My goal is to watch every movie that has been nominated and won the Oscar for best picture. This is a journal of what I thought about each film. And did the film that won, was it really the best picture of that year?
That's right, I'm doing the A to Z Challenge again this year. I know I had some severe run-ins with the A to Z Challenge Advisory Board as you may have read about here and here. I know many of you will say, who cares. And you're right. Oh wait, you're not saying that about my disputes with their advisory board, you mean my blog.........this is awkward........well, when you opt to live blog, these things seem to occasionally happen.
Anyway I will ignore the distractions, hold on, sorry, again the dangers of live blogging.........and I am back. My reveal is that this year I will be doing A to Z of Best Directors who have been nominated for and have won the Oscar for Best Director. It will include exciting verbal banter from yours truly, additional preview clips, sock puppets, 35% less Esperanto, and no more anti-celery commentaries, I have learned to tolerate it and can eat it in small quantities.
That's right, fifty years before they performed, Francis Gary Powers was shot down in 1960. This is why my next review is Bridge of Spies nominated for Best Picture in 2015. Also received nominations for Original Screenplay, Score, Sound Mixing, Production Design and winning Supporting Actor for Mark Rylance.
The film is based on the trial of communist spy Rudolf Abel in 1957 and Tom Hanks who plays James Donovan is tasked to act as his defense attorney. A few years later after the U2 fighter jet is shot down, Donovan is used to broker a deal to trade Gary Powers for Rudolf Abel in Berlin at the time the wall was being put up. Toss in an American college student who is arrested whom Donovan attempts to broker along with the trade, and you have the film in a nutshell.
Well acted, not very historically accurate, but then again that isn't that what poetic license is for? Remember, this is Hollywood here. The story co-written by the Coen brothers, so you know there are no plot holes and the story has a solid beginning, middle and ending. That is a trademark of their skilled screenwriting. And Stephen Spielberg directed the film, again his work is always top quality. So it is rather obvious why it was nominated for Best Picture.
This is now the fifth of the eight films nominated that year, and I would have to place this in third place. So to catch up on the scoreboard, The Revenant is still top, Brooklyn is still second, The Martian is pushed to fourth and Max Max still last.
As a fan of movies, I look forward every year for the Oscars. And trying to predict is somewhat of a science and a bit of luck. Alright, a lot of luck. But unlike most years, this year the winners seemed to make sense. How did I do, follow along and see.
I'm also very glad to see that I inspired fellow movie blogger Suzanne Blazier and her Mood for Every Movie blog, to list her predictions and wish list of Oscar winners. I encourage you to visit her page and subscribe. She reviews movies a lot more often that I do and gives very thorough posts that are well written.
And now, on with the results.
Visual Effects Chris - War for the Planet of the Apes Adam - War for the Planet of the Apes Winner - Blade Runner 2049 Chris - 0 Adam - 0
Right off the bat we're both wrong. But this makes sense. From what I have seen, without having seen this sequel, looks amazing. So there goes getting a perfect score, but one that I'm not upset on getting wrong.
Sound Mixing Chris - Dunkirk Adam - Dunkirk Winner - Dunkirk Chris - 1 Adam - 1
Like I have been saying, war movies do really good in this category. Having seen Dunkirk I can attest that the sounds of bullets, the explosions, and the airplanes, sounded incredible.
Sound Editing Chris - The Shape of Water Adam - The Shape of Water Winner - Dunkirk Chris - 1 Adam - 1
And I should have stuck through with Dunkirk. In previous years I would do that and got burnt. So this year, I decided to get smart and mix it up. And look where that got me. The lesson here is don't be smart.
Cinematography Chris - Dunkirk Adam - The Shape of Water Winner - Blade Runner 2049 Chris - 1 Adam - 1
Just like visual effects, Blade Runner 2049 looks like a film with incredible cinematography. So neither one of us moves ahead or falls behind.
Makeup & Hairstyling Chris - Victoria & Abdul Adam - Darkest Hour Winner - Darkest Hour Chris - 1 Adam - 2
There were only three films nominated, so the odds were good. My guess paid off. Costume Design Chris - The Shape of Water Adam - Victoria & Abdul Winner - Phantom Thread Chris - 1 Adam - 2
And so much for that. Got lucky on the makeup and hairstyling, but not so good here. On a positive note, Phantom Thread looks very impressive and seems to have earned the award.
Production Design Chris - Dunkirk Adam - The Shape of Water Winner - The Shape of Water Chris - 1 Adam - 3
Looking at all the nominees, it seems like anyone one of them could have won. But I took a guess on this one and it paid off. Film Editing Chris - Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri Adam - The Shape of Water Winner - Dunkirk Chris - 1 Adam - 3
And once again I get this category wrong. But so did the wife and no one moves up or down. But having seen Dunkirk, I can say it was edited very well and I don't feel bad about being wrong on this one.
Music Original Song Chris - Stand Up For Something Adam - Remember Me Winner - Remember Me Chris - 1 Adam - 4
And the guess paid off. Still have no idea what it sounds like, fast forwarded through the songs. Hey, you all know how I feel about musicals! And if I don't know the song, I don't want to hear it. But I got it right and moved up one more ahead of the wife.
Music Original Score Chris - Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri Adam - Dunkirk Winner - The Shape of Water Chris - 1 Adam - 4
So I seemed to get this confused with editing. But having seen The Shape of Water, again I have no problem with this winning. The music was very good and worked well with the movie.
Writing Adapted Screenplay Chris - Call Me by Your Name Adam - Call Me by Your Name Winner - Call Me by Your Name Chris - 2 Adam - 5
Called it! The only Best Picture nominee in this category and the academy wanted to give it some recognition.
Writing Original Screenplay Chris - Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri Adam - Get Out Winner - Get Out Chris - 2 Adam - 6
And my prediction was right. This was the only award that Get Out won. This is common, like when Pulp Fiction won a screenplay award and Quentin Taranito announced that he knew it was the only award the film would win. But it did help build his career which will do the same for Jordan Peele.
Short Film Animated Chris - Dear Basketball Adam - Lou Winner - Dear Basketball Chris - 3 Adam - 6
I will skip any commentary about Kobe Bryant getting applause in between actresses making speeches about ending sexual harassment in Hollywood. Although I do admire how he accepted the award, professional athletes have a way of being humble and respectful when they win. And the wife got one of the random impossible ones, moving back into the game?
Short Film Live Action Chris - The Eleven O'Clock Adam - The Silent Child Winner - The Silent Child Chris - 3 Adam - 7
And nope, moved back to up by four. Kind of like scoring a goal and then giving one up on the ensuing face off. I got lucky, I won't say any more than that.
Documentary Short Subject Chris - Edith+Eddie Adam - Traffic Stop Winner - Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405 Chris - 3 Adam - 7
Let me go to the judges, my blog advisory board. I got the word traffic guessed right? Isn't that worth anything? What? No? Thanks to my advisory board for being so quick to tell me no.
Best Animated Chris - Ferdinand Adam - Coco Winner - Coco Chris - 3 Adam - 8
I think this film also won the Best Song, ahhhh, who cares. I'm up by five, and with only four more different choices between me and the wife, I have clinched victory.
Best Documentary Chris - Last Men in Aleppo Adam - Faces Places Winner - Icarus Chris - 3 Adam - 8
Can't be upset if you make a guess and you are wrong. I'm sure this is a good film, might get to see it one day.
Best Foreign Language Chris - The Square Adam - A Fantastic Woman Winner - A Fantastic Woman Chris - 3 Adam - 9
So I was right, this was only the second time that Chile had a nominee in this category. I remember about five or six years ago the film No was nominated, but it lost.
Best Supporting Actress Chris - Octavia Spencer Adam - Allison Janney Winner - Allison Janney Chris - 3 Adam - 10
And it turns out that what I did see about this category was right. And puts me up by seven.
Best Supporting Actor Chris - Sam Rockwell Adam - Sam Rockwell Winner - Sam Rockwell Chris - 4 Adam - 11
This is a well deserved Oscar for Sam Rockwell. I haven't seen this film yet, but how he has acted in so many other films, it was his time to win.
Best Actress Chris - Sally Hawkins Adam - Frances McDormand Winner - Frances McDormand Chris - 4 Adam - 12
Again, without having seen the film, I will accept that Frances McDormand was the best choice. Sally Hawkins should not be ignored having to carry a film without her character being able to speak is a very impressive accomplishment.
Best Actor Chris - Gary Oldman Adam - Gary Oldman Winner - Gary Oldman Chris - 5 Adam - 13
Sid Vicious wins an Oscar! A long career that has earned him a well deserved award. Also a really great acceptance speech.
Best Director Chris - The Shape of Water Adam - The Shape of Water Winner - The Shape of Water Chris - 6 Adam - 14
Guillermo del Toro has now joined the ranks of other great Mexican directors, who now seem to be the best in the world. This once again proves how the best talent can come from all over the world.
Best Picture Chris - The Shape of Water Adam - The Shape of Water Winner - The Shape of Water Chris - 7 Adam - 15
It's been a few years, but the academy got it right. I've only seen a third of the films nominated, but I am very confident that none of them will be any better than this one. It's nice to see that even though there is politics, and favoritism and self gratification that goes into awarding the best picture, sometimes the quality of art shines through. Of course they brought out dumb and dumber to once again try and not mess up. I was so hoping that they would say La La Land again after they opened the envelope, but Warren Beatty did hold up the card after he announced the winner. So there is no need to praise them for finally getting right what any six year old could do.
Oh yeah, I forgot. I won! Whoo-hoo! Okay, the moment is over. Onward to the next movie review.
It's time again for the annual Academy Award contest that I have with the wife every year. I'm sure in a few years the daughter will be involved too, but for now it is the annual grudge match. We've been doing this for at least twenty years now. I find the more I prepare and study, the worse I do. The wife goes on gut instinct and guesses, and usually does well. I'm going more on that this year since I've only seen a few of the films nominated.
So this post will be my rational reasons why I choose what I did. My next post will be the standard follow up of me carrying on about how stupid and crazy the academy is. I'll start with the technical and work my way towards the major awards.
Visual Effects Chris - War for the Planet of the Apes Adam - War for the Planet of the Apes
For some reason I think this won this award for one of the previous films in this series. Gone are the days of people putting on rubber masks to look like apes. It also looks like a competitive category, so a lot of votes may cancel each other out.
Sound Mixing Chris - Dunkirk Adam - Dunkirk
War movie, so logic dictates that it should be a shoe in. Although I think that burned me last year. Since we both picked the same, it doesn't matter.
Sound Editing Chris - The Shape of Water Adam - The Shape of Water
I'm thinking this will be one of many awards this film will win during the Oscars. And having seen the film I think this should win. But to be honest I don't know how this is different from the previous award.
Cinematography Chris - Dunkirk Adam - The Shape of Water
So an opportunity for one of us to potentially move ahead. I've seen Dunkirk and The Shape of Water, two different films. I can see why Dunkirk could win with the beautifully shot scenes on the beach, but The Shape of Water really gave a mood with how it was filmed and I think that helped make the film that much better.
Makeup & Hairstyling Chris - Victoria & Abdul Adam - Darkest Hour
I've heard that Victoria & Abdul is a very stylish film that might take this award. But I think the same for Darkest Hour. Knowing my luck the third film in this category will probably win. Costume Design Chris - The Shape of Water Adam - Victoria & Abdul
So this one I am hedging that Victoria & Abdul will win for costume design, but The Shape of Water is also a good pick too.
Production Design Chris - Dunkirk Adam - The Shape of Water
This is another category that can be tricky, do they look at how each film was designed or do they award it to the film that they are voting for Best Picture? I'm betting on the later. Film Editing Chris - Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri Adam - The Shape of Water
My theory is that the film that will win Best Picture will also win this award. Although that hasn't been the case lately. And I haven't been too good at picking what will win Best Picture.
Music Original Song Chris - Stand Up For Something Adam - Remember Me
I have never heard of any of these songs. You could play one of them and ask me to guess which of the five nominees it is and I wouldn't know. No idea, just a pure guess.
Music Original Score Chris - Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri Adam - Dunkirk
Again, another guess on my part. This category is different than the previous one in that it's for music that is played throughout the movie. I figured Dunkirk is as good as a guess as any other.
Writing Adapted Screenplay Chris - Call Me by Your Name Adam - Call Me by Your Name
Call Me by Your Name is this year's Moonlight. I don't think it will win in any other category and the other four nominees are not nominated for Best Picture, while this film is.
Writing Original Screenplay Chris - Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri Adam - Get Out
This seems to be the more competitive category for screenwriting this year. I'm guessing that Get Out will win this one since they want to award it something and it's not going to take any other category. That and it is nice to see a horror/thriller film get nominated. This is one of the genres that doesn't get recognized often.
Short Film Animated Chris - Dear Basketball Adam - Lou
And the random section of the Academy Awards now begins. Pick a film, any film, you have a one in five chance of getting it right.
Short Film Live Action Chris - The Eleven O'Clock Adam - The Silent Child
It's better not to know anything and just guess. Because if you did take the time to watch them and think about which one would win, you would be wrong.
Documentary Short Subject Chris - Edith+Eddie Adam - Traffic Stop
Sometimes they will show the nominees for the short films, and I foolishly watched one year. Guess what, the worst movie got the Oscar. So I given up.
Best Animated Chris - Ferdinand Adam - Coco
So I haven't seen any of these movies, but I'm sure in a few years I will become more of an expert in this category. But for now, I picked the only movie I have heard of and was nominated for something else.
Best Documentary Chris - Last Men in Aleppo Adam - Faces Places
Again, no way to tell, so I guessed. Some years it is pretty obvious. Might be this year, but I seem to be missing it.
Best Foreign Language Chris - The Square Adam - A Fantastic Woman
This category has been disappointing for the past few years, mainly because I have been wrong. My guess is that I don't think Chile has ever won a Best Foreign Language Oscar, let alone only has a few nominations, so I'm thinking this is their year.
Best Supporting Actress Chris - Octavia Spencer Adam - Allison Janney
The actress from I, Toyna is favored from what I read. Okay, I did do some research, but not much. Anyway, this might be the only Oscar from this film. But Octavia Spencer was really good in The Shape of Water...
Best Supporting Actor Chris - Sam Rockwell Adam - Sam Rockwell
No matter what, Sam Rockwell is such a talented versatile actor that he is deserving of more recognition than he gets. I'm also speculating that Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri might win a few of the major awards since it is out of the running for Best Picture, it didn't get a Best Director nod. That pretty much nails a coffin shut on it winning Best Picture
Best Actress Chris - Sally Hawkins Adam - Frances McDormand
I don't think there is a clear front runner, it has been over twenty years since Frances McDormand won for Fargo. But Sally Hawkins was really, really good too. This might be an interesting one since the last number of years it has been noncompetitive.
Best Actor Chris - Gary Oldman Adam - Gary Oldman
Timothee Chalamet and Daniel Kaluuya are both newer actors and don't have much of a chance. Daniel Day-Lewis and Denzel Washington have both won multiple Oscars before, so they don't have much of a chance. Gary Oldman has been shut out in the past and is due this year. And Darkest Hour will not have an opportunity to win any other major award category, so this one seems to be a lock.
Best Director Chris - The Shape of Water Adam - The Shape of Water
Guillermo del Toro is one of the class of extremely talented Mexican movie directors, along with Oscar winners Alfonso Cuaron and Alejandro Inarritu. Inarritu won back to back Oscars, that is epic John Ford type of action. I remember back when being a Mexican director was considered a joke, like below. Those days have changed and he should win easily.
Best Picture Chris - The Shape of Water Adam - The Shape of Water
This is one of those times you hope that the Academy doesn't do what it has done in the past, ignore the politics and social messages, and reward a really good film. This is one of them. This film is a perfect film. Everything is perfect, the acting, the scenery, the cinematography, the costumes, the mood, it really helps make this film work. But I expect to be disappointed and you'll see my follow up after the awards air this weekend.
