Soul

Soul

👤👤👤👤

Joe Gardener, a middle aged band teacher, finally lands the music gig of his dreams when he suddenly finds his soul heading to the great beyond. Desperate to get back to his body Joe finds help from a mischievous soul named 22.

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes:

  • Best Animated Feature Film
  • Best Original Score (Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste)

Best Animated Feature

My Prediction: ☑️

In my opinion the animation in Soul is on an entirely different level then it’s competitors in this category. The use of 2D and 3D line work and the intricate black and white scenes in the great beyond allows the audience to really feel what Joe was feeling in the strange world he put himself in. 

The only other way I could see this going is towards Netflix’s Over the Moon. 

Best Original Score

My Prediction: ☑️

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross really want their awards this year. Not only did the Nine Inch Nails duo do the score for Soul but they also did the score for Mank. I’m putting my eggs in this basket because Soul is a music based film, the score for a movie about jazz music has certain expectations that Soul definitely lived up to. 

That being said other nominees Ludwig Göransson (Tenet) and Alexandre Desplate (The Midnight Son) aren’t going to make this an easy win.

RocketMan

Rocketman
🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹

The story of the career and personal life of singer and piano player Elton John.

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Oscar Prediction:

Best Original Song: I’m Gonna Love Me Again by Elton John and Bernie Taupin ✅
Why do I think this will win? Two Words ELTON. JOHN.

A Marriage Story

A Marriage Story
💍💍💍💍💍

Charlie and Nicole are a married couple in New York City. Nicole realizes she is unhappy and moves to Los Angeles with their son Henry. Nicole and Charlie then start an expensive and emotional divorce/custody battle all while coming together as a family.

Nominated for 6 Oscars

Oscar Predictions:

Best Picture: ❌
Though I’m glad that Netflix is producing Oscar nominated movies (the accessibly is awesome) I do not think A Marriage Story is at the same level it competitors in this category. The film was emotional, frustrating and occasionally funny but I found it very hard to relate with, even as a parent. I can see how it was nominated as it is very relatable to members of the academy (Seriously, it’s about an actor and a director getting a divorce in L.A.). I don’t believe it will win in this category since the other film are just better…

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Adam Driver ❌
Adam Driver’s character Charlie reeks of desperation in this film, his life is falling apart in front of him and you feel for him. Was it strong enough to earn the Oscar? Well as his life falling apart didn’t lead him to become one of the most iconic villains of all time, I would say I don’t think so.

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role: Scarlett Johansson ❌
During a scene in this film Scarlett Johansson’s character Nicole says a monologue that sets the theme for the entire film and establishes her point of view, it is chilling. Even though the acting from Johansson is very strong it was always a little on the noise for her and acting as a successful actor isn’t a big stretch for a successful actor.

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Laura Dern ✅
This years Oscars nominee’s include 2 of the biggest villains in history, The Joker and a L.A. Divorce Lawyer. 😱This being said Laura Dern has been killing it in the Award’s circuit this year nabbing a Golden Globe, Critic’s Choice Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for the role.

Best Original Screenplay: ❌

Best Original Score: ❌

The Irishman

The Irishman
☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

The recalled story of truck driver turned Italian mobster Frank Sheeran and his connection to Jimmy Hoffa.

Nominated for 10 Oscars

Oscar Predictions:

Best Picture: ❌

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Al Pacino ❌

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Joe Pesci ❌

Best Director: Martin Scorsese 🤨
It is undeniable that Martin Scorsese is a legend in the directing world, with 9 Best Director Oscar nominations and 1 Oscar win under his belt. If the category was for directing the longest movie he defiantly would win but right now “1917” director Sam Mendez or “Parasite” director Bong Joon Ho are frontrunners.

Best Adapted Screenplay: ❌

Best Cinematography: ❌

Best Film Editing: 👍
When it comes to Scorsese movies there is one person you can rely on, 3 time Oscar winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker. Since The Irishman is over 3 hours long this woman deserves an award for just the sheer amount of movie she had to edit. “1917” won best editing at the Critics Choice Award but was not nominated for the Oscar so chances are good for the Irishman.

Best Costume Design: ❌

Best Visual Effects: ❌

Best Production Design: ❌

Judy


👠👠👠👠👠

A look at the life and relationships of Judy Garland in 1968.

Nominated for 2 Oscars

Oscar Predictions:

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Renee Zellweger ✅
If you have ever wanted to see an aged, drug addicted, midlife crises Judy Garland this is the movie for you. Renée Zellweger’s performance was eerily good as it felt as a slight breeze could cause her character to have a mental breakdown. It is no wonder that her performance has already won her a Golden Globe, Critics Choice and Screen Actors Guild Award. The Oscar is looking as good as hers.

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: ❌
The transformation from Renee to Judy was remarkable as seen in the photo but will it be enough to earn the Oscar? Not if “Bombshell” or “Joker” have anything to say about it.

Once Upon a Time In… Hollywood

🎬🎬🎬🎬🎬
“A faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the film industry during the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.” – Bob on IMDB

Nominated for 10 Oscars

Oscar Predictions:

Best Picture: 👍
Things are looking good for Hollywood. Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood has already taken home a Critics Choice Award for Best Picture and in my personal opinion is the best film of this category that I have seen thus far.

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Leonardo DiCaprio ❌
DiCaprio’s performance was so convincing that I found myself Googling is Rick Dalton was a real person (He is not). That being said I don’t believe that the performance was strong enough to beat out Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Brad Pitt ✅
We fell in love with Brad Pitt’s pitbull loving, potential wife killing, nerves of steel Stuntman Cliff Booth. Things are looking good for Pitt as he’s already been awarded with a Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award and SAG Award for his role.

Best Director: Quentin Tarantino ❌
This year is touuuuugh for the director category as some of the best directors in history are nominated. I would love to say Quentin Tarantino has this in the bag but I would have to say “1917” Director Sam Mendes is most likely to win the Oscar.

Best Original Screenplay: ✅
To put it simply this Movie was Tarantino’s love letter to his previous films. Though I don’t believe he will get the Oscar for best Director, I do believe writing this love note will get him best Screenplay.

Best Cinematography: ❌
Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood was a spectacle that I couldn’t take my eyes off of. Will it win best Cinematography? I don’t think so.

Best Costume Design: ❌
The styles in this film oozed 1969 fashion but going up against “Joker” and the period piece dresses of “Little Women” is difficult.

Best Sound Mixing and Editing: ❌
This movie, similar to Joker had strong sound but in these sound categories Car, Space and War have the advantage.

Best Production Design: 👍
Hollywood in 1969 has never looked so good. Everything from the streets of LA to a creepy, hippy ranch was beautifully set. The IMDB trivia stated that some of the businesses featured in the film decided to keep their 1969 façade. With the authenticity and the fact that it has won the Critics Choice Award tells me thing are looking good for Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood.

Toy Story 4

🧸🧸🧸🧸🧸
“Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie and a new toy named Forky. The adventurous journey turns into an unexpected reunion as Woody’s slight detour leads him to his long-lost friend Bo Peep…” – IMDB

Oscar Breakdown:
Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Best Animated Feature: 🤨
Toy Store 4 is fun, adventurous and times quite emotional. Do I think it will get the Best Animated Feature? Maybe. Though it won for best Animated Feature at the Critics Choice Awards I don’t believe it was as strong as it’s predecessors or it’s competition “Klaus”.

Best Original Song: ❌
“I can’t let you throw yourself away”
by Randy Newman
Toy Story and Randy Newman’s songs go together like Woody and Buzz. All the main songs from the Toy Story movies have been nominated in the Best Song category in previous years and “We Belong Together” from Toy Story 3 even picked up the Oscar. All that being said this years competition is tooooooooough with Frozen 2’s EGOT winning Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez song “Into the Unknown” and Rocketman’s Elton John song “I’m Gonna Love Me Again”. I just don’t see it beating Elton John…

Joker

🃏 🃏🃏🃏🃏
The dark and twisted journey of Arthur Fleck turning into DC villain The Joker.

Oscar Predictions:
11 Oscar Nominations

Best Picture: ❌
Although Joker got the most amount of nominations and was completely gripping to watch I don’t believe it will end up with best picture. The acting was fantastic, story was enjoyable as either a comic book fan or not and it was beautifully shot but I just don’t think it’s going to win the best picture Oscar.

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Joaquin Phoenix
✅
Oh my Zod… Joaquin why would you do that to yourself? It was clear that Joaquin Phoenix but his body, mind and soul into that role, like Christian Bale in “The Machinist” levels. Do I think he will win best actor? Absolutely.

Best Director: Todd Phillips ❌
This years is tough in the Best Director category as legendary directors Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino and Sam Mendes have all also been nominated. Though Joker was fantastic, I don’t believe Todd Phillips will win the category.

Best Adapted Screenplay: 🤨
Honestly I am unsure if Joker will win this category but so far things are looking good for Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women”.

Best Cinematography: ❌
This one pains me because Jokers was so beautifully shot and the coloring was so Comic Book-esk. “1917” is one-shot filmed by 2017 winner Roger Deakins so I believe “1917” will win.

Best Editing: Jeff Groth 🤨
Like the screenplay category I am unsure about who would win. The Critics Choice Awards gave their award to “1917” but it did not get nominated for the Oscar. The transition in Joker were amazing so I would be quite happy if it won.

Best Costume Design: 👍
As far as the Best Costume category Joker is definitely a front runner since the Costumes were designed by 2 time Oscar winner Mark Bridges. It’s biggest competition in this category would probably be “Little Women” simply because Period Piece Dresses.

Best Makeup and Hair Design: 🤨
It is up in the air right now if Joker will win in this category. Current front runner is “Bombshell” after taking home the Critics Choice award and have Oscar winning Make Up artist Kazu Hiro on their side.

Best Original Score: ✅
Things are looking good for Joker composer Hildur Guðnadóttir as she has already taken home a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award this year.

Best Sound Mixing and Editing: ❌
Although the sound was strong, in categories such as these Car, Space and War movies have the advantage and since “1917”, “Ford vs Ferrari”, “Ad Astra” and “Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker” are in the mix I don’t believe Joker will win.