It’s coming up again. That Tuesday morning when we will know which of the films and film efforts will get nominations from the Academy. We’ll see which films excelled above the rest and also which film company’s FYC ads paid off in this first stage. So without further ado, here are my predictions for the nominees of twenty categories of the 2018 Academy Awards as well as a Dark Horse (DH) pick or two for possible upsetters and a For Your Consideration (FYC) pick for one that doesn’t have a chance but should:
BEST PICTURE
DH1: A Quiet Place
DH2: Crazy Rich Asians
FYC: Eighth Grade
This past year has been a year of frustration for the Academy. The last Oscars was the lowest-rated Oscars ever! What can I say? When you keep on giving Best Picture to films with low grosses, you risk having that happen. Back in August, there were some Academy revisions, including the addition of a category of Best Popular Film. The addition of that category created so much online flack, it was eliminated a week after it was announced. It may come back. Until then, we have the Best Picture category to work with.
However this year, the fare looks better. Popular movies like Black Panther, A Star Is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody look to be shoe-ins for nomination. Besides superhero movies are long overdue for a Best Picture nominee. Deadpool was snubbed for 2016 and Wonder Woman was snubbed last year. Let’s hope they do things right with Black Panther this year.
BEST DIRECTOR
DH1: YIORGOS LANTHIMOS/The Favourite
DH2: BO BURNHAM/Eighth Grade
FYC: RYAN COOGLER/Black Panther
Interesting mix of directors who look poised to get nominated in this category. Also a wide variety of films too.
BEST ACTOR
DH1: BRADLEY COOPER/A Star Is Born
DH2: WILLEM DAFOE/At Eternity’s Gate
FYC: RYAN GOSLING/First Man
I went out on a limb and risked picking Ethan Hawke over Bradley Cooper in this category. Surprises do happen.
BEST ACTRESS
DH1: NICOLE KIDMAN/Destroyer
DH2: ELSIE FISHER/Eighth Grade
FYC: YALITZA APARICIO/Roma
This year’s Best Actress nominees seem pretty predictable, but anything can happen Tuesday morning.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
DH1: SAM ROCKWELL/Vice
DH2: MICHAEL B. JORDAN/Black Panther
FYC: HUGH GRANT/Paddington 2
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
DH1: MARGOT ROBBIE/Mary Queen Of Scots
DH2: EMILY BLUNT/A Quiet Place
FYC: NICOLE KIDMAN/Boy Erased
Of all the acting categories, this is the most unpredictable for predicting nominees. Surprises have happened very often. I’m anticipating one or two.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
DH1: PAUL SCHRADER/First Reformed
DH2: BRYAN WOODS, SCOTT BECK and JOHN KRASINSKI/A Quiet Place
Some years, the original screenplays have the edge over the adapted screenplays. Other years, it’s the other way around. This year is one that leaves most undecided.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
DH1: JOSH SINGER/First Man
DH2: ARMANDO IANNUCCI, DAVID SCHNEIDER and IAN MARTIN/The Death Of Stalin
One thing about superhero movies in the 21st Century is that it’s not just about the special effects. It’s also a good story that makes a top-notch superhero movie. The nomination for the Black Panther script is well-deserved.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
DH1: Ralph Breaks The Internet
DH2: Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch
One thing I’ve noticed in this category is that the animator’s branch of the Academy will have a mix of popular fare and indie fare. That’s why I put two popular movies as the Dark Horses.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
DH1: JAMES LAXTON/ If Beale Street Could Talk
DH2: LUKASZ ZAL/ Cold War
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
DH1: ERIN BENACH/ A Star Is Born
DH2: MARY E. VOGT/Crazy Rich Asians
Isn't it something that actors can have only one nomination per category but all others can acquire two? What can I say? Sandy Powell is the modern-day Edith Head.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
DH: Hale County, This Morning This Evening
BEST FILM EDITING
DH1: PATRICK DON VITO/Green Book
DH2: TOM CROSS/First Man
FYC: DEBBIE BERMAN and MICHAEL SHAWVER/Black Panther
I know it’s six weeks away, but I’m tempted to assume right now that Alfonso Cuaron will be the Man Of The Night on Oscar Night.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
DH1: Never Look Away – Germany
DH2: Capernaum – Lebanon
Roma seems like a shoe-in, but I’ve seen favorites that were snubbed in this category. I am anticipating Roma to be nominated, but I won’t be surprised if it doesn’t get it due to some red tape in the Academy.
Also keep your eyes peeled for The Guilty. There are plans for an American-made version of the film to be made with Jake Gyllenhaal starring as the lead.
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
DH: Mary Queen Of Scots
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
DH1: MARCO BELTRAMI/A Quiet Place
DH2: KRIS BOWERS/Green Book
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
DH1: “Girl In The Movies”/ Dumplin’
DH2: “The Place Where Lost Things Go”/ Mary Poppins Returns
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
DH1: STUART CRAIG/Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald
DH2: EUGENIO CABALLERO/Roma
BEST SOUND MIXING
DH: Mission Impossible – Fallout
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
DH1: Mary Poppins Returns
DH2: Christopher Robin
How did the effects of Black Panther get snubbed from a Visual Effects Society Award (the VFX Guild)? Politics?
So there are my predictions for the nominees of twenty of the 24 Academy Award categories. I may or may not wake up bright and early to see the results, but I’ll have lots to talk about on Tuesday morning.
Very good predictions but now that the noms are out I see some glaring snubs, happy to see Lady Gaga got her nod but where is Ryan Coogler director nod and Bradley Coopers? I would expect Emily Blunt to be honored also. On the other hand again good to see Spike Lee in the list.
Yes, Cooper has 4 other nods but I would say that director was one I expected as with Coogler some glaring snubs and add John David Washington to my list of snubs.
Another bang on list Trevor but again we are blindsided by some snubs, Baumgartner I mean filmGuy, sorry Baumgartner is your FTS handle, your list of snubs exactly fits with mine. Still can't feel too bad for Bradley Cooper with 4 other nods but I agree him not getting a director nod is a snub.