Oscar Nomination Thoughts

Oscar nominations were announced bright and early this morning. I'm not a morning person but there's something about the Oscar nominations announcement that make me pop right out of bed. Maybe it's seeing the movies that you enjoyed over the year being rewarded or just watching the announcement live seeing the nominations announced at the same time as the people being nominated. When you're a big movie fan two of the best days of the year are the day the nominations are announced and the awards themselves. Here some quick of thoughts of mine on the nominations.

Best Picture

Arrival

Fences

Hacksaw Ridge

Hell or High Water

Hidden Figures

La La Land

Lion

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

La La Land and it's record tying 14 Oscar nominations is a major competitor for Best Picture. Standing in it's way is Moonlight. This will be a very tight race between the two. It really just depends on which way the Academy will lean. They love movies about movies and the way La La Land acted as a modern throwback to classical musicals makes it hard not to fall in love with. However, Moonlight is a very gripping film that explores important themes and the Academy's push for more diversity could give this film the push it needs.

Directing

Arrival - Denis Villeneuve

Hacksaw Ridge - Mel Gibson

La La Land - Damien Chazelle

Manchester by the Sea - Kenneth Lonergan

Moonlight - Barry Jenkins

Barry Jenkins for Moonlight, Damien Chazelle for La La Land, and Kenneth Lonergan for Manchester by the Sea were locks for nominations in this category. The last two spots remained open. Mel Gibson's nomination was well deserved, especially for his gritty and realistic depictions of the war scenes from Hacksaw Ridge. A comeback of sorts for Gibson? Villeneuve's nomination for Arrival was also well deserved. He's quickly becoming one of the most talented directors working and continues to add to his impressive filmography. Usually, the winner of this category determines what will win Best Picture but lately the two categories have been split up. However, this year I don't think that will be the case. If Jenkins wins, Moonlight will be Best Picture but if Chazelle wins it will be La La Land.

Actor in a Leading Role

Casey Affleck - Manchester by the Sea

Andrew Garfield - Hacksaw Ridge

Ryan Gosling - La La Land

Viggo Mortensen - Captain Fantastic

Denzel Washington - Fences

Casey Affleck has been leading the way in this category so far and I'd be surprised if the Oscars are any different. Casey Affleck has been the shadow of his brother Ben for most of his career but you could make a case for him being more talented, at least in front of the camera. Ben has become quite a talent working behind the camera.

Actress in a Leading Role

Isabelle Huppert - Elle

Ruth Negga - Loving

Natalie Portman - Jackie

Emma Stone - La La Land

Meryl Streep - Florence Foster Jenkins

Meryl Streep is just padding her stats now. She extends her record to now 20 Oscar nominations and counting, a record that may never be broken. However, I'm not so sure it's deserved. Amy Adams not getting a nomination for Arrival is a major snub. I would substitute her in for Streep. This category will likely come down to Portman or Stone. Portman has won before for Black Swan and La La Land will be one of the biggest winners on Oscar night so it will be interesting to see who wins here.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Mahershala Ali - Moonlight

Jeff Bridges - Hell or High Water

Lucas Hedges - Manchester by the Sea

Dev Patel - Lion

Michael Shannon - Nocturnal Animals

I think this category belongs to Mehershala Ali. He didn't have as much screen time as I expected in Moonlight but he made every second count. Other actors and actresses have had nominations and even wins with just as much or less screen time. I was glad to see Michael Shannon get a nomination for Nocturnal Animals. He's one of the hardest working yet most underrated actors today.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Viola Davis - Fences

Naomie Harris - Moonlight

Nicole Kidman - Lion

Octavia Spencer - Hidden Figures

Michelle Williams - Manchester by the Sea

This could be one of the most competitive categories this year as Viola Davis, Naomie Harris, and Michelle Williams could all have a shot at winning the statue. When you're constantly hearing and reading about who's the favorite it's nice to have a category like this that isn't as easily predicted. Looking forward to seeing which actress wins here.

Animated Feature

Kubo and the Two Strings

Moana

My Life as a Zucchini

The Red Turtle

Zootopia

2016 was a great year for animation. Even movies that didn't get nominations such as Finding Dory and The Secret Life of Pets were two of the top grossing movies of the year. Kubo and the Two Strings is a movie I really loved and not enough people gave it the love it deserved at the box office. This category will most likely go to Zootopia. I think the best animated movies have something for kids and adults and Zootopia had that. I wouldn't rule out Moana though.

Original Song

Audition (The Fools Who Dream) - La La Land

Can't Stop the Feeling - Trolls

City of Stars - La La Land

The Empty Chair - Jim: The James Foley Story

How Far I'll Go - Moana

Disney has a long history of it's catchy tunes winning this category and a win for How Far I'll Go from Moana would net Lin-Manuel Miranda the coveted EGOT. However, City of Stars from La La Land will likely win here. The music from La La Land was great and will likely win for score as well.

I didn't touch on every category. Just the bigger ones. Here are the rest of the nominations.

Best Original Screenplay:

Taylor Sheridan - Hell or High Water
Damien Chazelle - La La Land
Yorgos Lanthimos & Efthymis Filippou - The Lobster
Kenneth Lonergan - Manchester by the Sea
Mike Mills - 20th Century Women

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Eric Heisserer - Arrival
Luke Davies - Lion
August Wilson - Fences
Allison Schroeder & Theodore Melfi - Hidden Figures
Barry Jenkins & Tarell Alvin McRaney - Moonlight

Best Cinematography:

Bradford Young - Arrival
Linus Sandgren - La La Land
Greig Fraser - Lion
James Laxton - Moonlight
Rodrigo Prieto - Silence

Best Documentary:

Fire at Sea
I Am Not Your Negro
Life, Animated
O.J.: Made in America
13th

Best Documentary Short Subject:

4.1 Miles
Extremist
Joe's Violin
Watani My Homeland
The White Helmets

Best Foreign Language Film:

Land of Mine
A Man Called Ove
The Salesman
Tanna
Toni Erdmann

Best Film Editing:

Joe Walker - Arrival
John Gilbert - Hacksaw Ridge
Jake Roberts - Hell or High Water
Tom Cross - La La Land
Joi McMillon & Nat Sanders - Moonlight

Best Sound Editing:

Arrival
Deepwater Horzion
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Sully

Best Sound Mixing:

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Best Production Design:

Arrival
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Hail, Caesar!
La La Land
Passengers

Best Visual Effects:

Deepwater Horizon
Doctor Strange
The Jungle Book
Kubo and the Two Strings
Rogue One

Best Original Score:

Micachu - Jackie
Justin Hurwitz - La La Land
Hauschka & Dustin O'Halloran - Lion
Nicholas Britell - Moonlight
Thomas Newman - Passengers

Best Makeup and Hair:

A Man Called Ove
Star Trek Beyond
Suicide Squad

Best Costume Design:

Allied
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Florence Foster Jenkins
Jackie
La La Land

Best Animated Short:

Blind Vaysha
Borrowed Time
Pear Cider and Cigarettes
Pearl
Piper

Most Anticipated Movies of 2017

2016 is behind us so that means it's time to look forward to the movies coming out in 2017. 2017 looks to be another high profile year. Three new movies coming from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, two from DC, a new Blade Runner, and even new films from Christopher Nolan and Edgar Wright. Here's a look at just a hand full of the ones I'm most excited for.

15. John Wick: Chapter 2 (February 10th)

John Wick comes in at 15 on my list. I was super pumped to see that the first movie had the success it did and was able to pull off a sequel.  I thought the first film did an excellent job at building a world and a character the audience would like to see further explored. I was truly surprised with the first John Wick film. I thought it would just be another run-of-the-mill action movie but was a very fresh action movie with well choreographed and filmed fight scenes. Keanu Reeves is somewhat of a legend in the action genre with Point Break, Speed, and the Matrix films so it's nice to see him add another great action movie or two to his name.

14. Alien: Covenant (May 19th)

Alien and Aliens are two of my all time favorite movies, so I'm looking forward to more Xenomorph mayhem here. This is a sequel to Prometheus, which I've actually yet to see. So I'm a little in the dark about that movie and how that leads into this movie. But regardless, the first trailer was a great. Alien was very much a horror movie while sequels delved more into action but this looks like a return to it's horror roots. Ridley Scott is still fresh off The Martian and I think he'll keep the success going with this as well.

13. Wonder Woman (June 2nd)

DC has delivered some good super hero movies but none that have been great. Will Wonder Woman be any different? I think she was a bright spot in Batman vs. Superman. I like the period setting here. I think it will add a lot to film. Everything has been promising so far and I'm desperately pulling for these movies to succeed.

12. Baby Driver (August 11th)

There's not a lot of details out about Baby Driver yet but you can't not get excited about a new film from Edgar Wright, the same guy who brought us such films as Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. The film stars Ansel Elgort as a getaway driver and also stars Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey, and Lily James.

11. Justice League (November 17th)

Batman, Superman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, The Flash all in the same film? Hard not to be excited for this one. I have it a little low mostly because DC has yet to deliver a truly great movie but nonetheless, there's no way at the minimum it won't be a fun popcorn movie.

10. War for the Planet of the Apes (July 14th)

With Rise and Dawn the new Planet of the Apes franchise has quietly delivered two excellent films. War looks to keep the trend going. Andy Serkis, a veteran of motion capture performing from his time as Gollum on the Lord of the Rings franchise, returns as Caesar. Joining him is a badass Woody Harrelson looking to destroy ape kind. Expect more ape vs human mayhem.

9. Kong: Skull Island (March 10th)

The first Kong trailer has my expectations set super high. It looks action packed and loads fun. Gave me a feel of Apocalypse Now meets a King Kong movie. The cast looks great as well with recent Oscar winner Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, and the always great John Goodman. It's also nice to see a new take on a King Kong story and not the same one we know where he falls off the Empire State building.

8. Thor: Ragnarok (November 3rd)

To be honest, the Thor entries so far in the MCU have been some of my least favorite of the Marvel films. The Thor films haven't been bad but they haven't been amazing either. I'm expecting that to change with this one. Civil War was described as Avengers 2.5. Ragnarok doesn't look to be far behind with Hulk and Doctor Strange making appearances. The new additions to cast look great too with Cate Blanchett in a villain role, Jeff Goldblum, and Karl Urban. I'm also very interested to see what director Taika Waititi does. Check out What We Do in the Shadows if you haven't already.

7. Beauty and the Beast (March 17th)

The recent success of Disney's other live action remakes, Cinderella and The Jungle Book have me super optimistic about this. The hype around Beauty and the Beast is massive. It's a live action remake of one of Disney's most beloved films and it's trailer became the most watched trailer of all time. Like a lot of other people my favorite of all of Disney's films is Beauty and the Beast. Needless, to say I'm very excited for this.

6. Dunkirk (July 21)

Anytime Christopher Nolan has a movie out, my butt will be in a theater seat. He's established himself as one of the best modern filmmakers. We've seen him go to space, take on magic, and tackle a trilogy of Batman films. Now we get to see him take on war film. The first trailer looked great. Had a very real look to it and you can bet this will look great in IMAX.

5. Blade Runner 2049 (October 6th)

It seems like most of the time a sequel comes out so far after the first film, they're rarely good. I'm thinking this one will be different. Blade Runner is a sci-fi masterpiece and this is a movie that could fail in the wrong hands but this one is in the right hands. Denis Villeneuve will be in the director's chair and has recently proven to be one of the best in the business. He's built up quite a filmography over the years that include Prisoners, Sicario, and one of the best films of 2016, Arrival. Not much is known yet but there is a short teaser trailer out. Ryan Gosling will star and Harrison Ford will reprise his role as Deckard. Also, in the cast are Jared Leto, Robin Wright, and Dave Bautista.

4. Logan (March 3rd)

It's gonna be tough seeing Hugh Jackman hang up the claws as Wolverine. He's been so dedicated to the role for so long it's been admirable. However, it looks like he's going to go out with a bang. Logan is taking a page from Deadpool's book and going with an R rating here. It will be better for it. The grittiness and violent nature of the character and the film are fitting. I also love the western vibe the movie puts off. Will Wolverine ride off into the sunset?

3.) Spider-Man: Homecoming (July 7th)

I know it seems like there's been a lot of Spider-Man movies lately after Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield both took turns as the character but I feel like the character is in good hands here with Marvel where he belongs. The casting of Tom Holland was brilliant. Prior to being cast as Spider-Man he held his own in The Impossible along side an Oscar nominated Naomi Watts, then became one of the best parts in a crowded Civil War. I also like how he looks a high school aged person unlike the last two actors. The movie has been described as being more of a high school centered movie along the lines of a John Hughes film just about a superhero. Another thing I'm really looking forward is seeing another new villain. Here we get Michael Keaton as the vulture. Robert Downey Jr. looks to have a big role as Tony Stark as well. So much to look forward to here.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 (May 5th)

The first Guardians of the Galaxy is one of my favorite movies of all time. That's why this comes in so high for me. There's no reason to suggest this won't be more of the same. The gang is back, even Groot, now Baby Groot. Kurt Russell is in here as we finally learn who Star-Lord's father is. Another great soundtrack is in line. This will be one of the most fun blockbusters of the year.

1. Star Wars: Episode VIII (December 15th)

It's not every year we get a new Star Wars film. Actually, wait, yeah it is. In 2015 we got The Force Awakens and in 2016 we got the first of the Star Wars anthology films, Rogue One. Episode VIII will bring us back to where we left off after the Force Awakens. Well get more of Rey and Kylo Ren and even get more of Luke Skywalker. Adam Driver recently suggested this movie have no trailers and as hard as it would be, I'd be all for that. Imagine going into this film without having seen any footage or anything? This will also be a sad film as it will be the last time we'll get to see the late Carrie Fisher on screen.