Thursday, January 31, 2019

2019 Grammy Predictions: Best Music Video and Best Music Film

Best Music Video
Will Win - Childish Gambino "This is America"
Should Win - Childish Gambino "This is America"
Could Win - The Carters "APESH*T" and Janelle Monae "Pynk"
Commentary - The King and Queen shot their video in the Louvre and Monae's Pynk is fantastic. But this year, the music video that had the most impact on our culture, that shocked more people, and was genuinely incredible was Childish Gambino's This is America. Glover went out of his way to showcase the ills that our society faces, and the provocative brilliance should easily win here.

Best Music Film
Will Win - Quincy
Should Win - Quincy or Whitney
Could Win - Whitney or Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars
Commentary - This is a tough battle between two excellent documentaries about two of music's greatest icons. In the end, I think the positive story of a beloved living legend will sway more voters.

Sunday, January 27, 2019

25th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards

Film
Best Ensemble - Black Panther
Best Actor - Rami Malek "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Best Actress - Glenn Close "The Wife"
Best Supporting Actor - Mahershala Ali "Green Book"
Best Supporting Actress - Emily Blunt "A Quiet Place"
Best Stunt Ensemble - Black Panther

Television
Best Ensemble in Drama Series - This is Us
Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Best Actor in a Drama Series - Jason Bateman "Ozark"
Best Actress in a Drama Series - Sandra Oh "Killing Eve"
Best Actor in a Comedy Series - Tony Shalhoub "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
Best Actress in a Comedy Series - Rachel Brosnahan "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
Best Actor in a TV Movie/Limited Series - Darren Criss "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story"
Best Actress in a TV Movie/Limited Series - Patricia Arquette "Escape at Dannemora"
Best Stunt Ensemble - GLOW

Lifetime Achievement Award - Alan Alda

Saturday, January 26, 2019

46th Annual Daytime Emmy Performer Pre-Nominations

Nominees announced March 20th!

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

Amelia Heinle, as Victoria Newman
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Finola Hughes, as Anna Devane
General Hospital, ABC

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

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

Michelle Stafford, as Nina Reeves
General Hospital, ABC

Heather Tom, as Katie Logan
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Maura West, as Ava Jerome
General Hospital, ABC

Laura Wright, as Carly Corinthos
General Hospital, ABC

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Maurice Benard, as Sonny Corinthos
General Hospital, ABC

Peter Bergman, as Jack Abbott
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Eric Braeden, as Victor Newman
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Tyler Christopher, as Stefan DiMera
Days of Our Lives, NBC

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

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

Drake Hogestyn, as John Black
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Jon Lindstrom, as Ryan/Kevin Collins
General Hospital, ABC

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

Jason Thompson, as Billy Abbott
The Young and the Restless, CBS

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Tamara Braun, as Dr. Kim Nero
General Hospital, ABC

Kassie DePaiva, as Eve Donovan
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Linsey Godfrey, as Sarah Horton
Days of Our Lives, NBC

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

Martha Madison, as Belle Black
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Beth Maitland, as Traci Abbott
The Young and the Restless, CBS

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

Kirsten Storms, as Maxie Jones
General Hospital, ABC

Sal Stowers, as Lani Price
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Vernee Watson, as Stella Henry
General Hospital, ABC

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

Max Gail, as Mike Corbin
General Hospital, ABC

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

Thad Luckinbill, as JT Hellstrom
The Young and the Restless, CBS

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

Wes Ramsey, as Peter August
General Hospital, ABC

Greg Rikaart, as Leo Stark
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Christopher Sean, as Paul Narita
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Aaron D. Spears, as Justin Barber
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Dominic Zamprogna, as Dante Falconeri
General Hospital, ABC

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Alyvia Alyn Lind, as Faith Newman
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Kiara Barnes, as Zoe Buckingham
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Sasha Calle, as Lola Rosales
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Hayley Erin, as Kiki Jerome
General Hospital, ABC

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

Camryn Hamm, as Shauna Nelson
The Young and the Restless, 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

Nia Sioux, as Emma Barber
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Lexi 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

Adain Bradley, as Xander Avant
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

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

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

William Lipton, as Cameron Webber
General Hospital, ABC

Kyler Pettis, as Theo Carver
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Garren Stitt, as Oscar Nero
General Hospital, ABC

Zach Tinker, as Fenmore Baldwin
The Young and the Restless, CBS

OUTSTANDING GUEST PERFORMER IN A DRAMA SERIES
Philip Anthony-Rodriguez, as Miguel Garcia
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Patricia Bethune, as Nurse Mary Pat
General Hospital, ABC

Wayne Brady, as Dr. Reese Buckingham
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Daniel Hall, as Scott Grainger
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Monica Horan, as Kiernan
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Cassandra James, as Dr. Terry Randolph
General Hospital, ABC

Kelly Kruger, as Mackenzie Browning
The Young and the Restless, CBS

Kate Mansi, as Abigail Deveraux
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Thaao Penghlis, as Andre DiMera
Days of Our Lives, NBC

Jeremy Ray Valdez, as Detective Alex Sanchez
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

James Read, as Gregory Chase
General Hospital, ABC

Hunter Tylo, as Dr. Taylor Hayes
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

Danny Woodburn, as Ken
The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DIGITAL DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES
Nikko Austen Smith, as Jilly Mitchell
Jacqueline and Jilly, UMC

Vanessa Baden Kelly, as Journee
Giants, YouTube.com

Ji Bak, as Molly
Only Children, Vimeo.com

Ashley Clements, as Sona
Sona, Legendary Digital Networks

Jade Harlow, as Lianna Ramos
The Bay The Series, Prime Video

Liana Liberato, as McKenna Brady
Light as a Feather, Hulu

Shanti Lowry, as Yolanda Rodriguez
Bronx SIU, UMC/Prime Video

Haley Ramm, as Violet Simmons
Light as a Feather, Hulu

Alesha ReneƩ, as Calysta Jeffries
The Rich and the Ruthless, UMC

Liz Vassey, as Dr. Gillian Hunt
Riley Parra, Tello Films

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DIGITAL DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES
Mitchell Anderson, as Jason Addams
After Forever, Prime Video & Binge Networks

Kristos Andrews, as Pete Garrett
The Bay The Series, Prime Video

James Bland, as Malachi
Giants, YouTube.com

Richard Brooks, as Augustus Barringer
The Rich and the Ruthless, UMC

Richard Brooks, as Magnus Mitchell
Jacqueline and Jilly, UMC

Yuri Lowenthal, as Max Levodolinsky
Orbital Redux, Project Alpha

Kevin Spirtas, as Brian Stone
After Forever, Prime Video & Binge Networks

Tim Wardell, as Mohammed
Only Children, Vimeo.com

Brian White, as Jimmy Blue
Bronx SIU, UMC/Prime Video

Wayne Wilcox, as Ray
Only Children, Vimeo.com

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DIGITAL DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES
Marion Akpan, as Nancy Stephenson
Anacostia, YouTube.com

Crystal Lee Brown, as Tamera
Giants, YouTube.com

Erin Cherry, as Brenda
After Forever, Prime Video & Binge Networks

Celeste Fianna, as Tamara Garrett
The Bay The Series, Prime Video

Cady Huffman, as Lisa
After Forever, Prime Video & Binge Networks

Joy McElveen, as Mellori
Giants, YouTube.com

Carolyn Ratteray, as Caitlin Priest
Riley Parra, Tello Films

Irene Roseen, as Maeve Fielding
The Rich and the Ruthless, UMC

Victoria Rowell, as Jacqueline Mitchell
Jacqueline and Jilly, UMC

Karrueche Tran, as Vivian Johnson-Garrett
The Bay The Series, Prime Video

Brianne Tju, as Alex Portnoy
Light as a Feather, Hulu

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DIGITAL DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES
Matthew Ashford, as Steve Jensen
The Bay The Series, Prime Video

Ameer Baraka, as Darius
Bronx SIU, UMC/Prime Video

Brandon Beemer, as Evan Blackwell
The Bay The Series, Prime Video

Carl Gilliard, as Dr. Munroe
Giants, YouTube.com

Wil Lash, as Scott Taylor
Anacostia, YouTube.com

Tremayne Norris, as Carlos Daniels
Anacostia, YouTube.com

Marc Anthony Samuel, as Mark Levodolinsky
Orbital Redux, Project Alpha

Sean Samuels, as Ade
Giants, YouTube.com

Terrence Terrell, as Kwasi Asamoah
Giants, YouTube.com

Alex Wyse, as Cooper
Only Children, Vimeo.com

OUTSTANDING GUEST PERFORMER IN A DIGITAL DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES
Denise Boutte, as Jasmine
Bronx SIU, UMC/Prime Video

Lou Diamond Phillips, as Martin
Conversations in L.A., Prime Video

Sean Patrick Flanery, as Ty Garrett
The Bay The Series, Prime Video

Anita Gillette, as Frannie
After Forever, Prime Video & Binge Networks

A. Martinez, as Nardo Ramos
The Bay The Series, Prime Video

Amy Pietz, as Mrs. Shannon Pierce
Conversations in L.A., Prime Video

J. August Richards, as Andrew Prescott
Giants, YouTube.com

Eric Roberts, as Alexander Fortnoy
New Dogs, Old Tricks, Prime Video

Kelsey Scott, as Sadiyah Siobahn
Giants, YouTube.com

Marina Sirtis, as Gail Finney
Riley Parra, Tello Films

Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award Predictions

Film
Best Ensemble - Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Actor - Rami Malek "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Best Actress - Glenn Close "The Wife"
Best Supporting Actor - Mahershala Ali "Green Book"
Best Supporting Actress - Amy Adams "Vice"
Best Stunt Ensemble - Black Panther

Television
Best Ensemble in a Drama Series - This is Us
Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Best Actor in a Drama Series - Jason Bateman "Ozark"
Best Actress in a Drama Series - Sandra Oh "Killing Eve"
Best Actor in a Comedy Series - Henry Winkler "Barry"
Best Actress in a Comedy Series - Rachel Brosnahan "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
Best Actor in a TV Movie/Limited Series - Darren Criss "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story"
Best Actress in a TV Movie/Limited Series - Amy Adams "Sharp Objects"
Best Stunt Ensemble - GLOW

Thursday, January 24, 2019

The 7th Annual Award Psychic Music Award Winners

Album of the Year
Winner - Kacey Musgraves "Golden Hour"
Runners Up -  The Carters "Everything is Love", Janelle Monae "Dirty Computer", and Cardi B "Invasion of Privacy"
Commentary - The Carters proved they are the Queen and King of music, Janelle Monae was a revelation, and Cardi B was the breakout hit of the year. In a year of fantastic music though, it is Kacey Musgrave's magnificent Golden Hour that seems to be the one I keep coming back to. Musgraves hit it big with Same Trailer, Different Park, and avoided a sophomore slump with Pageant Material. Before those hit albums, she released many demos and hit singles, all leading up to what may end up being considered her magnum opus. Musgraves has never had it easy in country music. Just under a decade of the Dixie Chicks having their country music careers ruined for speaking out against Bush, Musgraves had the audacity to say that you should "kiss lots of boys or kiss lots of girls, if that's what your into". Country music radio has never embraced Musgraves for that very reason. Their listeners don't want to hear a pistol liberal female country singer. Despite this, Musgraves has managed to take 2018 by storm, and still won the Album of the Year at the CMAs, without endless radio play. It takes a lot to succeed when your genre's listeners ignore, but Musgraves does it with grit, charm, and jaw-dropping good music. Golden Hour is a genre-expanding, chill, rough and tumble, optimistic joy from start to finish. Highlights like Butterflies and Space Cowboy showcase her endless ability to create earworms, but there is not one false note throughout. Musgraves doesn't need country radio, but country radio needs to grow up and embrace her. She is the future of country music. Luckily the future is bright, as long as Kacey Musgraves keeps taking her own advice and following her arrow that is pointing her to soaring musical heights.

Single of the Year
Winner - Childish Gambino "This is America"
Runners Up - Kendrick Lamar & SZA "All the Stars", Janelle Monae "Pynk", and Ariana Grande "God is a Woman"
Commentary - In year of anger and protest anthems, none stood out like Childish Gambino's shockingly brutal, honest, and needed anthem This is America. The music video took people's breath away with its brutality, and the lyrics, while simple, shot straight through the heart of many who see the political and cultural upheaval of the last several years, and who see the problems that American neighborhoods and families face. It was simply brilliant, and easily the most effective and permeating song of the year.

Best New Artist
Winner - H.E.R.
Runners Up - Greta Van Fleet and Margo Price
Commentary - When Grammy nominations were released, a lot of folks were shocked to see H.E.R. in Album of the Year. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't expect Grammy voters to go that way, but I was not shocked that the industry found H.E.R.'s work worthy. This is her first debut album, after a string of massively successful mixtapes. She has had tens of millions of people stream her music on multiple platforms and her first album went Gold. H.E.R. truly is a 21st Century artist, embracing streaming and social media to create a brand for herself. She also happens to be incredibly talented, and produces fantastic, modern R&B music.She has an incredible future in this industry, and is easily the most influential new artist of the year.

Best Pop Album
Winner - Troye Sivan "Bloom"
Runner Up - Ariana Grande "Sweetener"
Commentary - Troye Sivan not only makes pop music that is endlessly listenable, and endearing, but timely and relevant. Bloom feels like an artist who is, pun intended, finally in bloom. Where so many artists hit a sophomore slump, Sivan rose to the occasion with a positively exuberant album celebrating and exalting the queer experience. Easily the best pop album of the year.

Best Pop Performance
Winner - Ariana Grande "God is a Woman"
Runner Up - Troye Sivan "My, My, My!"
Commentary - Ariana Grande continues to prove that she deserves her place at the top of pop music. God is a Woman is the perfect representation of her talent. Showcasing her stunning vocals, her musical style, and delivering an empowering message, God is a Woman was one of those songs of 2018 we won't forget soon.

Best Rock/Alternative Album
Winner - St. Vincent "MASSEDUCTION"
Runners Up - Bjork "Utopia" and Father John Misty "God's Favorite Customer"
Commentary - St. Vincent scored again this year with MASSEDUCTION. Clark's alternative pop style, pulled from her own imagination, is a brilliant mixture of sweaty, fun hits and intimate quiet moments that all pull together for a beautifully constructed work of alternative music perfection.

Best Rock Performance
Winner  - Elle King "Shame"
Runners Up - Greta Van Fleet "Highway Tune", Halestorm "Uncomfortable", St. Vincent "MASSEDUCTION"
Commentary - I love Elle King, and I love her raspy, bluesy take on rock music. It is a wonderful mix of rock, blues, country, and soul. One of her newest singles, Shame, is a perfect example of why she is such a welcomed voice in rock music.

Best Rap Album
Winner - Cardi B "Invasion of Privacy"
Runners Up - The Carters "Everything is Love" and Kendrick Lamar and Various Artist "Black Panther"
Commentary - Even with he success of Bodak Yellow, I don't think any of us thought that Cardi B, the reality star, would make such a splash with her debut album. But Invasion of Privacy supersedes all expectations. It is buoyant, confident debut, with great songs that bring a mix of ferocity, softness, and an immeasurable amount of effervescence. Invasion of Privacy is the start of what may end up being a brilliant new career. 

Best Rap Performance
Winner - (TIE) Childish Gambino "This is America" and Nicki Minaj "Barbie Dreams"
Runners Up - Cardi B. feat. J. Balvin and Bad Bunny "I Like It" and The Carters "APESH*T"
Commentary - For This is America see Single of the Year. Nicki Minaj's Queen, as a whole effort, never did quite add up to the sum of its parts. And some of those parts were jaw-droppingly brilliant. For obvious reasons, Childish Gambino gets this award, but I could not leave without honoring the catchy, dirty, and brilliant Barbie Dreams. Riffing Biggie and playfully dissing ever major male rapper today, bringing mad flow and hilarious punchlines, Barbie Dreams reminds us that despite some challengers, Nicki is still the Queen.

Best R&B Album
Winner - Janelle Monae "Dirty Computer"
Runners Up - Bettye Lavette "Things Have Changed" and H.E.R. "H.E.R."
Commentary - Janelle Monae has been rocking our musical world for awhile, but I think Dirty Computer is her best yet. She still brings the funky ferocity of her earlier works, but also finds time to discuss personal triumphs and tragedies, and procure timely messages. Easily one of the best of the year.

Best R&B Performance
Winner - Janelle Monae "Make Me Feel"
Runners Up - The Carters "SUMMER" and SZA "Broken Clocks"
Commentary - This song made President Obama's best of 2018, and is the perfect representation of why Dirty Computer as an album and Janelle Monae as an artist were quiet simply the best of R&B this year.

Best Country Album
Winner - Kacey Musgraves "Golden Hour"
Runner Up - Chris Stapleton "From a Room, Vol. 2"
Commentary - See Album of the Year

Best Country Performance
Winner - Kacey Musgraves "Butterflies"
Runner Up - Chris Stapleton "Millionaire"
Commenary - See Album of the Year

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

The Oscar Narrative: First Winner Predictions

Best Picture - Roma
Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron "Roma"
Best Actor - Christian Bale "Vice"
Best Actress - Glenn Close "The Wife"
Best Supporting Actor - Mahershala Ali "Green Book"
Best Supporting Actress - Amy Adams "Vice"
Best Original Screenplay - Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara "The Favourite"
Best Adapted Screenplay - Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, and Spike Lee "BlacKkKlansman"
Best Animated Feature - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Best Documentary Feature - RBG
Best Foreign Language Film - Roma
Best Cinematography - Roma
Best Costume Design - The Favourite
Best Film Editing - Vice
Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Vice
Best Original Score - Marc Shaiman "Mary Poppins Returns"
Best Original Song - A Star is Born - Shallow
Best Production Design - Black Panther
Best Sound Editing - Roma
Best Sound Mixing - A Star is Born
Best Visual Effects - Avengers: Infinity War
Best Animated Short - Bao
Best Documentary Short - Black Sheep
Best Live Action Short - Marguerite

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

The Oscar Narrative: The Race Shifts Gears

As always, the Oscar nominations are filled with shocking surprises, jaw-dropping snubs, and always manage the change the race. We all think we know what is going to happen, who is going to win. But then the second nominations are announced, the game changes. This year, it feels like it has really shifted from the perception that we all had just a few days ago. So I predicted eight nominees, and those were the eight chosen. I just didn't feel there was a clear ninth place film, and apparently neither did the Academy. What I find interesting is how the order of the films has changed. So Green Book wins the PGA, and yes it can still win the Oscar. But missing Best Director is a big deal, and its nomination total pales in comparison to others. On a preferential ballot that will not matter as much as it used to, but I do wonder if the backlash against the film is finally catching up to Oscar voters, the same way it did with Three Billboards last year. After winning the Globe and SAG (in Green Book's case, the Globe and the PGA), Martin McDonagh was snubbed for Best Director. Some people stupidly thought that it didn't matter (I'm totally talking to myself here), but I think it effectively reduced the buzz for the film, and signaled that maybe the Academy was not willing to embrace a controversial film. Time will tell, but Green Book might have just peaked. Four films emerged today a lot stronger than they did, and one sank tremendously. Of course, for the latter, I am talking about A Star is Born. Missing editing and directing is just proof that while the film is clearly beloved, it is not the slam-dunk contender we thought it was. The Critics Choice and Golden Globe Awards had hinted at this, but this morning, that hint was confirmed. Now on to the four. Roma missed Editing, which is so interesting, and if it ends up not winning, we might point to that missing nomination, which seems to be a precursor for an Oscar Best Picture. But overall, I think it overcame that one odd snub with its surprising surge of support from the acting branch, the biggest branch in the Academy, that just gave it its full-fledged approval. SAG might have not appreciated the acting, but the branch of the Academy certainly did. The other three, The Favourite, BlacKkKlansman, and Vice all got everything they needed. All got director, screenplay, editing, and at least one acting nod (I will say I was dissappointed that Washington did not get in, but I don't think that it affects BlacKkKlansman's overall support). All three can be seen as political films, antidotes in the Trump era. Celebrations of LGBT characters, black filmmakers, and liberal visions of conservative politicians. I think all three should not be discounted, although if it is between these three and Roma, with Green Book as the dark horse, I will pick Roma, the least divisive of the bunch. What does all this mean? It means Best Picture is a real tossup, but the players are a lot different than we assumed. Also, while the haters have been out in full force, it is so freaking awesome to see a superhero movie, in this case Black Panther, finally earn a Best Picture nomination. I hope that this is a trend that continues for those particularly special members of the genre that rise above the tropes.

The acting awards provided some of the big surprises of the morning. I knew that there were sixteen that were locked and loaded, but one slot from each category was up in the air. I did not predict any of those slots correctly. The Yalitza Aparacio nod did not surprise me, as the buzz had been there all season. She didn't show up in a lot of the major guild precursors, but there was clearly love. Sam Rockwell wasn't shocking either. Timothee Chalamet has been sliding into all of the precursors all season, mostly on the goodwill he had built up over the Call Me By Your Name campaign last year. But let's face it, Beautiful Boy was not that great of a movie, no matter how good he was. In the end, they picked last year's winner in a film that clearly loved. Makes sense. The other two were pretty jaw-dropping. Willem Dafoe only had critics awards, no BAFTA, no SAG, and I just didn't think enough people saw the film. But the real shocker was Marina de Tavria. She was magnificent in the film, but had almost zero precursor support. Her nomination shows the true love these voters have for Roma. Director also had its surprises. None of the nominees were shocking, but the exclusion of Bradley Cooper really was a shocker. Although it follows the trend of this branch being unique. Also, I have to give a shout out to Spike Lee. After decades in this industry, he earns a well-deserved and well overdue Best Director nomination. I know Cuaron is going to win, and he deserves it, but I just keep hoping that maybe this year, they go for Spike.

There were some other shocks and surprises, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs getting all of its nods including Adapted Screenplay, First Man missing in Score, Won't You Be My Neighbor? missing in doc. The technical categories are always filled of surprises. The one big takeaway I got from them was the clear influence that the influx of new foreign language Academy members has had on voting. Tech nods for Roma, Cold War, Never Look Away, and Border show that foreign films are no longer a vice for Oscar voters, a change that has been long overdue. We have lots to discuss, and plenty of precursors left to help act as a guide for this particularly unpredictable season .We'll just have to wait and see how the narrative unfolds.

91st Annual Academy Award Nominations

Best Picture
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star Is Born
Vice

Best Director
Spike Lee, “BlacKkKlansman”
Pawel Pawlikowski, “Cold War”
Yorgos Lanthimos, “The Favourite”
Alfonso CuarĆ³n, “Roma”
Adam McKay, “Vice”

Best Actor
Christian Bale “Vice”
Bradley Cooper “A Star Is Born”
Willem Dafoe “At Eternity’s Gate”
Rami Malek “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Viggo Mortensen “Green Book”

Best Actress
Yalitza Aparicio “Roma”
Glenn Close “The Wife”
Olivia Colman “The Favourite”
Lady Gaga “A Star Is Born”
Melissa McCarthy “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”

Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali “Green Book”
Adam Driver “BlacKkKlansman”
Sam Elliott “A Star Is Born”
Richard E. Grant “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Sam Rockwell “Vice”

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams “Vice”
Marina de Tavira “Roma”
Regina King “If Beale Street Could Talk”
Emma Stone “The Favourite”
Rachel Weisz “The Favourite”

Best Adapted Screenplay
Joel Coen , Ethan Coen “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”
Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, and Spike Lee “BlacKkKlansman”
Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Barry Jenkins “If Beale Street Could Talk”
Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, and Will Fetters “A Star Is Born”

Best Original Screenplay
Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara “The Favourite"
Paul Schrader “First Reformed”
Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly “Green Book”
Alfonso CuarĆ³n “Roma”
 Adam McKay “Vice”

Best Animated Feature
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Best Documentary Feature
Free Solo
Hale County This Morning, This Evening
Minding the Gap
Of Fathers and Sons
RBG

Best Foreign Language Film
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)

Best Cinematography
Cold War
The Favourite
Never Look Away
Roma
A Star Is Born

Best Costume Design
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Black Panther
The Favourite
Mary Poppins Returns
Mary Queen of Scots

Best Film Editing
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
Green Book
The Favourite
Vice

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Border
Mary, Queen of Scots
Vice

Best Original Score
Terence Blanchard “BlacKkKlansman”
 Ludwig Goransson “Black Panther”
Nicholas Britell “If Beale Street Could Talk”
Alexandre Desplat “Isle of Dogs"
Marc Shaiman “Mary Poppins Returns”

Best Original Song
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs - “When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings”
Black Panther - “All The Stars”
Mary Poppins Returns - “The Place Where Lost Things Go”
RBG - “I’ll Fight”
A Star is Born - “Shallow”

Best Production Design
Black Panther
The Favourite
First Man
Mary Poppins Returns
Roma

Best Sound Editing
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
A Quiet Place
Roma

Best Sound Mixing
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
Roma
A Star Is Born

Best Visual Effects
Avengers: Infinity War
Christopher Robin
First Man
Ready Player One
Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Animated Short
Animal Behaviour
Bao
Late Afternoon
One Small Step
Weekends

Best Documentary Short 
Black Sheep
End Game
Lifeboat
A Night at the Garden
Period. End of Sentence

Best Live Action Short Film
Detainment
Fauve
Marguerite
Mother
Skin

Monday, January 21, 2019

39th Annual Golden Raspberry "Razzie" Awards

The worst of the year:

WORST PICTURE 
Gotti
The Happytime Murders
Holmes & Watson
Robin Hood
Winchester

WORST ACTRESS 
Jennifer Garner "Peppermint"
Amber Heard "London Fields"
Melissa McCarthy "The Happytime Murders" and "Life of the Party"
Helen Mirren "Winchester"
Amanda Seyfried "The Clapper" 

WORST ACTOR 
Johnny Depp (voice) "Sherlock Gnomes"
Will Ferrell "Holmes & Watson"
John Travolta "Gotti"
Donald J. Trump (as himself) "Death of a Nation" and "Fahrenheit 11/9"   
Bruce Willis "Death Wish"

WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR 
Jamie Foxx "Robin Hood"
Ludacris (voice) "Show Dogs"
Joel McHale "Happytime Murders"
John C. Reilly "Holmes & Watson"
Justice Smith "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom"

WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 
Kellyanne Conway (as herself) "Fahrenheit 11/9"
Marcia Gay Harden "Fifty Shades Freed"
Kelly Preston "Gotti"
Jaz Sinclair "Slender Man"
Melania Trump (as herself) "Fahrenheit 11/9"

WORST SCREEN COMBO
Any two actors or puppets (especially in those creepy sex scenes) "Happytime Murders"
Johnny Depp and his fast-fading film career "Sherlock Gnomes"
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly (trashing two of literature’s most beloved characters) "Holmes & Watson"
Kelly Preston and John Travolta (getting 'Battlefield Earth'-type reviews!) "Gotti"
Donald J. Trump and his self-perpetuating pettiness "Death of a Nation" and "Fahrenheit 11/9"

WORST REMAKE, RIPOFF or SEQUEL
Death of a Nation (remake of "Hillary’s America")
Death Wish
Holmes & Watson
The Meg (ripoff of "Jaws")
Robin Hood 

WORST DIRECTOR
Etan Cohen "Holmes & Watson"
Kevin Connolly "Gotti"
James Foley "Fifty Shades Freed"
Brian Henson "Happytime Murders"
The Spierig Brothers (Michael and Peter) "Winchester" 

WORST SCREENPLAY 
Death of a Nation
Fifty Shades Freed
Gotti
Happytime Murders
Winchester

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Final List

This is it! The last chance to change my mind. Tomorrow the nominations will be announced at the crack of dawn:

Best Picture
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star is Born
Vice

Best Director
Spike Lee "BlacKkKlansman"
Yorgos Lanthimos "The Favourite"
Alfonso Cuaron "Roma"
Bradley Cooper "A Star is Born"
Adam McKay "Vice"

Best Actor
Christian Bale "Vice"
Bradley Cooper "A Star is Born"
Rami Malek "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Viggo Mortensen "Green Book"
John David Washington "BlacKkKLansman"

Best Actress
Emily Blunt "Mary Poppins Returns"
Glenn Close "The Wife"
Olivia Colman "The Favourite"
Lady Gaga "A Star is Born"
Melissa McCarthy "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali "Green Book"
Timothee Chalamet "Beautiful Boy"
Adam Driver "BlacKkKlansman"
Sam Elliott "A Star is Born"
Richard E. Grant "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams "Vice"
Regina King "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Margot Robbie "Mary, Queen of Scots"
Emma Stone "The Favourite"
Rachel Weisz "The Favourite"

Best Adapted Screenplay
Joe Robert Cole and Ryan Coogler "Black Panther"
David Rabinowitz, Charlie Wachtel, Kevin Willmott, and Spike Lee "BlacKkKlansman"
Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
Barry Jenkins "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, and Will Fetters "A Star is Born"

Best Original Screenplay
Bo Burnham "Eighth Grade"
Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara "The Favourite"
Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, and Peter Farrelly "Green Book"
Alfonso Cuaron "Roma"
Adam McKay "Vice"

Best Animated Feature
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Best Documentary Feature
Free Solo
Minding the Gap
RBG
Three Identical Neighbors
Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Best Foreign Language Film
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)

Best Cinematography
Cold War
The Favourite
First Man
Roma
A Star is Born

Best Costume Design
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Mary Poppins Returns
Mary, Queen of Scots

Best Film Editing
The Favourite
First Man
Roma
A Star is Born
Vice

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Black Panther
Mary, Queen of Scots
Vice

Best Original Score
Terence Blanchard "BlacKkKlansman"
Justin Hurwitz "First Man"
Nicholas Britell "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Alexandre Desplat "Isle of Dogs"
Marc Shaiman "Mary Poppins Returns" 

Best Original Song
Black Panther - All the Stars
Mary Poppins Returns - The Place Where the Lost Things Go
Mary Poppins Returns - Trip a Little Light Fantastic
RBG - I'll Fight
A Star is Born - Shallow

Best Production Design
Black Panther
The Favourite
First Man
Mary Poppins Returns
Roma

Best Sound Editing
Black Panther
First Man
A Quiet Place
Roma
A Star is Born

Best Sound Mixing
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
A Quiet Place
Roma
A Star is Born

Best Visual Effects
Avengers: Infinity War
Black Panther
First Man
Ready Player One
Welcome to Marwen

Best Animated Short
Age of Sail
Bao
Bilby
Lost And Found 
Weekends

Best Documentary Short
Black Sheep
End Game
Period. End of Sentence
Women of the Gulag 
Zion

Best Live Action Short
Caroline
Detainment
Icare
Marguerite 
Skin

23rd Annual Online Film and Television Association Film Award Nominations

BEST PICTURE
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
The Favourite
First Man
Green Book
Hereditary
If Beale Street Could Talk
Roma
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
A Star Is Born

BEST ANIMATED PICTURE
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

BEST ACTOR
Christian Bale – Vice
Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born
Ethan Hawke – First Reformed
Rami Malek – Bohemian Rhapsody
John David Washington – BlacKkKlansman

BEST ACTRESS
Glen Close – The Wife
Toni Collette – Hereditary
Olivia Colman – The Favourite
Lady Gaga – A Star Is Born
Melissa McCarthy – Can You Ever Forgive Me?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali – Green Book
TimothĆ©e Chaalmet – Beautiful Boy
Adam Driver – BlacKkKlansman
Sam Elliott – A Star Is Born
Richard E. Grant – Can You Ever Forgive Me?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Elizabeth Debicki – Widows
Claire Foy – First Man
Regina King – If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone – The Favourite
Rachel Weisz – The Favourite

BEST YOUTH PERFORMANCE
Elsie Fisher – Eighth Grade
Thomasin McKenzie – Leave No Trace
Ed Oxenbould – Wildlife
Milly Shapiro – Hereditary
Millicent Simmonds – A Quiet Place

BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE: MALE
Henry Golding – Crazy Rich Asians
Stephan James – If Beale Street Could Talk
Nick Robinson – Love, Simon
John David Washington – BlacKkKlansman
Alex Wolff – Hereditary

BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE: FEMALE
Yalitza Aparicio – Roma
Elsie Fisher – Eighth Grade
KiKi Layne – If Beale Street Could Talk
Thomasin McKenzie – Leave No Trace
Letitia Wright – Black Panther

BEST VOICE-OVER PERFORMANCE
Bryan Cranston – Isle of Dogs
Holly Hunter – Incredibles 2
Jake Johnson – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Shameik Moore – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Sarah Silverman – Ralph Breaks the Internet

BEST ENSEMBLE
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Crazy Rich Asians
The Favourite
Widows

BEST CASTING
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
The Favourite
If Beale Street Could Talk
Widows

BEST DIRECTOR
Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born
Alfonso Cuaron – Roma
Barry Jenkins – If Beale Street Could Talk
Yorgos Lanthimos – The Favourite
Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman

BEST FEATURE DEBUT
Ari Aster – Hereditary
Bo Burnham – Eighth Grade
Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born
Carlos Lopez Estrada – Blindspotting
Boots Riley – Sorry to Bother You

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Eighth Grade
The Favourite
First Reformed
A Quiet Place
Roma

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
BlacKkKlansman
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
If Beale Street Could Talk
Leave No Trace
A Star Is Born

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Burning
Capernaum
Cold War
Roma
Shoplifters

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Free Solo
Minding the Gap
RBG
Three Identical Strangers
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Black Panther
First Man
If Beale Street Could Talk
Isle of Dogs
Suspiria

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
All the Stars – Black Panther
The Place Where Lost Things Go – Mary Poppins Returns
Shallow – A Star Is Born
Suspirium – Suspiria
Trip a Little Light Fantastic – Mary Poppins Returns

BEST ADAPTED SONG
Can’t Help Falling in Love – Crazy Rich Asians
Fernando – Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
This Old Heart of Mine – Bad Times at the El Royale
La Vie en Rose – A Star Is Born
Yellow – Crazy Rich Asians

BEST FILM EDITING
BlacKkKlansman
The Favourite
First Man
Roma
A Star Is Born

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Cold War
The Favourite
First Man
If Beale Street Could Talk
Roma

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Black Panther
Crazy Rich Asians
The Favourite
First Man
Mary Poppins Returns

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Black Panther
Crazy Rich Asians
The Favourite
Mary Poppins Returns
Mary Queen of Scots

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIR
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Suspiria
Vice

BEST SOUND
Black Panther
First Man
A Quiet Place
Roma
A Star Is Born

BEST SOUND EFFECTS
Avengers: Infinity War
Black Panther
First Man
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
A Quiet Place

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Avengers: Infinity War
Black Panther
First Man
Mary Poppins Returns
Ready Player One

BEST STUNT COORDINATION
Aquaman
Avengers: Infinity War
Black Panther
Deadpool 2
Mission: Impossible – Fallout

BEST TITLES SEQUENCE
Black Panther (End Credits)
Deadpool 2 (Opening Credits)
Roma (Opening Credits)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Opening Credits)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (End Credits)

MOST CINEMATIC MOMENT
Avengers: Infinity War – The Snap
Bohemian Rhapsody – Live Aid Concert
First Man – Moon Landing
Hereditary – Car Accident
A Star is Born – The First Shallow

BEST MOVIE TRAILER
The Favourite
If Beale Street Could Talk
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
A Quiet Place
A Star Is Born

BEST MOVIE POSTER
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
The Favourite
If Beale Street Could Talk
A Quiet Place

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Picture

Final Nomination Predictions
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star is Born
Vice

Other Contenders - If Beale Street Could Talk, First Man, Crazy Rich Asians, A Quiet Place, Mary Poppins Returns, Cold War, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Eighth Grade

Commentary - As we know the "somewhere between five and ten" has landed us with either 8 or 9 contenders. This year I am going with eight, because I cannot decide which film would be a ninth place, which is usually a sign that there isn't a ninth place to be had. A Star is Born, BlacKkKlansman, Green Book and Roma feel like safe bets based on guild, Globe, and BAFTA support. A lot of folks are doubting Vice, but it continues to be a favorite among this industry, with PGA, DGA, WGA, ACE Eddie, Globe, and other support across the guilds. Those are the DGA five, and those feel like safe bets. The Favourite is the BAFTA favorite this year, pun intended, and has done well at other major guilds. Bohemian Rhapsody has defied its critics with a Globe Best Picture win, SAG, PGA, and major BAFTA nominations, as well as support from the crafts guilds. Finally, I think Black Panther, while not the slam dunk nominee many assumed, still did well enough across the industry to make the cut. Plus, with Black Panther, A Star is Born, and Bohemian Rhapsody, the Oscars will avoid the claim that they ignore blockbusters. So that ninth slot is where I'm not sure. A lot of folks still think If Beale Street Could Talk is in, but its guild support is muted. First Man has done really well with the crafts guilds, and should rack up a lot of nominations, but I expect it to end up like Blade Runner 2049 last year, where those guilds are not enough to push it into the Best Picture race. Crazy Rich Asians has done extremely well, but I don't think it can get any other nomination. In this expanded race, the lowest nomination tally for a Best Picture nomination was two. So unless Michelle Yeoh is stronger than we thought, I don't think there is enough support. A Quiet Place was hoping to be this year's Get Out, and with a PGA and WGA nomination, it is in the mix. Finally, the likes of Cold War, Mary Poppins Returns, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, and Eighth Grade are still hoping some passion votes from Academy members carries them into the race.

Sunday, January 20, 2019

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Director

Final Nomination Predictions
Spike Lee "BlacKkKlansman"
Yorgos Lanthimos "The Favourite"
Alfonso Cuaron "Roma"
Bradley Cooper "A Star is Born"
Adam McKay "Vice"

Other Contenders - Peter Farrelly "Green Book", Pawil Pawlikowski "Cold War", Barry Jenkins "If Beale Street Could Talk", Ryan Coogler "Black Panther", Damien Chazelle "First Man", Debra Granik "Leave No Trace"

Commentary - So I think Lee, Cuaron, and Cooper are ready to go with DGA and BAFTA under their belt. Adam McKay also has that combination, and I think he will also get a nomination. A lot of folks think he will miss. Maybe he will, as Vice does seem to be divisive. Although, so far, that divisiveness has not stopped it from doing well at these industry awards. Most folks think that the last slot is probably between Peter Farrelly, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Pawil Pawlikowski. I think that Green Book's PGA win is damning, but I also know that this group of voters is unique. They are the ones that snubbed Martin McDonagh last year in favor of their esoteric favorite Paul Thomas Anderson. I think that this particular group of directors might snub Farrelly, as Green Book really is not a directorial achievement. Instead I am going for Lanthimos, because I think that The Favourite is strong across the board. But I would not be surprised to see Pawlikowski steal a slot like he did at BAFTA. Cold War is just the type of film that directors love to surprise us with. Plus, after Foxcatcher, the expanded Best Picture race doesn't mean that all five directors correspond to Best Picture nominations. Finally, watch out for Coogler, Jenkins, and with this group, I think we still need to consider the strong directorial works of Damien Chazelle and Debra Granik. You never know.

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Actor

Final Nomination Predictions
Christian Bale "Vice"
Bradley Cooper "A Star is Born"
Rami Malek "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Viggo Mortensen "Green Book"
John David Washington "BlacKkKlansman"

Other Contenders - Ethan Hawke "First Reformed", Willem Dafoe "At Eternity's Gate", Steve Coogan "Stan & Ollie", John C. Reilly "Stan and Ollie"

Commentary - Four folks are locked: Bale, Cooper, Malek, and Mortensen, and SAG/BAFTA will determine who wins among that group (right now I think its Bale vs. Malek). That fifth slot is tricky. A lot of folks are still banking on Ethan Hawke. But he got no BAFTA, no SAG, and no Globe, and lost the Critics Choice to Bale. I just think if he was so popular we would have seen him pop up in this race (it's the same concern I have for Regina King in Supporting Actress). Willem Dafoe is a possibility, and after the Globes and BAFTA recognized John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan, respectively, I have them on the list just in case. For that fifth slot though, I am going with the SAG/Globe combination of John David Washington. If they really love this film as much as I think they do, then voters will probably not ignore its central performance.

London Critics Circle Film Award Winners

FILM OF THE YEAR
Roma

FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
Cold War

DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR
Faces Places

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

DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Alfonso CuarĆ³n – Roma

SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara – The Favourite

ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Olivia Colman – The Favourite

ACTOR OF THE YEAR 
Ethan Hawke – First Reformed

SUPPORTING ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Rachel Weisz – The Favourite

SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Richard E Grant – Can You Ever Forgive Me?

BRITISH/IRISH ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
Jessie Buckley – Beast

BRITISH/IRISH ACTOR OF THE YEAR
Rupert Everett – The Happy Prince

YOUNG BRITISH/IRISH PERFORMER OF THE YEAR 
Molly Wright – Apostasy

BREAKTHROUGH BRITISH/IRISH FILMMAKER
Michael Pearce – Beast

BRITISH/IRISH SHORT FILM
Three Centimetres – directed by Lara Zeidan

TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Cold War – cinematography, Lukasz Zal

THE DILYS POWELL AWARD for EXCELLENCE IN FILM
Pedro AlmodĆ³var

Latino Entertainment Journalists Association (LEJA) Awards

Best Picture of the Year
Roma

Best Achievement in Directing
Alfonso Cuaron “Roma”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Bradley Cooper “A Star is Born”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Yalitza Aparicio “Roma”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Mahershala Ali “Green Book”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Regina King “If Beale Street Could Talk”

Best Original Screenplay
Alfonso Cuaron “Roma"

Best Adapted Screenplay
Barry Jenkins “If Beale Street Could Talk”

Best Ensemble Casting
Crazy Rich Asians

Best Production & Set Design
Roma

Best Cinematography
Alfonso Cuaron "Roma"

Best Costume Design
Black Panther

Best Editing
Roma

Best Hair & Makeup
Black Panther

Best Sound
Roma

Best Visual Effects
Black Panther

Best Music
Nicholas Britell “If Beale Street Could Talk"

Best Song Written for a Motion Picture
A Star is Born - Shallow

Best Animated Feature
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Best Foreign Language Film
Roma

Best Documentary Feature
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Best Stunts
Mission: Impossible – Fallout

Best Voice or Motion Capture Performance
Shameik Moore “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

Latino Activism Award
America Ferrera

The LEJA Breakout Award
Yalitza Aparicio

The LEJA Muy Mal Award
Donald J. Trump

The LEJA Spotlight Award
Lin-Manuel Miranda

Producers Guild of America (PGA) Award Winners

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
Green Book

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Picture
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Drama
The Americans

The Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Comedy
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Limited Series Television
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures
Fahrenheit 451

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

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

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television
RuPaul’s Drag Race

The Award for Outstanding Short-Form Program
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

The Award for Outstanding Sports Program
Being Serena

The Award for Outstanding Children’s Program
Sesame Street

Saturday, January 19, 2019

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Actress

Final Nomination Preditions
Emily Blunt "Mary Poppins Returns"
Glenn Close "The Wife"
Olivia Colman "The Favourite"
Lady Gaga "A Star is Born"
Melissa McCarthy "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

Other Contenders - Viola Davis "Widows", Yalitza Aparicio "Roma", Joanna Kulig "Cold War"

Commentary - So with SAG and BAFTA there are six actresses for five slots. I think Blunt is still stronger overall than Davis, as Mary Poppins Returns has more traction than Widows. The other four are good to go. But I also think that two foreign language contenders cannot be discounted. Yalitza Aparicio has been along the way the whole season, but except for the Critics Choice (where they nominated like seven actresses) and regional critics awards, she has not made a dent with the industry. Neither has Joanna Kulig, but Cold War is coming on strong, and could crash an even bigger race. I think that it continues to grow in popularity since BAFTA, where it had its best showing of the season. If it peaks at the right time, or if the love of Roma is really really strong, these two actresses could crash the race.

Friday, January 18, 2019

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Supporting Actor

Final Nomination Predictions
Mahershala Ali "Green Book"
Timothee Chalamet "Beautiful Boy"
Adam Driver "BlacKkKlansman"
Sam Elliott "A Star is Born"
Richard E. Grant "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

Other Contenders - Sam Rockwell "Vice", Michael B. Jordan "Black Panther"

Commentary - Four guys have gotten SAG, BAFTA, Critics Choice, and the Globe: Ali, Chalamet, Driver, and Grant. That is a hard quartet to beat, and in fact, I don't think any actor has managed to lose out on a nomination with all four in their pocket. That leaves one slot. Sam Rockwell got the Globe and BAFTA. Sam Elliott got SAG and Critics Choice. Both are smaller roles in beloved films. But I think that A Star is Born is stronger, and that Sam Elliott, the legend without a nomination under his belt, will take the final slot. I also still think that Michael B. Jordan, who is the soul of Black Panther, could be a darkhorse contender that beats both Elliott and Rockwell to that fifth slot.


The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Supporting Actress

Final Nomination Predictions
Amy Adams "Vice"
Regina King "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Margot Robbie "Mary, Queen of Scots"
Emma Stone "The Favourite"
Rachel Weisz "The Favourite"

Other Contenders - Claire Foy "First Man", Emily Blunt "A Quiet Place", Michelle Yeoh "Crazy Rich Asians", Marina De Tavira "Roma"

Commentary - I feel like three are safe: Adams, Weisz, and Stone. They all have the quartet of SAG, BAFTA, Globe, and Critics Choice. Regina King's Globe and Critics Choice wins keep her in the race, the way it did Sylvester Stallone. But those who think she is still a slam dunk to win, without SAG and BAFTA, are falling into the same trap they did with Stallone. I think she is in for the nomination, and if SAG and BAFTA split then there is a chance she could still take the prize. Finally, I am sticking with Margot Robbie. I have bet against her twice, and she has proven she can make it in the race. Claire Foy has the Globe, BAFTA, and Critics Choice, Emily Blunt has SAG, and Michelle Yeoh is a legend. But Margot Robbie has both SAG and BAFTA, which means that while critics have ignored the performance, the industry has embraced it. There is clearly a lot of leftover love for Robbie following I, Tonya last year, and while the film is so-so, no one can deny her performance is great. I think she pulls off an upset nod once again.

Producers Guild of America (PGA) Award Predictions

The ceremony is tomorrow night!:

Best Picture - A Star is Born
Best Animated Feature - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Best Documentary - Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Best Drama Series - The Americans
Best Comedy Series - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Best Limited Series - The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Best TV Movie - King Lear
Best Variety Series - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Best Reality Competition Series - RuPaul's Drag Race
Best Nonfiction Series - Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Award Nominations

Well, their website, literally in a column next to their nominees, says nominations announced Jan. 21, 2019. Yet, here we are, Friday the 18th, with nominations. If I had one complaint about Oscar season is that so many of these groups (critics groups are usually the culprit), don't bother to let you know when things are going to be announced or decide to change at the last minute. Nevertheless here the are nominees;

Short Form Animation
Bilby – Universal Pictures
Bird Karma – Universal Pictures
Crow: The Legend – Baobab Studios
Lost Property Office – 8th in Line Productions
Overwatch “Reunion” – Blizzard Entertainment
Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:Mystic Mayhem – Nickelodeon
Spy Kids: Mission Critical “The Vinyl Countdown” – Netflix
Star Wars: Rebels “The World Between Worlds” – Disney / ABC
Steven Universe “Reunited” – Cartoon Network

Non-Theatrical Animation
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight – Warner Bros. / DC Entertainment
Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High - Warner Bros. / DC Entertainment
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash – Warner Bros. Animation
Next Gen – Netflix
Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay – Warner Bros. Animation / DC Entertainment
The Death of Superman – Warner Bros. Animation
Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia – Dreamworks / Netflix

Feature Film - Animation
Incredibles 2 – Walt Disney Pictures
Isle of Dogs – Fox Searchlight Pictures
Peter Rabbit - Sony Pictures Entertainment
Ralph Breaks the Internet – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Smallfoot – Warner Bros.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – Sony Pictures Entertainment
The Grinch – Universal Pictures

Non-Theatrical Documentary
All or Nothing: Michigan Woverines, “Be the Game Changer” -  Amazon Studios
Bobby Kennedy for President: “I’d Like to Serve” – Netflix
Gymkhana Files: “Where it All Began” – Amazon Studios
Medal of Honor – Netflix
Operation Odessa – Showtime
Searching for Sound: Islandman and VeYasin – Red Bull TV
The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling - HBO
Watergate – Representational Pictures

Feature Film- Documentary
Free Solo – National Geographic
Generation Wealth – Amazon Studios
McQueen – Bleeker Street Media
Quincy - Netflix
Shirkers - Netflix
Three Identical Strangers - Neon
They Shall Not Grow Old – Fathom Events
They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead – Netflix
Won’t You Be My Neighbor – Focus Features

Gaming: Computer Cinematic
Battlefield V – Electronic Arts
God of War – Sony Interactive Entertainment
League of Legends – Riot Games
Spider-Man - Sony Interactive Entertainment
World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth – Blizzard Entertainment
Gaming: Computer Interactive Game Play
Assassins Creed: Odyssey – Ubisoft
Battlefield V – Electronic Arts
God of War – Sony Interactive Entertainment
Shadow of the Tomb Raider – Square Enix
Spider-Man – Sony Interactive Entertainment

Non-Theatrical Feature
Extinction – Universal Pictures
Game Over Man – Netflix
My Dinner With HervĆ© – HBO
Tau – Netflix
The Christmas Chronicles – Netflix

Special Venue
Age of Sail – Chromospheres / Google Spotlight
Backyard Wilderness – SK Films
Dreamworks Theater Presents: Kung Fu Panda: “The Emperor’s Quest” – Dreamworks
Spheres - City Lights / Oculus VR
Wreck it Ralph: Ralph Breaks VR – ILMxLAB

Feature Film – Foreign
2.0 – AA Films
Capernaum -Sony Pictures Classics
Cold War – Amazon Studios
The Guilty – Magnolia Pictures
Never Look Away – Sony Pictures Classics
Redbad – Epic Pictures Group
The Happy Prince – Sony Pictures Classics
Winter Brothers – Kimstim Films

Broadcast Media: Live Action Under 35:00
Ballers “This is Not Our World” - HBO
Barry “Chapter Seven: Loud, Fast, and Keep Going” - HBO
Everything Sucks! “We Were Merely Freshmen” – Netflix
Kidding “The Cookie” - Showtime
One Day at a Time “Homecoming” – Netflix
Star Trek: Short Treks – “The Brightest Star” – CBS All Access
Sweetbitter “Now Your Tongue is Coded” - Starz
The Good Place “Janet(s)” – NBC / Universal
Young Sheldon “An 8-Bit Princess and a Flat Tire Genius” - CBS

Broadcast Media: Short Form Music / Musical
American Horror Story “The End” – FX Network
Fortitude “Season 3, Episode 4” – Amazon Studios
Homecoming “Stop” – Amazon Studios
Maniac “Windmills” – Netflix
McMafia “Season 1, Episode 4” – AMC Networks
One Strange Rock “Home” – National Geographic
The Alienist “A Fruitful Partnership” - TNT
The Americans “Harvest” – FX Network
Vikings “Moments of Vision” – History Channel / MGM Television

Broadcast Media: Short Form Dialogue / ADR
Atlanta “Teddy Perkins” – FX Network
Better Call Saul “Talk” – AMC Networks
Marvel’s Jessica Jones “Three Lives and Counting” - Netflix
The Americans “Harvest” – FX Network
The Handmaid’s Tale “Holly” – Hulu / MGM Television
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan – “The Wolf” – Amazon Studios
Vikings “Moments of Vision” – History Channel / MGM Television
The X-Files “This” – Fox Network

Broadcast Media: Short Form Effects / Foley
Atlanta “Teddy Perkins” – FX Network
Nightflyers “Torches and Pitchforks” - SyFy
The First “Near and Far” - Hulu
The Terror “Go For Broke” – AMC Networks
The Walking Dead “A New Beginning” – AMC Networks
The X-Files “My Struggle” – Fox Network
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan – “French Connection” – Amazon Studios
Vikings “Moments of Vision” – History Channel / MGM Television

Broadcast Media: Single Presentation
Agatha Christie’s Ordeal by Innocence – Amazon Studios
Collateral - Netflix
Dirty Computer – Wondaland
King Lear – Amazon Studios
Phillip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams – Amazon Studios

Broadcast Media Longform Music / Musical
American Crime Story “Manhunt” – FX Network
Counterpart “Birds of a Feather” - Starz
Marvel’s Luke Cage “I Get Physical” – Netflix
Ozark “Gold Coast” - Netflix
The Handmaid’s Tale “The World” - Hulu / MGM Television
The Little Drummer Girl “Part 3” – AMC Networks
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel “We’re Going to the Catskills” – Amazon Studios
Westworld “Riddle of the Sphinx” - HBO

Broadcast Media Longform Dialogue / ADR
Altered Carbon “Out of the Past” - Netflix
Better Call Saul “Winner” – AMC Networks
Bodyguard “Season 1, Episode 2” – Netflix
House of Cards “Chapter 73” – Netflix
Marvel’s Daredevil “Blindsided” - Netflix
Narcos: Mexico “Just Say No” - Netflix
Ozark “Gold Coast” - Netflix
The Handmaid’s Tale “The Last Ceremony” - Hulu / MGM Television
Westworld “Riddle of the Sphinx” - HBO

Broadcast Media Longform Effects / Foley
Altered Carbon “Out of the Past” - Netflix
Castle Rock “Severence” – Hulu
Homeland “All In” - Showtime
Patrick Melrose “Bad News” - Showtime
The Haunting of Hill House “Two Storms” – Netflix
The Man in the High Castle “Jahr Null” – Amazon Studios
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan “Pilot” – Amazon Studios
Westworld “Virtu e Fortuna” - HBO

Feature Film – Music Underscore
Aquaman – Warner Bros.
A Quiet Place – Paramount Pictures
Black Panther – Walt Disney Studios / Marvel Studios
First Man – Universal Pictures
Isle of Dogs – Fox Searchlight
Mission Impossible: Fallout – Paramount Pictures
Roma – Netflix
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – Sony Pictures Entertainment
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs – Netflix

Feature Film – Musical
A Star is Born – Warner Bros.
Bohemian Rhapsody – Twentieth Century Fox
Mary Poppins Returns – Walt Disney Studios

Feature Film – Dialogue / ADR
A Quiet Place – Paramount Pictures
A Star is Born – Warner Bros.
Bohemian Rhapsody – Twentieth Century Fox
First Man – Universal Pictures
Green Book – Universal Pictures
Mary Poppins Returns – Walt Disney Studios
Mission Impossible: Fallout – Paramount Pictures
Roma – Netflix
The Favourite – Fox Searchlight

Feature Film – Effects / Foley
A Quiet Place – Paramount Pictures
Avengers: Infinity War - Walt Disney Studios / Marvel Studios
Black Panther – Walt Disney Studios / Marvel Studios
Deadpool 2 - Twentieth Century Fox
First Man – Universal Pictures
Mission Impossible: Fallout – Paramount Pictures
Ready Player One – Warner Bros.
Roma – Netflix
The Favourite – Fox Searchlight

Verna Fields Student Filmmaker Award
Crush – USC Film School
Edison’s Diorama – Chapman University
Facing It – National Film and Television School
Fish Boy - National Film and Television School
Inanimate - National Film and Television School
Police - National Film and Television School
So Far, So Good – Fryderyk Chopin University of Music
The Beacon- Chapman University

Thursday, January 17, 2019

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

Best Adapted Screenplay
Joe Robert Cole and Ryan Coogler "Black Panther"
David Rabinowitz, Charlie Wachtel, Kevin Willmott, and Spike Lee "BlacKkKlansman"
Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
Barry Jenkins "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, and Will Fetters "A Star is Born"

Other Contenders - Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini "Leave No Trace", Josh Singer "First Man", Armando Iannucci, David Schneider, Ian Martin and Peter Fellows "The Death of Stalin", Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim "Crazy Rich Asians"

Commentary - I thought the WGA five was pretty much it. Then BAFTA threw in First Man (which should be in this race), and then the Scripter snubbed BlacKkKlansman and Black Panther for Leave no Trace and The Death of Stalin. The Scripter is always so reliable, but I find it hard to believe Oscar voters would snub BlacKkKlansman. I could see then snubbing Black Panther, as it continues to slip after its mid-December romp through the precursors. I could see them snubbing A Star is Born, because its strength is not in its screenplay. I am sticking with these five. I think Can You Ever Forgive Me? and If Beale Street Could Talk are locked and loaded based on precursors (this is interesting because neither is a slam-dunk Best Picture contender). The other slots are up in the air. I am expecting some surprises come Tuesday.

Best Original Screenplay
Bo Burnham "Eighth Grade"
Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara "The Favourite"
Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, and Peter Farrelly "Green Book"
Alfonso Cuaron "Roma"
Adam McKay "Vice"

Other Contenders - Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, and John Krasinski "A Quiet Place", Pawel Pawlikowski and Janusz Glowacki "Cold War", Paul Schrader "First Reformed"

Commentary - So, we know that one of the WGA slots (at least one), is going to The Favourite. My guess is that A Quiet Place is the one that gets left off. Green Book, Roma, and Vice, along with The Favourite are good to go. Eighth Grade is definitely vulnerable, but I think writers will appreciate this more than A Quiet Place, and it has won a lot of screenplay awards. Also look out for Cold War, which got the BAFTA nod, and is fantastic. Finally, a lot of folks are still banking on First Reformed. No WGA, No BAFTA, no Globe. It did win the Critics Choice, which is nice, but so far this industry has completely ignored this film.

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

Best Animated Feature
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Other Contenders - Dr. Seuss' The Grinch, Early Man, Ruben Brandt Collector, Smallfoot, Tito and the Birds, Hotel Transylvania, The Night is Short Walk On Girl

Best Documentary Feature
Free Solo
Minding the Gap
RBG
Three Identical Strangers
Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Other Contenders - Hale County This Morning This Evening, Shirkers, Crime + Punishment, Of Fathers and Sons, Dark Money, Charm City

Best Foreign Language Film
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Way (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)

Other Contenders - Burning (South Korea), The Guilty (Denmark), Ayka (Kazakhstan), Birds of Passage (Colombia)

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

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

Best Cinematography
Lukasz Zal "Cold War"
Robbie Ryan "The Favourite"
Linus Sandgren "First Man"
Alfonso Cuaron "Roma"
Matthew Libatique "A Star is Born"

Other Contenders - Newton Thomas Sigel "Bohemian Rhapsody", Rachel Morrison "Black Panther", James Laxton "If Beale Street Could Talk", Bruno Delbonnel "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs", Dion Beebe "Mary Poppins Returns"

Best Costume Design
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Mary Poppins Returns
Mary, Queen of Scotts

Other Contenders - The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, Avengers: Infinity War, Aquaman, A Wrinkle in Time, Crazy Rich Asians, A Star is Born

Best Film Editing
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star is Born

Other Contenders - Vice, First Man, BlacKkKlansman, Black Panther, A Quiet Place, If Beale Street Could Talk, Widows, Crazy Rich Asians

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
Vice

Other Contenders - Border, Mary, Queen of Scots, Suspiria

Best Production Design
Black Panther
The Favourite
First Man
Mary Poppins Returns
Roma

Other Contenders - Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald, Bohemian Rhapsody, Crazy Rich Asians, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Ready Player One, The House with a Clock In Its Walls, A Star is Born, Welcome to Marwen, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, A Quiet Place

Best Visual Effects
Avengers: Infinity War
Black Panther
First Man
Ready Player One
Solo: A Star Wars Story

Other Contenders - Welcome to Marwen, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Christopher Robin, Mary Poppins Returns, Ant-Man and Wasp

Visual Effects Society (VES) Award Nominations

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
Avengers: Infinity War
Christopher Robin
Ready Player One
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Welcome to Marwen

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
12 Strong
Bird Box
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
Outlaw King

Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch
Incredibles 2
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode
Altered Carbon; Out of the Past
Krypton; The Phantom Zone
Lost in Space; Danger, Will Robinson
The Terror; Go For Broke
Westworld; The Passenger

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode
The Alienist; The Boy on the Bridge
The Deuce; We're All Beasts
The First; Near and Far
The Handmaid's Tale; June
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan; Pilot

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Real-Time Project
Age of Sail
Cycles
Dr. Grordbort's Invaders
God of War
Marvel's Spider-Man

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial
Beyond Good and Evil 2
John Lewis; The Boy and the Piano
McDonald's; #ReindeerReady
U.S. Marine Corps; A Nation's Call
Volkswagen; Born Confident

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
Beautiful Hunan: Flight of the Phoenix
Childish Gambino's Pharos
DreamWorks Theatre Presents Kung Fu Panda
Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
Pearl Quest

Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature
Avengers: Infinity War; Thanos
Christopher Robin; Tigger
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom; Indoraptor
Ready Player One; Art3mis

Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch; The Grinch
Incredibles 2; Helen Parr
Ralph Breaks the Internet; Ralphzilla
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; Miles Morales

Outstanding Animated Character in an Episode or Real-Time Project
Cycles; Rae
Lost in Space; Humanoid
Marvel's Spider-Man; Doc Ock
Nightflyers; All That We Have Found; Eris

Outstanding Animated Character in a Commercial
McDonald's; Bobbi the Reindeer
Overkill's The Walking Dead; Maya
Peta; Best Friend; Lucky
Volkswagen; Born Confident; Bam


Outstanding Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature
Ant-Man and the Wasp; Journey to the Quantum Realm
Aquaman; Atlantis
Ready Player One; The Shining, Overlook Hotel
Solo: A Star Wars Story; Vandor Planet

Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch; Whoville
Incredibles 2; Parr House
Ralph Breaks the Internet; Social Media District
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; Graphic New York City

Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project
Cycles; The House
Lost in Space; Pilot; Impact Area
The Deuce; 42nd St
The Handmaid's Tale; June; Fenway Park
The Man in the High Castle; Reichsmarschall Ceremony

Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Photoreal Project
Aquaman; Third Act Battle
Echo; Time Displacement
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom; Gyrosphere Escape
Ready Player One; New York Race
Welcome to Marwen; Town of Marwen

Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project
Avengers: Infinity War; Nidavellir Forge Megastructure
Incredibles 2; Underminer Vehicle
Mortal Engines; London
Ready Player One; DeLorean DMC-12
Solo: A Star Wars Story; Millennium Falcon

Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature
Avengers: Infinity War; Titan
Avengers: Infinity War; Wakanda
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Venom

Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch; Snow, Clouds and Smoke
Incredibles 2
Ralph Breaks the Internet; Virus Infection & Destruction
Smallfoot
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project
Altered Carbon
Lost in Space; Jupiter is Falling
Lost in Space; The Get Away
The Man in the High Castle; Statue of Liberty Destruction

Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Feature
Avengers: Infinity War; Titan
First Man
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Welcome to Marwen

Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Episode
Altered Carbon
The Handmaid's Tale; June
Lost in Space; Impact; Crash Site Rescue
Silicon Valley; Artificial Emotional Intelligence; Fiona

Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Commercial
Apple; Unlock
Apple; Welcome Home
Genesis; G90 Facelift
John Lewis; The Boy and the Piano

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project
Chocolate Man
Proxima-b
Ratatoskr
Terra Nova

31st Annual USC Scripter Award Nominations

Film Adaptation
Screenwriters Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole for “Black Panther,” based on the character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

Screenwriters Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty and author Lee Israel for “Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Screenwriters Armando Iannucci, Ian Martin, and David Schneider for “The Death of Stalin,” based on the graphic novel by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin

Screenwriter Barry Jenkins and author James Baldwin for “If Beale Street Could Talk”

Screenwriters Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini for “Leave No Trace” based on the novel “My Abandonment” by Peter Rock.

Television Adaptation
Tom Rob Smith, for the episode “The Man Who Would Be Vogue” from “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” and author Maureen Orth for the nonfiction book “Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History”

Bruce Miller and Kira Snyder, for the episode “Holly” from “The Handmaid’s Tale,” and author Margaret Atwood

Dan Futterman and Ali Selim, for the episode “9/11” from “The Looming Tower,” and author Lawrence Wright

David Nicholls for the episode “Bad News,” from “Patrick Melrose,” based on the series of novels by Edward St. Aubyn

Marti Noxon for the episode “Vanish,” from “Sharp Objects,” and author Gillian Flynn

Russell T. Davies, for “A Very English Scandal,” and author John Preston

Denver Film Critics Society Award Winners

Best Picture
Roma

Best Director
Alfonso Cuaron “Roma”

Best Actor
Ethan Hawke “First Reformed”

Best Actress
Olivia Colman “The Favourite”

Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali “Green Book”

Best Supporting Actress
Rachel Weisz “The Favourite”

Best Original Screenplay
Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, and John Krasinski “A Quiet Place”

Best Adapted Screenplay
Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, and Spike Lee “BlacKkKlansman”

Best Animated Film
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

Best Comedy
The Death Of Stalin

Best Foreign Language Film
Roma

Best Sci-Fi/Horror
(TIE) Annihilation & A Quiet Place

Best Documentary
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Best Original Song
Shallow from A Star Is Born

Best Original Score
Ludwig Goransson "Black Panther"

Best Visual Effects
Avengers: Infinity War

Sunday, January 13, 2019

24th Annual Critics Choice Awards

Film
Best Picture - Roma
Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron "Roma"
Best Actor - Christian Bale "Vice"
Best Actress - (TIE) Glenn Close "The Wife" and Lady Gaga "A Star is Born"
Best Supporting Actor - Mahershala Ali "Green Book"
Best Supporting Actress - Regina King "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Best Younger Actor/Actress - Elsie Fisher "Eighth Grade"
Best Acting Ensemble - The Favourite
Best Actor in a Comedy - Christian Bale "Vice"
Best Actress in a Comedy - Olivia Colman "The Favourite"
Best Action Movie - Mission: Impossible - Fallout
Best Animated Feature - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Best Comedy - Crazy Rich Asians
Best Foreign Language Film - Roma
Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie - A Quiet Place
Best Original Screenplay - Paul Schrader "First Reformed"
Best Adapted Screenplay - Barry Jenkins "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Best Cinematography - Alfonso Cuaron "Roma"
Best Costume Design - Black Panther
Best Editing - First Man
Best Makeup and Hairstyling - Vice
Best Production Design - Black Panther
Best Score - Justin Hurwitz "First Man"
Best Song - A Star is Born - Shallow
Best Visual Effects - Black Panther

Television
Best Drama Series - The Americans
Best Comedy Series - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Best Actor in a Drama Series - Matthew Rhys "The Americans"
Best Actress in a Drama Series - Sandra Oh "Killing Eve"
Best Actor in Comedy Series - Bill Hader "Barry"
Best Actress in a Comedy Series - Rachel Brosnahan "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Noah Emmerich "The Americans"
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Thandie Newton "Westworld"
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Henry Winkler "Barry"
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Alex Borstein "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
Best Limited Series - The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Best Movie Made for Television - Jesus Christ Superstar Live!
Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie - Darren Criss "The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story"
Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie - (TIE) Amy Adams "Sharp Objects" and Patricia Arquette "Escape at Dannemora"
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie - Ben Whishaw "A Very English Scandal"
Best Supporting Actress in  Limited Series or TV Movie - Patricia Clarkson "Sharp Objects"
Best Animated Series - BoJack Horseman

Creative Achievement Award - Chuck Lorre
#SeeHer Award - Claire Foy

Critics Choice Award Predictions

Film
Best Picture - Roma
Best Director - Alfonso Cuaron "Roma"
Best Actor - Christian Bale "Vice"
Best Actress - Glenn Close "The Wife"
Best Supporting Actor - Richard E. Grant "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
Best Supporting Actress - Regina King "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Best Young Actor/Actress - Elsie Fisher "Eighth Grade"
Best Acting Ensemble - The Favourite
Best Original Screenplay - Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara "The Favourite"
Best Adapted Screenplay - Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott & Spike Lee "BlacKkKlansman"
Best Cinematography - Alfonso Cuaron "Roma"
Best Production Design - The Favourite
Best Editing - Roma
Best Costume Design - The Favourite
Best Hair and Makeup - Vice
Best Visual Effects - Black Panther
Best Animated Feature - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Best Action Film - Black Panther
Best Comedy - The Favourite
Best Actor in a Comedy - Christian Bale "Vice"
Best Actress in a Comedy - Olivia Colman "The Favourite"
Best Sci-Fi or Horror Movie - A Quiet Place
Best Foreign Language Film - Roma
Best Song - A Star is Born - Shallow
Best Score - Justin Hurwitz "First Man"

Television
Best Comedy Series - Atlanta
Best Drama Series - The Americans
Best Comedy Series - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Best Actor in a Drama Series - Matthew Rhys "The Americans"
Best Actress in a Drama Series - Sandra Oh "Killing Eve"
Best Actor in a Comedy Series - Bill Hader "Barry"
Best Actress in a Comedy Series - Rachel Brosnahan "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Noah Emmerich "The Americans"
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Yvonne Strahovski "The Handmaid's Tale"
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Henry Winkler "Barry"
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Alex Borstein "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
Best Limited Series - The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Best Made for Television Movie - Jesus Christ Superstar Live!
Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie - Darren Criss " The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story"
Best Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie - Amy Adams "Sharp Objects"
Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie - Ben Whishaw "A Very English Scandal"
Best Supporting Actress in  Limited Series or TV Movie - Patricia Clarkson "Sharp Objects"
Best Animated Series -BoJack Horseman

The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Original Score, Original Song, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing

Best Original Score
Terence Blanchard "BlacKkKlansman"
Justin Hurwitz "First Man"
Nicholas Britell "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Alexandre Desplat "Isle of Dogs"
Marc Shaiman "Mary Poppins Returns"

Other Contenders - Marco Beltrami "A Quiet Place", Ludwig Goransson "Black Panther", Carter Burwell "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs", Nicholas Britell "Vice", James Newton Howard "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald"

Commentary - First Man won the Globe, but somehow missed out at BAFTA, but I think Oscar voters in the music branch will recognize the brilliance of Hurwitz's work. Britell, Desplat, and Shaiman did get BAFTA nods and Globe nods. All three are popular previous nominees, with flashy and beautiful scores that usually catch attention in this race. Finally, I think that Terence Blanchard, who got the BAFTA nod will get in for BlacKkKlansman, a really popular film with voters and a beautiful score from a legend who has been scoring Spike Lee joints for decades, and has never gotten an Oscar nod. I hope this time around, he finally makes the cut. I would watch out for A Quiet Place and Black Panther, both of whom have gotten attention for their scores this season, and you cannot count out another Britell nod for Vice, Howard or Burwell.

Best Original Song
Black Panther - All the Stars
Mary Poppins Returns - The Place Where Things Go
Mary Poppins Returns - Trip a Little Light Fantastic
RBG - I'll Fight
A Star is Born - Shallow

Other Contenders - Dumplin' - Girl in the Movies, Boy Erased - Revelation, Quincy - Keep Reachin'

Commentary - This race has a lot of heavy hitters. We know Shallow is getting in, and most likely winning. Mary Poppins will probably follow other recent musicals, who almost always get nominations here. I think both of its songs get in. Diane Warren is a legend, so expect her song from RBG to make it. Finally, Kendrick Lamar will probably end up being an Oscar nominee, to add to his many accolades. Watch out for Dumplin, Boy Erased and Quincy, because names like Dolly Parton, Troye Sivan, and Quincy Jones could inspire voters to support them.

Best Sound Mixing
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
A Quiet Place
A Star is Born

Other Contenders - Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Mary Poppins Returns, Avengers: Infinity War, Roma, Vice, BlacKkKlansman, Widows, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Incredibles 2

Best Sound Editing
Black Panther
First Man
A Quiet Place
Roma
A Star is Born

Other Contenders - Mission: Impossible - Fallout, Mary Poppins Returns, Avengers: Infinity War, Bohemian Rhapsody, Vice, BlacKkKlansman, Widows, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Incredibles 2