It's that time of year again, where I remember that I have a film blog and cast my opinions into the internet about who should win the Oscars. I suspect it will all go a bit predictably, but that is a good thing as all the favourites are awesome. As with previous years, I'll list the nominees first, and put a star by those that I've managed to see this year. Here we go...
Best Picture
Nominees:
Call Me By Your Name
* Darkest Hour
* Dunkirk
* Get Out
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
* The Post
* The Shape of Water
* Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Prediction: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
This is a tough one to call between Shape of Water and Three Billboards, but I think Three Billboards will just edge it. They're both beautiful films in their own ways, but Three Billboards is that little bit wittier and the character arcs a bit more complex. That said, it's quite rare for a film to win Best Picture that hasn't also been nominated for Best Director, and despite being thoroughly deserving of a nomination, Three Billboards director Martin McDonagh was snubbed in that category. It could go either way but Three Billboards won the equivalent awards at the Globes and BAFTAs, so that would be my guess. The other nominees that I have seen were all great too but I don't think they're quite going to be good enough...
Best Picture
Nominees:
Call Me By Your Name
* Darkest Hour
* Dunkirk
* Get Out
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
* The Post
* The Shape of Water
* Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Prediction: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
This is a tough one to call between Shape of Water and Three Billboards, but I think Three Billboards will just edge it. They're both beautiful films in their own ways, but Three Billboards is that little bit wittier and the character arcs a bit more complex. That said, it's quite rare for a film to win Best Picture that hasn't also been nominated for Best Director, and despite being thoroughly deserving of a nomination, Three Billboards director Martin McDonagh was snubbed in that category. It could go either way but Three Billboards won the equivalent awards at the Globes and BAFTAs, so that would be my guess. The other nominees that I have seen were all great too but I don't think they're quite going to be good enough...
Actor in a Leading Role
Nominees:
Timothee Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name)
Daniel Day Lewis (Phantom Thread)
* Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out)
* Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour)
Denzel Washington (Roman J Israel, Esq.)
Prediction: Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour)
I've only seen two of the nominees in this category this year, and much as I love Daniel Kaluuya I doubt he'll beat Gary Oldman. Given that Oldman has won the Best Actor award in basically every other awards ceremony this year, I doubt any of the others will beat him either (although never rule out Daniel Day Lewis, who has always been a favourite of the Academy and is supposedly retiring after Phantom Thread). Oldman thoroughly deserves it too - his Churchill is fantastic, showing real depth and emotion despite the thick layers of prosthetics, which must have been really challenging. You really feel for him throughout the film, and when he gets to his famous speech, it's every bit as inspiring as it was when the real Churchill did it in 1940. He's one of those actors who's been a highlight of every film you've seen him in, and it's about time that was recognised.
Nominees:
Timothee Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name)
Daniel Day Lewis (Phantom Thread)
* Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out)
* Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour)
Denzel Washington (Roman J Israel, Esq.)
Prediction: Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour)
I've only seen two of the nominees in this category this year, and much as I love Daniel Kaluuya I doubt he'll beat Gary Oldman. Given that Oldman has won the Best Actor award in basically every other awards ceremony this year, I doubt any of the others will beat him either (although never rule out Daniel Day Lewis, who has always been a favourite of the Academy and is supposedly retiring after Phantom Thread). Oldman thoroughly deserves it too - his Churchill is fantastic, showing real depth and emotion despite the thick layers of prosthetics, which must have been really challenging. You really feel for him throughout the film, and when he gets to his famous speech, it's every bit as inspiring as it was when the real Churchill did it in 1940. He's one of those actors who's been a highlight of every film you've seen him in, and it's about time that was recognised.
Actress in a Leading Role
Nominees:
* Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water)
* Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
* Margot Robbie (I, Tonya)
Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird)
* Meryl Streep (The Post)
Prediction: Frances McDormand (Three Billboards)
I think this is the first year for a while where I've seen more of the Best Actress nominees than the Best Actor nominees (the only one I haven't seen is Lady Bird, which has only just come out in the UK, but depending on the weather I might try and see it before Sunday night). It's a really strong field - Meryl Streep is one of the most decorated actors ever at the Oscars, Sally Hawkins and Margot Robbie were both utterly brilliant, and I've been a big fan of Saoirse Ronan for a while now. All of that said, there is no way this is going to anyone other than Frances McDormand. She is like a force of nature in Three Billboards, full of rage but with an undercurrent of love and sadness that makes her really likeable and human, even when she's throwing molotov cocktails at a police station. Like Gary Oldman, she's been winning all the awards for this role and I can't see the Academy breaking that trend.
Nominees:
* Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water)
* Frances McDormand (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
* Margot Robbie (I, Tonya)
Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird)
* Meryl Streep (The Post)
Prediction: Frances McDormand (Three Billboards)
I think this is the first year for a while where I've seen more of the Best Actress nominees than the Best Actor nominees (the only one I haven't seen is Lady Bird, which has only just come out in the UK, but depending on the weather I might try and see it before Sunday night). It's a really strong field - Meryl Streep is one of the most decorated actors ever at the Oscars, Sally Hawkins and Margot Robbie were both utterly brilliant, and I've been a big fan of Saoirse Ronan for a while now. All of that said, there is no way this is going to anyone other than Frances McDormand. She is like a force of nature in Three Billboards, full of rage but with an undercurrent of love and sadness that makes her really likeable and human, even when she's throwing molotov cocktails at a police station. Like Gary Oldman, she's been winning all the awards for this role and I can't see the Academy breaking that trend.
Actor in a supporting role
Nominees:
Willem Dafoe (The Florida Project)
* Woody Harrelson (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
* Richard Jenkins (The Shape of Water)
* Christopher Plummer (All the Money in the World)
* Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
Prediction: Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards)
Another one where I suspect the Academy will come to the same decision as every other awards body this year. I've been a fan of Sam Rockwell since Moon and it's great to see his work getting this level of recognition. He is fantastic in Three Billboards and has one of the best character arcs I've ever seen. I don't want to spoil too much about what he goes through, but he starts out as completely horrible and by the end becomes far more human and sympathetic (but still imperfect). Woody Harrelson is incredible too but I think suffers from having slightly less screen time than Rockwell. Plummer did a great job given the fact that he was pulled in at the last minute to be photoshopped over Kevin Spacey, and his nomination is a great testament to that, but I don't think it deserves more than a nomination.
Nominees:
Willem Dafoe (The Florida Project)
* Woody Harrelson (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
* Richard Jenkins (The Shape of Water)
* Christopher Plummer (All the Money in the World)
* Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
Prediction: Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards)
Another one where I suspect the Academy will come to the same decision as every other awards body this year. I've been a fan of Sam Rockwell since Moon and it's great to see his work getting this level of recognition. He is fantastic in Three Billboards and has one of the best character arcs I've ever seen. I don't want to spoil too much about what he goes through, but he starts out as completely horrible and by the end becomes far more human and sympathetic (but still imperfect). Woody Harrelson is incredible too but I think suffers from having slightly less screen time than Rockwell. Plummer did a great job given the fact that he was pulled in at the last minute to be photoshopped over Kevin Spacey, and his nomination is a great testament to that, but I don't think it deserves more than a nomination.
Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominees:
Mary J Blige (Mudbound)
* Allison Janney (I, Tonya)
Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread)
Laurie Metcalfe (Lady Bird)
* Octavia Spencer (The Shape of Water)
Prediction: Allison Janney (I, Tonya)
I've only seen a couple of the nominees in this category, but again it's gone consistently to Allison Janney in the build-up awards and I would be surprised if she doesn't get it here as well. Her character bears a lot of similarities to Frances McDormand in Three Billboards - they both swear (a lot), and both come across as tough as nails. In Janney's case though it's a lot harder to tell whether we should be on her side or not. Her tough love approach to raising her daughter is sometimes so extreme that it calls the love part into question. Coupled with the film's theme of truth as a subjective concept rather than an expression of fact, she becomes someone whose motivations are a complete mystery, which has a risk of distancing her too much from the audience. Janney's performance undercuts all of that by making her the most watchable thing in the film. Whether she's shouting Tonya down about whether or not she was a good mother, or visibly resisting the urge to headbutt a parrot off her shoulder, she's incredibly compelling. Octavia Spencer was great too but this has to go to Janney.
Nominees:
Mary J Blige (Mudbound)
* Allison Janney (I, Tonya)
Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread)
Laurie Metcalfe (Lady Bird)
* Octavia Spencer (The Shape of Water)
Prediction: Allison Janney (I, Tonya)
I've only seen a couple of the nominees in this category, but again it's gone consistently to Allison Janney in the build-up awards and I would be surprised if she doesn't get it here as well. Her character bears a lot of similarities to Frances McDormand in Three Billboards - they both swear (a lot), and both come across as tough as nails. In Janney's case though it's a lot harder to tell whether we should be on her side or not. Her tough love approach to raising her daughter is sometimes so extreme that it calls the love part into question. Coupled with the film's theme of truth as a subjective concept rather than an expression of fact, she becomes someone whose motivations are a complete mystery, which has a risk of distancing her too much from the audience. Janney's performance undercuts all of that by making her the most watchable thing in the film. Whether she's shouting Tonya down about whether or not she was a good mother, or visibly resisting the urge to headbutt a parrot off her shoulder, she's incredibly compelling. Octavia Spencer was great too but this has to go to Janney.
Animated Feature Film
Nominees:
* Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
* Coco
Ferdinand
Loving Vincent
Prediction: Coco
There is a general rule that has been in place since the early 2000s, which is that if Pixar have made a good film, they will probably win the Oscar. Coco is an incredibly good film. The animation quality is stunning, the music is beautiful, and the story is heartwarming and poignant. Everything about it evokes the warmth and vibrancy of Mexico, from the all-Latin cast to the rich colours, gentle lighting and authentic use of instruments in both the score and the songs. It is the one film where a character can melt the audience's hearts by telling a young boy "I hope you die soon." The other nominees are more of a mixed bag. Dreamworks' Boss Baby was surprisingly surreal but not a patch on Pixar at their best (or, for that matter, Dreamworks at their best). The Breadwinner was made by Cartoon Saloon, the company behind the brilliant Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea, and if it's anywhere near as good as them then it could stand a chance. Both of those films were beaten by Disney or Pixar though. Loving Vincent could be recognised for the sheer level of craftsmanship that went into it - every frame is a separate hand painted oil painting in the style of Van Gogh - but without seeing it I don't know if the story was good enough to beat Coco.
Nominees:
* Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
* Coco
Ferdinand
Loving Vincent
Prediction: Coco
There is a general rule that has been in place since the early 2000s, which is that if Pixar have made a good film, they will probably win the Oscar. Coco is an incredibly good film. The animation quality is stunning, the music is beautiful, and the story is heartwarming and poignant. Everything about it evokes the warmth and vibrancy of Mexico, from the all-Latin cast to the rich colours, gentle lighting and authentic use of instruments in both the score and the songs. It is the one film where a character can melt the audience's hearts by telling a young boy "I hope you die soon." The other nominees are more of a mixed bag. Dreamworks' Boss Baby was surprisingly surreal but not a patch on Pixar at their best (or, for that matter, Dreamworks at their best). The Breadwinner was made by Cartoon Saloon, the company behind the brilliant Secret of Kells and Song of the Sea, and if it's anywhere near as good as them then it could stand a chance. Both of those films were beaten by Disney or Pixar though. Loving Vincent could be recognised for the sheer level of craftsmanship that went into it - every frame is a separate hand painted oil painting in the style of Van Gogh - but without seeing it I don't know if the story was good enough to beat Coco.
Cinematography
Nominees:
* Blade Runner 2049
* Darkest Hour
* Dunkirk
Mudbound
* The Shape of Water
Prediction: Blade Runner 2049
This could very easily go to Shape of Water or Dunkirk, but I really hope Blade Runner wins it. Not just because the cinematography is brilliant - the futuristic cityscapes are completely brought to life by the atmosphere of the lighting - but because cinematographer Roger Deakins has been nominated for 14 Oscars (his earliest being the Shawshank Redemption) and has not yet won one.
Nominees:
* Blade Runner 2049
* Darkest Hour
* Dunkirk
Mudbound
* The Shape of Water
Prediction: Blade Runner 2049
This could very easily go to Shape of Water or Dunkirk, but I really hope Blade Runner wins it. Not just because the cinematography is brilliant - the futuristic cityscapes are completely brought to life by the atmosphere of the lighting - but because cinematographer Roger Deakins has been nominated for 14 Oscars (his earliest being the Shawshank Redemption) and has not yet won one.
Costume Design
Nominees:
* Beauty and the Beast
* Darkest Hour
Phantom Thread
* The Shape of Water
Victoria and Abdul
Prediction: Phantom Thread
This is potentially quite a close one. Costume Design is an award that normally favours period drama (which would put Darkest Hour and Victoria and Abdul in the lead) or films with a fairytale element lending scope for lots of big dresses and posh frocks (like Beauty and the Beast). However, Phantom Thread is literally a film about costume design. I haven't seen it, but I would expect that the level of detail going into the dresses designed by Day Lewis' character would be under greater scrutiny than the costumes in any of the other nominees, both within the film itself and by critics. Given the number of other nominations that the film has picked up, there has clearly been a lot of thought put into it. I also think that this would be a good opportunity for the Academy to recognise a film that is likely to lose out to stronger contenders in the other categories.
Nominees:
* Beauty and the Beast
* Darkest Hour
Phantom Thread
* The Shape of Water
Victoria and Abdul
Prediction: Phantom Thread
This is potentially quite a close one. Costume Design is an award that normally favours period drama (which would put Darkest Hour and Victoria and Abdul in the lead) or films with a fairytale element lending scope for lots of big dresses and posh frocks (like Beauty and the Beast). However, Phantom Thread is literally a film about costume design. I haven't seen it, but I would expect that the level of detail going into the dresses designed by Day Lewis' character would be under greater scrutiny than the costumes in any of the other nominees, both within the film itself and by critics. Given the number of other nominations that the film has picked up, there has clearly been a lot of thought put into it. I also think that this would be a good opportunity for the Academy to recognise a film that is likely to lose out to stronger contenders in the other categories.
Directing
Nominees:
* Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk)
* Jordan Peele (Get Out)
Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird)
Paul Thomas Anderson (Phantom Thread)
* Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water)
Prediction: Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water)
I am very pleased that one of my favourite directors is the frontrunner for this award. I love everything Del Toro has made - both the Spanish horrors such as Pan's Labyrinth and The Devil's Backbone, and the Hollywood blockbusters like Hellboy and Pacific Rim. The Shape of Water is a perfect blend of the two and incorporates everything Del Toro does best - monsters with heart, villains who out-monster the monsters, and horror as a story device rather than a gimmick. It's a completely beautiful and touching romance despite the fact that half of the lead couple does at one point eat a cat. The others are all great, but if Del Toro doesn't win this I'll be very disappointed.
Nominees:
* Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk)
* Jordan Peele (Get Out)
Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird)
Paul Thomas Anderson (Phantom Thread)
* Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water)
Prediction: Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water)
I am very pleased that one of my favourite directors is the frontrunner for this award. I love everything Del Toro has made - both the Spanish horrors such as Pan's Labyrinth and The Devil's Backbone, and the Hollywood blockbusters like Hellboy and Pacific Rim. The Shape of Water is a perfect blend of the two and incorporates everything Del Toro does best - monsters with heart, villains who out-monster the monsters, and horror as a story device rather than a gimmick. It's a completely beautiful and touching romance despite the fact that half of the lead couple does at one point eat a cat. The others are all great, but if Del Toro doesn't win this I'll be very disappointed.
Editing
Nominees:
* Baby Driver
* Dunkirk
* I, Tonya
* The Shape of Water
* Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Prediction: Dunkirk
This is a tough one again - Shape of Water and Three Billboards deserve anything they get, and Baby Driver was one of my favourite films of the year (and had fantastic editing), but I think Dunkirk is a good contender for this award. The film has three separate storylines which each take place over a different length of time, but they're cut together in a way that makes each of them all the more exciting.
Nominees:
* Baby Driver
* Dunkirk
* I, Tonya
* The Shape of Water
* Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Prediction: Dunkirk
This is a tough one again - Shape of Water and Three Billboards deserve anything they get, and Baby Driver was one of my favourite films of the year (and had fantastic editing), but I think Dunkirk is a good contender for this award. The film has three separate storylines which each take place over a different length of time, but they're cut together in a way that makes each of them all the more exciting.
Makeup and Hairstyling
Nominees:
* Darkest Hour
Victoria and Abdul
Wonder
Prediction: Darkest Hour
This is another category that favours period dramas (with the odd exception, like last year's winner Suicide Squad). The level of prosthetics that turned Gary Oldman into Winston Churchill has to give Darkest Hour the edge this year.
Nominees:
* Darkest Hour
Victoria and Abdul
Wonder
Prediction: Darkest Hour
This is another category that favours period dramas (with the odd exception, like last year's winner Suicide Squad). The level of prosthetics that turned Gary Oldman into Winston Churchill has to give Darkest Hour the edge this year.
Music - Original Score
Nominees:
* Hans Zimmer (Dunkirk)
Jonny Greenwood (Phantom Thread)
* Alexandre Desplat (The Shape of Water)
* John Williams (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)
* Carter Burwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
Prediction: Alexandre Desplat (The Shape of Water)
This is a difficult one for me, as my tastes often seem to be quite different to the Academy, and I've changed my mind a few times now. Again, it could very easily go to Shape of Water or Three Billboards. I love everything Hans Zimmer does, and whilst the Dunkirk soundtrack isn't something I would want to sit in my room and listen to, it works incredibly well for the film. John Williams is always great and I'd love to see him win this, but he last won an Oscar in 1994 for Schindler's List despite this being his 13th nomination since that win. That either means he's due another one (he definitely is), or the Academy just prefers something different. The Last Jedi soundtrack is, as you might expect, very similar to the Force Awakens soundtrack, which Williams was nominated for and beaten to by Ennio Morricone for the Hateful Eight. I have a feeling he might be pipped here again. I can't comment on the Phantom Thread soundtrack as I haven't heard it, so that takes me back to Shape of Water and Three Billboards. I love the music in Three Billboards, but based on the fact that Desplat won the Globe and the BAFTA, I'm going with Shape of Water.
Nominees:
* Hans Zimmer (Dunkirk)
Jonny Greenwood (Phantom Thread)
* Alexandre Desplat (The Shape of Water)
* John Williams (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)
* Carter Burwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri)
Prediction: Alexandre Desplat (The Shape of Water)
This is a difficult one for me, as my tastes often seem to be quite different to the Academy, and I've changed my mind a few times now. Again, it could very easily go to Shape of Water or Three Billboards. I love everything Hans Zimmer does, and whilst the Dunkirk soundtrack isn't something I would want to sit in my room and listen to, it works incredibly well for the film. John Williams is always great and I'd love to see him win this, but he last won an Oscar in 1994 for Schindler's List despite this being his 13th nomination since that win. That either means he's due another one (he definitely is), or the Academy just prefers something different. The Last Jedi soundtrack is, as you might expect, very similar to the Force Awakens soundtrack, which Williams was nominated for and beaten to by Ennio Morricone for the Hateful Eight. I have a feeling he might be pipped here again. I can't comment on the Phantom Thread soundtrack as I haven't heard it, so that takes me back to Shape of Water and Three Billboards. I love the music in Three Billboards, but based on the fact that Desplat won the Globe and the BAFTA, I'm going with Shape of Water.
Music - Original Song
Nominees:
Mighty River (Mudbound)
Mystery of Love (Call Me By Your Name)
* Remember Me (Coco)
Stand Up For Something (Marshall)
* This Is Me (The Greatest Showman)
Prediction: Remember Me (Coco)
I really enjoyed the Greatest Showman, which was hugely successful and worked well as a West End style original musical. This Is Me probably wasn't my favourite song from it, but it is incredibly catchy and its message of being yourself whatever anyone else thinks is one that I suspect the Academy voters will like. However, the music in Coco is so much more poignant and beautiful. Remember Me fits into the plot of the film as well as its themes, and once you've seen it it's hard not to get a bit emotional when you hear the song. For me it's a clear winner and I hope it gets what it deserves.
Nominees:
Mighty River (Mudbound)
Mystery of Love (Call Me By Your Name)
* Remember Me (Coco)
Stand Up For Something (Marshall)
* This Is Me (The Greatest Showman)
Prediction: Remember Me (Coco)
I really enjoyed the Greatest Showman, which was hugely successful and worked well as a West End style original musical. This Is Me probably wasn't my favourite song from it, but it is incredibly catchy and its message of being yourself whatever anyone else thinks is one that I suspect the Academy voters will like. However, the music in Coco is so much more poignant and beautiful. Remember Me fits into the plot of the film as well as its themes, and once you've seen it it's hard not to get a bit emotional when you hear the song. For me it's a clear winner and I hope it gets what it deserves.
Production Design
Nominees:
* Beauty and the Beast
* Blade Runner 2049
* Darkest Hour
* Dunkirk
* The Shape of Water
Prediction: Beauty and the Beast
Another difficult one - all of these films have a very distinctive look and it could very easily go to Shape of Water or Blade Runner. Dunkirk and Darkest Hour may suffer from their similarities - voters who are inclined towards war movies will be split between them. I think though that the amount of work that went into making Beauty and the Beast mirror the look and feel of the original Disney film deserves some credit. This includes the fact that the furniture comprises half the actual cast.
Nominees:
* Beauty and the Beast
* Blade Runner 2049
* Darkest Hour
* Dunkirk
* The Shape of Water
Prediction: Beauty and the Beast
Another difficult one - all of these films have a very distinctive look and it could very easily go to Shape of Water or Blade Runner. Dunkirk and Darkest Hour may suffer from their similarities - voters who are inclined towards war movies will be split between them. I think though that the amount of work that went into making Beauty and the Beast mirror the look and feel of the original Disney film deserves some credit. This includes the fact that the furniture comprises half the actual cast.
Sound Editing
Nominees:
* Baby Driver
* Blade Runner 2049
* Dunkirk
* The Shape of Water
* Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Prediction: Baby Driver
I'm never entirely sure what the distinction is between sound editing and sound mixing. However, Baby Driver stood out because of the way the soundtrack was woven into the film, with the diegetic sound of Baby's iPod dictating the choice of songs which in turn dictated the rhythm of everything that happened on screen. Edgar Wright's always been particularly good at that sort of thing, but Baby Driver is his masterpiece when it comes to the use of the sound.
Nominees:
* Baby Driver
* Blade Runner 2049
* Dunkirk
* The Shape of Water
* Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Prediction: Baby Driver
I'm never entirely sure what the distinction is between sound editing and sound mixing. However, Baby Driver stood out because of the way the soundtrack was woven into the film, with the diegetic sound of Baby's iPod dictating the choice of songs which in turn dictated the rhythm of everything that happened on screen. Edgar Wright's always been particularly good at that sort of thing, but Baby Driver is his masterpiece when it comes to the use of the sound.
Sound Mixing
Nominees:
* Baby Driver
* Blade Runner 2049
* Dunkirk
* The Shape of Water
* Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Prediction: Dunkirk
My favourite thing about Dunkirk was the way the sound was used to create a heavy, claustrophobic atmosphere. Hans Zimmer's score and the constant noise of plane engines, bullets and sea made for a steady barrage of sound, giving the impression that there is no escape from the situation that the British armies had found themselves in. It's the sound equivalent of seeing huge heavy rainclouds ready to burst - uncomfortable and unsettling. You don't even realise it's there until the end, when it finally breaks and all the tension rushes out of you, making the happiness of the survivors all the more palpable and real.
Nominees:
* Baby Driver
* Blade Runner 2049
* Dunkirk
* The Shape of Water
* Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Prediction: Dunkirk
My favourite thing about Dunkirk was the way the sound was used to create a heavy, claustrophobic atmosphere. Hans Zimmer's score and the constant noise of plane engines, bullets and sea made for a steady barrage of sound, giving the impression that there is no escape from the situation that the British armies had found themselves in. It's the sound equivalent of seeing huge heavy rainclouds ready to burst - uncomfortable and unsettling. You don't even realise it's there until the end, when it finally breaks and all the tension rushes out of you, making the happiness of the survivors all the more palpable and real.
Visual Effects
Nominees:
* Blade Runner 2049
* Star Wars: The Last Jedi
* Kong: Skull Island
* Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2
* War of the Planet of the Apes
Prediction: War of the Planet of the Apes
The recent run of Planet of the Apes films have had some of the best CGI I've ever seen, and it's only got better as they've gone on. All the ape characters are completely distinguishable and believable. The quality of the performance capture is stunning - getting perfect expressions on their faces that make them relatable even as they battle against the human characters. It may suffer from having been released too early in the year though - the Academy often has a very short memory. On that basis, Star Wars might pip it to the post. Star Wars and Blade Runner have both had a number of other nominations, which could also give them the edge. If it was up to me though it would go to Planet of the Apes.
Nominees:
* Blade Runner 2049
* Star Wars: The Last Jedi
* Kong: Skull Island
* Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2
* War of the Planet of the Apes
Prediction: War of the Planet of the Apes
The recent run of Planet of the Apes films have had some of the best CGI I've ever seen, and it's only got better as they've gone on. All the ape characters are completely distinguishable and believable. The quality of the performance capture is stunning - getting perfect expressions on their faces that make them relatable even as they battle against the human characters. It may suffer from having been released too early in the year though - the Academy often has a very short memory. On that basis, Star Wars might pip it to the post. Star Wars and Blade Runner have both had a number of other nominations, which could also give them the edge. If it was up to me though it would go to Planet of the Apes.
Writing - Adapted Screenplay
Nominees:
Call Me By Your Name
* The Disaster Artist
* Logan
* Molly's Game
Mudbound
Prediction: Call Me By Your Name
I loved The Disaster Artist and Logan, and would be very happy if either of them won. However, I think it's unlikely, given the sexual misconduct allegations against James Franco (which probably led to him losing out on the Best Film and Best Actor nominations), and the fact that superhero films don't tend to do well outside of the technical categories. The writing awards tend to go to films that have also been nominated for Best Picture, and Call Me By Your Name is the only option for both this year. Plus films about coming of age and finding yourself have a lot of scope for quality writing.
Nominees:
Call Me By Your Name
* The Disaster Artist
* Logan
* Molly's Game
Mudbound
Prediction: Call Me By Your Name
I loved The Disaster Artist and Logan, and would be very happy if either of them won. However, I think it's unlikely, given the sexual misconduct allegations against James Franco (which probably led to him losing out on the Best Film and Best Actor nominations), and the fact that superhero films don't tend to do well outside of the technical categories. The writing awards tend to go to films that have also been nominated for Best Picture, and Call Me By Your Name is the only option for both this year. Plus films about coming of age and finding yourself have a lot of scope for quality writing.
Writing - Original Screenplay
Nominees:
The Big Sick
* Get Out
Lady Bird
* The Shape of Water
* Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Prediction: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Again, it's probably going to be down to Three Billboards or Shape of Water. Both are beautifully written, but the Shape of Water's beauty is in what is not said. Elisa and the creature bond because Elisa is mute, so she has grown accustomed to communication without words, making her more able to connect with someone lacking any vocal chords or language. The relationship is expressed through their actions more than the dialogue. Obviously a script is more than just the dialogue, but dialogue still forms the backbone of a script and it would be interesting if a film with two mute leads ends up winning the writing award. Three Billboards on the other hand, like McDonagh's earlier masterpiece In Bruges, is all in the dialogue, which is sharp and witty enough to be incredibly funny but has enough pathos to develop an emotional connection with the audience. I'd be happy if either of them won it though.
Nominees:
The Big Sick
* Get Out
Lady Bird
* The Shape of Water
* Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Prediction: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Again, it's probably going to be down to Three Billboards or Shape of Water. Both are beautifully written, but the Shape of Water's beauty is in what is not said. Elisa and the creature bond because Elisa is mute, so she has grown accustomed to communication without words, making her more able to connect with someone lacking any vocal chords or language. The relationship is expressed through their actions more than the dialogue. Obviously a script is more than just the dialogue, but dialogue still forms the backbone of a script and it would be interesting if a film with two mute leads ends up winning the writing award. Three Billboards on the other hand, like McDonagh's earlier masterpiece In Bruges, is all in the dialogue, which is sharp and witty enough to be incredibly funny but has enough pathos to develop an emotional connection with the audience. I'd be happy if either of them won it though.
...And the rest
I have not seen any of the nominees for the other categories (shorts, documentaries, and foreign language films). There hasn't even been a Disney or Pixar short this year, which is usually my only hope for seeing any of these! Rather than go through all of them, I am going to just list my predictions based on whether I've heard of the nominees and whether I like the names.
Best Foreign Language Film
Prediction: A Fantastic Woman (none of the nominees won the award at the Globes or the BAFTAs, but A Fantastic Woman is the only one I've heard of so let's go with that).
Short Film (Animated)
Prediction: Dear Basketball (again, the Globes don't have an equivalent award and the BAFTA winner wasn't nominated for an Oscar, so I'm going for the only one I've heard of. I've heard of it because it was made by basketball player Kobe Bryant, which probably means it wasn't great and won't win, but still...)
Short Film (Live Action)
Prediction: The Silent Child (the other ceremonies are being decidedly unhelpful so far, as none of the nominees here won a BAFTA either. I'm choosing this just because I like the title).
Documentary (Feature)
Prediction: Last Men in Aleppo (sounds political. They tend to like that...)
Documentary (Short)
Prediction: Heroin(e) (again, sounds political)
I have not seen any of the nominees for the other categories (shorts, documentaries, and foreign language films). There hasn't even been a Disney or Pixar short this year, which is usually my only hope for seeing any of these! Rather than go through all of them, I am going to just list my predictions based on whether I've heard of the nominees and whether I like the names.
Best Foreign Language Film
Prediction: A Fantastic Woman (none of the nominees won the award at the Globes or the BAFTAs, but A Fantastic Woman is the only one I've heard of so let's go with that).
Short Film (Animated)
Prediction: Dear Basketball (again, the Globes don't have an equivalent award and the BAFTA winner wasn't nominated for an Oscar, so I'm going for the only one I've heard of. I've heard of it because it was made by basketball player Kobe Bryant, which probably means it wasn't great and won't win, but still...)
Short Film (Live Action)
Prediction: The Silent Child (the other ceremonies are being decidedly unhelpful so far, as none of the nominees here won a BAFTA either. I'm choosing this just because I like the title).
Documentary (Feature)
Prediction: Last Men in Aleppo (sounds political. They tend to like that...)
Documentary (Short)
Prediction: Heroin(e) (again, sounds political)
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