting side (see below), but all of the nominees had either BAFTA or SAG, with the exception of Meryl Streep, who is usually the exception to most rules, as she earns her record-breaking 21st Oscar nomination. So there weren't any shocking surprises really. There were however, some interesting snubs. I find that the snubs often teach us more about the Oscar nomination process than the surprises.

Snubs
For Best Picture a list of films had received some sort of big nomination that could have point to a Best Picture nod. These include: Wonder Woman, The Big Sick, I, Tonya, Mudbound, and Molly's Game. Although none of their exclusions are jaw-dropping, folks who predicted any of these films have to, rightly so, wonder where they went wrong. With PTA in a Director, the biggest snub there was Martin McDonagh. Three Billboards could still easily win Best Picture without a director nod, Argo did it, but it makes its case a lot less potent. Argo also won the DGA and PGA, along with SAG Ensemble. Three Billboards lost at PGA, and I don't see McDonagh beating Del Toro or Nolan with the DGA. This leads me to believe there is a choice out there that has the consensus, but more on that over the next couple of weeks. Best Actor misses include James Franco (the allegations didn't hurt him, as the voting was almost complete, the nature of the film did), along with Tom Hanks. The Best Actress misses were Jessica Chastain and Judi Dench. In Best Supporting Actor, the two supporting players for Call Me By Your Name didn't make the cut, although lack of SAG and BAFTA made this seem more likely. Also SAG nominee Steve Carell, as predicted, also didn't cross the finish line. In Supporting Actress, SAG nominees Hong Chau and Holly Hunter were replaced by the BAFTA picks of Manville and Spencer. Elsewhere, Jane was a huge miss in Doc. Feature, Globe winner In the Fade missed out in Foreign, and LEGO Batman and some of the GKids productions were replaced (inexplicably) by The Boss Baby (seriously?).

This is just the first rundown of this year's nominations, there will be more to come.

90th Annual Academy Award Nominations

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

Best Director
Christopher Nolan "Dunkirk"
Jordan Peele "Get Out"
Greta Gerwig "Lady Bird"
Paul Thomas Anderson "Phantom Thread"
Guillermo Del Toro "The Shape of Water"

Best Actor
Timothee 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."

Best Actress
Sally Hawkins "The Shape of Water"
Frances McDormand "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Margot Robbie "I, Tonya"
Saoirse Ronan "Lady Bird"
Meryl Streep "The Post"

Best Supporting Actor
Willem Dafoe "The Florida Project"
Woody Harrelson "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Richard Jenkins "The Shape of Water"
Christopher Plummer "All the Money in the World"
Sam Rockwell "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

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

Best Adapted Screenplay
James Ivory "Call Me By Your Name"
Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber "The Disaster Artist"
Scott Frank, James Mangold, and Michael Green "Logan"
Aaron Sorkin "Molly's Game"
Virgil Williams and Dee Rees "Mudbound"

Best Animated Feature
The Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
Coco
Ferdinand
Loving Vincent

Best Documentary Feature
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail
Faces Places
Icarus
Last Men in Aleppo
Strong Island

Best Foreign Language Film
A Fantastic Woman (Chile)
The Insult (Lebanon)
Loveless (Russia)
On Body and Soul (Hungary)
The Square (Sweden)

Best Cinematography
Roger Deakins "Blade Runner 2049"
Bruno Delbonnel "Darkest Hour"
Hoyte Van Hoytema "Dunkirk"
Rachel Morrison "Mudbound"
Dan Laustsen "The Shape of Water"

Best Costume Design
Beauty and the Beast
Darkest Hour
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water
Victoria & Abdul

Best Film Editing
Baby Driver
Dunkirk
I, Tonya
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Darkest Hour
Victoria and Abdul
Wonder

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

Best Original Song
Call Me By Your Name - Mystery of Love
Coco - Remember Me
The Greatest Showman - This is Me
Marshall - Stand Up for Something
Mudbound - Mighty River

Best Production Design
Beauty and the Beast
Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water

Best Sound Editing
Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Best Sound Mixing
Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Best Visual Effects
Blade Runner 2049
Guardians of the Galaxy 2
Kong: Skull Island
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
War for the Planet of the Apes

Best Animated Short
Dear Basketball
Garden Party
Lou
Negative Space
Revolting Rhymes

Best Documentary Short
Edith + Eddie
Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405
Heroin(e)
Knife Skills
Traffic Stop

Best Live Action Short
DeKalb Elementary
The Eleven O'Clock
My Nephew Emmett
The Silent Child
Watu Wote/All of Us

Monday, January 22, 2018

Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Award Nominations

For all the nominees visit: www.mpse.org

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Animation
Cars 3
Coco
Despicable Me 3
Ferdinand
The Breadwinner
The Lego Batman Movie

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Documentary
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
Bill Nye: The Science Guy
Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars
Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS
Icarus
In Pursuit of Silence
Jane
Score: A Film Music Documentary

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Foreign Language Feature
BPM (Beats Per Minute)
First They Killed My Father
The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki
Loveless
Thelma
Wolf Warrior 2

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Music Score
Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
The Lost City of Z
The Shape of Water
Transformers: The Last Knight
Wonder Woman

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Musical
Beauty and the Beast
Coco
The Greatest Showman

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Dialogue / ADR
Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
Detroit
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri
War for the Planet of the Apes

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Effects / Foley
Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
Logan
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The Shape of Water
Thor: Ragnarok
War for the Planet of the Apes

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Live Action Under 30:00
Ballers - “Bull Rush”
Brooklyn Nine Nine - “The Fugitive”
Jean-Claude Van Johnson - “A Little Conversation About Trust”
Room 104 - “Red Tent”
Superstore - “Tornado”
The Good Place - “Janet and Michael”
The Off Season - “Do Not Disturb”
Vice Principals - “The Union of the Wizard and the Warrior”

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Episodic Short Form – Music / Musical
Dark - “Dark Secrets”
Game of Thrones - “Beyond the Wall”
Mr. Robot - “runtime-err0r.r00”
Stranger Things - “Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer”
The Get Down - “Unfold Your Own Myth”
The Handmaid’s Tale - “Offred”
The Leftovers - “It’s a Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt World
Twin Peaks - “Part 8”

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Episodic Short Form – Dialogue/ADR
Feud - “And the Winner Is… (The Oscars of 1963)”
Game of Thrones - “The Spoils of War”
Halt and Catch Fire - “So It Goes”
Orange Is the New Black - “Storm-y Weather”
Stranger Things - “Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer”
The Crown - “Paterfamilias”
The Handmaid’s Tale - “Offred”
Vikings - “Homeland”

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Episodic Short Form – Effects / Foley
Game of Thrones - “The Spoils of War”
Marvel’s The Punisher - “Memento Mori”
Mr. Robot“runtime-err0r.r00”
Shooter - “The Dark End of the Street”
Stranger Things - “Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer”
Taboo - “Episode 8”
The Brave - “Stealth”
Vikings - “The Reckoning”

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Episodic Long Form – Music / Musical
Descendants 2
Ozark
Rebel - “Pilot”
The Get Down - “Only from Exile Can We Come Home”
Vikings - “The Departed”

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Episodic Long Form – Dialogue/ADR
Black Mirror - “USS Callister”
Godless - “Homecoming”
Ozark - “The Toll”
The Deuce - “Pilot”
The Long Road Home - “Black Sunday”

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Episodic Long Form – Effects / Foley
Black Mirror - “USS Callister”
Godless - “Homecoming”
Gotham - “Destiny Calling”
Ozark - “The Toll”
The Long Road Home - “Black Sunday”

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Single Presentation
Five Came Back: The Price of Victory
Fire Chasers: The New Chasers
Oasis
The Sultan and the Saint
Superheroes Decoded

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Non-Theatrical Animation Long Form
Justice League - “Dark”
Lego DC Super Hero Girls - “Brain Drain”
Teen Titans - “The Judas Contract”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - “Mutant Apocalypse”
Trollhunters - “Tales of Arcadia”

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Non-Theatrical Documentary
Becoming Bond
Breaking the Day
decanted.
Motivation 3: The Next Generation
Shot in the Dark
The Defiant Ones
The New Radical

2018 Razzie Nominations

WORST PICTURE
Baywatch
The Emoji Movie
Fifty Shades Darker
The Mummy
Transformers XVII: The Last Knight

WORST ACTOR
Tom Cruise, The Mummy
Johnny Depp, Pirates of The Caribbean XIII: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Jamie Dornan, Fifty Shades Darker
Zac Efron, Baywatch
Mark Wahlberg, Daddy’s Home 2 & Transformers XVII: The Last Knight

WORST ACTRESS
Katherine Heigl, Unforgettable
Dakota Johnson, Fifty Shades Darker
Jennifer Lawrence, mother!
Tyler Perry, BOO! 2: A Medea Halloween
Emma Watson, The Circle

WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Javier Bardem, mother! & Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Russell Crowe, The Mummy
Josh Duhamel, Transformers XVII: Last Knight
Mel Gibson, Daddy’s Home 2
Anthony Hopkins, Collide & Transformers XVII: Last Knight

WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Kim Basinger, Fifty Shades Darker
Sofia Boutella, The Mummy
Laura Haddock, Transformers XVII: Last Knight
Goldie Hawn, Snatched
Susan Sarandon, A Bad Moms Christmas

WORST SCREEN COMBO
Any Combination of Two Characters, Two Sex Toys or Two Sexual Positions - Fifty Shades Darker
Any Combination of Two Humans, Two Robots or Two Explosions  - Transformers XVII: Last Knight
Any Two Obnoxious Emojis  - The Emoji Movie
Johnny Depp & His Worn Out Drunk Routine - Pirates of the Caribbean XIII: Dead Careers Tell No Tales
Tyler Perry & Either The Ratty Old Dress or Worn Out Wig - BOO! 2: A Madea Halloween

WORST REMAKE, RIP-OFF or SEQUEL
Baywatch
BOO 2: A Medea Halloween
Fifty Shades Darker
The Mummy
Transformers XVII: Last Knight

WORST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky, mother!
Michael Bay, Transformers XVII: Last Knight
James Foley, Fifty Shades Darker
Alex Kurtzman, The Mummy
Tony Leonidis, The Emoji Movie

WORST SCREENPLAY
Baywatch
The Emoji Movie
Fifty Shades Darker
The Mummy
Transformers XVII: The Last Knight

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Picture

Final Nomination Predictions
Call Me By Your Name
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Get Out
I, Tonya
Lady Bird
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Other Contenders - The Big Sick, Mudbound, Molly's Game, Wonder Woman, The Florida Project, Phantom Thread, Blade Runner 2049, Coco, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Coco, Logan

Commentary - I am predicting nine nominees, and the last couple of slots are giving me a lot of pause. I feel like six of them are safe: Call Me By Your Name, Dunkirk, Get Out, Lady Bird, The Shape of Water, and Three Billboards. The Post is in a shaky seventh position. It has just not done that well on the guild circuit. But that pedigree and it hitting a larger box office right at the end of Oscar voting probably pushed it over the top. The last slot or two really are tricky. I have had The Big Sick in the running for months now, but I just think that it is going to be pushed out. Darkest Hour really had a great showing at BAFTA, which is expected, but I feel like British and older voters are going to put it high on their list. Finally, a surprise is going to happen tomorrow morning, or at least I think so. I think I, Tonya, which has over-performed everywhere, will outperform some of its competition and make the cut. But I am looking at Mudbound, Molly's Game, Wonder Woman, and The Florida Project to break through. A lot of folks think the passion for The Florida Project, like Beasts of the Southern Wild a few years ago. It could break through, but Beasts had at least a PGA nomination, and The Florida Project has got nothing, I mean nothing outside Willem Dafoe, in any of the major awards since the critics phase in December. That makes me think that it was more of a critics film than an Academy one.

Sunday, January 21, 2018

The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award Winners

I will update the winners live:

Film
Best Ensemble - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor - Gary Oldman "Darkest Hour"
Best Actress - Frances McDormand "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Best Supporting Actor - Sam Rockwell "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Best Supporting Actress - Allison Janney "I, Tonya"
Best Stunt Ensemble - Wonder Woman

Television
Best Ensemble in a  Drama Series - This is Us
Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Veep
Best Actor in a Drama Series - Sterling K. Brown "This is Us"
Best Actress in a Drama Series - Claire Foy "The Crown"
Best Actor in a Comedy Series - William H. Macy "Shameless"
Best Actress in a Comedy Series - Julia Louis-Dreyfus "Veep"
Best Actor in a TV Movie/Limited Series - Alexander Skarsgard "Big Little Lies"
Best Actress in a TV Movie/Limited Series - Nicole Kidman "Big Little Lies"
Best Stunt Ensemble - Game of Thrones

Lifetime Achievement Award - Morgan Freeman

22nd Annual Online Film and Television Association Film Nominations

BEST PICTURE
Blade Runner 2049
Call Me by Your Name
Dunkirk
The Florida Project
Get Out
Lady Bird
Mudbound
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

BEST ANIMATED PICTURE
The Breadwinner
Coco
Ferdinand
The Lego Batman Movie
Loving Vincent

BEST ACTOR
Timoth̩e Chalamet РCall Me by Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis – Phantom Thread
James Franco – The Disaster Artist
Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out
Gary Oldman – Darkest Hour

BEST ACTRESS
Sally Hawkins – The Shape of Water
Frances McDormand – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Margot Robbie – I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird
Meryl Streep – The Post

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Willem Dafoe – The Florida Project
Armie Hammer – Call Me by Your Name
Richard Jenkins – The Shape of Water
Sam Rockwell – Three Billboard Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Michael Stuhlbarg – Call Me by Your Name

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Hong Chau – Downsizing
Holly Hunter – The Big Sick
Allison Janney – I, Tonya
Laurie Metcalf – Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer – The Shape of Water

BEST YOUTH PERFORMANCE
Mckenna Grace – Gifted
Dafne Keen – Logan
Sophia Lillis – It
Brooklynn Prince – The Florida Project
Jacob Tremblay – Wonder

BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE: MALE
Timoth̩e Chalamet РCall Me by Your Name
Harris Dickinson – Beach Rats
Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out
Barry Keoghan – The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Kumail Nanjiani – The Big Sick

BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE: FEMALE
Mary J. Blige – Mudbound
Gal Gadot – Wonder Woman
Tiffany Haddish – Girls Trip
Dafne Keen – Logan
Brooklynn Prince – The Florida Project

BEST VOICE-OVER PERFORMANCE
Will Arnett – The Lego Batman Movie
Alec Baldwin – The Boss Baby
Gael Garcia Bernal – Coco
Zach Galifianakis – The Lego Batman Movie
Anthony Gonzalez – Coco

BEST ENSEMBLE
Lady Bird
Mudbound
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

BEST CASTING
Call Me by Your Name
Get Out
Lady Bird
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

BEST DIRECTOR
Guillermo del Toro – The Shape of Water
Greta Gerwig – Lady Bird
Luca Guadagnino – Call Me by Your Name
Christopher Nolan – Dunkirk
Jordan Peele – Get Out

BEST FEATURE DEBUT
Kogonada – Columbus (Writing / Directing)
Kumail Nanjiani & Emily V. Gordon – The Big Sick (Writing)
Jordan Peele – Get Out (Directing)
Aaron Sorkin – Molly’s Game (Directing)
Matt Spicer – Ingrid Goes West (Directing)

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Big Sick
Get Out
Lady Bird
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Call Me by Your Name
The Disaster Artist
Logan
Molly’s Game
Mudbound

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
BPM (Beats Per Minute)
A Fantastic Woman
First They Killed My Father
In the Fade
The Square

BEST DOCUMENTARY
City of Ghosts
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library
Faces Places
Jane
Last Men in Aleppo

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
Phantom Thread
The Post
The Shape of Water

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Evermore – Beauty and the Beast
Mystery of Love – Call Me by Your Name
Remember Me – Coco
This Is Me – The Greatest Showman
Visions of Gideon – Call Me by Your Name

BEST ADAPTED SONG
Be Our Guest – Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast – Beauty and the Beast
La Llorona – Coco
Take Me Home, Country Road – Kingsman: The Golden Circle
You’ll Never Know – The Shape of Water

BEST FILM EDITING
Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
Get Out
The Shape of Water

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Blade Runner 2049
Call Me by Your Name
Dunkirk
Mudbound
The Shape of Water

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Beauty and the Beast
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Beauty and the Beast
Blade Runner 2049
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water
Wonder Woman

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIR
Darkest Hour
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
I, Tonya
The Shape of Water
Wonder

BEST SOUND
Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

BEST SOUND EFFECTS
Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
War for the Planet of the Apes

BEST STUNT COORDINATION
Baby Driver
Dunkirk
Logan
War for the Planet of the Apes
Wonder Woman

BEST TITLES SEQUENCE
Baby Driver
Call Me by Your Name
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
The Shape of Water
Spider-Man: Homecoming

MOST CINEMATIC MOMENT
Call Me by Your Name – Mr. Perlman’s Final Speech
Coco – Miguel Sings to Mama Coco
Get Out – The Sunken Place
Star Wars: The Last Jedi – The Hyperspace Gambit
Wonder Woman – No Man’s Land

BEST MOVIE TRAILER
Blade Runner 2049 – Trailer #2 (You Tube)
Call Me by Your Name – Trailer #1 (You Tube)
Logan – Trailer #1 (You Tube)
Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Trailer #2 (You Tube)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Trailer #1 (You Tube)

BEST MOVIE POSTER
Call Me by Your Name – Poster #1
mother! – Poster #1
Okja – Poster #1
The Post – Poster #1
The Shape of Water – Poster #3

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Director

Final Nomination Predictions
Christopher Nolan "Dunkirk"
Jordan Peele "Get Out"
Greta Gerwig "Lady Bird"
Guillermo Del Toro "The Shape of Water"
Martin McDonagh "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Other Contenders - Denis Villeneuve "Blade Runner 2049", Luca Guadagnino "Call Me By Your Name", Sean Baker "The Florida Project", Joe Wright "Darkest Hour", Dee Rees "Mudbound", Craig Gillespie "I, Tonya"

Commentary - I am sticking with the five DGA nominations, because those feel like the top five films, and the most likely choices. But this is a group that is anything but normal. A lot of folks are thinking Sean Baker will pull a Benh Zeitlin, and he could. I think that BAFTA elevating Guadagnino and Villeneuve was interesting, and I actually think Villeneuve is one to watch here. The whole Academy will probably not reward Blade Runner 2049 with a Best Picture nomination, but this branch doesn't care if it respects or likes the work or the director. But in the end, I think that the DGA hit it right with its nods, and I think voters will respond to lack of diversity and Me Too movement and ensure those final two slots go to Gerwig and Peele over more older white guys. Plus Lady Bird and Get Out are clearly beloved by industry voters, which could help them get over the top in this competitive race.

Producers Guild of America (PGA) Award Winners

I figured that Shape of Water would win here, as it continues its La La Land-esque streak. Let's see how SAG goes tonight, although last year, it ended not being as much of a bellwether as Moonlight lost to Hidden Figures.

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
The Shape Of Water

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures
Coco

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures
Jane

The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama
The Handmaid's Tale (Season 1)

The Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Season 1)

The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television
Black Mirror (Season 4)

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath (Season 1, Season 2)

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Season 4)

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Competition Television
The Voice (Season 12, Season 13)

The Award for Outstanding Short-Form Program
Carpool Karaoke (Season 1)

The Award for Outstanding Sports Program
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (Season 23)

The Award for Outstanding Children’s Program
Sesame Street (Season 47)

Saturday, January 20, 2018

The 29th Annual GLAAD Media Award Nominations

Outstanding Film - Wide Release
Battle of the Sexes
Call Me by Your Name
Lady Bird
Professor Marston and the Wonder Women
The Shape of Water

Outstanding Film - Limited Release
BPM
A Fantastic Woman
God's Own Country
Thelma
The Wound

Outstanding Comedy Series
The Bold Type
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Modern Family
One Day at a Time
One Mississippi
Superstore
Survivor's Remorse
Transparent
Will & Grace

Outstanding Drama Series
Billions
Doubt
The Handmaid's Tale
Nashville
Sense8
Shadowhunters
Star
Star Trek: Discovery
This Is Us
Wynonna Earp

Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series without a regular LGBTQ character)
"Chapter 8" Legion
"Grace" Pure Genius
"Lady Cha Cha" Easy
"The Missionaries" Room 104
"Thanksgiving" Master of None

Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series
American Horror Story: Cult
Feud: Bette and Joan
Godless
Queers
When We Rise

Outstanding Kids & Family Programming
Andi Mack
"Chosen Family" Danger & Eggs
"The Emergency Plan" Doc McStuffins
Steven Universe
The Loud House

Outstanding Scripted Television Series (Spanish Language)
Las chicas del cable
La doble vida de Estela Carrillo
Ingobernable

Outstanding Documentary
Chavela
Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric
Kiki
"Real Boy" Independent Lens
This is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous

Outstanding Reality Program
Gaycation with Ellen Page
I Am Jazz
RuPaul's Drag Race
Survivor: Game Changers
The Voice

Outstanding Music Artist
Miley Cyrus, Younger Now
Halsey, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom
Honey Dijon, The Best of Both Worlds
Kehlani, SweetSexySavage
Kelela, Take Me Apart
Perfume Genius, No Shape
Sam Smith, The Thrill of It All
St. Vincent, MASSEDUCTION
Wrabel, We Could Be Beautiful
Kesha, Rainbow

Outstanding Daily Drama
The Bold and The Beautiful
Days of Our Lives
The Young & the Restless

Outstanding Talk Show Episode
"Australia Marriage Equality" Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
"Danica Roem" The Opposition with Jordan Klepper
"Laila and Logan Ireland, Transgender Military Couple" The Ellen DeGeneres Show
"Laverne Cox and Gavin Grimm" The View
"Trans Veterans React to Ban" The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Special Recognition
In a Heartbeat, written & directed by Esteban Bravo and Beth David
"Smile" by Jay-Z featuring Gloria Carter, 4:44, Roc Nation/Universal Music Group

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Actor

Final Nomination Predictions
Timothee Chalamet "Call Me By Your Name"
Daniel Day-Lewis "Phantom Thread"
James Franco "The Disaster Artist"
Daniel Kaluuya "Get Out"
Gary Oldman "Darkest Hour"

Other Contenders - Denzel Washington "Roman J. Israel, Esq.", Tom Hanks "The Post", Jamie Bell "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool"

Commentary - Chalamet, Oldman, and Kaluuya all got SAG, Globe, and BAFTA nominations, and I think they are locked and loaded. Daniel Day-Lewis missed out at SAG because not enough people had seen the film. His BAFTA nod shows that he has climbed his back to what seems like an inevitable final nomination. The last slot is tricky. A lot of folks are probably discounting Franco because of the allegations against him, but most of the ballots were already in before that news broke, and he had SAG and the Globe nomination to help him along the way. I think he is in, which could prove to be a huge problem, publicity-wise, for the Academy. But he also could have missed. Denzel has never gotten a BAFTA nomination, and he did get SAG and the Globe, which could spell a lot of support. He narrowly missed last year, and I think a lot of voters still looking to reward one of the greats.

Friday, January 19, 2018

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Actress

Final Nomination Predictions
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"

Other Contenders - Jessica Chastain "Molly's Game", Judi Dench "Victoria and Abdul", Annette Bening "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool", Michelle Williams "All the Money in the World"

Commentary - So four of these are locked and loaded with SAG, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Critics Choice nods: Hawkins, McDormand, Ronan, and Robbie. The final slot, I thought, was long since decided. But Meryl Streep missed out at SAG and BAFTA, and something just tells me that this is off. I still have her in, because I don't think there is a clear fifth slot. Annette Bening got in at SAG, but I think that film is playing better with the Brits than over here stateside. Judi Dench got the SAG, but her own folks at BAFTA passed her over, which makes me wonder if she is a strong as we think. Michelle Williams could ride the late All the Money in the World wave. But I think that if anyone is going to take down Dame Streep, it is previous nominee Jessica Chastain. Molly's Game is on the cusp of a surprise Best Picture nomination, her performance is one of the best parts about the film, and she is a beloved industry vet at this point. But it is Meryl Streep, so I don't bet against her.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Supporting Actor

Final Nomination Predictions
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"

Other Contenders - Armie Hammer "Call Me By Your Name", Steve Carell "Battle of the Sexes", Michael Stuhlbarg "Call Me By Your Name"

Commentary - Three guys got both SAG and BAFTA: Dafoe, Harrelson, and Rockwell, and I think all three will also get an Oscar nod. Steve Carell took a SAG spot, but I really don't see that crossing over. Armie Hammer had a lot of heat early on, but missing SAG and BAFTA when the film showed up in other categories. I think that the BAFTA nomination confirmed that the Globe nod wasn't a fluke, and that this industry will reward Christopher Plummer for replacing Kevin Spacey, and for a great performance in All the Money in the World. I also think that despite missing at BAFTA, that SAG nominee, and previous Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins will ride The Shape of Water wave and snag a slot.

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Supporting Actress

Final Nomination Predictions
Mary J. Blige "Mudbound"
Hong Chau "Downsizing"
Allison Janney "I, Tonya"
Laurie Metcalf "Lady Bird"
Octavia Spencer "The Shape of Water"

Other Contenders - Holly Hunter "The Big Sick", Lesley Manville "Phantom Thread", Kristin Scott Thomas "Darkest Hour", Tiffany Haddish "Girls Trip"

Commentary - BAFTA nominated two of their own in Lesley Manville and Kristin Scott Thomas. But Manville was nominated for Another Year and missed out, and Kristin Scott Thomas has not gotten an Oscar nomination since 1996, and this is her third BAFTA Nomination since then, fifth overall. I think these are British favorites that will not cross over. But the Octavia Spencer's nomination is interesting. I still cannot believe she missed at SAG, but the Brits going for her, after not nominating her for Hidden Figures last year is interesting to me. I think as Shape of Water is heating up lately, the buzz for her has grown stronger. This means one of the five slots at SAG is probably going to turn. The only really safe bets are Janney and Metcalf to be honest. A lot of folks think it is Hong Chau because Downsizing has not really been a hit through awards season. But that makes me think she is definitely in, because she is so strong she can overcome a film that voters don't like overall, and still get Globe and SAG nominations. Unfortunately, I think it is Holly Hunter that is going to be squeezed out. Both she and Blige missed out at BAFTA, but I think Hunter in the more comedic role will miss out on Blige's more powerhouse-type performance. I could also see both getting in and SAG being 5/5. This category, which seems to be pretty settles just a few weeks ago, is suddenly a real horse-race to the final five, and I have this sneaking suspicion that there will be a surprise in this category come Tuesday morning.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Original and Adapted Screenplay

Best Adapted Screenplay
James Ivory "Call Me By Your Name"
Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber "The Disaster Artist"
James Mangold, Scott Frank, and Michael Green "Logan"
Aaron Sorkin "Molly's Game"
Dee Rees and Virgil Williams "Mudbound"

Other Contenders - Lee Hall "Victoria and Abdul", David Scarpa "All the Money in the World", Stephen Chbosky, Steven Conrad and Jack Thorne "Wonder", Michael Green and Hampton Fancher "Blade Runner 2049", Allan Heinberg, Zach Snyder and Jason Fuchs "Wonder Woman", Richard Linklater "Last Flag Flying", James Gray "The Lost City of Z", Rian Johnson "Star Wars: The Last Jedi", Mark Bomback, Matt Reeves, Rick Joffa, and Amanda Silver "War for the Planet of the Apes"

Commentary - BAFTA did not help much, as Paddington 2 and The Death of Stalin are not eligible, although it did give some life to Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool which could be a dark horse here. I think that four of these are locked and loaded: Call Me By Your Name, Mudbound, The Disaster Artist, and Molly's Game. It's that last slot that is troubling me. Victoria and Abdul seems like the perfect Oscar contender, but a lack of BAFTA recognition seems odd. All the Money in the World could be rewarded, as a late-breaking contender, but I don't hear much love for the script. Stephen Chbosky has been on the cusp of Oscar glory for years, and Wonder could take him over hte edge.  James Gray and Richard Linklater could get in, with such a weak selection. Blade Runner, War for the Planet of the Apes, and Star Wars all make the case for think-piece science fiction films. And I think that this is the year, finally, that one of these types of films makes the cut. But this year, it is Logan. A WGA Nomination and a Scripter Nod, and a lot of support. In such a weak year, and a year that the Academy needs to think broader to maintain prestige, it is time to reward a film in this category that is worthy, and that film is Logan.

Best Original Screenplay
Jordan Peele "Get Out"
Steven Rogers "I, Tonya"
Greta Gerwig "Lady Bird"
Guillermo Del Toro and Vanessa Taylor "The Shape of Water",
Martin McDonagh "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Other Contenders - Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon "The Big Sick", Liz Hannah and Josh Singer "The Post", Paul Thomas Anderson "Phantom Thread", Anthony McCarten "Darkest Hour", Sean Baker "The Florida Project"

Commentary - This is an interesting conundrum. I think Peele, Gerwig, and McDonagh are shoo-ins. But those last two slots are proving tricky. The Shape of Water and I, Tonya got both WGA and BAFTA nominations. That shows a lot of support, but it leaves out The Big Sick and The Post. These are two films that seem so strong at other guilds, and in this category particularly, The Big Sick felt like a shoo-in, and its WGA nomination helps. But in this tough race this year, I think it misses the cut for bigger or later contenders. Also watch out for PTA. With the writers, he should never be discounted.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Animated Feature, Documentary Feature, and Foreign Language Film

Best Animated Feature
The Breadwinner
Coco
Despicable Me 3
The LEGO Batman Movie
Loving Vincent

Other Contenders - Ferdinand, The Boss Baby, Mary and the Witch's Flower, The Girl with No Hands, In This Corner of the World, Cars 3, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, The Big Bag Fox and Other Tales

Commentary - This category always had its surprises, but over the years we knew to expect a GKids nomination or an oddball choice. But this year, the process is open to more people, and the question now is whether those eccentric tastes will hold, or will a more populist nomination set emerge on nomination morning? I am trying to strike that balance. The Breadwinner and Loving Vincent are smaller films, but have enough support to make the cut. We know Coco is in, but the other two slots are tricky. Do smaller films like Mary and the Witch's Flower or The Girl With No Hands breakthrough, or some of the bigger films? Those include Ferdinand, The Boss Baby, The LEGO Batman Movie, and Despicable Me 3. Right now I am going with LEGO and Despicable Me, but I think any of these four could pair up for the final two slots, and even something with such poor reviews as The Boss Baby could be an Oscar nominee. It keeps popping up everywhere throughout the guilds. We'll have to wait and see...

Best Documentary Feature
City of Ghosts
Faces Places
Jane
Last Men in Aleppo
Strong Island

Other Contenders - Icarus, Chasing Coral, Ex Libris - The New York Public Library, Human Flow, Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, LA 92, Long Strange Trip, Unrest

Commentary - This one feels tougher this year, with not really a clear front runner. Jane and Faces Places feel like the top two, but the rest of the race is so muddled that anything could happen. City of Ghosts bring Matthew Heinman back to the race, a popular director among this bunch, and Last Men In Aleppo, which also tackles Syria could ride the zeitgeist, and the aftermath of The White Helmets winning in the short category to a nomination. Finally, Netflix will not be forgotten, so I expect Strong Island to make it in, and Chasing Coral and Icarus could grab a slot as well.

Best Foreign Language Film
A Fantastic Woman (Chile)
Foxtrot (Israel)
In the Fade (Germany)
Loveless (Russia)
The Square (Sweden)

Other Contenders - The Wound (South Africa), The Insult (Lebanon), Felicite (Senegal), On Body and Soul (Hungary)

Commentary - I feel comfortable enough with four: A Fantastic Woman, In the Fade, Loveless, and The Square. For the last slot, part of me wants to pick The Wound, but Foxtrot seems like the more obvious choice with this group.

Visual Effects Society (VES) Award Nominations

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature 
Blade Runner 2049
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Kong: Skull Island
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
War for the Planet of the Apes

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
Darkest Hour
Downsizing
Dunkirk
mother!
Only the Brave

Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature
Captain Underpants
Cars 3
Coco
Despicable Me 3
The LEGO Batman Movie
The LEGO Ninjago Movie

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Orientation
Game of Thrones; Beyond the Wall
Legion; Chapter 1
Star Trek: Discovery; The Vulcan Hello
Stranger Things 2; The Gate

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode
Black Sails; XXIX
Fear The Walking Dead; Sleigh Ride
Mr. Robot; eps3.4_runtime-err0r.r00
Outlander; Eye of the Storm
Taboo; Pilot
Vikings; On the Eve

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Real-Time Project
 Assassin's Creed Origins
Call of Duty: WWII
Fortnite; A Hard Day's Night
Sonaria
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial
Beyond Good and Evil 2
Kia Niro; Hero's Journey
Mercedes Benz; King of the Jungle
Monster; Opportunity Roars
Samsung; Do What You Can't; Ostrich

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
Avatar: Flight of Passage
Corona; Paraiso Secreto
Guardians of the Galaxy; Mission: BREAKOUT!
National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey
Nemo and Friends SeaRider
Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire

Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature
Blade Runner 2049; Rachael
Kong: Skull Island; Kong
War for the Planet of the Apes; Bad Ape
War for the Planet of the Apes; Caesar

Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature
Coco; Hèctor
Despicable Me 3; Bratt
The LEGO Ninjago Movie; Garma Mecha Man
The Boss Baby; Boss Baby
The LEGO Ninjago Movie; Garmadon

Outstanding Animated Character in an Episode or Real-Time Project
Black Mirror: Metalhead
Game of Thrones; Beyond the Wall; Zombie Polar Bear
Game of Thrones; Eastwatch; Drogon Meets Jon
Game of Thrones; The Spoils of War; Drogon Loot Train Attack

Outstanding Animated Character in a Commercial
Beyond Good and Evil 2; Zhou Yuzhu
Mercedes Benz; King of the Jungle
Netto; The Easter Surprise; Bunny
Samsung; Do What You Can't; Ostrich

Outstanding Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature
Blade Runner 2049; Los Angeles
Blade Runner 2049; Trash Mesa
Blade Runner 2049; Vegas
War for the Planet of the Apes; Hidden Fortress
War for the Planet of the Apes; Prison Camp

Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature   
Cars 3; Abandoned Racetrack
Coco; City of the Dead
Despicable Me 3; Hollywood Destruction
The LEGO Ninjago Movie; Ninjago City

Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project
Assassin's Creed Origins; City of Memphis
Game of Thrones; Beyond the Wall; Frozen Lake
Game of Thrones; Eastwatch
Still Star-Crossed; City
Stranger Things 2; The Gate

Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Photoreal Project
Beauty and the Beast; Be Our Guest
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2; Groot Dance/Opening Fight
Star Wars: The Last Jedi; Crait Surface Battle
Thor: Ragnarok; Valkyrie's Flashback

Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project
Blade Runner 2049; LAPD Headquarters
Despicable Me 3; Dru's Car
Life; The ISS
US Marines; Anthem; Monument

Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature
Kong: Skull Island
Only the Brave; Fire & Smoke
Star Wars: The Last Jedi; Bombing Run
Star Wars: The Last Jedi; Mega Destroyer Destruction
War for the Planet of the Apes

Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature
Cars 3
Coco
Despicable Me 3
Ferdinand
The Boss Baby

Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project
Game of Thrones; Beyond the Wall; Frozen Lake
Game of Thrones; The Dragon and the Wolf; Wall Destruction
Heineken; The Trailblazers
Outlander; Eye of the Storm; Stormy Seas

Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Feature
Blade Runner 2049; LAPD Approach and Joy Holograms
Kong: Skull Island
Thor: Ragnarok; Bridge Battle
War for the Planet of the Apes

Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Episode
Game of Thrones; Beyond the Wall; Frozen Lake
Game of Thrones; Eastwatch
Game of Thrones; The Spoils of War; Loot Train Attack
Star Trek: Discovery
 
Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Commercial
Destiny 2; New Legends Will Rise
Nespresso; Comin' Home
Samsung; Do What You Can't; Ostrich
Virgin Media; Delivering Awesome

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project
Creature Pinup
Hybrids
Les Pionniers de l'Univers
The Endless

The 30th Annual USC Scripter Nominations

FILM ADAPTATION
Call Me By Your Name
(Sony Pictures Classics and Picador)
Screenwriter James Ivory and author Andreì Aciman

The Disaster Artist
(A24 and Simon & Schuster)
Screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber and authors Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell for their nonfiction book The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside ‘The Room,’ the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made”

Logan
(20th Century Fox and Marvel Comics)
Screenwriters Scott Frank, Michael Green and James Mangold, and authors Roy Thomas, Len Wein and John Romita Sr.

The Lost City of Z
(Amazon Studios and Simon & Schuster)
Screenwriter James Gray and author David Grann

Molly’s Game
(STX Entertainment and Dey Street Books)
Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and author Molly Bloom

Mudbound
(Netflix and Algonquin Books)
Screenwriters Virgil Williams and Dee Rees and author Hillary Jordan

Wonder Woman
(Warner Bros. and DC Comics)
Screenwriter Allan Heinberg and author William Moulton Marston

TV ADAPTATIONS
Alias Grace
(Netflix and Anchor)
Screenwriter Sarah Polley and author Margaret Atwood

Big Little Lies
(HBO and Berkley)
David E. Kelley, for the episode “You Get What You Need,” and author Liane Moriarty

Genius
(National Geographic and Simon & Schuster)
Noah Pink and Ken Biller for the episode “Einstein: Chapter One,” and author Walter Isaacson for his book Einstein: His Life and Word

The Handmaid’s Tale
(Hulu and Anchor)
Bruce Miller for the episode “Offred,” and author Margaret Atwood

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
(HBO and Broadway Books)
Peter Landesman, George C. Wolfe, and Alexander Woo, and author Rebecca Skloot

Mindhunter
(Netflix and Gallery Books)
Joe Penhall and Jennifer Haley for “Episode 10,” and authors John Douglas and Mark Olshaker for their nonfiction book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit

Monday, January 15, 2018

The 49th Annual NAACP Image Awards

I will update the winners live!:

Entertainer of the Year - Ava DuVernay
NAACP President's Award - Danny Glover

Film
Best Picture - Girls Trip
Best Actor - Daniel Kaluuya "Get Out"
Best Actress - Octavia Spencer "Gifted"
Best Supporting Actor - Idris Elba "Thor: Ragnarok"
Best Supporting Actress - Tiffany Haddish "Girls Trip"
Best Directing - Jordan Peele "Get Out"
Best Writing - Jordan Peele "Get Out"
Best Independent Motion Picture - Detroit
Best Documentary - Step

Television
Best Drama Series - Power
Best Comedy Series - black-ish
Best Actor in a Drama Series - Omari Hardwick "Power"
Best Actress in a Drama Series - Taraji P. Henson "Empire"
Best Actor in a Comedy Series - Anthony Anderson "black-ish"
Best Actress in a Comedy Series - Tracee Ellis Ross "black-ish"
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Joe Morton "Scandal"
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Naturi Naughton "Power"
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Jay Ellis "Insecure"
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Marsai Martin "black-ish"
Best Directing in a Comedy Series - Anton Cropper "black-ish"
Best Directing in a Drama Series - Carl Franklin "13 Reasons Why"
Best Writing in a Comedy Series - Janine Barrois "Claws"
Best Writing in a Drama Series - Gina Prince-Bythewood "Shots Fired"
Best TV Movie/Limited Series - The New Edition Story
Best Actor in a TV Movie/Limited Series - Idris Elba "Guerrilla"
Best Actress in a TV Movie/Limited Series - Queen Latifah "Flint"
Best Directing in a TV Movie/Limited Series - Allen Hughes "The Defiant Ones"
Best Writing in a TV Movie/Limited Series - Abdul Williams "The New Edition Story - Night Two"
Best News/Information - Unsung
Best Talk Series - The Real
Best Reality Program - The Manns
Best Variety or Game Show - Lip Sync Battle
Best Children's Program - Doc McStuffins
Best Performance by a Youth - Caleb McLaughlin "Stranger Things"
Best Information or Talk Host - Roland Martin "News One Now"
Best Reality Host - LL Cool J "Lip Sync Battle"
Best Documentary - The 44th President: In His Own Words
Best Voice-Over Performance - Tiffany Haddish "Legends of Chamberlain Heights"

Music
Best Album - Kendrick Lamar "DAMN."
Best Song-Contemporary - Kendrick Lamar "HUMBLE"
Best Song-Traditional - Bruno Mars "That's What I Like"
Best New Artist - SZA "Ctrl"
Best Male Artist - Bruno Mars "Versace on the Floor"
Best Female Artist - Mary J. Blige "Strength of a Woman"  -
Best Duo, Group, or Collaboration - Kendrick Lamar feat. Rihanna "LOYALTY"
Best Music Video/Visual Album - Bruno Mars "That's What I Like"

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing and Production Design

Best Cinematography
Roger Deakins "Blade Runner 2049"
Bruno Delbonnel "Darkest Hour"
Hoyte Van Hoytema "Dunkirk"
Rachel Morrison "Mudbound"
Dan Laustsen "The Shape of Water"

Other Contenders - Ben Davis "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri", Sayombhu Mukdeeprom "Call Me By Your Name", Janusz Kaminski "The Post", Masanobu Takayanagi "Hostiles"

Commentary - So I am sticking with the five ASC nominees this year, but, I could easily see Three Billboards taking the last slot like it did at BAFTA. The nominee that would be replaced would be Rachel Morrison, but I think Mudbound is more well-liked here stateside, and the fact that this is the year of the woman might be weighing heavily on voters' minds. The other four, Delbonnel, Deakins, Hoytema, and Laustsen should be pretty safe. I also think that Mukdeeprom and Kaminski should be discounted for excellent work.

Best Costume Design
Beauty and the Beast
Murder on the Orient Express
The Greatest Showman
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water

Other Contenders - Darkest Hour, I Tonya, Lady Bird, Victoria and Abdul, The Post, Dunkirk, Wonder Woman, Wonderstruck, Blade Runner 2049, Thor: Ragnarok, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Commentary - I try to remember with this category that more is better, which is why Darkest Hour made its way out. It is basically just guys in suits. Same with The Post and Dunkirk. Phantom Thread is about fashion, Beauty and the Beast, The Greatest Showman, and Murder on the Orient Express all have flashy period costumes. Finally, The Shape of Water will probably ride its technical categories wave. But I could easily see it missing out for something like Victoria and Abdul.

Best Film Editing
Baby Driver
Dunkirk
I, Tonya
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Other Contenders -  Blade Runner 2049, Get Out, The Post, Lady Bird, Molly's Game, Mudbound, The Florida Project, Call Me By Your Name, Wonder Woman, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Darkest Hour

Commentary - Dunkirk is in, so is The Shape of Water. Three Billboards also feels safe Beyond that, I am completely confused. Blade Runner and Star Wars seem like easy picks, and Get Out and Lady Bird need this badly to beat Three Billboards in Best Picture. Beyond that I don't know. I am going with Baby Driver, who has the Eddie and BAFTA, and I, Tonya, which really relies on its editing. But that leaves out the four mentioned before, The Post and Molly's Game, which feels wrong. This is one I will be looking for on nomination day, because I think it will tell us a lot about the overall state of the race. 

Best Production Design
Beauty and the Beast
Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
The Post
The Shape of Water

Other Contenders - Dunkirk, Murder on the Orient Express, Phantom Thread, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, The Greatest Showman, Victoria and Abdul, Wonderstruck

Commentary - Beauty and the Beast, Darkest Hour, and The Shape of Water feel like locks. I also think Blade Runner 2049 is pretty safe as the Academy has embraced the mixture of production design with visual effects. The last slot is causing issues. Murder on the Orient Express, The Greatest Showman, Victoria and Abdul, and Phantom Thread feel like easy picks, Dunkirk has a lot, but could miss because so much of it is filmed outside. Finally, Star Wars, which has never managed a nomination here in all of its films, should be in consideration for this, and its ADG nomination doesn't hurt. Instead, I am going with two-time Oscar winner Rick Carter and The Post. He got in for War Horse and won for Lincoln, so he seems to be a favorite of this branch. Also Spielberg period pieces tend to make the cut.

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Original Score and Best Original Song

Best Original Score
Dario Marianelli "Darkest Hour"
Hans Zimmer "Dunkirk"
Jonny Greenwood "Phantom Thread"
John Williams "The Post"
Alexandre Desplat "The Shape of Water"

Other Contenders - Thomas Newman "Victoria and Abdul", Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer "Blade Runner 2049", John Williams "Star Wars: The Last Jedi", Michael Giacchino "Coco", Carter Burwell "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Commentary - There really are ten possibilities for five slots. Zimmer and Desplat are definitely in, and are probably the top two for the prize, with Desplat out in front after the Globes and Critics Choice. I also think that Williams is going to earn another slot, and be careful, he could grab two slots, he has done it before. Of the two, I think The Post is stronger across the board, but the last Star Wars film got in here, so this could be flipped. Darkest Hour may have slipped on a lot of folks lists, including mine, but its BAFTA showing and some tech guild love show a film that is probably stronger than any of us even realize, particularly in the craft categories. I think it gets in. The last slot is the one I will probably end up changing. Jonny Greenwood has never managed an Oscar nod, and this is a club that likes its favorites. I feel like his work in Phantom Thread is one of those that critics love, but might be ignored by the music branch. I have him in because he has probably won the most of the critics awards so far, but there are five other scores that could easily eclipse him. There is Star Wars, of course, but the one I am most intrigued by is Thomas Newman. He has 14 nominations, often for films that otherwise are not big Oscar hits, and is clearly beloved by his peers. Hans Zimmer, like Williams, could get two nominations, if Blade Runner gets in, Michael Giacchino is a previous winner, and if Burwell makes the cut, it would show tremendous strength for Three Billboards across the categories, bolstering its Best Picture chances.

Bets Original Song
Beauty and the Beast - Evermore
Coco - Remember Me
The Greatest Showman - This is Me
Marshall - Stand Up for Something
Mudbound - Mighty River

Other Contenders - Call Me By Your Name - The Mystery of Love, Detroit - It Ain't Fair, Fifty Shades Darker - I Don't Wanna Live Forever, Cries From Syria - Prayers for This World

Commentary - So here we go again with Best Original Song, the category that never seems to go as planned. I think that Remember Me is a lock, and will beat the Globe winner This is Me at the finish line. Mary J. Blige is popular this year, and I think that she will be a double nominee. Diane Warren is a legend here, so expect her Marshall song to make the cut. Finally, Disney is a force in this category, especially Alan Menken, and I think Evermore will earn a Disney version of Beauty and the Beast another Original Song nomination. A lot of folks are talking about Sufjan Stevens' song in Call Me By Your Name. Like Greenwood in Score, this could happen, but I think it is more the eccentric critical favorite, and will be drowned out by the bigger songs and songwriters in the bunch. Cher is a possibility for Prayers for This World, It Ain't Fair could rally behind its politics, and yes, do not discount Taylor Swift and the Fifty Shades trilogy. It was this category that made Fifty Shades of Grey an Oscar-nominated film.

Sunday, January 14, 2018

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Darkest Hour
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Wonder

Other Contenders - I, Tonya, Ghost in the Shell, Bright

Commentary - This is a category that is almost always a crap shoot. I think that Darkest Hour, with the heavy Churchill makeup, and period hairstyling, will be the front runner here. But, in my mind, there are three other films for two slots. Wonder has the transformation of Jacob Tremblay, and Guardians of the Galaxy has extensive makeup work that earned Vol. 1 an Oscar nomination. But watch out for I, Tonya. It has great period work, and has been a dark horse contender all year across the board.

Best Sound Mixing
Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Other Contenders - Wonder Woman, War for the Planet of the Apes, Beauty and the Beast, The Greatest Showman, Coco, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Get Out, The Post

Commentary - Four of the contenders hit both the BAFTA sound category (a mixed category) and the CAS Nominations: Dunkirk, Shape of Water, Baby Driver, and Star Wars. I think all of these will make the Oscar cut. But CAS has not matched 5/5 since 2003, and in recent years, even sometimes two of the nominees don't cross over. So I don't think they will match 5/5, although a fifth slot for Wonder Woman at the CAS is not a bad pick, neither is the BAFTA fifth slot of Blade Runner 2049. I think that Blade Runner will over-perform at the Oscars the way it did at BAFTA, and yes that means that Denis Villeneuve could also pop up in director. I think that the folks in the craft categories will love this film, even if audiences did not, and will get a bunch of below the line nods, including this one. Beyond those six, blockbusters like War for the Planet of the Apes, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Coco are potent threats, as are the two musicals, Beauty and the Beast and The Greatest Showman. Sound mixing and musicals have always equaled Oscar gold.

Best Sound Editing
Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Other Contenders - Wonder Woman, War for the Planet of the Apes, Beauty and the Beast, The Greatest Showman, Coco, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Get Out, The Post

Commentary - With no musical front runner, and no guild yet to help us guide the way (MPSE Nods come out day before Oscar nods, so the final list may get switched around a bit depending on those results), I am sticking with the same five. Usually, these two categories are pretty close, and this year, the five films really do excel in both categories.

Best Visual Effects
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
War for the Planet of the Apes

Other Contenders - Okja, Alien: Covenant, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Kong: Skull Island

Commentary - This category always drives me crazy, because it is unpredictable. Like I will not be surprised if Okja or Valerian make the cut here, even though they are not big Oscar films. But I am sticking with the five best films of the bake-off, that also happen to have excellent special effects. But watch out, my guess is one of these misses out.