2021 Awards

 These are my nominations and winners (*) from 2021:

DIRECTOR

• *Bo Burnham, INSIDE
• Shaka King, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
• Steven Spielberg, WEST SIDE STORY
• Michael Sarnoski, PIG
• Ridley Scott, THE LAST DUEL

ACTOR

• *Nicolas Cage, PIG
• Daniel Kaluuya, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
• Andrew Garfield, TICK TICK BOOM
• Simon Rex, RED ROCKET
• Dev Patel, THE GREEN KNIGHT

ACTRESS

• Rachel Zegler, WEST SIDE STORY
• *Renate Reinsve, THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
• Olivia Colman, THE LOST DAUGHTER
• Jodie Comer, THE LAST DUEL
• Kristen Stewart, SPENCER

SUPPORTING ACTOR

• *Mike Faist, WEST SIDE STORY
• Colman Domingo, ZOLA
• Lakeith Stanfield, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
• Alex Wolff, PIG
• Mark Rylance, DON'T LOOK UP

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• *Ruth Negga, PASSING
• Dominique Fishback, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
• Dagmara Dominczyk, THE LOST DAUGHTER
• Kotone Furukawa, WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND FANTASY
• Katsuki Mori, WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND FANTASY

ENSEMBLE

• JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
• WEST SIDE STORY
• THE LAST DUEL
• THE LOST DAUGHTER
• *WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND FANTASY

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
• *PIG
• SPENCER
• DON'T LOOK UP
• RED ROCKET

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• *WEST SIDE STORY
• THE LAST DUEL
• THE LOST DAUGHTER
• PASSING
• THE GREEN KNIGHT

DOCUMENTARY

• GET BACK
• THE RESCUE
• IN & OF ITSELF
• *INSIDE
• BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD'S A LITTLE BLURRY

MUSIC

• *INSIDE
• WEST SIDE STORY
• THE HARDER THEY FALL
• DUNE
• TICK TICK BOOM

SOUND

• WEST SIDE STORY
• *DUNE
• TICK TICK BOOM
• MEMORIA
• THE GREEN KNIGHT

HAIR & MAKEUP

• *DUNE
• THE LAST DUEL
• SPENCER
• PASSING
• ZOLA

COSTUME DESIGN

• *WEST SIDE STORY
• SPENCER
• DUNE
• THE HARDER THEY FALL
• ANNETTE

VISUAL EFFECTS

• THE GREEN KNIGHT
• *DUNE
• FINCH
• THE LAST DUEL
• THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS

PRODUCTION DESIGN

• WEST SIDE STORY
• *DUNE
• SPENCER
• THE GREEN KNIGHT
• LICORICE PIZZA

EDITING

• INSIDE
• WEST SIDE STORY
• THE LAST DUEL
• THE LOST DAUGHTER
• *TICK TICK BOOM

CINEMATOGRAPHY

• JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
• *WEST SIDE STORY
• DUNE
• PASSING
• THE GREEN KNIGHT

10 OLDER MOVIES SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME

1. BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA (1992, Francis Ford Coppola)
2. THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE & HER LOVER (1989, Peter Greenaway)
3. IKIRU (1952, Akira Kurosawa)
4. COME AND SEE (1985, Elem Klimov)
5. HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR (1959, Alain Resnais)
6. AMERICAN HONEY (2016, Andrea Arnold)
7. THE HEARTBREAK KID (1972, Elaine May)
8. THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (2019, Joe Talbot)
9. THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS (1966, Gillo Pontecorvo)
10. THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL (1962, Luis Buñuel)

2020 Awards

 These are my nominations and winners (*) from 2020:

DIRECTOR

• *Christopher Nolan, TENET
• Charlie Kaufman, I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS
• Kelly Reichardt, FIRST COW
• Spike Lee, DA 5 BLOODS
• Eliza Hittman, NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS

ACTOR

• Steven Yeun, MINARI
• Jesse Plemons, I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS
• John Magaro, FIRST COW
• Gary Oldman, MANK
• *Riz Ahmed, SOUND OF METAL

ACTRESS

• Jessie Buckley, I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS
• Sidney Flanigan, NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS
• Han Ye-ri, MINARI
• Eliza Scanlen, BABYTEETH
• *Carey Mulligan, PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN

SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Chadwick Boseman, DA 5 BLOODS
• Orion Lee, FIRST COW
• Sacha Baron Cohen, THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
• Delroy Lindo, DA 5 BLOODS
• *Paul Raci, SOUND OF METAL

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• *Youn Yuh-jung, MINARI
• Amanda Seyfried, MANK
• Sonia Braga, BACURAU
• KiKi Layne, THE OLD GUARD
• Olivia Cooke, SOUND OF METAL

ENSEMBLE

• I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS
• THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
• *DA 5 BLOODS
• THE OLD GUARD
• SOUND OF METAL

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• TENET
• THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
• *DA 5 BLOODS
• NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS
• MANK

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• *I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS
• FIRST COW
• THE INVISIBLE MAN
• THE OLD GUARD
• EMMA.

DOCUMENTARY

• *BOYS STATE
• THE PAINTER AND THE THIEF
• 537 VOTES

MUSIC

• *TENET
• I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS
• PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
• LOVERS ROCK
• BABYTEETH

SOUND

• TENET
• DA 5 BLOODS
• MANK
• *SOUND OF METAL
• THE INVISIBLE MAN

HAIR & MAKEUP

• I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS
• THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
• *PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
• MANK
• EMMA.

COSTUME DESIGN

• EMMA.
• FIRST COW
• PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
• *MANK
• THE INVISIBLE MAN

VISUAL EFFECTS

• *TENET
• DA 5 BLOODS
• BACURAU
• HIS HOUSE
• THE INVISIBLE MAN

PRODUCTION DESIGN

• *TENET
• I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS
• FIRST COW
• DA 5 BLOODS
• MANK

EDITING

• *TENET
• I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS
• DA 5 BLOODS
• THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
• MANK

CINEMATOGRAPHY

• *TENET
• I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS
• FIRST COW
• DA 5 BLOODS
• MANK

10 OLDER MOVIES SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME

1. SOMETHING WILD
2. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES
3. HIGH AND LOW
4. THE LIMEY
5. GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES
6. USED CARS
7. ALI: FEAR EATS THE SOUL
8. AGUIRRE: THE WRATH OF GOD
9. SORCERER
10. ALPHAVILLE

2019 Awards

These are my nominations and winners (*) from 2019:

DIRECTOR

• *Bong Joon-ho, PARASITE
• Noah Baumbach, MARRIAGE STORY
• Martin Scorsese, THE IRISHMAN
• Rian Johnson, KNIVES OUT
• Josh & Benny Safdie, UNCUT GEMS

ACTOR

• *Adam Driver, MARRIAGE STORY
• Adam Sandler, UNCUT GEMS
• Matthew McConaughey, THE BEACH BUM
• Daniel Craig, KNIVES OUT
• Tom Mercier, SYNONYMS

ACTRESS

• Scarlett Johansson, MARRIAGE STORY
• Ana de Armas, KNIVES OUT
• Noemie Merlant, PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
• Honor Swinton Byrne, THE SOUVENIR
• *Lupita Nyong'o, US

SUPPORTING ACTOR

• *Joe Pesci, THE IRISHMAN
• Al Pacino, THE IRISHMAN
• Alessandro Nivola, THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE
• Willem Dafoe, THE LIGHTHOUSE
• Brad Pitt, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Adele Haenel, PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
• *Park So-dam, PARASITE
• Julia Fox, UNCUT GEMS
• Agyness Deyn, HER SMELL
• Diana Lin, THE FAREWELL

ENSEMBLE

• *PARASITE
• THE IRISHMAN
• KNIVES OUT
• MARRIAGE STORY
• UNCUT GEMS

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• *PARASITE
• MARRIAGE STORY
• KNIVES OUT
• HIGH FLYING BIRD
• THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• *THE IRISHMAN
• AVENGERS ENDGAME
• THE KING
• DARK WATERS
• A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

DOCUMENTARY

• *AMERICAN FACTORY
• MIDNIGHT TRAVELER
• PLUCKED
• COLD CASE HAMMARSKJOLD
• 63 UP

MUSIC

• CLIMAX
• *KNIVES OUT
• UNCUT GEMS
• THE BEACH BUM
• HUSTLERS

SOUND

• PARASITE
• *AVENGERS ENDGAME
• THE LIGHTHOUSE
• AD ASTRA
• FORD V FERRARI

HAIR & MAKEUP

• THE IRISHMAN
• KNIVES OUT
• UNCUT GEMS
• PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
• *ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

COSTUME DESIGN

• THE IRISHMAN
• KNIVES OUT
• THE BEACH BUM
• *PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
• ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

VISUAL EFFECTS

• *THE IRISHMAN
• AD ASTRA
• AVENGERS ENDGAME
• DETECTIVE PIKACHU
• HIGH LIFE

PRODUCTION DESIGN

• *PARASITE
• THE IRISHMAN
• KNIVES OUT
• UNCUT GEMS
• THE BEACH BUM

EDITING

• *PARASITE
• MARRIAGE STORY
• THE IRISHMAN
• KNIVES OUT
• AVENGERS ENDGAME

CINEMATOGRAPHY

• *PARASITE
• THE IRISHMAN
• KNIVES OUT
• UNCUT GEMS
• THE LIGHTHOUSE

10 OLDER MOVIES SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME

1. ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS
2. ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS
3. IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
4. SEX, LIES, AND VIDEOTAPE
5. CAROL
6. PORCO ROSSO
7. THE SPANISH PRISONER
8. THE THIN MAN
9. AVENGERS INFINITY WAR
10. KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE

2018 Awards

These are my nominations and winners (*) from 2018:

DIRECTOR

• Bo Burnham, EIGHTH GRADE
• Bing Liu, MINDING THE GAP

• *Christopher McQuarrie, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
• Luca Guadagnino, SUSPIRIA
• Steve McQueen, WIDOWS

ACTOR

• *Bradley Cooper as Jackson Maine, A STAR IS BORN
• Stephan James as Alonzo "Fonny" Hunt, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

• Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
• Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo, SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY
• Christian Bale as Dick Cheney, VICE

ACTRESS

• Lady Gaga as Ally, A STAR IS BORN
• Elsie Fisher as Kayla Day, EIGHTH GRADE
• Laura Dern as Jennifer Fox, THE TALE
• Viola Davis as Veronica Rawlings, WIDOWS
• *Carey Mulligan as Jeanette Brinson, WILDLIFE

SUPPORTING ACTOR

• *Sam Elliott as Bobby Maine, A STAR IS BORN
• Tim Blake Nelson as Buster Scruggs, THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS
• Michael B. Jordan as N'Jadaka/Erik Killmonger, BLACK PANTHER
• Steven Yeun as Ben, BURNING
• Nicholas Hoult as Robert Harley, THE FAVOURITE

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Rachel Weisz as Lady Sarah, THE FAVOURITE
• Claire Foy as Janet Armstrong, FIRST MAN
• Regina King as Sharon Rivers, IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

• Raffey Cassidy as Young Celeste/Albertine, VOX LUX

• *Elizabeth Debicki as Alice Gunner, WIDOWS

ENSEMBLE

• BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE
• THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS
• THE FAVOURITE
• IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

• *WIDOWS

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• *EIGHTH GRADE
• THE FAVOURITE
• SHOPLIFTERS
• THE TALE
• VOX LUX

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• BURNING
• MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
• SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

• *SUSPIRIA

• WIDOWS

DOCUMENTARY

• FILM WORKER
• FREE SOLO
• JANE FONDA IN FIVE ACTS

• *MINDING THE GAP
• THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING

MUSIC

• *A STAR IS BORN
• BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE
• IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
• MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
• WIDOWS

SOUND

• *A STAR IS BORN
• ANNIHILATION
• FIRST MAN
• MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
• WIDOWS

HAIR & MAKEUP

• THE FAVOURITE
• *IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

• SUSPIRIA
• VICE

• VOX LUX

COSTUME DESIGN

• THE FAVOURITE
• IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

• *PADDINGTON 2
• SUSPIRIA
• WIDOWS

VISUAL EFFECTS

• ANNIHILATION
• FIRST MAN
• *MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
• SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY
• UPGRADE

PRODUCTION DESIGN

• ANNIHILATION
• *ISLE OF DOGS
• THE FAVOURITE

• MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
• SUSPIRIA

EDITING

• BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE

• *MINDING THE GAP

• MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
• SUSPIRIA
• WIDOWS

CINEMATOGRAPHY

• ANNIHILATION
• THE FAVOURITE
• *IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

• MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
• WIDOWS

10 OLDER MOVIES SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME

1. HIS GIRL FRIDAY
2. TOPSY-TURVY
3. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP
4. SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
5. MOONSTRUCK
6. I MARRIED A WITCH
7. IN A LONELY PLACE
8. SUSPIRIA
9. TERMS OF ENDEARMENT
10. ALL ABOUT EVE

The Oscars 2017-2018: Should Win & Will Win

BEST PICTURE
Should Win: DUNKIRK
Will Win: GET OUT

BEST ACTOR
Should Win: Daniel Kaluuya, GET OUT
Will Win: Gary Oldman, DARKEST HOUR

BEST ACTRESS
Should Win: Frances McDormand, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
Will Win: Frances McDormand, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Should Win: Sam Rockwell, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
Will Win: Sam Rockwell, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Should Win: Laurie Metcalf, LADY BIRD
Will Win: Allison Janney, I, TONYA

BEST DIRECTOR
Should Win: Christopher Nolan, DUNKIRK
Will Win: Guillermo del Toro, THE SHAPE OF WATER

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Should Win: Jordan Peele, GET OUT
Will Win: Jordan Peele, GET OUT

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Should Win: James Ivory, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
Will Win: James Ivory, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Should Win: Roger Deakins, BLADE RUNNER 2049
Will Win: Roger Deakins, BLADE RUNNER 2049

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Should Win: Mark Bridges, PHANTOM THREAD
Will Win: Mark Bridges, PHANTOM THREAD

BEST SOUND MIXING
Should Win: Gregg Landaker, Gary Rizzo, Mark Weingarten, DUNKIRK
Will Win: Tim Cavagin, Mary H. Ellis, Julian Slater, BABY DRIVER

BEST SOUND EDITING
Should Win: Mark A. Mangini, Theo Green, BLADE RUNNER 2049
Will Win: Julian Slater, BABY DRIVER

BEST EDITING
Should Win: Lee Smith, DUNKIRK
Will Win: Lee Smith, DUNKIRK

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Should Win: Joe Letteri, Daniel Barrett, Dan Lemmon, Joel Whist, WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
Will Win: Joe Letteri, Daniel Barrett, Dan Lemmon, Joel Whist, WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Should Win: Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski, Lucy Sibbick, DARKEST HOUR
Will Win: Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski, Lucy Sibbick, DARKEST HOUR

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Should Win: Sufjan Stevens, "Mysery of Love", CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
Will Win: Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, "This is Me", THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Should Win: Hans Zimmer, DUNKIRK
Will Win: Alexandre Desplat, THE SHAPE OF WATER

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Should Win: Jakob Schuh, Jan Lachauer, REVOLTING RHYMES PART ONE
Will Win: Victor Caire, Gabriel Grapperon, GARDEN PARTY

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
Should Win: ???
Will Win: Reed Van Dyk, DeKalb Elementary

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Should Win: ???
Will Win: Frank Stiefel, HEAVEN IS A TRAFFIC JAM ON THE 405

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Should Win: ???
Will Win: Agnes Varda, Rosalie Varda, JR, FACES PLACES

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Should Win: ???
Will Win: ON BODY AND SOUL

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Should Win: Lee Unkrich, Darla K. Anderson, COCO
Will Win: Lee Unkrich, Darla K. Anderson, COCO

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Should Win: Nathan Crowley, Gary Fettis, DUNKIRK
Will Win: Paul D. Austerberry, Shane Vieau, Jeffrey A. Melvin, THE SHAPE OF WATER

2017 Awards

These are my nominations and winners (*) from 2017:

DIRECTOR

• Paul Thomas Anderson, PHANTOM THREAD

• David Lowery, A GHOST STORY

• *Christopher Nolan, DUNKIRK
• Jordan Peele, GET OUT
• Denis Villeneuve, BLADE RUNNER 2049

ACTOR

• Daniel Day-Lewis as Reynolds Woodcock, PHANTOM THREAD
• Michael Fassbender as David/Walter, ALIEN: COVENANT
• Ryan Gosling as K, BLADE RUNNER 2049
• *Daniel Kaluuya as Chris Washington, GET OUT
• Robert Pattinson as Connie Nikas, GOOD TIME

ACTRESS

• Sally Hawkins as Elisa Esposito, THE SHAPE OF WATER
• *Vicky Krieps as Alma, PHANTOM THREAD
• Frances McDormand as Mildred Hayes, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
• Saoirse Ronan as Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson, LADY BIRD
• Kristen Stewart as Maureen, PERSONAL SHOPPER

SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Sharlto Copley as Vernon, FREE FIRE
• Willem Dafoe as Bobby, THE FLORIDA PROJECT

• Harrison Ford as Rick Deckard, BLADE RUNNER 2049
• *Sam Rockwell as Dixon, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
• Michael Stuhlbarg as Mr. Perlman, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• Ana de Armas as Joi, BLADE RUNNER 2049
• Riley Keough as Mellie Logan, LOGAN LUCKY
• *Rooney Mara as M, A GHOST STORY
• Leslie Manville as Cyril Woodcock, PHANTOM THREAD
• Laurie Metcalf as Marion McPherson, LADY BIRD

ENSEMBLE

• BLADE RUNNER 2049
• DUNKIRK
• *LOGAN LUCKY
• PHANTOM THREAD
• THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• Christopher Nolan, DUNKIRK
• *Jordan Peele, GET OUT
• David Lowery, A GHOST STORY
• Yorgos Lanthimos & Efthymis Filippou, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER
• Paul Thomas Anderson, PHANTOM THREAD

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• Jack Paglen and Michael Green, John Logan and Dante Harper, ALIEN: COVENANT
• *Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, BLADE RUNNER 2049
• James Ivory, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
• James Gray, THE LOST CITY OF Z
• Aaron Sorkin, MOLLY'S GAME

DOCUMENTARY

• JIM & ANDY: THE GREAT BEYOND
• *MAY IT LAST: A PORTRAIT OF THE AVETT BROTHERS
• SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY
• SPIELBERG
• VISAGES VILLAGES

MUSIC

• BLADE RUNNER 2049

• DUNKIRK
• *A GHOST STORY
• MAY IT LAST: A PORTRAIT OF THE AVETT BROTHERS
• THE SHAPE OF WATER

SOUND

• BLADE RUNNER 2049
• *DUNKIRK
• FREE FIRE
• GET OUT
• MOTHER!

HAIR & MAKEUP

• ATOMIC BLONDE
• FREE FIRE
• LOGAN LUCKY
• *MOLLY'S GAME
• PHANTOM THREAD

COSTUME DESIGN

• BLADE RUNNER 2049
• A GHOST STORY
• MOLLY'S GAME
• PERSONAL SHOPPER
• *PHANTOM THREAD

VISUAL EFFECTS

• BLADE RUNNER 2049

• *DUNKIRK
• A GHOST STORY
• MOTHER!
• VALERIAN AND THE CITY OF A THOUSAND PLANETS

PRODUCTION DESIGN

• BLADE RUNNER 2049
• *DUNKIRK
• A GHOST STORY
• MOTHER!
• PHANTOM THREAD

EDITING

• BLADE RUNNER 2049
• *DUNKIRK
• GET OUT
• A GHOST STORY
• MAY IT LAST: A PORTRAIT OF THE AVETT BROTHERS

CINEMATOGRAPHY

• *BLADE RUNNER 2049
• DUNKIRK
• A GHOST STORY
• THE LOST CITY OF Z
• PHANTOM THREAD

10 OLDER MOVIES SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME

1. THE BEGUILED
2. DOGVILLE
3. TO BE OR NOT TO BE (1942)
4. RIFIFI
5. THE LAST DETAIL
6. STEVE JOBS: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE
7. TITANIC
8. THE MUMMY (1932)
9. THE INVISIBLE MAN
10. WALKABOUT

Top 25 Films of 2017 - A Video Countdown

For this year I thought I'd do something different with my end of year list, and I had so much fun doing this that I definitely plan on doing it again next year!

Here is my video list of my favorite movies of 2017:

Top 25 Films of 2017 from Scott Molling on Vimeo.

Top 10 Movies of 2016

10. NOCTURNAL ANIMALS (Tom Ford)

Ford's skills as a visual filmmaker were obvious after his debut film, A SINGLE MAN, but his skills as a screenwriter are made very clear here while maintaining his lush visuals as well.  His camera shows off Amy Adams like a silent movie star of old, letting her face do the lion's share of the work, while using the story's interweaving narratives to create a tale of spurned lovers and revenge.  NOCTURNAL ANIMALS is a spiteful film that feels deeply personal to its filmmaker, and leaves no simple answers at the end to piece together who are the "heroes" and "villains" of this story.  But if you see this one with a loved one, be prepared to have some heated discussions on the way home.


9. THE NEON DEMON (Nicolas Winding Refn)

Refn's style has always been as important to him (if not moreso) than the substance of the stories he's telling, but it's clear here that it was important to him to craft a female-driven narrative and tell a story that doesn't paint women in Hollywood as damsels in distress or young ingenues ripe for taking advantage of.  Elle Fanning leads an impressive group of women fighting for their place in the world, and willing to do almost anything to take what's theirs.  For a movie about the objectification and mistreatment of women in Hollywood (and, through metaphor, everywhere on Earth), Refn seems to understand that he should do his best not to objectify them here.  Caution: this one is not for the weak of stomach.


8. PATERSON (Jim Jarmusch)

A wonderfully sweet and warm film about the poetic beauty and artistic expression that can still exist in a seemingly mundane and ordinary life.  Jarmusch hasn't used this gear since BROKEN FLOWERS, and I think this film might be even better.  Adam Driver also finds another gear, creating a more serene internal performance than the visceral, intense performances we're used to from him.  Golshifteh Farahani is a terrific scene stealer, and she and Jarmusch perform and write a character that could've been annoying in a different movie and create something really special.  The character of Paterson serves as a representation for all working-class towns, showing that art can come from anywhere as long as people take the time to look for it in others as well as themselves.

7. SWISS ARMY MAN (Dan Kwan & Daniel Scheinert)

A hilariously absurd movie with a powerful message about depression and how hard it can be to show your true self to others.  The visual nature of the film is quite inventive, and I'm always impressed with filmmakers that are clearly putting thought into every last frame of their film, constantly finding ways to innovate and be original with every shot in the movie.  Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe are both more than willing to embrace the madness of the film's central concept, but also are more than capable of grounding the film's emotional side and not letting the craziness overwhelm the message.




6. THE LOBSTER (Yorgos Lanthimos)

A Kubrickian satire on modern relationships, in which single people who can't find a partner after a set period of time must be turned into an animal of their choosing.  If that premise doesn't do it for you, I don't have much to say to you, but satire is such a hard line to walk these days with the news getting crazier and crazier in itself.  The film manages to subtly explore themes of identity and online dating without hitting you over the head with them.  Colin Farrell continues to show his incredibly wide range as an actor here by not steering into the more comedic elements and letting you feel his melancholy.  Lanthimos has made the transition to English-speaking film better than most foreign writer/directors, and has pulled off a balance of comedy and drama that would be hard for most native speakers.

5. EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! (Richard Linklater)

Themes of college as a place to expand your world and how every clique and different subsection of people really just want the same core things (in this movie: sex and alcohol are the metaphor for happiness and success) make the film feel like more than just a snapshot of its selected place and time (something I didn't feel from Dazed and Confused).  Linklater here imagines a world where everyone is welcome no matter where they come from, and encourages individuality above all else, even when part of a team, which is kind of the dream of what college should be for everyone.  A simple, even cliche point to make, but Linklater finds some real power in it.



4. OJ: MADE IN AMERICA (Ezra Edelman)

Ezra Edelmen's 7 1/2 hour documentary is a stunning achievement.  Edelman crafts a great American tale that weaves together themes about race relations, fame, sports, and the American dream.  OJ's story is completely unique from beginning to end, and the film sets out to not only discover what's in his mind, but also in the minds of every last person in America who was swept up into the mania of OJ Simpson over the course of his life.  Although MOONLIGHT has received more attention this awards season, OJ: MADE IN AMERICA seems to me to be the perfect movie to be discussing in the wake of last year's #OscarsSoWhite controversy, especially about the differences in the perception of progress in race relations in America by different groups.

3. LA LA LAND (Damien Chazelle)

The camerawork here is nothing short of stellar.  Gosling and Stone both give near-career-best performances, and even if their skillsets may not hold up against the singing and dancing stars of yesteryear, they both acquit themselves nicely in that department too (extra points to Gosling for his piano playing as well).  Chazelle is clearly a visionary after this and WHIPLASH with his ability to turn even throw-away moments from any other movie into important pieces of the whole.  La La Land is clever, witty, endlessly charming, and just an absolute joy to watch.  And what a killer ending.




2. HAIL, CAESAR! (Joel Coen & Ethan Coen)

This one has really grown on me since I saw it almost a full year ago.  Sometimes Coen comedies can feel more like throwaways than their dramas, but occasionally, like with this film, they take the time to add real depth to an otherwise hilarious movie.  The film is filled with laughs, no surprise from such a prolific and talented team, but Eddie Mannix's spiritual journey throughout the course of the film is inspiring in its own right.  Brolin portrays Mannix as a man who so desperately wants to believe in the magic of movies, and how they can inspire us all to live up to a certain ideal, and as a film lover I couldn't help but be drawn to that message.  Credit must also be given for the Coens making Alden Ehrenreich, the world's new Han Solo, to a much larger audience.  To use the parlance of this film, the kid is a star.

1. ARRIVAL (Denis Villeneuve)

 Seeing this film the day after a mind-altering election that left our country in a state of chaos has certainly played a role in my reception of this film, but I'm confident that my opinion will hold up on repeated viewings.  Great science fiction holds a mirror up to our world, and the film's message of peaceful communication over war and the power of language and words has never been more important in our lifetimes.  The layers over that of love and loss only add poignancy to the message of the film.  After seeing this film, I couldn't get a particular saying out of my head: Don't cry because it's over.  Smile because it happened.




Here is a link to all of the 2016 movies I saw, roughly ranked: https://letterboxd.com/greenleaf1/list/2016-movies-ranked/

2016 Awards

These are my nominations and winners (*) from 2016:

DIRECTOR

• Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND
• Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, HAIL, CAESAR!
• Yorgos Lanthimos, THE LOBSTER
• Richard Linklater, EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!
• *Denis Villeneuve, ARRIVAL

ACTOR

• *Josh Brolin as Eddie Mannix, HAIL, CAESAR!
• Adam Driver as Paterson, PATERSON
• Colin Farrell as David, THE LOBSTER
• Andrew Garfield as Fr. Sebastiao Rodrigues, SILENCE
• Ryan Gosling as Sebastian, LA LA LAND

ACTRESS

• *Amy Adams as Louise Banks, ARRIVAL
• Elle Fanning as Jesse, THE NEON DEMON
• Kim Min-hee as Lady Hideko, THE HANDMAIDEN
• Natalie Portman as Jackie Kennedy, JACKIE
• Emma Stone as Mia, LA LA LAND

SUPPORTING ACTOR

• Mahershala Ali as Juan, MOONLIGHT
• Kyle Chandler as Joe Chandler, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
• *Alden Ehrenreich as Hobie Doyle, HAIL, CAESAR!
• Glen Powell as Finnegan, EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!
• Stellan Skarsgard as Dima, OUR KIND OF TRAITOR

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

• *Golshifteh Farahani as Laura, PATERSON
• Jena Malone as Ruby, THE NEON DEMON
• Viola Davis as Rose Maxson, FENCES
• Janelle Monae as Teresa, MOONLIGHT
• Rima Te Wiata as Bella, HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE

ENSEMBLE

• CERTAIN WOMEN
• EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!
• *HAIL, CAESAR!
• THE LOBSTER

• MOONLIGHT

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND
• *Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, HAIL, CAESAR!
• Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou, THE LOBSTER
• Richard Linklater, EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!
• Dan Kwan & Daniel Scheinert, SWISS ARMY MAN

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• Tom Ford, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
• *Eric Heisserer, ARRIVAL
• Martin Scorsese & Jay Cocks, SILENCE
• Whit Stillman, LOVE & FRIENDSHIP
• Taika Waititi, HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE

DOCUMENTARY

• 13TH
• AMANDA KNOX
• *OJ: MADE IN AMERICA
• TICKLED
• WEINER

MUSIC

• ARRIVAL
• *LA LA LAND
• NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
• THE NEON DEMON
• SWISS ARMY MAN

SOUND

• *ARRIVAL
• FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM
• LA LA LAND
• MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
• SWISS ARMY MAN

HAIR & MAKEUP

• JACKIE
• *LA LA LAND
• THE NEON DEMON
• NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
• SWISS ARMY MAN

COSTUME DESIGN

• CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
• HAIL, CAESAR!
• *LA LA LAND
• LOVE & FRIENDSHIP
• NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

VISUAL EFFECTS

• ARRIVAL
• THE BFG
• FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM
• *ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY
• SWISS ARMY MAN

PRODUCTION DESIGN

• *ARRIVAL
• GREEN ROOM
• LA LA LAND
• NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
• SILENCE

EDITING

• ARRIVAL
• *LA LA LAND
• NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
• OJ: MADE IN AMERICA
• SWISS ARMY MAN

CINEMATOGRAPHY

• *ARRIVAL
• JACKIE
• LA LA LAND
• MOONLIGHT
• SILENCE

10 OLDER MOVIES SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME

1. NIGHT AND FOG
2. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT
3. HOT COFFEE
4. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JUDGE ROY BEAN
5. PEEPING TOM
6. THE RIGHT STUFF
7. THE 39 STEPS
8. WHITE CHRISTMAS
9. PERSUASION
10. TO CATCH A THIEF

Nominations (Winners) Count:

• LA LA LAND - 11 (4) - Editing/Costumes/Hair & Makeup/Music
• ARRIVAL - 9 (6) - Director/Actress/Screenplay/Sound/Prod. Design/Cinematography
• HAIL, CAESAR! - 6 (4) - Actor/Supp Actor/Ensemble/Screenplay
• NOCTURNAL ANIMALS - 6
• SWISS ARMY MAN - 6
• EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!! - 4
• THE LOBSTER - 4
• MOONLIGHT - 4
• THE NEON DEMON - 4
• SILENCE - 4
• JACKIE - 3
• OJ: MADE IN AMERICA - 2 (1) - Documentary
• PATERSON - 2 (1) - Supp Actress
• FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM - 2
• HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE - 2
• LOVE & FRIENDSHIP - 2
• ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY - 1 (1) - Visual Effects
• 13TH - 1
• AMANDA KNOX - 1
• THE BFG - 1
• CAPTAIN FANTASTIC - 1
• CERTAIN WOMEN - 1
• FENCES - 1
• GREEN ROOM - 1
• THE HANDMAIDEN - 1
• MANCHESTER BY THE SEA - 1
• MIDNIGHT SPECIAL - 1
• OUR KIND OF TRAITOR - 1
• TICKLED - 1
• WEINER - 1