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markwatkinsconsumerguide · 8 months ago

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Consumer Guide / No.127 / Joe Williams of MODERN AGE BAND, with Mark Watkins.

MW: Tell me about the band - the name, the members, the sound you make...

JW: MODERN AGE BAND consists of - Joe Williams (19) (me!) : vocals + guitar, Charlie Holden (18) : vocals + bass, Corey Pitt (18) : vocals + guitar and David Vine (17) : drums

We started back in 2019, with me, Charlie, David and Jamie Cartwright who is no longer in the band but has his own great solo project going on. Corey joined at the beginning of 2022 after Jamie’s departure and that’s when we started taking on the clubs in Liverpool, playing sets of all of our own material, which compared to playing covers in pubs for a few years was a real joy for us.

Now 2 years on we’ve got a loyal fan base starting to brew.

The sound we make, to narrow it down, consists of some psychedelic rock, mixed with blues, Americana and Indie, just to name a few. We like to have a lot of different sounds with our songs as we think it’s important as a band to keep fresh ideas coming. For example, some songs that might inspire us to write a song could range from an old hidden folk gem that we’ve found on Spotify, to a hip hop track that has a cool bass line. That’s why it’s hard for us to put just one genre on our music because each song is it’s own vibe in a way.

MW: What do you currently like about "the modern age"?

JW: We’re big fans of the footy, me and David supporting Liverpool and Charlie supporting Everton, Corey doesn’t care much for the football.

And of course we’re big fans of going to gigs, we’ve all got a few coming up this year, Corey and David are seeing King Gizzard in Liverpool in May and I’m seeing Paul Weller in July, just to name a couple.

MW: What are you reading, watching and listening to at the moment?

JW: At the moment I’m reading Robbie Robertson’s autobiography “Testimony”. It’s a really good insight into what it was like to go out on the road as a band non stop through the 50s, 60s and 70s. It’s a great read, some amazing stories - would definitely recommend it if you're a fan of The Band or just music in general.

As for TV, I’ve just finished a series called “The Serpent” about serial killer Charles Sobhraj, which was a dark but interesting watch - would also recommend.

I’m currently listening to a lot of different music, but these are some I’ve had on repeat a lot lately:

Queens Of The Stone Age, The Verve, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Band and MF DOOM.

MW: Have you ever found anything good in a charity shop?

JW: The best thing I’ve found in a charity shop is an original 1976 pressing of “Wings Over America” for £2 in Ormskirk, I was made up.

MW: Is having a Mayor of Liverpool worthwhile? How does your Mayor compare to the one in Manchester?

JW: To be completely honest, as we’re only young lads we don’t pay a huge amount of attention to what’s going on with mayors, however I still think that it’s definitely worthwhile to have someone in that role for the city to keep things in line.

MW: Are you more CASH than CARD when paying for goods and services?

JW: On the whole, I am definitely more card than cash. However, when going to a pub or restaurant I like to pay cash so I can tip the workers. But I do use card most of the time as it’s just a lot easier.

MW: You can only choose one Easter Egg - what is it?!

JW: I’d 100% go with a Thornton’s egg, they just wipe every other brand out in my opinion.

MW: What are Modern Age Band's plans for Easter and beyond?

JW: Over Easter and the next couple of months we’ve got plenty of gigs planned which we’re waiting to announce, and also another big announcement for a new single release soon. We’ve also got our biggest gig yet at the 02 Academy Liverpool, supporting our good pals Headfeeder and Firehead.

We also intend on delivering much more music as the year goes on, we can’t wait to share what we’ve been perfecting for years with everyone!

Modern Age (@modernageband_) • Instagram photos and videos

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briamichellewrites · 2 years ago

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Brad and Mike talked about having a fourteen-year-old on their label. They had to take a chance on her. They played her audition video for their band to get their opinions. What was her name? Bria Pitt. She was the daughter of Brad Pitt. His adopted daughter. How old was she? She was fourteen. That was the issue they were having. They agreed she had talent. They just didn’t know if they wanted to sign someone so young.

They would have to work around the law because she could only be in the studio at certain hours of the day. Maybe they could wait a couple of years but invite her to hang out with them, so she could get a sense of the recording process. They thought that would work. Brad emailed him back about their new plan. Would that work for him and Bria? Yeah, it would.

“Hold up. Holy shit! Oh my god!”

“What?

“Brad just replied to my email. He said that would work because his daughter is pregnant and will need some time adjusting to the new baby.”

“Are you serious”, Mike asked.

He read the email out loud word for word. That… they didn’t even know what to think. It had to be a mistake. Fourteen and pregnant? Chester could see it happening. It would most likely mean sexual abuse or assault. He didn’t want to accuse her father, but yeah. It was known to happen. They were still speechless, as they took that in. Fourteen. That was the only thing that they thought of. Fourteen.

The band was currently working on their second album, after the success of their first. They were a group of six guys, who met in high school or college. Chester was the only one who auditioned for the band. He was from Phoenix, Arizona, and had come to Los Angeles with his wife, Samantha. They didn’t have any children together but he had two boys, Jaime and Isaiah from his ex-girlfriend, Elka. Jaime was his biological son while he adopted his brother, Isaiah.

He had been in a couple of bands that didn’t go very far. Linkin Park was the first band he found success in. He got along well with the other guys: Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Rob Bourdon, Joe Hahn, and Dave ‘Phoenix’ Farrell. They accepted him into their group and he became one of their brothers. He and Mike were best friends because their personalities matched.

Mike was the leader. He looked at problems and found solutions. Whenever something happened, everyone went to him. It was one of the reasons why he had a co-partnership with Brad. When the band argued or disagreed, he listened without taking sides before deciding what to do. Joe was the DJ. He was also a skilled artist and producer. Rob was a quiet sensitive guy, who loved reading books or practicing the drums during his free time.

Dave was the guy with a great attitude. He was a jokester but also the one who was there during hard times. Brad was the business side of the band. They were six guys with six different personalities. Somehow they managed to work together. They fought their record label for creative freedom. It was an uphill struggle but it made them closer as a band and as brothers.

Bria showed up with her father during a break in filming. They had finished filming in Las Vegas and were in Los Angeles for a while before flying to another location. They introduced themselves. She didn’t look pregnant, though she was also wearing a zip-up hoodie that covered her stomach. Her long brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Brad asked if she had a song she wanted to sing for them. Yes. I Just Can’t Wait to Be King from The Lion King.

She was adorable as she sang! They wanted to put her into a box and keep her forever! When she was done, they clapped for her. Was The Lion King her favorite movie? Yeah! She watched it a million times. They laughed. He then told her their offer of hanging out with them for two years to learn the business. Then, they could talk about giving her a contract. Was she okay with that? Yeah! They laughed.

“I don’t know if my dad told you about my baby.”

“He did. That was why we don’t want to sign you yet. We want you to have that time with your baby first.”

“Ok. Thank you!”

She was welcome! Could they ask about her baby? Ok. Did she know what she was having? No, not yet but she thought she was having a girl. She even picked out a name. What was it? Stephanie Margaret Pitt. For a boy, she chose Thomas Bradley Pitt. Those were great names! Where did she get Margaret and Thomas from? They were her birth parents. They died when she was born.

Brad didn’t have any concerns about his daughter’s safety. He could sense the band would keep her safe. Mike asked what he thought. He was all for letting her hang out with them during the day or however long they agreed on. She spent a lot of time with him, so he wanted her to meet other people. He joked about them keeping up with her energy levels. How bad was it? It was a two-year-old toddler on caffeine. Oh, yeah. They could handle that. They laughed.

They could use that energy and put her to work. He laughed. Was Bria her full name? Yeah. Her middle name was Angel. Nobody else had her name. She thought that was so cool. They had never heard her name before. It was unique. She nodded.

After she and Brad left, they talked about how adorable she was! She would fit in well with them. They also hoped she had a smooth labor and delivery. Brad asked her what she thought as they drove to the doctor. She liked it! They were cool guys. He laughed and agreed they were. Was she excited to see her baby?

Yeah! She was going to ask if the doctor could write down the gender on a piece of paper. They would then take that paper to a bakery and ask them to make cupcakes with either blue or pink frosting inside for a gender reveal. George, Matt, and Julia were coming over later for dinner after sleeping in and she wanted them to have a cupcake with them.

After checking in at the desk, they sat down in the waiting room. Before seeing her baby, she was asked questions about her pregnancy and how she was feeling. She had a lot more energy and didn’t feel sick anymore. Good! That meant she didn’t have morning sickness anymore. She did still take a nap in the afternoon because she still got tired easily. The doctor told her that napping was a great way to refuel. It was also a great way of making sure her baby was healthy.

They were able to see her baby moving around. He or she moved their arm in front of their face before opening their mouth like they were yawning. Their eyes were closed. They looked very healthy and were developing the way they were supposed to.

The three of them counted ten fingers and ten toes. Did she want to know the gender? She asked if she could write it on a piece of paper for a gender reveal. They were going to have cupcakes with pink or blue frosting inside. Yeah! That was a great idea! She wrote down the gender before folding the paper up and handing it to Brad. Thank you.

@zoeykaytesmom @feelingsofaithless @alina-dixon @fiickle-nia @boricuacherry-blog

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borhap-au · 4 years ago

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Joe Mazzello: the fluffy chronicles.

Comforting Joe.

It’s been troubling two years for Joe, since his dad – his hero, his best friend, his role model, passed away. He still sometimes caught himself wanting to call him in times of trouble, and only when he couldn’t find his dad’s number on his contact list had he realized he will never be able to call him again. On daily basis Joe was caught up in other things, too busy for too much thinking, but around the time of his dad’s birthday or the anniversary of his passing, the thoughts come back again. You never dismissed his troubles, always let him cry on your shoulder, talked with him long hours about it if necessary. He confided in you, not scared of letting you know about any of his little secrets. You were generally someone who was able to lift him up, but those current times were really troubling for him. Not only did he lose his dad, but also in times of the pandemic the entire movie industry shut down, with him not being able to find a job. He didn’t star in any movie for two years, and it was hanging over his head, because he wanted to be able to provide for his family that he wanted to start with you. From all the troubles in his personal life and his career, he has experienced a writing block, not being able to write or edit any of the scrips for his future movies. Once, while checking his Twitter, he came across a thread of people hating on him, and that broke him a little. He didn’t talk much, he was rather quiet and wanted to spend more time alone. You let that go for a few days, hoping he will open up to you when he will be ready for it. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, so you decided to come to him and ask him directly about his troubles. He was hesitant at first, but then decided to let you know what was going on. It started off as usually, with him telling you how much he missed his dad.

“And you know, I should visit my mom more often. I don’t want to miss any moments with her, I’m done playing the adult role in my life, I’m done pretending I don’t need my parents and their guidance from time to time. I wanted everyone to see how independent I was, how I could handle everything on my own, and because of that I missed some of the very important moments with my dad. I should’ve visited him all the time when everything was still good,” he muttered quietly and laid his head on your legs, and you softly pet his head and shoulder. You understood him. You also lost a family member and you knew very well how that regret creeps in from time to time. At the same time you were very proud of Joe, for being able to talk about his loss, for the fact that he didn’t close it all in, and also that he let the entire world know how amazing his father was, in his posts on social media. Not many people were able to talk about their loss with such honesty. Moreover, you supported his charity work, also inspired by his father.

“So we will. We will visit her on the weekend, okay? And any time you need it,” you smiled and he looked at you. He reached his hand to your face and pet your cheek, smiling slightly. He felt your support and that was very important to him, especially in those moments.

“Are you sure about this? Those trips may be boring for you, I know you’re not really in for family meetings…” you shook your head, confirming what you’ve said before.

“Whenever you need me, I’ll go there with you. I like our little road trips,” you took his hand and laced your fingers. He pet your hand with his thumb.

“I’m happy to hear that then. I like when you go there with me. I hate not having you close. I always miss you. A lot,” you smiled, but before you could add anything, he continued. “But I also don’t want this to be a responsibility for you. We should both enjoy it equally.”

“I like going there with you. I like your mom. And I like to spend the nights in your old bedroom,” you smirked, letting him know what exactly you meant by that, also reminding him of a few very nice moments. He smiled as well, especially since you reassured him about certain things. “Even if you went alone, I’d follow you. I hate when you’re not around. Especially at night. I need to have your arm around me to feel safe, even at home,” he knew what you meant, because he also hated when he went to sleep and you weren’t there.

“Sounds like you love me,” he gave you a little smile and you immediately nodded.

“Of course I love you. With all my heart,” after all, you knew each other for a while and you were even planning the future together. Your feelings towards him didn’t change, if anything, you loved him more than before.

“Even though I’m a loser without a job?” after hearing that, you immediately hugged him tightly.

“You’re not a loser. And you have a job, your job is acting. We are just in a middle of a worldwide pandemic. Once it’s all over, you will have the Duck movie, and many more,” you smiled to him and quickly added. “And if they don’t consider you for the next Jurassic movie, I will sue those motherfuckers,” you joked and he immediately chuckled, because it was too funny for him how innocent you sounded while cursing. While he was still laughing, you continued.

“You’re one of my favorite actors, but not because I’m biased. You have a great range. From dramatic roles to comedy, you’ve nailed everything I’ve seen you in. And you’re a director too! Not to mention you write awesome scripts. If you want to, we can later do some brainstorming, maybe we will come up with another wonderful piece such as Undrafted.” He smiled when you mentioned that. He was really happy to hear that you enjoyed his movies, after all, he decided it’s you that he wants to impress for the rest of his life.

“You’re a blessing, you know? You’re amazing and gorgeous,” he smiled, petting your cheek. You chuckled quietly, because in your opinion, it was way too far-fetched to call you all those things. But he believed differently. “You make me feel better, not only about all of this, but also about myself. Seeing you always makes me think: how did I get so lucky to have you all to myself? And then I start thinking that maybe all the flaws I see in myself, maybe they don’t really matter to you. And that’s a very important thing to notice. That something that to me is a big problem, something that I believe is too visible for anyone not to notice, the same thing for you is either too small to be a problem, or not noticeable at all. It always makes me feel better.”

It was really everything you needed to hear. It was your goal to be your boyfriend’s biggest supporter, not only in a way that would be visible to others, but also to him. You wanted him to feel appreciated and loved in the relationship. You wanted to always lift him up, instead of putting him down. Life was already miserable enough in itself, and you wanted to be able to bring happiness into the life of your biggest source of joy, your man, Joey.

“As an actor,” he continued, “I am aware of every little part of my body that may not appear flattering on screen. That’s also why I turned to comedy, because it doesn’t matter how you look like on screen as long as you make others laugh. But around you, I feel like I could be right there on screen alongside all those Pitts and Goslings, and compete with them, and even win. Of course that will never happen, but I just wanted to put into words the things you make me feel,” he smiled, sat up and kissed you softly. You put your hand on his cheek, kissing him back.

“In my heart, you’ll always win with them. I don’t care about any Pitts, Goslings or anyone else, as long as I have my Mazzello. To me, you’re amazing, and handsome, and overall attractive. You’re my supermodel, my Oscar-winning actor and director, in my mind, you deserve everything that’s the best in the world, because you make my life better. And not only mine. You read all of those messages from girls telling you how much they love your movies, your comedy, your YouTube channel. You to them are what Brad Pitt is to others. Not everyone has the same taste, and to some of them, you are the perfect man. I know you are to me. You’re funny and you care about others. I don’t know what can be more attractive than a good heart. Not to mention, you really step out of your comfort zone to make others laugh. You’re such a dork sometimes. God, I love you for it,” you chuckled and you both instinctively hugged each other. There was no place better than right there, in his arms.

“You like my comedy?” he muttered, petting your back. You smiled and kissed his shoulder.

“I love it. Anytime I hear you have an idea for a new YouTube video, I literally want to see it right there and then, even if you haven’t finished it yet. I just love every single one of your projects, no matter how small. And that one video, in which you told us it was okay to make fun of you or even insult you, as long as it will make it easier for us to get through quarantine? That was so selfless and amazing, I had tears in my eyes just watching it. You’re my love, my idol, my hero, my everything, Joey. I hope you feel it every day.”

“Oh, I’m your hero now, huh? Good to know, will annoy you with that for the rest of your life,” he joked, because he didn’t really know how to respond to that. It was beautiful and overwhelming to him, but he felt happy after hearing that. You could see it in his eyes. “And since I’m a hero, then you must be my princess,” you nodded when he said that, because you always loved the pet names he had for you.

“And I can promise you, my knight in shining armor, my prince charming…”

“Your king…”

“Let’s not go that far,” you both laughed. “I promise you that everything will be okay, as long as we have each other. I’m here for you and I always will be. I swear.”

“Thank you for it. I love you, Princess,” he pet your cheek, smiling.

“I love you too…”

“King.”

“No,” once again you chuckled, and you knew that when Joe was able to crack jokes like that all the time, everything will be alright.

#joe mazzello fluff #joe mazzello x reader #joe mazzello fanfic #joe mazzello fic #joe mazzello imagine #joe mazzello headcanon #joe mazzello au #joe mazzello x you #joe mazzello x female reader #joe mazzello x y/n #joe mazzello fanfiction #bohemian rhapsody fic #undrafted #joe mazzello the fluffy chronicles #joe mazzello is bored #joe mazzello girlfriend #joe mazzello x oc #joe mazzello blurb #joe mazzello masterlist

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tabloidtoc · 4 years ago

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OK, September 7

Cover Story -- Cher’s dream wedding at 74

Page 1: Big Pic -- Katy Perry got dolled up in an array of funky ensembles to promote her song What Makes a Woman

Page 2: Contents

Page 3: Contents

Page 4: Melissa McCarthy thriving at 50 -- after her milestone birthday Melissa’s opening up about how she overcame hardships to come out on top

Page 5: For years Prince William and wife Duchess Kate Middleton have watched from the sidelines as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have dominated headlines but the couple are finally ready to tell their side of the story in a sit-down TV interview -- it won’t be a scandalous interview but it will certainly right a few wrongs and misconceptions

Page 6: As Drew Barrymore gears up for her talk show premiere she’s counting on her famous friends to bring in more viewers, as Kim Kardashian and Kanye West struggle to keep their marriage afloat Caitlyn Jenner has been sending them well-wishes but Kim would rather Caitlyn just keep her lips zipped -- Kim’s told everyone to keep their opinions to themselves while she works through this crisis one-on-one with Kanye but Cait’s been sounding off and telling anyone who’ll listen how she believes he’s gotten a raw deal, Chrishell Stause is out to destroy ex Justin Hartley’s reputation and his new romance with Sofia Pernas -- Chrishell is bitter and is calling out Justin as a liar and a cheater and telling friends that his new girlfriend should be careful

Page 10: Red Hot on the Red Carpet -- stars sparkle in champagne hues -- Elizabeth Chambers, Angela Bassett, Kim Kardashian West

Page 11: Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson

Page 12: Who Wore It Better? Thandie Newton vs. Georgia May Jagger

Page 16 -- News in Photos -- Cara Santana celebrated her birthday on the beach in Malibu

Page 18: Rita Ora vacationing in Corfu in Greece, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his daughters Jasmine and Tiana, Pete Wentz plays tennis

Page 20: Nick Barrotta got in a workout while shooting scenes for The Oval, Ireland Baldwin spent the day at the beach with her uncle Stephen Baldwin

Page 21: Sofia Richie paddleboarding, Alessandra Ambrosio playing volleyball, Gavin Rossdale takes a shirtless stroll on the beach

Page 23: RHOBH star Brandi Glanville helping wash a friend’s car, Adam Sandler shooting hoops on the street

Page 24: Inside My Home -- Brittany Snow’s selling her home in Studio City for $2.7 million

Page 26: The Property Brothers double baby joy -- Drew Scott and his wife Linda Phan are finally expecting and his twin Jonathan Scott’s girlfriend Zooey Deschanel is also pregnant

Page 27: Ben Affleck is being kept on a tight leash by girlfriend Ana de Armas as she wants to know where Ben goes and who he’s with at all times and she gave him a 9 p.m. sharp curfew, Rachael Ray and husband John Cusimano have found a silver lining in the wake of their devastating house fire as it made them appreciate what really matters most is each other so for their 15th anniversary they’re going to renew their vows with a few added words inspired by what they’ve learned in the aftermath of this tragedy, Bindi Irwin and husband Chandler Powell already have themselves a cash cow in their unborn child because the demand for an interview with Bindi and Chandler about their pregnancy news is huge right now and they’ve learned from her mom Terri Irwin that cashing in at the right time is key plus they could really use some extra money right now since the family business Australia Zoo isn’t doing so well

Page 28: Ever since Melanie Griffith got word that ex Antonio Banderas had tested positive for Covid-19 she has made it her mission to help nurse him back to health by calling at all hours and texting him with tons of advice to keep his strength up and although Antonio appreciates her acts of kindness his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel feels the two are getting too close for comfort especially since she’s been at his side throughout the ordeal, while the rest of the world is in chaos Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden are keeping cool calm and collected as they dote on daughter Raddix and Cameron is looking for answers about how to raise a child in these crazy times and she’s found crystals and psychics to be so helpful, Love Bites -- Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are expecting baby no. 3, Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson split, Jesse Metcalfe and Corin Jamie Lee Clark are dating

Page 29: Meg Ryan and John Mellencamp ended their on-off romance last October and John moved on with Jamie Sherrill but lately Meg has been blowing up John’s phone and he’s happily answering -- Meg’s recent move to Montecito in California brought her closer to John who’s been in L.A. a lot more since that’s where Jamie’s skincare business is -- John thinks Jamie is a lovely lady but he and Meg are soulmates and it’s a matter of when not if they’ll get back together

Page 30: Cover Story -- Cher is getting married -- the legendary star is set to stay I Do to her 27-year-old rocker beau

Page 34: Lifestyles of the Young and Famous -- the plush and pampered lives of billion-dollar celebrity kids -- North West, Emme Muniz

Page 35: Blue Ivy Carter, Harper Beckham, Princess Charlotte

Page 36: Louis Bullock, Penelope Disick, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt

Page 37: Moroccan and Monroe Cannon, Apple Martin, Mom Knows Best -- a few of the best mommas in Hollywood -- Jennifer Garner, Reese Witherspoon, Gwen Stefani

Page 38: Interview -- Selena Gomez dishes it out

Page 40: How Cindy Crawford stays in tip-top shape

Page 41: Like Mother, Like Daughter -- Kaia Gerber is a chip off the old block in the health and wellness department

Page 44: Style Week -- Megan Thee Stallion is Revlon’s new face

Page 46: Run errands in style with a superchic totally sleek tiny phone purse -- Zoey Deutch

Page 47: 5 minutes with Tiffani Thiessen

Page 48: Fashion -- the classic post earring gets a bold and stylish upgrade -- Margot Robbie

Page 50: Beauty -- beauty booty from around the world

Page 52: Entertainment

Page 53: Fall TV preview, Q&A with Mister E

Page 58: Buzz -- in living color -- these stars recently transformed their dresses -- Jesse Williams goes blue, Lady Gaga in green called Ocean Blonde, Jim Parsons goes blond

Page 59: Emily Ratajkowski goes blonde, Sarah Hyland goes red, Faith Hill goes pink, Joe Jonas goes platinum, Ariel Winter goes blonde, Gigi Hadid goes darker, Kaia Gerber goes pink

Page 60: Sound Bites -- Olivia Colman on portraying Queen Elizabeth II on The Crown, Andy Cohen on which Real Housewives he’d trust to babysit his son Ben, Angelina Jolie on quarantining with her six kids, Luke Bryan roasting pal Blake Shelton

Page 61: Adele responding to a fan who asked when she’d be releasing her next album, Jennifer Aniston on playing a celebrity news anchor on The Morning Show, David Arquette on teaming up with ex Courteney Cox for Scream 5, Kelly Ripa to daughter Lola on her habit of stealing her mom’s crop tops

Page 62: Horoscope -- Virgo Zendaya turned 24 on September 1

Page 64: By the Numbers -- Olivia Culpo

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thelonesomequeen · 5 years ago

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Oscars 2020 Choices and Predictions:

Hi all! Here’s both my personal Oscar picks as well as my predictions as to what will win in each Oscar category. I’ve included both because in quite a few categories I feel like wins might go to one way while I personally would go another. Let me know your thoughts, too! Happy Oscars Sunday! -Pascal

Best Picture:

“Ford v Ferrari”

“The Irishman”

“Jojo Rabbit”

“Joker”

“Little Women”

“Marriage Story”

“1917”

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

“Parasite”

My Choice (Ranking of all 9):

1. Parasite

2. Jojo Rabbit

3. Joker

4. 1917

5. Little Women

6. Ford v Ferrari

7. The Irishman

8. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

9. Marriage Story

My Prediction: HOLY COW I DON’T KNOW! I think that’s what makes Best Picture so exciting this year. It’s so up in the air! I could easily see Parasite or 1917 taking home the top prize, but I also wonder if the love behind both films won’t cause a split vote and allow something like Once Upon a Time In Hollywood to slide up and take the top spot.

Lead Actor:

Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”

Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”

Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”

Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”

My Choice: Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”

My Prediction: Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”

Lead Actress:

Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet”

Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”

Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women”

Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”

Renee Zellweger, “Judy”

My Choice: Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women”

My Prediction: Renee Zellweger, “Judy”

**This one was a really hard choice for me because I’m really feeling the snubs of Awkwafina, Lupita Nyong'o, or Beanie Feldstein who could have easily been nominees AND winners to me.

Supporting Actor:

Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”

Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”

Al Pacino, “The Irishman”

Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”

Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

My Choice: Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”

My Prediction: Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Supporting Actress:

Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”

Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”

Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit”

Florence Pugh, “Little Women”

Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”

My Choice: Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit” or Florence Pugh, “Little Women”

My Prediction: Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”

Director:

Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”

Todd Phillips, “Joker”

Sam Mendes, “1917”

Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”

My Choice: Sam Mendes, “1917” or Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”

My Prediction: Sam Mendes, “1917”

Animated Feature:

“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” Dean DeBlois

“I Lost My Body,” Jeremy Clapin

“Klaus,” Sergio Pablos

“Missing Link,” Chris Butler

“Toy Story 4,” Josh Cooley

My Choice: No opinion

My Prediction: “Klaus,” Sergio Pablos

Animated Short:

“Dcera,” Daria Kashcheeva

“Hair Love,” Matthew A. Cherry

“Kitbull,” Rosana Sullivan

“Memorable,” Bruno Collet

“Sister,” Siqi Song

My Choice: “Hair Love,” Matthew A. Cherry

My Prediction: “Hair Love,” Matthew A. Cherry

**I really want hair love to take this one. It’s so beautiful!

Adapted Screenplay:

“The Irishman,” Steven Zaillian

“Jojo Rabbit,” Taika Waititi

“Joker,” Todd Phillips, Scott Silver

“Little Women,” Greta Gerwig

“The Two Popes,” Anthony McCarten

My Choice: “Jojo Rabbit,” Taika Waititi

My Prediction: “Little Women,” Greta Gerwig

Original Screenplay:

“Knives Out,” Rian Johnson

“Marriage Story,” Noah Baumbach

“1917,” Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino

“Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho, Jin Won Han

My Choice: “Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho, Jin Won Han or “Knives Out,” Rian Johnson

My Prediction: “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino

Cinematography:

“The Irishman,” Rodrigo Prieto

“Joker,” Lawrence Sher

“The Lighthouse,” Jarin Blaschke

“1917,” Roger Deakins

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Robert Richardson

My Choice: “1917,” Roger Deakins

My Prediction: “1917,” Roger Deakins

Best Documentary Feature:

“American Factory,” Julia Rieichert, Steven Bognar

“The Cave,” Feras Fayyad

“The Edge of Democracy,” Petra Costa

“For Sama,” Waad Al-Kateab, Edward Watts

“Honeyland,” Tamara Kotevska, Ljubo Stefanov

My Choice: No opinion

My Prediction: “American Factory,” Julia Rieichert, Steven Bognar

Best Documentary Short Subject:

“In the Absence,” Yi Seung-Jun and

“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone,” Carol Dysinger

“Life Overtakes Me,” Kristine Samuelson and John Haptas

“St. Louis Superman,” Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan

“Walk Run Cha-Cha,” Laura Nix

My Choice: No opinion

My Prediction: “Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone,” Carol Dysinger

Best Live Action Short Film:

“Brotherhood,” Meryam Joobeur

“Nefta Football Club,” Yves Piat

“The Neighbors’ Window,” Marshall Curry

“Saria,” Bryan Buckley

“A Sister,” Delphine Girard

My Choice: No opinion

My Prediction: “A Sister,” Delphine Girard

Best International Feature Film:

“Corpus Christi,” Jan Komasa

“Honeyland,” Tamara Kotevska, Ljubo Stefanov

“Les Miserables,” Ladj Ly

“Pain and Glory,” Pedro Almodovar

“Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho

My Choice: “Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho

My Prediction: “Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho

Film Editing:

“Ford v Ferrari,” Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland

“The Irishman,” Thelma Schoonmaker

“Jojo Rabbit,” Tom Eagles

“Joker,” Jeff Groth

“Parasite,” Jinmo Yang

My Choice: “Parasite,” Jinmo Yang

My Prediction: “Parasite,” Jinmo Yang

Sound Editing:

“Ford v Ferrari,” Don Sylvester

“Joker,” Alan Robert Murray

“1917,” Oliver Tarney, Rachel Tate

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Wylie Stateman

“Star Wars: The Rise of SkyWalker,” Matthew Wood, David Acord

My Choice: “Ford v Ferrari,” Don Sylvester

My Prediction: “1917,” Oliver Tarney, Rachel Tate

Sound Mixing:

“Ad Astra”

“Ford v Ferrari”

“Joker”

“1917”

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

My Choice: 1917

My Prediction: Ford v Ferrari

Production Design:

“The Irishman,” Bob Shaw and Regina Graves

“Jojo Rabbit,” Ra Vincent and Nora Sopkova

“1917,” Dennis Gassner and Lee Sandales

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh

“Parasite,” Lee Ha-Jun and Cho Won Woo, Han Ga Ram, and Cho Hee

My Choice: “Parasite,” Lee Ha-Jun and Cho Won Woo, Han Ga Ram, and Cho Hee or “1917,” Dennis Gassner and Lee Sandales

My Prediction: “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh

Original Score:

“Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir

“Little Women,” Alexandre Desplat

“Marriage Story,” Randy Newman

“1917,” Thomas Newman

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” John Williams

My Choice: “Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir

My Prediction: “Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir

Original Song:

“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” “Toy Story 4”

“I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” “Rocketman”

“I’m Standing With You,” “Breakthrough”

“Into the Unknown,” “Frozen 2”

“Stand Up,” “Harriet”

My Choice: “I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” “Rocketman”

My Prediction: “I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” “Rocketman”

Makeup and Hair:

“Bombshell”

“Joker”

“Judy”

“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”

“1917”

My Choice: Bombshell

My Prediction: Bombshell

Costume Design:

”The Irishman,” Sandy Powell, Christopher Peterson

“Jojo Rabbit,” Mayes C. Rubeo

“Joker,” Mark Bridges

“Little Women,” Jacqueline Durran

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Arianne Phillips

My Choice: “Little Women,” Jacqueline Durran

My Prediction: “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Arianne Phillips

Visual Effects:

“Avengers Endgame”

“The Irishman”

“1917”

“The Lion King”

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

My Choice: Avengers Endgame

My Prediction: The Irishman

**It always blows my mind that something like Avengers Endgame or Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker aren’t the easy wins here with the sheer amount of GOOD visual effects that are used and needed in order to tell the story and create sets, but the Academy tends to go against them for whatever reason. It makes me wonder what they look for in terms of visual effects every year?

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remedialreviews · 5 years ago

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Remedial Awards, 2019

It’s time again for the Remedial Awards! I have watched more than 70 feature films released in 2019, 29 of which have been nominated for one or more Academy Awards (33 narrative feature films have been nominated for Oscars this year). Not that many will read this anyway, but I want to recognize that I am just another in a long list of white men who have weighed in on film this year (and every year since film was first developed), and have no “buts” to express about it: I dream of a world where we’re given colour in the Best Actor list and where women are nominated for Best Director, and the prevalence and dominance of the white male voice is a major contributing factor to the continuing lack of diversity in Hollywood.

Below, find my lists for most every feature category, ranked in order of my own preference. Those left out by the Academy that I believe deserved nominations are ranked and crossed out, while those that were nominated and (in my opinion) should not have been, are ranked below a stroke. I have not included Razzies this year, but know that I absolutely detested Joker. My largely uninformed prediction for the winner of each category will be marked with an asterisk. Films or performances I have not seen have been recorded in italics beneath the category. Without further ado . . .

Supporting Actress:

1. Florence Pugh ( Little Women ) 2. Adele Haenel ( Portrait of a Lady on Fire ) 3. Thomasin McKenzie ( Jojo Rabbit ) 2. Margot Robbie ( Bombshell ) 5. Penelope Cruz ( Pain and Glory ) 6. Jennifer Lopez ( Hustlers ) 3. Laura Dern ( Marriage Story )* 4. Scarlett Johansson ( Jojo Rabbit )

Kathy Bates ( Richard Jewell )

Makeup and Hair:

1. Portrait of a Lady on Fire 1. 1917 2. Bombshell* 4. Little Women 3. Judy -------------------------- Joker

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

Costume Design:

1. Jacqueline Durran ( Little Women ) 2. Dorothée Guiraud ( Portrait of a Lady on Fire ) 3. Andrea Flesch ( Midsommar ) 4. Kym Barrett ( Us ) 2. Mayes C. Rubeo ( Jojo Rabbit ) 6. Norma Moriceau ( Aladdin ) 3. Arianne Phillips ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood )* 4. Sandy Powell and Christopher Peterson ( The Irishman ) -------------------------- Mark Bridges ( Joker )

Production Design:

1. Dennis Gassner and Lee Sandales ( 1917 ) 2. Lee Ha-Jun and Cho Won Woo, Han Ga Ram, and Cho Hee ( Parasite ) 3. Donal Woods ( Downton Abbey ) 3. Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood )* 4. Bob Shaw and Regina Graves ( The Irishman ) 6. Henrik Svensson ( Midsommar ) 7. David Crank ( Knives Out ) 5. Ra Vincent and Nora Sopkova ( Jojo Rabbit )

Cinematography:

1. Roger Deakins ( 1917 )* 2. Claire Mathon ( Portrait of a Lady on Fire ) 3. Drew Daniels ( Waves ) 2. Jarin Blaschke ( The Lighthouse ) 5. Pawel Pogorzelski ( Midsommar ) 6. Fejmi Daut and Samir Ljuma ( Honeyland ) 7. Hong Gyeong-Pyo ( Parasite ) 8. Phedon Papamichael ( Ford v Ferrari ) 9. Yorick Le Saux ( Little Women ) 10. Anna Franquesa Solano ( The Farewell ) -------------------------- Robert Richardson ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ) Rodrigo Prieto ( The Irishman ) Lawrence Sher ( Joker )

Best International Feature Film:

1. Parasite* 2. Portrait of a Lady on Fire 2. Pain and Glory 3. Corpus Christi 5. I Lost My Body 4. Honeyland 7. Dirty God 8. Atlantique 9. Ash is Purest White

Les Miserables

Supporting Actor:

1. Willem Dafoe ( The Lighthouse ) 1. Tom Hanks ( A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood ) 3. Timothee Chalamet ( Little Women ) 4. Lucas Hedges ( Waves ) 2. Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes) 6. Asier Etxeandia ( Pain and Glory ) 7. Dean-Charles Chapman ( 1917 ) 3. Al Pacino ( The Irishman ) -------------------------- Joe Pesci ( The Irishman ) Brad Pitt ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood )*

Animated Feature:

1. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World 2. I Lost My Body 3. Klaus 4. Missing Link 5. Abominable 5. Toy Story 4*

Animated Short:

1. Dcera (Daughter) 2. Hair Love* 3. Memorable 4. Sister 5. Kitbull

Visual Effects:

1. Avengers: Endgame* 2. The Lion King 3. 1917 4. Ad Astra 5. Ford v Ferrari 4. Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker -------------------------- The Irishman

Razzie: Alita: Battle Angel

Live Action Short Film:

1. Brotherhood 2. Nefta Football Club 3. A Sister -------------------------- The Neighbors’ Window*

Saria

Original Screenplay:

1. Rian Johnson ( Knives Out ) 2. Bong Joon-ho and Jin Won Han ( Parasite )* 3. Lulu Wang ( The Farewell ) 4. Céline Sciamma ( Portrait of a Lady on Fire ) 3. Noah Baumbach ( Marriage Story ) 6. Mateusz Pacewicz ( Corpus Christi ) 7. Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, and Katie Silberman ( Booksmart ) 8. Robert Eggers and Max Eggers ( The Lighthouse ) 4. Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns ( 1917 ) -------------------------- Quentin Tarantino ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood )

Adapted Screenplay:

1. Greta Gerwig ( Little Women )* 2. Taika Waititi ( Jojo Rabbit ) 3. Anthony McCarten ( The Two Popes ) 4. Andrew Huculiak ( Ash ) 5. Lorene Scafaria ( Hustlers ) -------------------------- Steven Zaillian ( The Irishman ) Todd Phillips and Scott Silver ( Joker )

youtube

Original Score:

1. Alexandre Desplat ( Little Women ) 2. Thomas Newman ( 1917 ) 3. Rupert Gregson-Williams ( Abominable ) 3. Randy Newman ( Marriage Story ) 5. Cayne McKenzie ( Ash ) 6. Daniel Lopatin ( Uncut Gems ) 4. John Williams ( Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker ) -------------------------- Hildur Guðnadóttir ( Joker )*

Razzie: Robbie Robertston ( The Irishman )

youtube

Original Song:

1. I’m Gonna Love Me Again ( Rocketman )* 2. Into the Unknown ( Frozen II ) 3. I’m Standing With You ( Breakthrough ) 4. Stand Up ( Harriet ) 5. I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away ( Toy Story 4 )

Lead Actor:

1. Tim Guinee ( Ash ) 1. Adam Driver ( Marriage Story ) 3. George MacKay ( 1917 ) 2. Antonio Banderas ( Pain and Glory ) 5. Kelvin Harrison, Jr. ( Waves ) 6. Adam Sandler ( Uncut Gems ) 7. Robert Pattinson ( The Lighthouse ) 3. Jonathan Pryce ( The Two Popes ) 9. Aaron Paul ( El Camino ) 10. Bartosz Bielenia ( Corpus Christi ) -------------------------- Leonardo DiCaprio ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ) Joaquin Phoenix ( Joker )*

Lead Actress:

1. Scarlett Johansson ( Marriage Story )* 2. Florence Pugh ( Midsommar ) 3. Taylor Russell ( Waves ) 2. Cynthia Erivo ( Harriet ) 3. Saoirse Ronan ( Little Women ) 6. Zhao Tao ( Ash is Purest White ) 7. Olivia Wilde ( A Vigilante ) 8. Noémie Merlant ( Portrait of a Lady on Fire ) 9. Vicky Knight ( Dirty God ) 10. Awkwafina ( The Farewell ) 4. Charlize Theron ( Bombshell ) -------------------------- Renee Zellweger ( Judy )

Director:

1. Céline Sciamma ( Portrait of a Lady on Fire ) 1. Bong Joon Ho ( Parasite )* 2. Sam Mendes ( 1917 ) 4. Lulu Wang ( The Farewell ) 5. Trey Edward Shultz ( Waves ) 6. Greta Gerwig ( Little Women ) 7. Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Kathleen Hepburn ( The Body Remembers ) 8. Sarah Daggar-Nickson ( A Vigilante ) -------------------------- Martin Scorsese ( The Irishman ) Quentin Tarantino ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ) Todd Phillips ( Joker )

Best Picture:

1. 1917* 2. Parasite 3. Knives Out 4. Portrait of a Lady on Fire 3. Little Women 4. Jojo Rabbit 7. Waves 5. Marriage Story 9. The Lighthouse 10. Pain and Glory -------------------------- The Irishman Ford v Ferrari Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Joker

Predictions for technical categories:

Sound Editing: Oliver Tarney and Rachel Tate ( 1917 )

Sound Mixing: Stuart Wilson ( 1917 )

Film Editing: Michael McCusker and Andrew Buckland ( Ford v Ferrari )

#oscars 2020 #academy awards #remedial awards #oscar predictions #will update when I see more!

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obserfdom · 5 years ago

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Delicate, Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn

First of all, I am not Toes, lol.

But hey, I have my own taste (I am 10 yrs older than Taylor), so yeah, I couldn't speak on her behalf if the relationship turn out to be real.

But is it?

Now, I am going to just write about my opinion here that I don't think (reminder: very subjective) Joe Alwyn is suit for Taylor's public image as I know of.

The public image that I am referring to is the aplha female image of the current mature Taylor Swift. Over the course of time, public/fans had witnessed how Taylor Swift transformed herself from a cutie pie to a strong fierce ambitious woman. She is strong in her endeavour, very business-minded aside from very articulate artist, and highly dominant (she took care every details in her public persona).

While as for Joe Alwyn? Despite being 2 years younger, he is not an alpha male type and honestly I don't see him fit the description of "my baby fits like a daydream"

Accordingly, I took 'daydream' as her describing an image of someone who could be anyone's fantasy.

Do you think, when you first saw Joe Alwyn (not relating him with Taylor Swift's big reputation), you could honestly said he is a prince charming?

Well, it is up for debate. But I am more convinced if this word used to refer Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and alike. But then again, hey I am not Taylor Swift!

So, if you Kaylors like me, let me give you a bitter pill to swallow:

there is possibility that Delicate is about Joe Alwyn!

"This ain't for the best. My reputation's never been worse, so...you must like me for me. We can't make any promises now, can we, babe? But you can make me a drink..."

The storyline in the Delicate song, if we want to be fair, aside from any equation (to whom it might be referred to), is about new beginning in relationship - where someone who feels low in time (in Taylor's case probably about the Kimyegate era - where she scorned by the public as "snake", liar, etc) - accidentally meeting someone special to start a relationship with, in which she, in Taylor's case, think 'well, since in the public eyes I am a bad person, so if you do like me, you must see the real me, not caring about what other people think about me' -> hence "you must like me for me".

***

So yeah, the rest we can translate it ourselves.

'Cause what's more interesting about Delicate song, I would like to show you, as the 'being probable' dedicated to Toe relationship, is the below finding (screenshot from the ending in the Delicate MV):

Okay, you don't have to take my word for it. But as I already did, I made several collage to compare the man in the above pic to Joe Alwyn photos. And somehow I think, it did match.

Other probable proofs of Toe could be seen from below amateur videos:

youtube

Does it mean Toes is a real deal? Or it just one among many Taylor's PR game as some assume?

Well, I don't know. I still reserve to the Kaylor romance fantasia. And the possibility that Taylor mere doing a PR stunt still out there.

However, if you read somewhere that Taylor never doing a PDA with her male allegedly boyfriends - well that is definitely false (will elaborate her previous PDA in other post).

The question whether or not it was real or fake - that is a different story - rely solely in the eyes of the beholder.

#kaylor #taylor swift #taylorswift #joshlie #joe alwyn #gaylor swift

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prettymysticfalls · 5 years ago

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2020 Oscars Predictions

So, it’s 2020 & here I’m again predicting Oscars. Until the last year, I wasn't predicting the following categories: Animated Feature, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Short Film Animated & Animated Live Action because I hadn't watched those. I still don't watch them but I just felt like filling in the ballot completely just like the last year. I feel like there has to be some surprises because it's been so predictable this year. So, I'm going to take a risk with my picks.

BEST PICTURE: Any of these can win: 1917, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Parasite. The race looks like its among 1917, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Parasite. They seem to be favorites of anonymous Oscar voters. However, Parasite's only disadvantage is that it's a foreign language film. There were like 17 members who didn't want to bother watching it because they were distracted with reading subtitles. Maybe, there are more than 17. I think, Jojo Rabbit and Joker are wild cards. My personal favorite is definitely Joker. It might have received a lot of backlashes and might have been found controversial but I think people are missing its point by focusing on violence. Joker delivers a great message regarding mental illness and society's attitudes. Jojo Rabbit is a great satire about WW2. It's not as anti-semitic and offensive as some Academy members claim. It gives a lesson to Nazis by trying to free them from Nazi ideology. Parasite is a social class commentary. If it wins, it'd be groundbreaking since a foreign language film would break down the language barrier and break down through the bias. So, these 3 movies give a powerful message. What does 1917 and OUATIH do? 1917 lets audience be a part of the film. That's how it might beat other films. However, OUATIH is an entertaining Hollywood themed story with an alternative ending that's too good to be true. It makes audience wish that ending was the real ending but it's not as powerful as the others. It just appeals to the Academy because of its Hollywood theme. The Academy could relate to OUATIH but could the audience yet more the world relate themselves to OUATIH? The answer is no. The best picture must be a movie that would appeal to everyone. There's also something I noticed. In the previous decade, it didn't matter if BP winners won both GG and BAFTA or either GG or BAFTA. However, their screenplay win usually mattered. The movies, that won either best original or adapted screenplay, usually won the BP. If that would be the case, any of these 5 movies could win both screenplay and BP. If it doesn't happen to be case, usually the ones that win the best directing also wins BP which would mean 1917 would be the winner. Will win: Joker Could win: 1917 Should win: Parasite

BEST DIRECTOR: Although Bong Joon-Ho did a great job with Parasite, Sam Mendes did wonders with 1917. Will win: Sam Mendes Could win: Bong Joon-Ho Should win: Sam Mendes

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Either Parasite or Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will win it. Will win: Parasite Could win: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Should win: Parasite

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: It seems as if this race is between Jojo Rabbit and Little Women. But it should be among Jojo Rabbit, Joker and the Two Popes. Jojo Rabbit is a nicely written satire. Joker has a background story for the first time ever. The Two Popes is about finding a common ground in spite of polarizing opinions. Moreover, it made the Popes look sympathetic! As a fan of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, I was disappointed with Greta Gerwig. She's being overrated. If the original screenplay doesn't win BP, that would lower Little Women's chances at winning best adapted screenplay since it's not likely for it to win for BP. Will win: Jojo Rabbit Could win: Little Women Should win: Joker

BEST LEADING ACTOR: Joaquin Phoenix is going to get that Oscar. His biggest competitors are Adam Driver and Antonio Banderas. Will win: Joaquin Phoenix Could win: Adam Driver Should win: Joaquin Phoenix

BEST LEADING ACTRESS: Renée Zellweger is probably going to win. Her greatest competitors are Charlize Theron and Scarlett Johansson. Will win: Renée Zellweger Could win: Scarlett Johansson Should win: Renée Zellweger

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Brad Pitt is going to win. His other competitors seem like they all gave equal performances. Will win: Brad Pitt Could win: Joe Pesci Should win: Brad Pitt

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Laura Dern is probably sweeping but Florence Pugh, Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson are also favorites! Especially, Scarlett Johansson! Will win: Laura Dern Could win: Scarlett Johansson Should win: Scarlett Johansson

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: 1917 and the Lighthouse are marvelous in terms of cinematography. 1917 is going to take the trophy though. Will win: 1917 Could win: The Lighthouse Should win: 1917

BEST FILM EDITING: Ford v Ferrari is probably going to win. If it doesn't, Parasite better win it since the Irishman's editing is faulty. Will win: Ford v Ferrari Could win: Parasite Should win: Ford v Ferrari

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: The Irishman shouldn't win that de-aging effect since it wasn't compatible with the actors' motor movements and postures. Either 1917 or Avengers: Endgame is going to win. Especially, 1917's visual effects are so realistic. Will win: 1917 Could win: Avengers: Endgame Should win: 1917

BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Since period movies usually win costume design, I think Little Women will beat Jojo Rabbit and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Will win: Little Women Could win: Jojo Rabbit Should win: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING: This is the trickiest category to predict but I think Bombshell is going to win. Will win: Bombshell Could win: Joker Should win: Joker

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN: 1917 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood have the best production designs, in my opinion. Parasite's production design is really good, too. Will win: 1917 Could win: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Should win: 1917

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: 1917 and Joker's scores are the most mesmerizing ones. Will win: Joker Could win: 1917 Should win: Joker

BEST ORIGINAL SONG: Rocketman and Harriet's songs are really good. Will win: Rocketman Could win: Harriet Should win: Rocketman

BEST SOUND EDITING: Since war related films usually win in this category, 1917 is probably going to win. Will win: 1917 Could win: Ford v Ferrari Should win: 1917

BEST SOUND MIXING: Although space related films usually do well in this category, it seems as if Ad Astra's chances are really low. 1917 and Ford v Ferrari's chances seem to be the highest. Will win: Ford v Ferrari Could win: 1917 Should win: Ford v Ferrari

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM: Parasite is the obvious frontrunner here. Then, probably follows Pain & Glory. Parasite will win it. It must win! Will win: Parasite Could win: Parasite Should win: Parasite

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: Toy Story 4 or Missing Link might seem like obvious choices but I think the race should be between I Lost My Body and Klaus. Will win: I Lost My Body Could win: Klaus Should win: I Lost My Body

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: American Factory, For Sama or Honeyland... Which one should win? Will win: For Sama Could win: American Factory Should win: Honeyland

BEST ANIMATED SHORT: Will win: Hair Love Could win: Memorable Will win: Hair Love

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT: Will win: Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone Could win: Walk Run Cha-Cha Should win: Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT: Will win: Brotherhood Could win: The Neighbor's Window Should win: Brotherhood

Let’s discuss the potential winners here.

P.S. I posted my predictions on letterboxd and instagram as well. If you have a letterboxd or instagram account, feel free to like my posts and follow my there.

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oncomingstcrms · 6 years ago

Note

If anyone else besides Michael Pitt could have portrayed Mason, who should be? I mean do you have your own opinion for casting?

I don’t, actually. Sure, Joe Anderson did a great job, but to me Michael Pitt remains the best casting choice for Mason. He’s amazingly good at playing psychopaths (remember ‘Funny games’), it feels like he’s genuinely having fun. I love everything about his portrayal: his emotions, his voice and inflection play, his wild laughter. When I was going through the scripts yesterday, I noticed that the hair-pulling scene in 2.11 wasn’t in the script, so it was probably Michael’s addition to the character and it was perfect.

On a slightly unrelated note, I watched ‘the Dreamers’ after ‘Hannibal’ a few years ago. It literally took me about a year to realize that a sweet blond boy from that movie was in fact played by the same actor as Mason Verger. What I’m saying is that Michael Pitt is an extraordinary actor and one of my favorites, and I admit – I loved Mason because of him (and I loved him because of Mason, but that’s not the point). He made him vivid, lively, constantly agitated and excited, and, again, as much as I love Joe’s portrayal, I still wish Michael had stayed in the show for season 3. I could never imagine anyone else in this role.

#don't look back in anger | answered;#the one who sold the world | ooc;#when the fox hears the rabbit scream | mason verger;

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qb-rb-wr-te-k · 2 years ago

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The Draft

When drafting with my husband I counted on him to fill in the broad strokes while I focused on who I thought would be a “good deal.” I have my own very strong, mostly uninformed opinions on what makes for a great player and which players don’t get enough credit (wide receivers) and which players get too much credit (quarterbacks, though I’ve softened on this) and I wanted to see where my husband put his emphasis and how that worked out for us before fully cementing these already 90% cemented opinions. Though I’ve always thought of these opinions as whimsical and contrarian, my husband clearly shared them because we splashed out for Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts in the first round, largely faltered at QB, and got tremendous deals on Leonard Fournette and Deebo Samuel.

So, this year I pivoted. I leaned less into the rumor mill and close reading Instagram and more into a rigid list of who I would or would not accept on my team and tiered salary allotments. Ottoneu drafts are quite different from the standard -- I guess they’re called “home leagues”? -- because you do not automatically win the player you nominate, you simply open the floor for bidding. There’s a lot of excitement and, frankly, perverse desperation in the first round because though we could all agree to stay sane and nominate the way ADP (average draft position, or the way various fantasy/football/gambling websites rank player value) dictates, everyone loses their mind and chaos reigns. Teams will nominate kickers, teams will bid up any player nominated with the idea that whoever nominated that player wants him most of all (which is why it’s such a terrible idea to both nominate and bid on a kicker), and all of the activity on the site routinely makes Ottoneu frozen and un-navigable.

Going into the draft I’d highlighted Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts as the quarterbacks I thought would hit top tier points, stay healthy, and start at a salary I could keep paying after arbitration increases. However, the best deal (for me) turned out to be Kyler Murray at $67. I knew I wanted a young quarterback, but I also didn’t want to take chances at QB1. Murray was on my radar, I had pink penned him in after writing a note to my future self about only accepting one of my top three picks and not trying to freestyle last minute. But the reason he was on my radar is because I’m so mad at the Arizona Cardinals organization. I believe Murray, not Kliff Kingsbury, not the front office, is the most talented part of this team and I believe Murray was more or less betrayed by people who should have supported him. Murray is really good, good enough to play more than one sport at the professional level, and I have no doubt that Call of Duty makes him a better quarterback even if the XP weeks are a distraction. Mandating homework is puritanical crap and Kingsbury comes off like a born sadist with his white couches and smirking “see if you can do better” attitude. Honestly, I wanted to fade the whole team but in hindsight I’m so hot on this issue that it was destiny, Murray is my guy.

Ideally, after you get your guy, you shift any freed up salary to pay more for players you planned on getting for less. Oops. I did not do this. I told you how those first rounds are crazy-making and I was no exception. After getting a deal on Murray I wanted deals on everything! I nominated a string of running backs just to laugh as everyone fought over them like rabid dogs. I wanted Fournette on my personal team because I loved the Fat Lenny saga, but once he tipped over $40 I acted shocked and bowed out. I wanted Najee Harris, too, because he’s possibly the only talented Steeler but for $62? In the end I won James Conner and Clyde Edwards-Helaire and I have a little over $30 left in cap space, so I’m pretty sure I made a terrible mistake. They’re both injury risks and neither one is posting RB1 numbers. For reasons I can’t totally grasp, fantasy football is heavily weighted toward the work of running backs even though when you watch football, running backs usually just catch a short pass and get mowed down. Even in the red zone, it looks more effective to target a receiver or tight end. Maybe that’s the fun of it, betting high on this position that few are truly great at and that breaks the body down impossibly quickly, never knowing if you are holding a winning lottery ticket or a sailboat.

I paid Fair Market Value for my tier one wide receivers. AJ Brown is insanely talented (just ask him!) and Mike Evans is trusty and dependable. I threw in D.J. Moore as a high ceiling, high floor pick and have talked myself into kind of rooting for the Panthers this year. I got some shit-talk in the draft chat over targeting the guy catching Baker Mayfield’s passes but Moore posted decent numbers working with Sam Darnold last season so, surely I will triumph. I handcuffed Brown and DeVonta Smith because I just love DeVonta Smith. Football analysts don’t seem to believe in him, but I do; I believe in anyone with a nickname as potent as “The Slim Reaper.” There aren’t a lot of football goths and when one announces himself, I scramble to sign him to my team.

Perhaps the pièce de résistance of my draft was snagging Trevor Lawrence for $35. Is blue-eyed, long and flaxen-haired, steel jawed Lawrence the real deal second coming of Peyton Manning? Um, I certainly think so, yes. I am quite happy to blame everything wrong with Lawrence’s debut season on Urban Meyer and I expect brilliance in this season’s rejoinder. Football Jesus is a fun narrative to invest in and I feel, er, blessed to be so stacked at quarterback.

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thefilmsnob · 5 years ago

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Glen Coco’s 2019 Oscar Predictions

Hey, friends! Here are my Oscar predictions! As usual, I’ll give my opinion on who should win and who actually will win. I’ve made picks in 21 out of the 24 categories.

*The following categories have been omitted as I did not see enough, or any, films nominated: Documentary (Feature), Documentary (Short Subject), Animated Feature Film.

But wait! Before I give my predictions, here are some snubs and locks:

SNUBS

Willem Dafoe for The Lighthouse (Actor in a Supporting Role)

Lupita Nyong’o for Us (Actress in a Leading Role)

Adam Sandler (no, really) for Uncut Gems (Actor in a Leading Role)

Horror Films in general: The Lighthouse, Midsommar, Us

LOCKS

Parasite (International Feature Film)...It’s the only one nominated for Best Picture!

Finally, here are my picks:

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Nominees: Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood; Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes; Al Pacino, The Irishman; Joe Pesci, The Irishman; Brad Pitt, Once upon a Time...in Hollywood

Should Win: All of them (Joe Pesci if I must choose) Will Win: Brad Pitt

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Nominees: Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell; Laura Dern, Marriage Story; Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit; Florence Pugh, Little Women; Margot Robbie, Bombshell

Should Win: Laura Dern Will Win: Laura Dern

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

Nominees: The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Little Women, The Two Popes

Should Win: Little Women (Greta Gerwig) Will Win: Little Women (Greta Gerwig)

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)

Nominees: Knives Out, Marriage Story, 1917, Once upon a Time...in Hollywood

Should Win: Parasite (Bong Joon-ho) Will Win: Parasite (Bong Joon-ho)

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Nominees: The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, 1917, Once upon a Time...in Hollywood, Parasite

Should Win: Jojo Rabbit Will Win: Once upon a Time...in Hollywood

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Nominees: The Irishman, Joker, The Lighthouse, 1917, Once upon a Time...in Hollywood

Should Win: The Lighthouse (or 1917) Will Win: 1917

COSTUME DESIGN

Nominees: The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Little Women, Once upon a Time...in Hollywood

Should Win: Once upon a Time...in Hollywood Will Win: Once upon a Time...in Hollywood

FILM EDITING

Nominees: Ford v Ferrari, The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Parasite

Should Win: Ford v Ferrari Will Win: Parasite

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Nominees: Bombshell, Joker, Judy, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, 1917

Should Win: Bombshell Will Win: Bombshell

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)

Nominees: Joker, Little Women, Marriage Story, 1917, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Should Win: Little Women Will Win: Joker

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)

Nominees: “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away”, Toy Story 4; “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again”, Rocketman; “I’m Standing With You”, Breakthrough; “Into The Unknown”, Frozen II; “Stand Up”, Harriet

Should Win: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again”, Rocketman Will Win: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again”, Rocketman

SOUND EDITING

Nominees: Ford v Ferrari, Joker, 1917, Once upon a Time...in Hollywood, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Should Win: 1917 Will Win: 1917

SOUND MIXING

Nominees: Ad Astra, Ford v Ferrari, Joker, 1917, Once upon a Time...in Hollywood

Should Win: 1917 Will Win: 1917

VISUAL EFFECTS

Nominees: Avengers: Endgame, The Irishman, The Lion King, 1917, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Should Win: Avengers: Endgame Will Win: The Irishman

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)

Nominees: Dcera, Hair Love, Kitbull, Memorable, Sister

Should Win: Memorable Will Win: Hair Love

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)

Nominees: Brotherhood, Nefta Football Club, The Neighbors’ Window, Saria, A Sister

Should Win: Nefta Football Club Will Win: Nefta Football Club

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

Nominees: Corpus Christi, Honeyland, Les Miserables, Pain and Glory, Parasite

Should Win: I haven’t seen the other four, but Parasite will win, no question. Will Win: Parasite

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Nominees: Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory; Leonardo DiCaprio, Once upon a Time...in Hollywood; Adam Driver, Marriage Story; Joaquin Phoenix, Joker; Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes

Should Win: Joaquin Phoenix Will Win: Joaquin Phoenix

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Nominees: Cynthia Erivo, Harriet; Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story; Saoirse Ronan, Little Women; Charlize Theron, Bombshell; Renee Zellweger, Judy

Should Win: Saoirse Ronan Will Win: Renee Zellweger

DIRECTING

Nominees: Martin Scorsese, The Irishman; Todd Phillips, Joker; Sam Mendes, 1917; Quentin Tarantino, Once upon a Time...in Hollywood; Bong Joon-ho, Parasite

Should Win: Quentin Tarantino (or Sam Mendes) Will Win: Sam Mendes

BEST PICTURE

Nominees: Ford v Ferrari, The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Joker, Little Women, Marriage Story, 1917, Once upon a Time...in Hollywood, Parasite

Should Win: Little Women? Maybe? Will Win: 1917

#Academy Awards #oscar predictions #2019 films

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thenatureofnarrative · 5 years ago

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Best Films of 2019

The basis of my annual list is simple, these are the films that were, for me, mesmerizing and memorable. These were the cinematic experiences that either provoked a depth of emotion and/or provided a whole lot to talk about. These are the films that I could not forget and I cannot wait to see again. After you read this year’s list, you can also find last year’s list here, and if you’d like to see me chat about my favourite films, and other great films from the year, you can watch this video.

1. Little Women

Greta Gerwig deserves the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for her masterclass adaptation of Little Women which is, in my opinion, the best film of 2019. I was honestly whisked away by the magical-kinetic energy of this film and the March family, and I was deeply moved by the vocational struggles of young artists, Jo and Amy, finding their way in the world. As a father of two daughters, this film moved me and connected with me on a deep emotional level, and this is largely due to the storyteller’s skills. Ultimately, however, the reason Greta Gerwig’s adaptation works so well is because of her creative restructuring of the story, which allows us to consider our perspective of the past, and its impact upon our present. In addition to this, the performances across the board are perfect, with Florence Pugh being the real standout. There is just so much to love and admire about this most recent adaptation of Little Women, the best film of the year. DVD release TBD.

2. Ad Astra

James Gray is one of our greatest living filmmakers, and yet is easily one of our least recognized. In the last twenty five years he has written and directed seven incredible films, and Ad Astra (to the stars) is no exception. While his last film (The Lost City of Z) remains his greatest achievement, Ad Astra is his most theological or spiritual, as he exams the depth of the human soul by going to the furthest reaches of our solar system. Brad Pitt’s performance is, of course, the greatest reason for this story’s success, with his eyes and quiet reflections almost never leaving the screen. Ad Astra is a space odyssey like no other, while it pays homage to the great cinematic space stories of the past, it sets itself apart with its heavenly language and original imagery. Ultimately, it matters not how far we might travel or how advanced our species might become, the depravity and desires of our soul will never leave us and will always remain at the center of our road. It’s a shame cinematographer, Hoyte Van Hoytema, has only been nominated for an Oscar once. He deserves it for this work, and so do the sound designers, music composers, and of course, James Gray himself. On DVD - iTunes.

3. A Hidden Life

“Better to suffer injustice than to cause it.” The boundaries of this statement is put to the test in Terrence Malick’s most recent masterpiece, A Hidden Life, based on a true story. When nation and neighbour rise for a single cause or conflict, one’s true allegiance will be put to the test. In the face of such pressures, only those who pursue true peace, far from the spotlight, will know the cost that must be paid. A Hidden Life is a stunning and stirring work of cinematic perfection that requires patience and the attention of our souls. This is a film that I could not shake, and is quite simply, the most important film of the year. On iTunes March 3.

4. I Lost My Body

I love a surprise, and I was surprised by this magically macabre and meaningful film. I know a lot of people don’t often give “grown-up-animation” a chance so let me put it this way - - not only is I Lost My Body the most beautiful animation I’ve seen this year, it’s one of the best films of the year - - this is a story that has the mystery of Memento and the romance of a Terrence Malick film. And yet, it’s unlike anything you’ve seen before, unless you’ve seen the story of a severed hand journey through Paris in order to reconcile it’s memories with the broken heart and spirit of it’s owner? I Lost My Body is a truly stunning achievement. It swept me away and moved me deeply, and you should check it out. On Netflix.

5. The Irishman

The Irishman (I Heard You Paint Houses) might just be Martin Scorsese’s greatest achievement. A Scorsese crime-story is never about the crime, it’s about the criminal’s soul, and in the case of The Irishman, this time round, there is a little more age and wisdom included in this masterful-motif. At the end of three and half hours, I was somber and sobered. I felt as though I had just attended a very heavy funeral, and I just wanted to sit a little longer and feel the weight of my own mortality. It is a shame Robert DeNiro wasn’t nominated for an Oscar this year because this really is the greatest performance of his career. On Netflix.

6. The Last Black Man in San Francisco

“Let us have the courage to look beyond the stories we’re born into.” Place. Home. Belonging. Acceptance. The Last Black Man in San Francisco is about all these things and so much more, but it was because the film explored these themes with such stunning beauty and unexpected whimsy that I could not escape its trance. TLBMISF is a remarkable first-feature by newcomer Joe Talbot. Following the story of best friends, Jimmie and Montgomery, TLBMISF is a sort of urban odyssey (in the first act Jimmie is compared to “Dorothy” from the Wizard of Oz) as it explores its themes through the tensions of gentrification and generational ties. I never knew where the story was headed next, but I couldn’t look away. The cinematography, the music and the performances are all perfect. I adore this film. On DVD.

7. Marriage Story

Marriage Story provides us with some of the greatest performances and most meaningful dialogue of the year. Only writer/director Noah Baumbach can make you laugh, cringe and cry within a matter of minutes, and it seems like with Marriage Story he’s exercising his greatest gifts to provide us with the perfect balance and portion of all three. Love is pain and heartbreak can be hilarious, and all of it is captured beautifully in this devastatingly authentic story about the best and worst moments of a relationship, and what we can learn from it, or maybe not at all. On Netflix.

8. Doctor Sleep

In the last five years writer/director Mike Flanagan has become my favourite new filmmaker, and with Doctor Sleep he was given the near impossible task of adapting a Stephen King novel that continued Stanley Kubrick’s version of The Shining. Impossible, right? Well not only does Flanagan succeed, but in my opinion, he has created a film that is superior to Kubrick’s, with a visual style all it’s own. Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep is a rich and rewarding horror story that takes spiritual consequences seriously, and presents it’s characters with the terrifying realities of evil, and the sacrifices required to overcome it. It’s a remarkable work, and it includes some of the best performances of the year. On DVD - iTunes.

9. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is the surprise experience of surrealism I didn’t know we needed. Not unlike last year’s documentary, Won’t You Be My Neighbor, this film bears witness to the fact that it is possible to live a life of love, but this time round it’s an encounter wholly set apart. While Fred Rogers remains its inspiration, Tom Hanks’ remarkable portrayal is not at the center of the story, which is a bold and daring choice, but one that is executed with incredible care and confidence from director, Marielle Heller, who truly deserves an Oscar for this. As others have said, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, is not a traditional biopic, instead the film presents itself as an episode of Mr. Roger’s television show for grown ups, and who knew that that’s what many of us were in need of right now. On iTunes - On DVD February 18.

10. Wild Rose

Wild Rose is a deeply moving and beautiful story of redemption that avoids all the usual cliches and instead tells a more grounded, realistic tale about true sacrifice and pursuing one’s dreams. The writing is superb here, and Jessie Buckley’s performance is stunning as a troubled and selfish young mother from Glasgow, Scotland who has a gift and passion for country music. That last line should give you a good indication that this heart-warming story may feel familiar but is stunningly distinct, which makes for a much more rewarding experience. On DVD - Amazon Prime

Honourable Mentions (alphabetically):

Brittany Runs a Marathon: This isn’t an inspirational film about lifestyle changes, this is a long and patient, and at times painful, examination of what true transformation looks like. It’s also very funny. On Amazon Prime.

Captain Marvel: My favourite Marvel movie to date, with a unique visual style and shockingly powerful themes. Ben Mendelsohn is also the ultimate character-actor and he is unforgettable here. On DVD.

The Farewell: Awkwafina’s performance is award-worthy in this heart-breaking family reunion. Every character here is either withholding emotion or feeling out of place, and yet they are bound together, they are family. On DVD - iTunes.

Frozen II: From the endless pursuit of maturity and wisdom in the face of life’s uncertainty, to the most incredible message about truth and reconciliation, Frozen 2 is a spectacular and shockingly poignant film. On DVD February 25.

The Lighthouse: The descent into madness has never been so entertaining, funny and beautiful. These are two of our greatest living actors and one of our best new young directors at work. On DVD - iTunes.

Long Shot: Rogen/Goldberg have established a comedic genre all their own, a distinct blend of vulgar-raunchy humour and tender-nuanced relational moments. This is one of their best. On DVD - iTunes - Amazon Prime.

Midsommar: Tragic. Captivating. Horrifying. Compelling. Disturbing. Ari Aster has a gift for spellbinding dread, and with only his second feature, he has established himself as a master of tone. On DVD - iTunes - Amazon Prime.

Parasite: A powerful and entertaining dark-comedy or satire, with a twist. This isn’t Bong Joon Ho’s greatest film (that would be Snowpiercer), but it is an important and historic one. On DVD - iTunes.

The Public: Emilio Estevez paints with broad strokes here, but they’re strokes that are filled with life, and a cast that brings great humanity (Alec Baldwin and Jeffery Wright are particular stand outs). On DVD - iTunes - Netflix.

Us: This is the most calculated and unpredictable thriller of the year. Not unlike the greatest parables, this is a film that demands repeated viewing. On top of that, Lupita Nyong’o’s two performances are Oscar-worthy. On DVD - iTunes.

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doomonfilm · 5 years ago

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Predictions : Academy Award Film Nominations (2020)

Here we are, the 2020 awards season, and we’re already staring down the path leading to the Academy Award ceremony, where the world famous Oscar trophy are handed out. Most movie years start out a bit on the slow side, but 2020 already has some heavy hitters out, and with 2019 dropping some mega-sized bombs right near year’s end, movie fans are in a frenzy. In what is becoming a new tradition, I will be providing my thoughts and predictions for the Academy Awards for the categories I feel fit to, and we will all return following the Sunday, February 9 televised ceremony.

NOTE - The following categories will be omitted from my predictions : ANIMATED FEATURE ANIMATED SHORT BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM ORIGINAL SONG

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NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE

Ford v Ferrari (dir. James Mangold) The Irishman (dir. Martin Scorsese) Jojo Rabbit (dir. Taika Waititi) Joker (dir. Todd Phillips) Little Women (dir. Greta Gerwig) Marriage Story (dir. Noah Baumbach) 1917 (dir. Sam Mendes) Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (dir. Quentin Tarantino) Parasite (dir. Bong Joon-ho)

thoughts : Having seen six of the nine movies making up this year’s Best Picture category, I think I have a pretty fair read on the year... Ford v Ferrari, with its monster cast and iconic titular namesakes, could make a steal, as could the adaptation of the classic book Little Women, but for my money’s worth, I’m hoping that my pick is not relegated to the international award section. prediction : Parasite (dir. Bong Joon-ho)

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LEAD ACTOR

Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory) Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) Adam Driver (Marriage Story) Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes)

thoughts : The names in this category are some of the heaviest hitters in the industry right now. After a very long career of snubs, I’d like to think that Leonardo DiCaprio is due another round of recognition, but I think everyone knows where this award is heading. prediction : Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)

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LEAD ACTRESS

Cynthia Erivo (Harriet) Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story) Saoirse Ronan (Little Women) Charlize Theron (Bombshell) Renee Zellweger (Judy)

thoughts : This is going to be a tough category to determine. Renee Zellweger is coming off of a strong Golden Globes win, and the power of the Johansson and Theron names are hard to deny, but this night seems due a breakout star, and I think Greta Gerwig and crew are going to have a night to remember. prediction : Saoirse Ronan (Little Women)

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SUPPORTING ACTOR

Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes) Al Pacino (The Irishman) Joe Pesci (The Irishman) Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

thoughts : I find it odd that Tom Hanks is in this category, as I assumed he was the lead actor in his film... it would lead me to believe that perhaps they are trying to better his chances for an award. With a field full of legends, however, that doesn’t seem like an automatic for Hanks, and in all honesty, I think the young legend is a shoo-in for this one. prediction : Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

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SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Kathy Bates (Richard Jewell) Laura Dern (Marriage Story) Scarlett Johansson (Jojo Rabbit) Florence Pugh (Little Women) Margot Robbie (Bombshell)

thoughts : Another category full of the cream of the crop. This category, upon first sight, appears that it will skew towards a breakout star or a someone like Johansson, who is crystalizing her legend status, but you’ve gotta hand it to Netflix for throwing a monkey-wrench into all that. prediction : Laura Dern (Marriage Story)

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DIRECTOR

Martin Scorsese (The Irishman) Todd Phillips (Joker) Sam Mendes (1917) Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)

thoughts : This is a complete toss-up. There is not a single weak name on this list, and each of these projects could arguably be considered the best of their respective works. This could easily be a self-celebratory, unofficial legend award, but in a perfect world, I know exactly where I want this award to go. prediction : Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)

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ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Steven Zaillian (The Irishman) Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) Todd Phillips and Scott Silver (Joker) Greta Gerwig (Little Women) Anthony McCarten (The Two Popes)

thoughts : The range of adapted works this year was quite impressive. Even the superhero genre got a strong entry via Todd Phillips and Joker, which is arguably one of the most compelling films of the year. As mentioned earlier though, I’ve got a feeling that one of my favorite actresses turned directors is poised to formally introduce herself to the world. prediction : Greta Gerwig (Little Women)

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ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Rian Johnson (Knives Out) Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story) Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917) Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) Bong Joon-ho and Jin Won Han (Parasite)

thoughts : My heart wants to send this award Quentin Tarantino’s way, as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood being a mind-blowing work from a director that I thought had shown us most every trick in his book. Rian Johnson and Noah Baumbach flexed their muscle in the best ways that they know how, and Sam Mendes is making major waves as well, but I’m going to need this award to go international this year. prediction : Bong Joon-ho and Jin Won Han (Parasite)

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CINEMATOGRAPHY

Rodrigo Prieto (The Irishman) Lawrence Sher (Joker) Jarin Blaschke (The Lighthouse) Roger Deakins (1917) Robert Richardson (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

thoughts : The Lighthouse was a mind-scrambler. The Irishman showed that Scorsese could walk the walk after talking big talk. Joker echoed a bygone style and era perfectly, as did Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, although in a much more nuanced manner. For those in the know, however, one name jumps off this list, and if the pre-awards buzz is any indication, that name is basically a lock. prediction : Roger Deakins (1917)

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BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

Jan Komasa (Corpus Christi) Tamara Kotevska and Ljubo Stefanov (Honeyland) Ladj Ly (Les Miserables) Pedro Almodovar (Pain and Glory) Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)

thoughts : To be fair, I am only familiar with one film on this list, but I think I can safely stand behind the bold statement that said film is a cut above many released, international or otherwise. prediction : Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)

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FILM EDITING

Michael McCusker and Andrew Buckland (Ford v Ferrari) Thelma Schoonmaker (The Irishman) Tom Eagles (Jojo Rabbit) Jeff Groth (Joker) Jinmo Yang (Parasite)

thoughts : Editing is an art that I have a deep love and respect for, and for the three films on this list I’ve seen, I can vouch for their high quality editing. I hear nothing but good things about Ford v Ferrari, and Jojo Rabbit may be highest on my 2019 must-see list, but I believe I can make a safe bet on my prediction for this award. prediction : Jeff Groth (Joker)

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SOUND EDITING

Don Sylvester (Ford v Ferrari) Alan Robert Murray (Joker) Oliver Tarney and Rachel Tate (1917) Wylie Stateman (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) Matthew Wood and David Acord (Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalker)

thoughts : If I was betting safe, I’d have to throw any sound editing award to any Star Wars entry for any given year, as that is one of the aspects the series is known for. With a strong racing film and a strong war film in the ranks, however, plus the cool of Tarantino and the deep immersion of Joker, this is another tough category, so I’ve gotta lean on the buzz once again. prediction : Oliver Tarney and Rachel Tate (1917)

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SOUND MIXING

Ad Astra Ford v Ferrari Joker 1917 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

thoughts : This pick is heavily dependant on my choice for Sound Editing. prediction : 1917

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PRODUCTION DESIGN

Bob Shaw and Regina Graves (The Irishman) Ra Vincent and Nora Sopkova (Jojo Rabbit) Dennis Gassner and Lee Sandales (1917) Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) Lee Ha-Jun and Cho Won Woo, Han Ga Ram, and Cho Hee (Parasite)

thoughts : When I think about production design, I initially think about being transported to another world and time. From there, I think about the range of looks that we are provided. There are two strong war movies on the docket, plus a classic from a legend and one of the year’s most beautiful films, but this one has to go to team Tarantino, in my opinion. prediction : Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

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ORIGINAL SCORE

Hildur Guðnadóttir (Joker) Alexandre Desplat (Little Women) Randy Newman (Marriage Story) Thomas Newman (1917) John Williams (Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalker) Nicholas Britell (The King)

thoughts : There are films not present on this list that surprise me, and I don’t think that Todd Phillips is going to get the recognition that some assume he will from the Academy for Joker, so I feel this may end up being a partial consolation prize. prediction : Hildur Guðnadóttir (Joker)

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MAKEUP AND HAIR

Bombshell Joker Judy Maleficent : Mistress of Evil 1917

thoughts : With tons of period pieces in the mix, this is automatically a tough category. On top of that, one of the aspects where Bombshell stood out was in the makeup and hair department. As mentioned previously, however, there was a 2019 box office winner that may find itself the winner of a handful of consolation prizes at the Oscars. prediction : Joker

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COSTUME DESIGN

Sandy Powell and Christopher Peterson (The Irishman) Mayes C. Rubeo (Jojo Rabbit) Mark Bridges (Joker) Jacqueline Durran (Little Women) Arianne Phillips (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood)

thoughts : A period piece is almost always a shoo-in for costume design, and the grander the stage, the higher the chances of winning. Cool style will get you so far, and war style (depending on the war) can get you a bit further, but once you cross that line into the world of tea parties and high society, any effort shown in the costuming department will nearly certainly reap a reward. prediction : Jacqueline Durran (Little Women)

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VISUAL EFFECTS

Avengers : Endgame The Irishman 1917 The Lion King Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalker

thoughts : My head says The Lion King, the hype machine is telling me 1917, and the cinema snob in me sees The Irishman making a surprise win. That being said, there’s only one iconic franchise on this list, and said franchise is connected to the hip with special effects. prediction : Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalker

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I’m definitely looking forward to this year’s Academy Award ceremony. I was far from perfect on my Golden Globes predictions, but I feel strong about these choices. Keep track of your predictions, let’s talk about the choices the Academy made, and we’ll meet back up here in a month to see how well we guessed.

#ChiefDoomsday #DOOMonFILM #AcademyAwards #Oscars #2020

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tocinephile · 5 years ago

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The Morning After - The Golden Globes 2020 Edition

Morning/Afternoon/Night have lost meaning to me in this post holiday stupor, but I assure you I watched Sunday night’s awards. Our methods of media consumption have altered every so slightly each year that at least 1/3 of the celebrity outfits I was checking out this year came from my Twitter app compared to the big TV screen in front of me (which often had a split screen happening to begin with). No matter, it made it all the easier to share via my own twitter and to send to friends who sent me their comments and input through the pre-show and ceremony.

Even more than usual, the Globes felt like a warm-up to me this year. I’ve barely digested the turkey and finished my Top Films of the Decade list and we’re already off to the award season races. As a result, I’m not quite prepared to comment on every single win/loss, but what I can say I have embedded in the list below:

Best Motion Picture — Drama

“The Irishman” (Netflix) “Joker” (Warner Bros.) “Marriage Story” (Netflix) “1917” (Universal) (WINNER) “The Two Popes” (Netflix)

1917 has rocketed to the top of my movies to see list as a result of last night’s Best Drama and Best Director win. Need to see this before the SAG Awards.

Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy

“Dolemite Is My Name” (Netflix) “Jojo Rabbit” (Fox Searchlight) “Knives Out” (Lionsgate) “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (Sony) (WINNER) “Rocketman” (Paramount)

Let it be known here and now, 2020 is going to be the first (and hopefully only) time I speak out against Quentin Tarantino winning an award. I don’t dislike Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood, not at all, I just didn’t think it was anywhere near his best and in the awards race, there were far better this year. I’ve seen all the films in this category with the exception of Rocketman and I liked Jojo Rabbit and Knives out much more, and Dolemite is My Name equally as good as Once Upon A Time.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama

Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”) Scarlett Johansson (“Marriage Story”) Saoirse Ronan (“Little Women”) Charlize Theron (“Bombshell”) Renée Zellweger (“Judy”) (WINNER)

I’ve actually only seen Marriage Story and Judy in this category. Renee is phenomenal no doubt, but part of me did question whether her performance would shine through an otherwise mediocre film. Turns out it did.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama

Christian Bale (“Ford v Ferrari”) Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”) Adam Driver (“Marriage Story”) Joaquin Phoenix (“Joker”) (WINNER) Jonathan Pryce (“The Two Popes”)

Joaquin was the favourite in his stacked category, but I recommend all of these performances (though The Two Popes slightly less as a film, not my cup of tea). I was really on the fence about his acceptance speech though, the delivery was channeling too much Joker though the message was in the right place.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy

Ana de Armas (“Knives Out”) Awkwafina (“The Farewell”) (WINNER) Cate Blanchett (“Where’d You Go, Bernadette”) Beanie Feldstein (“Booksmart”) Emma Thompson (“Late Night”)

Another stacked category (I’m gonna make the assumption that Emma Thompson was great in Late Night), these are all movies to see. Awkwafina being recognized in a non-comedic role is a boon for the Asian community. Sidenote: I seem to be in the minority when it comes to Where’d You Go Bernadette, but I quite liked that movie.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy

Daniel Craig (“Knives Out”) Roman Griffin Davis (“Jojo Rabbit”) Leonardo DiCaprio (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) Taron Egerton (“Rocketman”) (WINNER) Eddie Murphy (“Dolemite Is My Name”)

I’ve not seen Taron Egerton’s performance but predicted he would win anyway.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

Kathy Bates (“Richard Jewell”) Annette Bening (“The Report”) Laura Dern (“Marriage Story”) (WINNER) Jennifer Lopez (“Hustlers”) Margot Robbie (“Bombshell”)

Should have been J. Lo. (opinion based on having seen 2 of the 5 performances) Not that Laura Dern isn’t spectacular in everything she does, but is her character in Marriage Story not identical to her role in Big Little Lies?

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture

Tom Hanks (“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”) Anthony Hopkins (“The Two Popes”) Al Pacino (“The Irishman”) Joe Pesci (“The Irishman”) Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) (WINNER)

Brad Pitt’s good, and this is one of the awards that I’m cool with Once Upon a Time picking up, but was he better than Pesci and Pacino? I mean, is anyone??

Best Director — Motion Picture Bong Joon-ho (“Parasite”) Sam Mendes (“1917”) (WINNER) Todd Phillips (“Joker”) Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”) Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”)

Again, the winner is the only film I haven’t seen. I can vouch all the other directors were great.

Best Screenplay — Motion Picture Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story”) Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin Won (“Parasite”) Anthony McCarten (“The Two Popes”) Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) (WINNER) Steven Zaillian (“The Irishman”)

Ok, it pains me to say this, but Tarantino should not have gotten this one. Give his film any other award but this one! He did a decent job of directing, his cast gave great performances, the wardrobe and production design was fabulous, the editing is solid, even the music was alright (ok, fine, don’t nominate the film for its music neither)... but the weak link in Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood is the story. It’s so beneath what QT can do, it’s like QT made palatable. So please don’t recognize him for this script out of all his scripts. Don’t encourage him to write more scripts like this one. Nevermind that every other film on this list had a better script than his. If I got to pick, I’d have chosen The Irishman, but would have accepted any of the other three as winner.

Best Motion Picture — Foreign Language

“The Farewell” (A24) “Les Misérables” (Amazon) “Pain and Glory” (Sony Pictures Classics) “Parasite” (Neon) (WINNER) “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” (Neon)

“Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films” Preach Boon Joon-Ho! I’m actually very impressed with the list of nominees this year and I’m even more pleased the best film won.

Best Motion Picture — Animated

“Frozen 2” (Disney) “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” (Universal) “The Lion King” (Disney) “Missing Link” (United Artists) (WINNER) “Toy Story 4” (Disney)

Best Original Score — Motion Picture

Alexandre Desplat (“Little Women”) Hildur Guðnadóttir (“Joker”) (WINNER) Randy Newman (“Marriage Story”) Thomas Newman (“1917”) Daniel Pemberton (“Motherless Brooklyn”)

I don’t know that any score in particular stood out for me this year, but now that you mention it, Joker did have a pretty great score. It was mentioned that Hildur Guonadottir also wrote the score for Chernobyl and that one was affecting.

Best Original Song — Motion Picture

“Beautiful Ghosts” (“Cats”) “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” (“Rocketman”) (WINNER) “Into the Unknown” (“Frozen 2”) “Spirit” (“The Lion King”) “Stand Up” (“Harriet”)

Why don’t I know a single one of these songs?

Best Television Series — Drama

“Big Little Lies” (HBO) “The Crown” (Netflix) “Killing Eve” (BBC America) “The Morning Show” (Apple TV Plus) “Succession” (HBO) (WINNER)

I should watch Succession.

Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy

“Barry” (HBO) “Fleabag” (Amazon) (WINNER) “The Kominsky Method” (Netflix) “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon) “The Politician” (Netflix)

I should really watch Fleabag.

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

“Catch-22″ (Hulu) “Chernobyl” (HBO) (WINNER) “Fosse/Verdon” (FX) The Loudest Voice (Showtime) “Unbelievable” (Netflix)

Everyone should watch Chernobyl. I stood in front of Reactor 4 shortly before the series aired and when I shared my photos from overseas people were freaking out. I got home and watched the series for myself and truly understood why.

Best Actress in a Television Series — Drama

Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”) Olivia Colman (“The Crown”) (WINNER) Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve”) Nicole Kidman (“Big Little Lies”) Reese Witherspoon (“The Morning Show”)

Best Actor in a Television Series — Drama

Brian Cox (“Succession”) (WINNER) Kit Harington (“Game of Thrones”) Rami Malek (“Mr. Robot”) Tobias Menzies (“The Crown”) Billy Porter (“Pose”)

Best Actress in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy

Christina Applegate (“Dead to Me”) Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) Kirsten Dunst (“On Becoming a God in Central Florida”) Natasha Lyonne (“Russian Doll”) Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”) (WINNER)

Best Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy

Michael Douglas (“The Kominsky Method”) Bill Hader (“Barry”) Ben Platt (“The Politician”) Paul Rudd (“Living With Yourself”) Ramy Youssef (“Ramy”) (WINNER)

Best Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Kaitlyn Dever (“Unbelievable”) Joey King (“The Act”) Helen Mirren (“Catherine the Great”) Merritt Wever (“Unbelievable”) Michelle Williams (“Fosse/Verdon”) (WINNER)

Michelle Williams for best acceptance speech for the night - amiright?

Best Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Christopher Abbott (“Catch-22”) Sacha Baron Cohen (“The Spy”) Russell Crowe (“The Loudest Voice”) (WINNER) Jared Harris (“Chernobyl”) Sam Rockwell (“Fosse/Verdon”)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Patricia Arquette (“The Act”) (WINNER) Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”) Toni Collette (“Unbelievable”) Meryl Streep (“Big Little Lies”) Emily Watson (“Chernobyl”)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Alan Arkin (“The Kominsky Method”) Kieran Culkin (“Succession”) Andrew Scott (“Fleabag”) Stellan Skarsgård (“Chernobyl”) (WINNER) Henry Winkler (“Barry”)

Well, that’s me and my two cents. Between the SAG Awards being a couple weeks away and us being in the midst of our January 30 Films in 31 Days film challenge I gotta get back to watching more films stat!

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weekendwarriorblog · 5 years ago

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Welcome to Awards Season Part 3 – The Performances of 2019

Okay, things went a bit haywire with my scheduling on what I hoped to be an ongoing (and weekly) column/series, but to be perfectly honest, I need to focus on paid writing work. I actually had a whole second part of the movies piece that talked about the movies that premiered in the September festival season and in recent months, but it was going very, VERY long, and I just didn’t have time to finish it. It would have been great, as The Godfathers* once sang, “If I Only Had the Time.” (*Look ‘em up on Spotify.. this is a real band and they’re awesome!)

Instead, as you can determine by the title above, I want to talk about some of the actors in this year’s awards races, which has become quite a bit more competitive than it has in years past.

What’s interesting about the Oscar acting race is that there are some really strong precursors like the Golden Globes, Critics Choice and SAG, but they’re all different groups with only SAG having any membership overlap with the Academy. All three groups have announced their nominations with the actual awards being presented over the next few weeks. The first two winners will be announced before the Oscar nominations on Jan 13, and then SAG announces a week later.

Another thing to note is that everyone has a different opinion of what makes a great performance. Some like really emotive performances, others appreciate transformative roles where you no longer recognize the actors, and in some cases, a movie just has such a good script that an actor’s ability to deliver those lines is enough to honor their roles. We have some of all of those below, and this has been an amazing year where we have a number of tough acting categories to fill.

Often, all the voting groups might agree on three or four nominees in each acting category and there’s one or two slots open for others but this year definitely seems to be a lot of possibilities with some categories only have one or two sure-things, which can lead to a lot of surprises when Oscar nominations are announced on Monday morning, January 13.

THE ONE-OFFS

There are a couple movies that are getting a lot of attention for their lead performances, usually title roles, and that’s almost the only thing that’s getting any mention. Two or three of these days may get Oscar nominations, but it’s repeatedly been tough for actors to win in movies not nominated for Best Picture and only one of these three stands a chance in getting more than an acting award.

Joker

Todd Phillips’ take on a Batman villain origin story doesn’t have a ton of agreement on why it’s good or bad, but one thing everyone can agree on is Joaquin Phoenix’s harrowing portrayal of Arthur Fleck, which actually gives the late Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning portrayal of the character in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knighta run for its money. Even though none of the other performances in the movie are getting attention, I totally can see this getting other nominations for screenplay, technical categories and maybe even Best Picture which puts Phoenix in good place as a front runner for lead actor.

Judy

Another brilliant performance that no one can deny is Renee Zellweggerchanneling an older Judy Garland in this biopic that sees the aging singer/actor trying to mount a comeback at a series of London dates. It reminded me a lot of last year’s Stan and Olliebut Zellwegger has never been better in terms of what she puts into transforming into Garland when onstage performing but also creating an incredibly emotional

Rocketman

Another movie that I wish was getting more transaction is this Elton John musical that’s filled with his music but is equally brilliant for Taron Egerton’s performance for the veteran music man, a role that involves him singing all of his own vocals (unlike last year’s Oscar winner Rami Malik in Bohemian Rhapsody) and performing very emotional scenes. I love the movie, and I was glad to see Egerton get both

Dolemite is My Name

The last time Eddie Murphy was seriously a contender in the awards race was for his supporting role in 2006’s Dreamgirls, although he ended up losing the Oscar to Alan Arkin after winning SAG and the Golden Globe. Murphy is going all-out for his portrayal of Rudy Ray Moore in a movie that harks back to James Franco in The Disaster Artista few years back. Murphy already received a Golden Globe nomination in the Musical/Comedy category where his toughest competition may be Taron Egerton, but Murphy’s comeback trail might be paved with a second Golden Globe after six nominations.

Hustlers

The other actor getting almost all the attention for her movie is Jennifer Lopezin this crime-drama set in the world of strip clubs, and she already has enough support that she could be considered one of the frontrunners in the supporting actress category. Still, it’s going to be hard for Oscar voters to take her or the movie too seriously due to the subject matter, so like Murphy, she’s doing a lot of extra-curricular stuff to get her out there (like performing half-time at the Super Bowl), which should guarantee Lopez a well-deserved Oscar nomination.

Jordan Peele’s follow-up to Get Outmay not have gotten as much awards traction, but considering that it came out in March, the support its getting for its star Lupita Nyong’oboth from critics and from early awards voters is refreshing for her performance in what is a straight-up genre film. She did not receive a Golden Globe nomination but her SAG nomination over other favorites (like Awkwafina) makes her a serious contender for a second Oscar nomination. (She won the Oscar for her first nomination in 12 Years a Slave.)

Uncut Gems

After a strong platform release, the Safdie Brothers’ new crime-comedy-thriller (?), starring Adam Sandler, has opened nationwide, and Sandler’s performance is getting a lot of the praise and accolades for the movie, although he wasn’t nominated for a Golden Globe (possibly cause of the film’s confusing genre classification, although Sandler was previously nominated for Punch Drunk Loveyears ago). It did get a Critics Choice nomination as well as an Independent Spirit nomination, but it seems like a tough battle to convert that into an Oscar nod.

Harriet

There’s something to be said about Cynthia Erivo’s performance as Harriet Tubman in an otherwise weak biopic (compared to some of the others this year), but she has already been nominated in all three previous precursors (SAG, Golden Globes, Critics Choice) which puts her in a good place to get one of five nominations. The question is whether she’ll get a nomination on the merits of the movie and her performance or if it’s a response to #OscarsSoWhite and the lack of women of color other than possibly Awkwafina, which would put her up against Lupita.

Just Mercy

Destin Daniel Cretton’s adaptation of this popular novel hasn’t been getting nearly as much critical or awards traction as other movies, but it’s best bet is Jamie Foxxas a prisoner on Death Row, which also got a surprising SAG nomination despite not receiving any other awards. We’ll see if the movie gets any traction now that it’s in limited release. It will only hit theaters nationwide just as the Oscar nomination process is closing.

THE ENSEMBLES

A good problem for a movie to have is to have so many great performances by its cast that it’s hard to just single out one great performance. Sometimes, this means that it’s best best is in the SAG Ensemble category rather than in individual ones, but there are a few where there are clear standouts in an overall great cast.

Parasite

Bong Joon-ho’s class dramedy-thriller has gotten a lot of love and attention from critics over the past year since it debuted at Cannes, and a lot of that is due to its amazing cast. There are great performances by mostly unknown Korean actors, some of whom have been working for decades in Korea but you’d be hard-pressed to get anyone to remember any single name. The one exception may be Song Kang-ho, who is easily the Tom Hanks/Cruise of Korea, having worked with Director Bong since the beginning of his career. Lots of

The Irishman

Martin Scorsese’s latest crime-drama about the Jimmy Hoffa disappearance has an amazing ensemble cast, although like Marriage Storyand others above and below, it’s getting the most attention for three amazing performances. Probably the most attention is being paid to two performances: Joe Pesci in his return to the screen after many years, reuniting with Scorsese, and Al Pacino, who shockingly never worked with Scorsese before, instead being the lynchpin of Francis Ford Coppola’s “Godfather” movies. The irony is that they’re both supporting roles to that of Robert De Niro, who not only plays the main character but also originally found the book and brought the project to Scorsese. De Niro is really good in the movie, better than he’s been in years, but it’s not the sort of transformative or emotional role that often gets attention. The fact that BOTH SAG and the Golden Globes left De Niro off their list might prove that there isn’t nearly as much support for this movie, although it’s likely to get two acting nominations in the supporting category.

Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood

In some ways, Quentin Tarantino’s ninth movie is in the exact same boat as Scorsese’s, because it’s a great ensemble but three performances in particular are getting all the attention.Obviously, Leonardo DiCapriois well liked and well-respected by the Academy to receive as many Oscar nominations as he has (before winning for The Revenant), and he’s doing something very different in Tarantino’s latest, definitely more comical. It’s an interesting counterpoint to the performance by Brad Pitt, who is just so dominant in the film in every scene that it’s hard not to think that putting him into the supporting category might help him win much like Christoph Waltz did for Django Unchainedand George Clooney in Syriana. (Oh, the joys of category fraud!) Margot Robbieis also pretty amazing in the film as Sharon Tate, but it’s not nearly as moving and memorable as her performance in…

Bombshell

The Jay Roach-directed Fox News sex scandal movie was released a few weeks back and has expanded nationwide with not much of a fanfare, but the biggest support it’s received is from SAG, who gave it four nominations including the coveted Ensemble Cast nomination against some of the stronger Best Picture contenders like Irishman, Parasiteand Once Upon a Time. Charlize Theron’s multiple nominations as Megyn Kelly by most of the groups, including Golden Globes, definitely gives her an edge to get into the Oscar nominations, and Robbie’s portrayal of a composite character is also quite compelling. Amazingly, Nicole Kidmanalso received a nomination for her turn as Gretchin Carlson, a much smaller role, but that was from SAG, who has more in common with the Academy than other groups. I’m a little bummed that John Lithgowisn’t getting more attention for his performance as Roger Ailes or Kate McKinnonfor that matter.

Little Women

This might be better off in the one-off category, because so much attention is being foisted on Saoirse Ronan’s second performance in a Greta Gerwig movie that other great performances are mostly being ignored. That is, except for Florence Pugh, who is just as amazing playing Amy in two different periods, both younger and more mature. Frankly, I think Timothée Chalametis also terrific (as he is in The King), as is Chris Cooper and Laura Dern, but people have issues with some of the choices made and the movie might be more impressive for Gerwig’s adaptation than any single performance. The fact that this didn’t get a SAG ensemble nomination in a VERY crowded year is somewhat telling, but Ronan was also left off the list which might mean she may have to watch this year’s Oscars from Ireland.

Waves

I also want to mention Trey Edward Schutt’s latest movie, which has fantastic performances by Kelvin Harrison, Jr, newcomer Taylor Russell, Lucas Hedgesand Sterling K. Brown, the latter giving a fine supporting role. Unfortunately, despite the critical support, this one seems to be getting lost in the shuffle of a busier-than-usual fall awards season. The fact that Brown has yet to receive a nomination means this one is probably D.O.A., but still a fine dramatic film.

MULTIPLE PERFORMANCE FILMS OF NOTE

The next few movies also have great ensemble casts but their focus seems to be even more radar-focused on one or two performances, which may be why none of them received SAG Ensemble nominations.

Marriage Story

Noah Baumbach’s relationship drama might be the only movie this year that has a chance at the extremely elusive ability to be nominated in all four acting categories, something we’ve only seen recently with two of David O. Russell’s movies, Silver Linings Playbookand American Hustle. A lot of attention is being focused on the powerful, emotional performances by Adam Driverand Scarlett Johanssonand rightfully so, but Laura Dernis pretty amazing as the latter’s divorce lawyer, and it’s so wonderful to see Alan Aldaon screen as one of Driver’s kinder lawyers. This might be another case where the screenplay is so good that all the actors are doing their best work, although the lack of a SAG Ensemble nomination (despite those great performances) and Baumbach not receiving a Golden Globe nomination for directing also puts a slight damper. So far, the first three actors have received nominations from every precursor group and that should help get them Oscar nominations, although Dern has the best chances at converting her nomination to an actual Oscar since she doesn’t have as much definite competition.

The Farewell

We then get into the Sundance premieres that I spoke about last time, and Lulu Wang’s personal dramedy about going to China to visit her dying Nana, who was unaware of her condition. The movie has a beautiful performance by Awkwafina, one of last year’s breakout stars. She has already received Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations but was ignored by SAG in favor of others. That doesn’t mean that she’s completely out of the race and to the actor’s credit, she’s been doing the most in terms of getting out there and talking about the movie/role, which will keep her on people’s minds when filling out their awards ballot. It’s hard not to give equal credit to the Chinese actress, Zhao Shuzhen, for her performance as Nana, although she hasn’t received nearly as much early awards recognition, just a Critics Choice nomination. If you remember, Alfonso Cuaron’s Romagot a supporting actress nomination for a lesser-known Mexican actress, so maybe this film will get similar love. As much as I love this movie, I feel that both actors are starting to become outliers within very crowded categories, but it’s hard to deny what they both bring to Wang’s film.

The Two Popes

One of four Netflix movies that the streaming service is pushing is this drama that features a fantastic script by Anthony McCarten (Darkest Hour) and two amazing performances by Jonathan Pryceand Anthony Hopkins, which certainly deserve accolades. The question is whether the Academy members give much support to the movie over others in a very crowded year. If this movie is able to get a Best Picture nomination or screenplay, one can probably assume that one or both actors will get nominated but it seems like Hopkins has a better chance, just cause Pryce is competing in a much tougher Lead Actor category. Both actors received Golden Globe nominations and Hopkins was nominated for a Critics Choice nod, but neither received SAG nominations, which isn’t great for their Oscar chances.

Clemency

A movie that just got released (today, in fact) after first premiering at Sundance all the way back in January might be in a place where it’s been forgotten by some and not seen by others, which is a shame, since the performances by Alfre Woodard and Aldis Hodgeare two of the year’s best even though the movie is definitely a tougher drama, maybe even than the somewhat similar Just Mercy. Unlike that one, this movie probably won’t even get a wide release, so it will probably get lost in the shuffle.

The Report

Another movie that got a ton of attention out of Sundance but has lost a lot traction since is Scott Z. Burns’ political thriller starring Adam Driverand Annette Bening, the latter as Senator Dianne Feinstein, who oddly is getting more attention than Driver. (It might since Driver is so much better in Marriage Storythat few are paying much heed to his equally great performance in this.) Bening did get a Golden Globe nomination but no SAG OR Critics Choice, so it feels like she may be an outlier in the supporting actress category.

Richard Jewell

An otherwise decent real-life drama that has been mired in politics and other stuff is Clint Eastwood’s new movie about the Atlanta Olympics bombing and the title security guard, as played by Paul Walter Hauser, who helped save lives but then was accused of planting the bomb. Hauser is quite fantastic, as is Kathy Batesas his mother, but only the latter has gotten any awards attention with her Golden Globe nomination.

DECENT PERFORMANCES IN OTHERWISE TOUGHER SELLS

The four movies below are likely to be remembered as the movies that people liked but didn’t get as much attention for their performances as for more technical aspects.

The Lighthouse

Another movie that got quite a bit of critical attention at Cannes ala Parasite but hasn’t been able to convert that into much attention beyond that is Robert Eggers’ second movie that relies so much on the two-hander performances by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. Dafoe seemed like a shoe-in to get a fifth Oscar nomination for his role – personally, I thought he was better in Edward Norton’s Motherless Brooklyn– but supporting actor has just become far too competitive in the later months of the year.

Jojo Rabbit

Taiki Waititi’s Nazi satire has many fans – I’m not one of them – but winning the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival is one of the precursors for the Academy’s Best Picture category that can’t be ignored. On top of that, Scarlett Johansson (already sitting pretty with her inevitable Marriage Storynomination) was nominated by SAG and the Critics Choice in the supporting category, which shows support for the movie, even though the Golden Globes only nominated her co-star Roman Griffin Davisas filler in the Actor, Musical/Comedy category. (He also could be a frontrunner for the Critics Choice Young Actor/Actress.) The thing is that they might have a tougher time at the Oscars, especially with so many other options in the supporting actress category.

Ford vs. Ferrari

I guess I’m a bigger fan of James Mangold’s racing drama than many of my fellow critics, and yet, many were surprised by the amount of support that Christian Balehas been getting in the earlier side of awards season, most notably with SAG and Golden Globe nominations, yet nada from the Critics Choice (my own group!). That’s really interesting, and it shows continued support and respect for the frequently-nominated Oscar winner, and we’ll have to see if that can translate to another Oscar nomination.

1917

Sam Mendes’ movie is fantastic and is likely to get a lot of Oscar nominations and George MacKay’s performance is one that really should be getting more attention, although it’s likely to get lost in the shuffle of the amazing visuals and action of this very personal war movie.

Honey Boy

Another movie that is definitely getting a little lost in the shuffle is Alma Har’el’s narrative feature debut based on Shia LaBeouf’s screenplay, in which LaBesouf stars as a version of his own abusive Hollywood father. It also has fantastic performances by young Noah Jupe, also great in Ford v Ferrariand Lucas Hedges, but it’s a tougher movie and like Waves, it’s hard to get people to see this when there are so many bigger and stronger movies.

I have more to write about the Oscar race and maybe next time I’ll make some actual predictions… again, time permitting.

#WelcomeToAwardsseason Oscars SAG Performances Movies

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