Operation Oscar - 2018

Tonight, the ninetieth annual Academy Awards will be given out in 24 categories recognizing achievement and excellence in film. For the tenth consecutive year, I have seen all of the films nominated in the major categories. Here are my thoughts and predictions.
 
BEST PICTURE
 
Unlike the rest of the categories where Academy members vote for one winner, the Best Picture category is determined by a preferential ballot where each choice is ranked. Here is my personal ranking of each of the nominees with a brief review.
1. Call Me By Your Name
This was by far my favorite film of 2017. First of all, it’s just a beautiful movie. I cannot believe it didn’t get a nomination for Cinematography! (Props to the Film Independent Spirit Awards for acknowledging Sayombhu Mukdeeprom’s amazing work.) James Ivory did an excellent job adapting André Aciman’s novel into a screenplay, though I hate so many subplots had to be removed. The acting in the movie is superb, and everyone in the film does such a great job depicting the agony of a crush and first love.
2. Lady Bird
Greta Gerwig wrote a fresh, unique script that I felt myself relating to quite a bit. (Saoirse Ronan’s titular character and I are the same age—both high school graduates in 2003.) This is another film where the acting was great. Definitely one of the best made films in 2017.
3. The Post
It’s hard to go wrong with a Steven Spielberg film starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, along with a stellar supporting cast featuring too many fantastic actors to name. This film’s strengths are also its weaknesses. It doesn’t rely on flashy storytelling or inflated drama. The story speaks for itself. Yet, there are times when as a viewer I wanted a bit more. It’s an understated drama that is unfortunately as timely as ever.
4. The Shape of Water
This is so not the type of movie I typically go for, but I enjoyed it far more than I expected to. I love the underlying message of love and acceptance, and Sally Hawkins was absolutely brilliant in the film. I had a few problems with the ending—it just seemed rushed. But overall, I really liked it.
5. Get Out
I’m also not typically a fan of horror movies, but Jordan Peele did a great job of not going overboard with violence, but still making it suspenseful. There were some weird parts and acting choices in the movie, but overall it was unique and captivating. Daniel Kaluuya was fantastic, and I’m excited to see what else he does in the future.
6. Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
I loved parts of this movie and I hated parts of this movie. There were scenes that made me laugh, scenes that made me cry, and then scenes that made me angry (for multiple reasons). I’ve heard the word “divisive” used to describe this movie multiple times throughout the award season, and I couldn’t agree more. I will say this—it’s certainly a movie I haven’t been able to get out of my head. I feel like this movie could be dissected for hours and hours.
7. Darkest Hour
I like historical dramas, and this was a decent movie with a decent lead actor. I wouldn’t personally pick it as one of the best films of the year.
8. Phantom Thread
This is another movie that I had a lot of opinions on. Again, I thought the acting in this movie was well done. Daniel Day-Lewis is incredibly talented, and gives a great performance. I just didn’t like his character or the film. The plot was interesting, but it just didn’t work for me for several reasons.
9. Dunkirk
This movie should have been amazing. It’s a fascinating subject with a great cast, and Christopher Nolan is a superb director. But, nothing about this movie worked for me. It was confusing and all over the place. I was disappointed and wanted so much more from this movie.

PREDICTION: Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
There are several frontrunners this year and it wouldn’t be too surprising for any of them to win, but I think Three Billboards wins out over The Shape of Water, Get Out, and Dunkirk.
 
BEST DIRECTOR
PREDICTION: Guillermo del Toro – The Shape of Water
MY PICK: I’ll be happy with del Toro’s win. I wouldn’t mind Greta Gerwig winning, either.
 
BEST ACTOR
PREDICTION: Gary Oldman – Darkest Hour
MY PICK: I’d definitely vote for Timothée Chalamet – Call Me by Your Name, and I’ll be rooting for him to upset in this category. I also think Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out was amazing.
 
BEST ACTRESS
PREDICTION: Frances McDormand – Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
MY PICK: Frances McDormand is great, but I’d vote for Sally Hawkins – The Shape of Water. That was one of the best performances I’ve seen in a long time. I also thought Margo Robbie – I, Tonya was fantastic. This is always a tough category, because all of these women are excellent.
 
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
PREDICTION: Sam Rockwell – Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri
MY PICK: To me this is a pretty weak category, in spite of all of these actors being talented. I really think Michael Stuhlbarg – Call Me By Your Name deserved a nomination. Out of the choices, I’d probably go with Rockwell.
 
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
PREDICTION: Allison Janney – I, Tonya
MY PICK: Allison Janney all the way! I love her, and she really nailed this role. She’s very deserving of this honor. No one else comes close to me, although Mary J. Blige – Mudbound was wonderful, too.
 
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
PREDICTION: Get Out – Written by Jordan Peele
MY PICK: This is a really great crop of screenplays. I would be happy for any of them winning (Three Billboards would be my least favorite). I’d probably vote for Greta Gerwig – Lady Bird.
 
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
 
PREDICTION: Call Me by Your Name – James Ivory based on the novel by André Aciman
MY PICK: Definitely James Ivory! I love Aaron Sorkin, and I’m happy that he got another nomination, but Molly’s Game isn’t his best work.
 
I’ve also seen most of the animated films and they’re exceptional this year. Coco was my favorite, and I’m rooting for it to win, but The Breadwinner was a great story and the artwork in Loving Vincent was just incredible.
 
I was also lucky enough to see all of the short films nominated in the three shorts categories. I’ll be rooting for Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405 (Documentary), The Silent Child (Live Action), and Negative Space (Animated)
 
Check out my full Oscar predictions and be sure to watch the show on ABC tonight at 8:00 p.m. CST!
https://www.goldderby.com/view-predictions/jordan_pittman/oscars-2018/