Eimer's Academy Awards Picks - 2018 Edition

 

Wow, I almost wasn't able to get my list out, breaking an annual tradition since starting this blog back in 2006. Whew!!

In any event, here are my picks for Hollywood's biggest night. I'm feeling the love for 'Shape of Water' and 'Three Billboards'. I'll post a rundown on Monday.

Here's ya go. Tell me what you think:

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Best Picture: The Shape of Water

I like “Three Billboards’ chances, but am leaning to Shape because we need a feel-good horror movie. 

Lead Actor: Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour’

Hey, Daniel Day-Lewis could win for Phantom Thread. But he won’t because Gary’s won all of the awards for his role as Winston Churchill

Lead Actress: France McDormand “Three Billboards”

Same goes for Frances. She’s won every major award including Screen Actor’s Guild.

Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell “Three Billboards”

Picking Sam as well on this since he’s won every other major acting award for his role. Can’t really see anyone else winning this one.

Supporting Actress: Allison Janny, “I, Tonya”

I thought she was great. I also thought Laurie Metcalf and Octavia Spencer were as well. But, I’m going with Janny for her transformative performance as Tonya Harding’s mother.

Director: Guillermo Del Toro, “The Shape of Water”

He won director’s guild award. So he’s going to win this.

Animated Feature: “Coco,” Lee Unkrich, Darla K. Anderson

I’m hearing good things form Loving Vincent, but haven’t seen it. I’ll stick with Pixar. 

Animated Short: “Dear Basketball,” Glen Keane, Kobe Bryant

Adapted Screenplay: “Mudbound,” Virigl Williams and Dee Rees

Disaster Artist could win. I really enjoyed Logan and it would be cool to see a superhero script win, but I’m going with Mudbound.

Original Screenplay: ‘Lady Bird’, Greta Gerwig

I enjoyed The Big Sick, Shape of Water, and Get Out, but I think Gerwig’s coming-of-age dramedy is pretty, pretty slick.

Cinematography: Roger Deakins, ‘Blade Runner 2049’

Roger Deakins has been the Director of Photography on Skyfall, No Country for Old Men, Prisoners, O Brother Where Art Thou?, The Shawshank Redemption, Fargo, among others. But he’s never won an Academy Award. This year, he will.

Best Documentary Feature: “Last Men in Aleppo" 

Best Documentary Short Subject: “Knife Skills,” Thomas Lennon
It’s was shot in Cleveland, so I have to pick this.

Best Live Action Short Film: “The Eleven O’Clock."

Best Foreign Language Film: “Loveless” (Russia)

Film Editing: “I, Tonya,” Tatiana S. Riegel
Really loved the back and forth editing between the overall plot and the interview sessions. Hopefully the Academy agrees.

Sound Editing: “Dunkirk,” Alex Gibson, Richard King

Sound Mixing: “Baby Driver"

Production Design: "The Shape of Water"

Toss up between Shape and Blade Runner. I’m going with Shape since it’s going to win best picture.

Original Score: “Dunkirk,” Hans Zimmer
I loved Zimmer’s score. Others hated it. Who knows? Maybe Phantom Thread will win.

Original Song: “This Is Me” from “The Greatest Showman,” 

This is my cold-stone lock. Bet this one in Vegas.

Makeup and Hair: “Darkest Hour,” 

Costume Design: “Phantom Thread,” Mark Bridges

Visual Effects: “Blade Runner 2049"

Eimer’s 2017 Fall Movie Viewing Wishlist

 

I hate fall. And I love fall.

I hate fall because I always get sick. Always, like four sinus infections, and some sort of intestinal flu. I also get a guaranteed migraine due to, what I believe is, the barometric pressure change in the atmosphere. Also, it's cold and shitty out. And never warm. Oh, and it gets dark earlier.

I love fall for the foliage. Halloween is always a favorite time for me. And let's not forget football. Glorious college and pro football. I also have a fondness in my heart for Thanksgiving and parties that always end up around a roaring wood fire. 

Oh, and I love fall movies, which - much like the seasons - signifies a major shift in the type of movies that are released. It's like a step up from the schlocky summer fare that the kids adore to some downright serious Academy Award contenders that adults implore. It's like the difference between a Fish Eye Merlot and a Francis Ford Copolla Claret - both available at CVS by the way.

So, with that said, here's a list of fall movies that I'm anticipating for the colder, crisper months that lie ahead.

I GOTTA SEE THESE:

IT – September 8

One of Stephen King’s best horror novels spread across two films? Plus a killer clown? Yep!

MOTHER! – September 15

Darren Aronofosky’s (The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream) mysterious movie (with an exclamation point to boot) looks like an intriguing head scratcher.

LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE – September 22

After my high hopes for 'Lego Batman Movie' were squashed, hopefully this latest flick is much more of the original and a lot less of the bat plastic crap we saw earlier this year.

AMERICAN MADE – Sept 29

People may be sick of him, but I still like Tom Cruise. And I'm hoping this drug smuggling flick by ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ and 'Go!' director Doug Liman can get him back on track.

BLADE RUNNER 2049 – Oct. 6

You had me at ‘Blade Runner’. But add in 'Arrival' director Denis Villenueve, and I’m very interested. 

THE FOREIGNER – Oct. 13

Jackie Chan meets 'First Blood' in this very apropos terrorist bombing revenge flick directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale).

THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES (NEW AND SELECTED) – Oct. 13

One my favorite dramedy directors, Noah Baumbach, focuses his lens and script on three siblings healing old wounds while dealing with a disgruntled Dad.

WASTED: THE STORY OF FOOD WASTE – Oct. 13

Anthony Bourdain’s documentary on, well, see above, will probably be depressing, but entertaining at the same time. Right! Right?

THE SNOWMAN – Oct. 20

The trailer gives too much away, but I’m still intrigued in this best selling book transformed into a thriller movie directed by Tomas Alfredson (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy).

WONDERSTRUCK – Oct. 20

My son recommended Brian Selznick’s award-winning book to me over the summer. I read it and was intrigued with the overall plot techniques. Curious how Todd Haynes (Carol, Far From Heaven) will handle this New York drama (that's all I can say!).

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER – OCT 27

Creative, innovative, quirky Yorgos Lanthimos, of 'The Lobster' and 'Dogtooth' directorial fame, is back. And isn’t that enough?

SUBURBICON – OCT. 27

George Clooney directs a dark comedy based on a Coen Brothers script about 59’s suburbia? Count this suburban asshole in!

THOR: RAGNORAK – NOV. 3

The only reason this Marvel movie is on the list is because humorously eclectic director Taika Waititi (What We Do In The Shadows, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) is at the helm.

THE DISASTER ARTIST – DEC. 1

I’m a sucker for movies about movies. And this film, about making one of the worst reviewed films of all time (The Room) is another one. Directed by James Franco starring Franco and Seth Rogan.

THE SHAPE OF WATER – DEC. 8

Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy, Pacific Rim) looks to be returning to his creepy horror roots in this aquatic creature/human love story? (note the question mark)

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI – Dec. 15

Well, duh!

POSSIBLE GUILTY PLEASURES:

BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99 – Oct. 6

The pro: Vince Vaughn plays a badass in prison with a kick-ass movie title. The con: It’s directed by the guy who did Bone Tomahawk, which everyone loved, but I hated.

GEOSTORM – Oct. 20

My kids are pumped for this over-steroidal SFX showcase highlighting weather and global catastrophes. You know what? So am I!

JIGSAW – Oct. 27

I gave up on the SAW series after the third film. This new trailer looks appealing enough to dip my severed toe into it once again.

MY FRIEND DAHMER – Nov. 3

I gave the graphic novel by Derf rave reviews. But, is there enough meat in this human morsel about the notorious serial killer’s high school exploits in Bath, Ohio, to sustain a full-length feature meal? Burp!

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS – Nov. 10

Kenneth Branaugh directs a fantastic cast of Depp, Cruz, Dench, Pfeiffer and himself in this Agatha Christie classic, which I’ve never read.

NOT INTERESTED IN SEEING AT ALL:

• Flatliners – Sept. 29
• Only the Brave – Oct. 20
• LBJ – Nov. 3
• Daddy’s Home 2 – Nov. 10
• Justice League – Nov. 17
• Wonder – Nov. 17
• Jumanji – Dec. 20

Well, do you agree/disagree? Enquiring minds like mine want to know!!

Eimer's 2017 Academy Awards Picks

Personally, I liked La La Land. Liked. Liked. 

But, I didn't love La La Land.

But, I'm not an idiot, either.

I've learned that you can hope for your favorite movie to win (ahem, Arrival), 
but it's probably not going to win - especially if you look at the awards that led 
up to this grand spectacle (i.e. Producers Guild, Screen Actor's Guild, Golden Globes, 
Director's Guild, etc.).

Considering all of those previous La La wins, I picked La La Land to win 8
Academy Awards this year. That said, here are my picks in this
better-late-than-never Oscars edition.

Let's see how I did on Monday! See you then. 

Best picture:

“Arrival”

“Fences”

“Hacksaw Ridge”

“Hell or High Water”

“Hidden Figures”

“La La Land”

“Lion”

“Manchester by the Sea”

“Moonlight"

Lead actor:

Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”

Andrew Garfield, “Hacksaw Ridge”

Ryan Gosling, “La La Land,”

Viggo Mortensen, “Captain Fantastic”

Denzel Washington, “Fences”

Lead actress:

Isabelle Huppert, “Elle”

Ruth Negga, “Loving”

Natalie Portman, “Jackie”

Emma Stone, “La La Land”

Meryl Streep, “Florence Foster Jenkins”

Supporting actor:

Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight”

Jeff Bridges, “Hell or High Water”

Lucas Hedges, “Manchester by the Sea”

Dev Patel, “Lion”

Michael Shannon, “Nocturnal Animals”

Supporting actress:

Viola Davis, “Fences”

Naomie Harris, “Moonlight”

Nicole Kidman, “Lion”

Octavia Spencer, “Hidden Figures”

Michelle Williams, “Manchester by the Sea”

Best director:

“La La Land,” Damien Chazelle

“Hacksaw Ridge,” Mel Gibson

“Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins

“Manchester by the Sea,” Kenneth Lonergan

“Arrival,” Denis Villeneuve

Animated feature:

“Kubo and the Two Strings,” Travis Knight and Arianne Sutner

“Moana,” John Musker, Ron Clements and Osnat Shurer

“My Life as a Zucchini,” Claude Barras and Max Karli

“The Red Turtle,” Michael Dudok de Wit and Toshio Suzuki

“Zootopia” 

Animated short:

“Blind Vaysha,” Theodore Ushev

“Borrowed Time,” Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj

“Pear Cider and Cigarettes,” Robert Valley and Cara Speller

“Pearl,” Patrick Osborne

“Piper” 

Adapted screenplay:

“Arrival,” Eric Heisserer

“Fences,” August Wilson

“Hidden Figures,” Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi

“Lion,” Luke Davies

“Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins

Original screenplay:

“20th Century Women,” Mike Mills

“Hell or High Water,” Taylor Sheridan

“La La Land,” Damien Chazelle

“The Lobster,” Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthimis Filippou

“Manchester by the Sea,” Kenneth Lonergan

Cinematography:

“Arrival,” Bradford Young

“La La Land,” Linus Sandgren

“Lion,” Greig Fraser

“Moonlight,” James Laxton

“Silence,” Rodrigo Prieto

Best documentary feature:

“13th,” Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick and Howard Barish

“Fire at Sea,” Gianfranco Rosi and Donatella Palermo

“I Am Not Your Negro,” Raoul Peck, Remi Grellety and Hebert Peck

“Life, Animated,” Roger Ross Williams and Julie Goldman

“O.J.: Made in America.” 

Best documentary short subject:

“4.1 Miles,” Daphne Matziaraki

“Extremis,” Dan Krauss

“Joe’s Violin,” Kahane Cooperman and Raphaela Neihausen

“Watani: My Homeland” 

“The White Helmets,” Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara

Best live action short film:

“Ennemis Interieurs,” Selim Azzazi

“La Femme et le TGV,” Timo von Gunten and Giacun Caduff

“Silent Nights"

“Sing,” Kristof Deak and Anna Udvardy

“Timecode,” Juanjo Gimenez

Best foreign language film:

“A Man Called Ove,” Sweden

“Land of Mine,” Denmark

“Tanna,” Australia

“The Salesman,” Iran

“Toni Erdmann,” Germany

Film editing:

“Arrival,” Joe Walker

“Hacksaw Ridge,” John Gilbert

“Hell or High Water,” Jake Roberts

“La La Land” Tom Cross

“Moonlight,” Nat Sanders and Joi McMillon

Sound editing:

“Arrival,” Sylvain Bellemare

“Deep Water Horizon,” Wylie Stateman and Renee Tondelli

“Hacksaw Ridge"

“La La Land” 

“Sully,” Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman

Sound mixing:

“Arrival,” Bernard Gariepy Strobl and Claude La Haye

“Hacksaw Ridge”

“La La Land”

“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,”

“13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi,”

Production design:

“Arrival,” Patrice Vermette, Paul Hott

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Stuart Craig, Anna Pinnock

“Hail, Caesar!,” Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh

“La La Land”

“Passengers,” Guy Hendrix Dyas, Gene Serdena

Original score:

“Jackie,” Mica Levi

“La La Land,” Justin Hurwitz

“Lion,” Dustin O’Halloran and Hauschka

“Moonlight,” Nicholas Britell

“Passengers,” Thomas Newman

Original song:

“Audition (The Fools Who Dream),” “La La Land” — Music by Justin Hurwitz; 

“Can’t Stop the Feeling,” “Trolls” — Music and Lyric by Justin Timberlake

“City of Stars,” “La La Land”

“The Empty Chair,” “Jim: The James Foley Story” 

“How Far I’ll Go,” “Moana” 

Makeup and hair:

“A Man Called Ove,” Eva von Bahr and Love Larson

“Star Trek Beyond,” Joel Harlow and Richard Alonzo

“Suicide Squad,”

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

Visual effects:

“Deepwater Horizon,” 

“Doctor Strange,” 

“The Jungle Book” 

“Kubo and the Two Strings,” 

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“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,”