Tomorrow is the final deadline for voting for the Oscars. When Phase 2 of this thing began I thought that one week to vote seemed a bit short, but this has been one of the longest weeks in Oscar memory. No really ugly last minute smear campaign happened...just a couple of small things...which is a relief to say the least. Some last minute dark horses seem to have emerged. Is Dee Rees and her screenplay for "Mudbound" serious competition for James Ivory and "Call Me By Your Name?" Can "Baby Driver" really win "Best Editing?" Is "Get Out" a real competitor for Best Picture? Can "Get Out" win Best Picture? Who knows? We'll all know in less than a week.
I would like to say this to the Academy heading into the last day. After this, I will continue to make my predictions, and then I will let it go and enjoy the night as best as possible.
Dear Academy:
Best Adapted Screenplay
James Ivory deserves this award, not because he is 89 years old and without an Oscar, but because he wrote the best screenplay adapted from other material this year. Having read "Call Me By Your Name," I can tell you that he brilliantly rearranged Elio's narration into dialogue that not only belonged to Elio, but others. He also knew when not to take Elio's inner monologue and turn it into conversation. Luca and Timothee took it from there. It is a masterwork and it's the only award on March 4th I truly care about at this point.
Best Actor
Timothee Chalamet gives the best performance of the year. Yes...he may very well have plenty of opportunities ahead. But as the Academy that gave "Moonlight" Best Picture, you have an obligation to continue that daring. Heck...the fact that awarding the best performance of the year seems daring should say something to you. Do not fall to pressure to vote for someone because they have yet to win an Oscar. Look at James Ivory. Every other actor nominated against Chalamet has a chance to win again as well.
Best Documentary
"Icarus" is a very entertaining film. But "Faces Places" is the most deserving in this category. It is absolutely brilliant from start to finish. As much as I would like James Ivory to be the oldest person to have an Oscar, let's give that distinction to Agnes Varda (by a week).
Thanks,
Brian
OK...now that that's out of the way.
Over the past few days I have managed to watch all 15 nominated short films. I would say that the Live Action and Documentary Shorts are the best in years. The Animated shorts leave a bit to be desired.
Doc Shorts
Edith+Eddie
Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405
Heroin(e)
Knife Skills
Traffic Stop
It seems that people are predicting three films for the win, "Edith+Eddie," "Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405," and "Heroin(e)."
I can honestly see how all three have a shot. I would not be completely surprised if "Knife Skills" or "Traffic Stop" won either.
I wonder if people are predicting "Edith+Eddie" because Cher is attached as a producer. I honestly believe that when it comes to predicting the shorts, the Oscar prognosticators are often looking for any sort of clue so they can make their pic and move on. Me, I try to go with the one that really moved me the most. It can be a smart tactic, and it can be a mistake. I really want to go with "Heroin(e)" here, but I think the majority might be right with "Edith+Eddie." For one thing, they are the only film that reached out to me, along with "Knife Skills" to ask if I was interested in speaking with the directors. I said yes...but nothing actually came about from it. I do believe "Heroin(e)" is deserving, but part of the reason I'm feeling so connected to it is the subject matter. And the Netflix factor. This is very tough, but I'm going with:
Will win: Edith+Eddie
Should win: Heroin(e)
Animated Short
Dear Basketball
Garden Party
Lou
Negative Space
Revolting Rhymes
Part of the reason I'm going with "Edith+Eddie" here is because I'm taking a supposed risk in this category. The majority seems to be going with "Dear Basketball," which was created by Kobe Bryant. I honestly can't imagine the Academy voting for this film. It's not good. "Lou," the Pixar entry is by far their weakest entry in quite some time. "Revolting Rhymes," while entertaining had some pretty amateurish animation. That leaves "Negative Space" and "Garden Party."
"Negative Space" is old school. It has a very sweet story at its center about a boy who packs his Dad's suitcase. It's simple and wonderful. But "Garden Party" is the real star in this category. I've read people saying that it takes a dark turn. No...it is dark from the start. The film doesn't hide where it's heading. It is brilliantly animated and keeps you on the edge from the opening frames.
Will win/Should win: Garden Party
Live Action Short
DeKalb Elementary
The Eleven O'Clock
My Nephew Emmett
The Silent Child
Watu Wote/All of Us
This is another fantastic category. I would honestly be fine with any of them winning. The only one I had the slightest issue with was "The Eleven O'Clock," only because I saw the ending coming from the very start. Which is ok...with this type of comedy, that is often the case. "The Silent Child" and "My Nephew Emmett" were moving and infuriating and "Watu Wote/All of Us" moved me to tears.
But it's "DeKalb Elementary" that should win. If you have an opportunity to see this, you must. The leading performances are incredible, particularly that of Shinelle Azoroh.
Will win/Should win: DeKalb Elementary
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