Oscars 2018 nominations reactions and way too early predictions
The Oscars 2018 nominations have been revealed. Which films were snubbed? Who shouldn’t be there and who should win?
No need to call for an #OscarsSoWhite 2018 edition. There’s solid representation this year for black actors. Too bad no Latinos, Asians, etc. made any movies last year. Hopefully 2018 offers more opportunities for all minorities to have a legit shot at nominations. Here’s my take on all the big awards.
Best Picture
Call Me By Your Name
Darkest Hour
Phantom Thread
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Reactions/Predictions: Mudbound seemed to be the most obvious snub here. That’s no shocker given the slights throughout award season. The Big Sick was criminally underrated as well. I’d easily replace Dunkirk and The Post for them. On a lesser snub note, Wonder Woman checked off all the boxes of a dark horse choice, but that omission wasn’t surprising. Three Billboards seems like it’s the odds-on favorite as it’s been a consistent winner in various categories. It might have the momentum at this point. The Shape of Water and Get Out are probably in the next tier of likely winners.
Lead Actor
Timothée 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.
Reactions/Predictions: There hasn’t been a lot of times where two black actors have been nominated for Best Actor so that’s huge. This seems like Oldman’s award to lose although Day-Lewis’ pending retirement might tip the scales in his favor.
Lead Actress
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
Reactions/Predictions: McDormand has dominated the field throughout. She’s not taking the L on the big stage even if she’s going against Streep. I wish there was a place for Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman here, but there’s no denying the field.
Supporting Actor
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
Reactions/Predictions: No real argument with these choices. I’m pulling for Dafoe, but the safe money is on Rockwell.
Supporting Actress
Mary J. Blige, Mudbound
Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread
Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water
Reactions/Predictions: The Big Sick’s Holly Hunter is the most egregious snub here. Blige seemed a nomination lock, but Manville was the surprise. Janney and Metcalf have been back and forth in getting awards so this might be the closest race.
Production Design
Beauty and the Beast
Blade Runner 2049
The Shape of Water
Dunkirk
Darkest Hour
Reactions/Predictions: I think this is where Dunkirk starts its awards run. This is a safe category for a win and a way to reward the visual experience.
Cinematography
Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Mudbound
The Shape of Water
Reactions/Predictions: Mudbound and The Shape of Water looked great, but Blade Runner 2049 was a gorgeous movie no matter the setting.
Visual Effects
Blade Runner 2049
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Kong Skull Island
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
War for the Planet of the Apes
Reactions/Predictions: Don’t get excited. War for the Planet of the Apes got slightly in other areas and this is the most sensible, Oscar friendly choice. Sorry Groot.
Film Editing
Baby Driver
Dunkirk
I, Tonya
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Reactions/Predictions: Baby Driver would be my choice, but I can’t see Dunkirk failing to get its second win in this category.
Animated Featured
The Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
Coco
Ferdinand
Loving Vincent
Reactions/Predictions: Solid choices here, but Coco is my pick.
Adapted Screenplay
Call Me By Your Name
The Disaster Artist
Molly’s Game
Mudbound
Logan
Reactions/Predictions: Logan is a shocker just because it seems like Academy voters don’t seriously consider comic book movies for anything especially those based on comic book stories. Molly’s Game stands out here as a way to honor Aaron Sorkin, but Mudbound would be my pick.
Original Screenplay
The Big Sick
Get Out
Lady Bird
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Reactions/Predictions: I want The Big Sick to get something, but Get Out seems undeniable here.
Best Director
Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk
Jordan Peele,Get Out
Greta Gerwig,Lady Bird
Paul Thomas Anderson, Phantom Thread
Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water
Reactions/Predictions: Peele or Gerwig winning here would be amazing. Mudbound director Dee Rees was slightly again and Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman) really was overlooked here for making a comic book movie with heart. I’m thinking del Toro takes this one.
OK so that’s my thoughts on these Oscars 2018 nominations. What’s yours?
Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures