#it was so fun to do and dev Patel is an amazing man I’m glad he finally got his shine

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One of my favourite movies of the year.

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Thoughts on the 89th Academy Awards

A.k.a. I didn’t watch that many movies last year, but I kept a LIST, and now a lot of those on that list are nominated and I’ll do my very best to watch most of them before the Oscars. 

A quick thought if you can’t be bothered to read the long post of me talking about the nominations under the cut: The thing is, with how the Oscars work, movies that a lot of people have seen that are also nominated will likely win a lot. Because the people who vote at the Oscars have never seen everything and people will vote for what they have seen. Sometimes that ends up being something that people thought deserve to win and sometimes not. That’s how these types of voting systems work. 

By which I mean to say that La La Land is going to win a hell of a lot. And I don’t doubt that it doesn’t deserve it (and I really really want to see it), but some people are going to be upset about that, and say it’s more because of the hype than because it deserves it. As I said, I can’t tell the truth of that, since I haven’t seen it yet. I bet there’s going to be some cases of that, but in the Oscars, it’s really common that more than one of the nominees deserve to win equally as much as the rest. It’s the Oscars. I try not to take it that seriously. What can you do.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ it’s like the anime awards 2016 all over again

On a positive note though, what a diverse year in terms of Oscars nominations! Both in front and behind the camera. That’s great. Not fixing the problem, but moving forward. Let’s just hope people keep on celebrating these movies so that even more get made.

Kinda disappointed neither A Monster Calls or Deadpool was nominated for anything, but it is what it is. Deadpool would have been fun though. Biggest surprise is probably that Silence wasn’t nominated for more than it was. But there was a lot of great movies coming out last year. 

But yeah, on the important stuff. Under the cut are almost all of the categories and the few thoughts I have on them as well as predictions and whatever else I come up with. Because I’ve seen so very little. But I’ll try to change that.

First off, I’ll be skipping because Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary (Short Subject) and Best Short Film (Live Action) because I haven’t anything useful to say on them since I usually don’t keep up with those. But I hope they all do well and I bet they’re great. 

Second, bolded (unless it’s a category title) means I’ve seen it (there are so few, the shame) and cursive means it was on my list I was planning to see. I might end up watching some of the others, but the cursive ones are my priorities because I’ve wanted to see them for a long time. 

BEST PICTURE La La Land Moonlight Manchester by the Sea Arrival Lion Hidden Figures Hacksaw Ridge Hell or High Water Fences

Also known as that one category people actually care about. 

And I haven’t seen a single one. Which kind of makes me sad. But oh well. Hidden Figures, Arrival and La La Land are the ones on the top of my list that I really need to see. Especially Arrival. And I’m really happy there’s a sci-fi movie among the Best Picture nominees. However, I am pretty sure La La Land is going to win this one, judging by what I’ve heard people more invested than me say. I am so glad all of these movies got nominated though, because I’ve heard great things about all of them, and nomination in itself is a great sign. 

BEST DIRECTOR Damien Chazelle – La La Land Barry Jenkins – Moonlight Kenneth Lonergan – Manchester by the Sea Denis Villeneuve – Arrival Mel Gibson – Hacksaw Ridge

Ugh. The thing is, from what I’ve heard, on simply the basis of directing, Mel Gibson did a stellar job here. But I don’t want him to win. Because. Ugh. Mel Gibson. If it happens it happens. They are after all supposed to vote on the direction of the movie, and not Mel Gibson as a person. But you know how it is.

Again, I’m thinking La La Land is going to take this one. I’m holding a torch for Arrival and Fences though, because I’ve heard such good thing about both of them. Not that I haven’t heard good things about La La Land and I’m sure it deserves all those good things, but just that I feel like I need to hold a torch for someone that isn’t the obvious winner. And again, I haven’t seen any of them, so, can’t really say more than that. They were all on my list of movies to see last year though, so hopefully I’ll manage to get around to them before the gala.

BEST ACTRESS Emma Stone – La La Land Natalie Portman – Jackie Isabelle Huppert – Elle Meryl Streep – Florence Foster Jenkins Ruth Negga – Loving

While I’ve heard wonderful things about Ruth Negga in Loving, I think Emma Stone is going take this one. But who knows, Meryl Streep could just descend from the ceiling and sweep it up.

BEST ACTOR Casey Affleck – Manchester by the Sea Denzel Washington – Fences Andrew Garfield – Hacksaw Ridge Ryan Gosling – La La Land Viggo Mortensen – Captain Fantastic

While I would love for Viggo Mortensen to get this, because I have a feeling I’ll really like Captain Fantastic, I don’t think he’s got a chance. From what I’ve heard, Casey Affleck is one that people are saying who is most likely to win. I have issues with Casey Affleck, but I’ll just refer back to my Gibson discussion above. Would be fun if Denzel Washington won, either for this or director. I’ve heard he’s great. I think this is one of those categories that La La Land is a bit less likely to win, but I think it could, just by the name alone, and that most people have seen it. I have also heard really great things about Andrew Garfield in Hacksaw Ridge, plus he was in Silence. So who knows? This is a tough one. 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Viola Davis – Fences Michelle Williams – Manchester by the Sea Naomie Harris – Moonlight Nicole Kidman – Lion Octavia Spencer – Hidden Figures

GIVE VIOLA DAVIS AN OSCAR. No okay but I’ve heard stellar things about all of these, but Viola Davis has clearly been at the top of that. Can’t say much about anything else, since I haven’t seen the movies. Really wanna see Hidden Figures though. I’ll get there.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Mahershala Ali – Moonlight Jeff Bridges – Hell or High Water Dev Patel – Lion Lucas Hedges – Manchester by the Sea Michael Shannon – Nocturnal Animals

I literally have nothing to say about this. I know so very little about these movies. I’ve heard both Michael Shannon’s and Mahershala Ali’s names tossed around a lot. But that’s about it. 

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Moonlight – Barry Jenkins, Tarell McCraney Arrival – Eric Heisserer Lion – Luke Davies Fences – August Wilson Hidden Figures – Allison Schroeder, Theodore Melfi

Again, I think A Monster Calls was kind of robbed. Oh well. Again, difficult for me to say anything, but I do hope Hidden Figures wins at least SOMETHING. 

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

Hey, I have a friend who talked a lot about The Lobster. Fun to see that there. Not a clue what 20th Century Women is, haven’t heard of it. Kinda sad Zootopia isn’t here, or Moana. Or Kubo. But that’s what they usually do to animated films. Probably going to be won by La La Land. 

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

My guess would be La La Land (original, I know) or Silence. But I honestly have no idea. Arrival I’ve heard great things about (also first African-American to get nominated for Best Cinematography! That’s worth celebrating). 

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE Zootopia Moana Kubo and the Two Strings The Red Turtle My Life as a Zucchini

HEY LOOK IT’S A MOVIE I’VE WATCHED. Moana still isn’t out here, and I missed Kubo while it was out, but those are two movies I really want to see. My guess would be that Moana wins, surely deservedly so, but Zootopia was just so good. I loved it. I am so glad to see Kubo nominated though, since stop-motion really doesn’t get the attention it should, and here we have not one but TWO of them nominated, and even though I have not yet seen Kubo, I’m pretty sure that I’ll love it, if just for the soundtrack (which I have listened to), alone.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM Tanna – Australia Land of Mine – Denmark Toni Erdmann – Germany The Salesman – Iran A Man Called Ove – Sweden

I’ve actually only heard of two movies on this list, so I was considering skipping it, but I just couldn’t. Because I adore the book A Man Called Ove is based on, and it’s so funny to me that it’s nominated for not one but TWO Oscars. I can’t say much else, other than that out of the two I know, I’m pretty sure Tony Erdmann will win, but I know very little about the other two so I can’t really say that with much conviction. 

BEST ORIGINAL SONG “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” – La La Land “City of Stars” – La La Land “How Far I’ll Go” – Moana “Can’t Stop the Feeling” – Trolls “The Empty Chair” - Jim: The James Foley Story

As much as I want Moana to win, this is going to go to La La Land. I’ve only heard one of these, and it’s a La La Land song. And from what I’ve heard, Audition is really good as well. Sad that not more Moana songs are on here though. 

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE La La Land – Justin Hurwitz Lion – Dustin O’Halloran and Hauschka Moonlight – Nicholas Britell Jackie – Mica Levi Passengers – Thomas Newman

LA LA LAND IS GOING TO WIN THIS ONE. But honestly, I’d be fine with everything as long as Passengers don’t get close to it. Out of spite. 

BEST FILM EDITING La La Land – Tom Cross Moonlight – Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders Hacksaw Ridge – John Gilbert Arrival – Joe Walker Hell or High Water – Jake Roberts

I’m going to throw out a wild guess here, and say La La Land, but I’ve heard amazing things about Moonlight, and if La La Land picks up nearly everything else, it would be nice to see it win something. Great to see it keep on getting nominated though, as well as Arrival. 

BEST VISUAL EFFECT Deepwater Horizon The Jungle Book Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Doctor Strange Kubo and the Two Strings

A CATEGORY WHERE I’VE SEEN MORE THAN ONE THING. TRULY A MIRACLE. (I am so predictable.)

I am 95% sure that The Jungle Book are going to take this one. It’s really great to see a stop-motion movie nominated for this category, and I don’t think it’s a loss if it doesn’t win, because at least it got acknowledged. Rogue One did some amazing new things with CGI (which I know people like to complain about, but I really can’t say that that was anything else than fantastic what they’ve managed to do and how they’ve developed that technology). But however creative and ground-breaking Rogue One was with a few effects, that was the entirety of The Jungle Book. That entire movie, except for the boy, is a special effect. It’s filmed on a green screen in a studio in Los Angeles, and there were many times I honestly could not tell. And the animals were absolutely fantastic. So yeah, I don’t feel that bad giving this to The Jungle Book. 

BEST COSTUME DESIGN Allied – Joanna Johnston Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – Colleen Atwood Florence Foster Jenkins – Consolata Boyle Jackie – Madeline Fontaine La La Land – Mary Zophres

I’m just so glad Fantastic Beasts got a nomination, and while I think La La Land will win this one, having a shout-out for the amazing costumes in Fantastic Beasts is very nice. 

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING Suicide Squad – Alessandro Bertolazzi A Man Called Ove – Love Larson and Eva Con Bahr Star Trek Beyond – S. Anne Carroll and Joel Harlow

Ah yes, the Oscars nominated movie Suicide Squad. Sigh. No but I honestly don’t know with this one. I’d prefer if Suicide Squad doesn’t get it, for simply personal reasons, but I don’t know which of the other two will get it. From what I know the age make up in A Man Called Ove was really great, and I never really thought much about the makeup and hairstyling in Star Trek Beyond, but I don’t think I dare to hope that A Man Called Ove would win this one. But who knows?

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – Stuart Craig, James Hambige, Anna Pinnock Hail, Caesar! – Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh La La Land – David Wasco, Sandy Reynolds-Wasco Arrival – Patrice Vermette Passengers – Guy Hendrix Dyas

Probably going to be another La La Land win, but the Fantastic Beasts and Arrival nominations have also made me very happy. 

BEST SOUND EDITING Arrival Deepwater Horizon Hacksaw Ridge La La Land Sully

I’m just going to have ‘Probably La La Land’ as my standard answer when I don’t know much about these movies. But Sound Editing and Sound Design sometimes surprises me. 

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

GIVE ROGUE ONE AN OSCAR but also probably La La Land. 

BEST SHORT FILM (ANIMATED) Pearl Pear Cider and Cigarettes Piper Blind Vaysha Borrowed Time

I haven’t actually heard about any of these except for Piper and Borrowed Time, but I’m really curious about the other ones. No idea what will win, but Borrowed Time has been on my to watch list for AGES. I should get around to that.