Oscar Predictions: Round One

Happy New Year! To celebrate 2017 coming to an end, here's the first round of my Oscar predictions. * = Predicted winner.

Picture:

The Big Sick
Call Me By Your Name
Dunkirk
The Florida Project
Get Out*
I, Tonya
Lady Bird
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Director:

Sean Baker - The Florida Project
Guillermo del Toro - The Shape of Water
Greta Gerwig - Lady Bird
Christopher Nolan - Dunkirk*
Jordan Peele - Get Out

Lead Actor:

Timothy Chalamat - Call Me By Your Name
James Franco - The Disaster Artist*
Daniel Kaluuya - Get Out
Gary Oldman - Darkest Hour
Robert Pattinson - Good Time

Lead Actress:

Jessica Chastain - Molly’s Game
Sally Hawkins - The Shape of Water
Frances McDormand - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Margot Robbie - I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan - Lady Bird*

Sup. Actor:

Willem Dafoe - The Florida Project
Armie Hammer - Call Me By Your Name
Richard Jenkins - The Shape of Water
Sam Rockwell - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri*
Michael Stuhlbarg - Call Me By Your Name

Sup. Actress:

Mary J. Blige - Mundbound
Hong Chau - Downsizing
Holly Hunter - The Big Sick
Allison Janney - I, Tonya
Laurie Metcalf - Lady Bird*

Original Screenplay:

The Big Sick
Get Out*
Lady Bird
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Adapted Screenplay:

The Beguiled
Call Me By Your Name*
The Disaster Artist
Molly’s Game
Mudbound

Production Design:

Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
Get Out
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water*

Cinematography:

Blade Runner 2049*
Call Me By Your Name
Dunkirk
Mudbound
The Shape of Water

Costume Design:

Beauty and the Beast
Dunkirk
Phantom Thread*
The Shape of Water
Wonder Woman

Film Editing:

Baby Driver
Dunkirk*
Good Time
I, Tonya
The Shape of Water

Hair/Makeup:

Darkest Hour
I, Tonya*
Wonder

Sound Editing:

Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk*
Logan
War for the Planet of the Apes

Sound Mixing:
Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk*
Logan
War for the Planet of the Apes

Visual Effects:

Alien: Covenant
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water*
War for the Planet of the Apes

Original Score:

Dunkirk
Phantom Thread
The Post
The Shape of Water*
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Original Song:

Coco - “Remember Me”*
Cries from Syria - “Prayers for This World”
The Greatest Showman - “This Is Me”
Marshall - “Stand Up for Something”
Mudbound - “Mighty River”

Animated Film:

The Breadwinner
Cars 3
Coco*
The LEGO Batman Movie
Loving Vincent

Foreign Language:

A Fantastic Woman
Foxtrot
In the Fade
Loveless
The Square*

Documentary:

Chasing Coral
Ex Libris
Faces Places
Jane*
Last Men in Aleppo

December 2017 Releases I Hope to See

Happy Holidays, readers! As we go into this festive time of year, let's take a look at a few films that have my interest or have some sort of awards potential. * = Awards potentials.

The Shape of Water - dir. Guillermo Del Toro*

Whether you like Del Toro's work or not, no one can deny that he always has interesting films. At the very least, we can admire his use for practical effects. This film also has a spectacular cast. 

The Disaster Artist - dir. James Franco*

Of course, I'm going to see this! Why wouldn't I? What do you think I am, a little chicken? Cheep cheep cheep cheeeeeep. But seriously, I love The Room, I love The Disaster Artist book by Greg Sestero (oh hai, Mark), so you can bet I'm excited to see this.

Wonder Wheel - dir. Woody Allen*

I'll be honest, the only reason I'm including this is that Allen is a guy that draws buzz around award season. Though chances are I'm going to skip it. Allen just creeps me out. Seriously, who marries their ex's daughter? Let's not even go into other controversial aspects of him.

Just Getting Started - dir. Ron Shelton

It could be good. I mean, I had fun with the other Morgan Freeman comedy this year Going in Style so... this could be good... I guess.

I, Tonya - dir. Craig Gillespie*

An interesting topic for a biopic and I'm always up for Margot Robbie. I've heard nothing but great things about this movie so far.

Quest - dir. Jonathan Olshefski*

A really interesting looking documentary.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi - dir. Rian Johnson*

Star WAAAAAAAAAAARS, nothin' but Star WAAAAAAAAARS... and yes I preordered my ticket.

Gotti - dir. Kevin Connolly

This is pretty much here because it was filmed in Cincinnati. It's always cool to see my hometown be used as a filming location. And Stacy Keach is in it, that's always a plus. 

The Ballad of Lefty Brown  - dir. Jared Moshe*

It's a Western. I love Westerns. It's a Western from A24. I'm sold.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle - dir. Jake Kasdan*

It looks like a fun action/adventure film. It's also from the director of Walk Hard so I'm certain it's going to be funny. 

The Greatest Showman - dir. Michael Gracey*

This seems like a poorly timed release given that Ringley Bros. Circus just closed down. But Jackman is charming, so maybe he can make this an okay film to watch. But this looks like an Oscar bate movie. I hate to use that term but it's how I feel. 

Downsizing - dir. Alexander Payne*

Alexander Payne is one of my favorite directors working today. Nebraska (2013) is one of my favorites of the decade and Sideways (2004) is one of my favorite films of all time. Though I'm not too sure how I feel about this movie based on the trailer.

All the Money in the World - dir. Ridley Scott*

I am so happy about the reshoots with Christopher Plummer. First reason, because the multiple allegations against Kevin Spacey couldn't be ignored. Second, Plummer doesn't need any silly makeup.

The Post - dir. Steven Spielberg*

I love Spotlight so I'm more than certain I'm going to love this.

Hostiles - dir. Scott Cooper*

The cast looks great, I like the director, and as I said earlier I love Westerns.

Happy End - dir. Michael Haneke*

I'm mainly including this because of the buzz it's getting for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars.

Molly's Game - dir. Aaron Sorkin*

I'm always up for a Jessica Chastain film. Add in Idris Elba and I'm sold.

Phantom Thread - dir. Paul Thomas Anderson*

I haven't watched all of Anderson's films and the ones I've haven't thrilled me as much. But this is Daniel Day-Lewis's last film so it should be watched for that.

In the Fade - dir. Fatih Akin*

Another movie that's got Best Foreign Language Film Oscar buzz.

Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool - dir. Paul McGuigan*

Annette Bening and Jamie Bell. Sounds good to me.