Oscar Nominations 2017

It’s that time of year again… so here we go:

(with links to reviews)

BEST PICTURE
Arrival was one of my favourite films of the year, although I don’t think it has a chance for the Oscar, especially with Hollywood darling La La Land in the mix. Hollywood LOVES a story about Hollywood. I personally hated it, although many people love it. Manchester by the Sea is the runner up with a strong chance at the top prize, and I am very happy to see Moonlight in the mix. Lion is a bit of a surprise as while it was excellent, it’s a bit lighter than some of the others. Hacksaw Ridge marks the solid return of Mel Gibson, something I’m not overly pleased about on a personal level. But, if he makes good art, we shouldn’t be biased (I suppose). Sadly I have missed out on watching the other films in this category.

Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Everybody thinks it’s Casey Affleck’s year (they’re probably right). But, I have a special place in my heart for Viggo Mortensen in Captain Fantastic – the absolute underdog in this category.

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington, Fences

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
The Nocturnal Animals nomination goes to Michael Shannon instead of Aaron Taylor-Johnson as BAFTA awarded. Also, this is surprisingly the film’s only nomination. I personally didn’t like it and agree with the Oscars, but the critics will call this a blatant ‘snub’. I vote for Mahershala Ali and think he may just take it home! Lucas Hedges doesn’t quite deserve to be on this list, and I’m surprised but very pleased to see Dev Patel who was excellent in Lion.

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel, Lion
Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Elle actress Isabelle Huppert fully deserves to win this award, and I’m very surprised to not see Elle in the best Foreign Film category as it is most excellent (mostly due to Huppert’s performance). Ruth Negga for Loving is a wonderful surprise, but takes the place of Amy Adams who gave a very good performance in Arrival, and a decent one in Nocturnal Animals. Meryl is of course nominated for her work in Florence Foster Jenkins even though it’s not her finest. I hate Emma Stone in La La Land and haven’t yet seen Jackie, but I believe Emma and Natalie will be fighting with Isabelle to take home the prize.

Isabelle Huppert, Elle
Ruth Negga, Loving
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Emma Stone, La La Land
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Viola Davis please – I love her so much and even though I’ve only seen clips from Fences and not the film in its entirety, her clips are better than any of these performances. Having said that, these are still all very excellent performances! Such a strong category – it’s amazing to see that a female run category is potentially the strongest in this year’s Oscars!

Viola Davis, Fences
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
The Red Turtle is an artistic choice… Zootopia is the best. I think Zootopia will prevail. Kubo is a terrible choice, and I’m surprised it found its way onto this list, especially as Japanese sensation Your Name didn’t make the list! Moana is a good choice for this list, and I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about My Life as a Zucchini.

Kubo and the Two Strings
Moana
My Life as a Zucchini
The Red Turtle
Zootopia

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Silence gets only this nomination. I can see why on both accounts. Arrival was my favourite visual feast this year!

Arrival
La La Land
Lion
Moonlight
Silence

COSTUME DESIGN
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them gets a well deserved nomination – but perhaps Jackie should and will win for recreating Jackie Kennedy’s classic looks.

Allied
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Florence Foster Jenkins
Jackie
La La Land

DIRECTING
Why-oh-why have we forgiven Mel Gibson!? Anyway, It will likely be Damien Chazelle for La La Land. I’d like it to be Denis Villeneuve for Arrival or Barry Jenkins for Moonlight.

Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Fire at Sea was the Berlinale 2016 top winner, but it’s quite hard to say which way this one will go. Perhaps Ava DuVernay will win for the 13th to make up for previous years’ snubs?

Fire at Sea
I Am Not Your Negro
Life, Animated
O.J.: Made in America
13th

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
Sorry, not seen these.

Extremis
4.1 Miles
Joe’s Violin
Watani: My Homeland
The White Helmets

FILM EDITING
It will probably be La La Land (it’ll probably be La La Land in every category it’s up in), but it 100% SHOULD be Arrival. To edit a film whose premise is non linear and make it so coherent and fluid is an astonishing achievement.

Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
La La Land
Moonlight

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Toni Erdmann should win this – it is touching, beautiful, gripping and HILARIOUS. This film is the best film of last year – foreign or otherwise.

Land of Mine
A Man Called Ove
The Salesman
Tanna
Toni Erdmann

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Suicide Squad should not be nominated for any Oscars ever. WHAT!?

A Man Called Ove
Star Trek Beyond
Suicide Squad

ORIGINAL SCORE
It will be La La Land, obviously. It shouldn’t be. The only thing I hate more than that movie is its music.

Jackie
La La Land
Lion
Moonlight
Passengers

ORIGINAL SONG
With two songs on the list, something from La La Land should take this home (City of Stars). I hate this song so much it makes me feel nauseous just thinking about it. Moana was a musical revelation. Funnily enough, I prefer ‘You’re Welcome’ from Moana, but this’ll do.

Audition (The Fools Who Dream), La La Land
Can’t Stop The Feeling, Trolls
City Of Stars, La La Land
The Empty Chair, Jim: The James Foley Story
How Far I’ll Go, Moana

PRODUCTION DESIGN
I’m a fan of Arrival and Fantastic Beasts here.

Arrival
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Hail, Caesar!
La La Land
Passengers

ANIMATED SHORT FILM
I’ve not seen these.

Blind Vaysha
Borrowed Time
Pear Cider and Cigarettes
Pearl
Piper

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
I’ve not seen these either.

Ennemis Intérieurs
La Femme et le TGV
Silent Nights
Sing
Timecode

SOUND EDITING
Sully gets only one nomination and it’s for sound editing (sorry Tom Hanks). Deserving, as is Arrival which is my preferred choice (it’ll be La La Land, won’t it?).

Arrival
Deepwater Horizon
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Sully

SOUND MIXING
I actually actively disliked the mix in La La Land finding it an uncomfortable balance (not just musically speaking), so am hoping or Arrival or Rogue One here – both beautifully done.

Arrival
Hacksaw Ridge
La La Land
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

VISUAL EFFECTS
Doctor Strange deserves this for its Inception inspired unique for Marvel vision. Rogue One is a close runner up for taking the style of old Star Wars – staying true to it yet innovating greatly. Fantastic.

Deepwater Horizon
Doctor Strange
The Jungle Book
Kubo and the Two Strings
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
This is actually a tough one to decide, but I think once again I’m on the side of Arrival. To take a short story and make it into a full screenplay without filler is enough of a challenge. To also take such a non linear story and make it coherent is a feat. But then for Lion to take a story about Google Earth and make that interesting, well, kudos to them! Moonlight is just gorgeous! I really must see Fences and Hidden Figures but I was ill during screening time – BLERG!

Arrival
Fences
Hidden Figures
Lion
Moonlight

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Lobster to me is the greatest film of 2015 and in the UK it was acknowledged as such with a few awards nominations last year. The fact that its US release was so delayed really hurt its momentum and placed it alongside fresher competition. Such a shame as it deserves so much more recognition. I hope it takes this one home.

Hell or High Water
La La Land
The Lobster
Manchester by the Sea
20th Century Women