Awards Season 2016

[swo17]

This is all a moot point anyway, as the entire Oscar ceremony this year is going to have to be just one long in memoriam segment.

[Ribs]

I'm mostly just in the camp that I'd like to see Ruth Negga and Amy Adams in because they're least likely to siphon votes from Annette Bening, which Huppert and Streep certainly would (it's Emma Stone's to lose at this point but I think the right combination of nominations could lead to a split vote).

I'm really disappointed with the Cinematography race this year, as I'm not really wowed by any of the contenders (having not seen a frame of Silence). Now that we don't have the absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary three-peat narrative from the past few years, it's a bummer to go back to this category being its usual underwhelming self.

[domino harvey]

Bening is a consistently uninteresting actress, the narrative that she was "robbed" by Swank twice is a myth

[Randall Maysin]

Well, she was most definitely robbed by _Whoopi Goldberg_ once. American Beauty is a shameful film, but is there really anyone out there waving around the narrative that she should have won for the Szabo film that seems to have been instantly forgotten?

[Brian C]

Bening is a consistently uninteresting actress, the narrative that she was "robbed" by Swank twice is a myth

I actually kind of like Bening, so my first reaction was to want to argue with this. Forced to think about it, though, I have to agree that she's not really all that interesting. She's pleasant in undemanding roles, though.

As much as I liked Mike Mills's Beginners, I'm hoping that 20th Century Women is a high-water mark for her.

[dda1996a]

I'm mostly just in the camp that I'd like to see Ruth Negga and Amy Adams in because they're least likely to siphon votes from Annette Bening, which Huppert and Streep certainly would (it's Emma Stone's to lose at this point but I think the right combination of nominations could lead to a split vote).

I'm really disappointed with the Cinematography race this year, as I'm not really wowed by any of the contenders (having not seen a frame of Silence). Now that we don't have the absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary three-peat narrative from the past few years, it's a bummer to go back to this category being its usual underwhelming self.

Why? Because we don't have an overly complicated lensed film? Both American Honey and Arrival looked brilliant, and I haven't seen La La Land, Moonlight or Silence but they all look brilliant.. And supposedly Jackie also looks great. Sadly Dealing only worked on Hail Caesar! this year so probably won't be in the mix but these are interesting and great options for noms

[Ribs]

American Honey isn't in the mix in any Oscar race (as much as it should be), I found Bradford Young's work to be far inferior than his earlier work that hasn't been nominated in the past, and I don't think Moonlight's strong point was its camerawork (and I think I'll have a similar feeling about La La Land when I see it). Jackie does suffer - marginally - for its visuals being so reminiscent (if not outwardly derivative) of what Carol did last year, but it's one of the other bright lights here.

Rules Don't Apply and Hail Caesar are the two best shot movies this year (controversial opinion, probably, but they're the two best shot movies from each of their DPs' whole careers), as far as I can recall, and the fact neither are in contention for this whatsoever infuriates me. (Live by Night is supposed to be all kinds of terrible but by goodness it does look very pretty)

[John Cope]

(controversial opinion, probably, but they're the two best shot movies from each of their DPs' whole careers)

Yeah, I would say that is indeed a controversial opinion, especially as it pertains to Deakins.

[captveg]

Deakins will probably be the front runner for Blade Runner 2049 in the next Oscar season

[Ribs]

I dunno, no one's ever won three Oscars in a row then taken a year off then won another Oscar before so seems like they really need to give it to Lubezki again next go round.

What'd usually be the one people cite for Deakins? Jesse James is maybe the one that I would possibly waver for, but hey if Criterion have refused it it must not look that good

[John Cope]

In regard to his work for the Coens alone I would go with Barton Fink always.

[The Narrator Returns]

I loved Deakins' work on Caesar (it's underrated by virtue of it lacking the show-stopping factor of some of his other work), but I'd put a lot over it, including Jesse James, No Country, Kundun, The Village, Prisoners, Skyfall, True Grit, The Man Who Wasn't There, and Sicario.

[John Cope]

Not Barton Fink? I would also add Stormy Monday to your list. Oh, and White Mischief could use a Blu release.

[The Narrator Returns]

Barton Fink and Fargo (and Sid and Nancy and Mountains of the Moon) might also be above it too, yes. And the movie itself is barely worth remembering, but I adore his work on In Time. Really, the one Deakins job I don't like-to-love is Unbroken, whose Oscar nomination was a joke when Bradford Young did far better work in two films that year (as did the way-out-of-contention Darius Khondji).

[knives]

I'd say Skyfall has to be number one as his work is so essential to that it is practically as if he was the sole auteur.

[dda1996a]

American Honey isn't in the mix in any Oscar race (as much as it should be), I found Bradford Young's work to be far inferior than his earlier work that hasn't been nominated in the past, and I don't think Moonlight's strong point was its camerawork (and I think I'll have a similar feeling about La La Land when I see it). Jackie does suffer - marginally - for its visuals being so reminiscent (if not outwardly derivative) of what Carol did last year, but it's one of the other bright lights here.

Rules Don't Apply and Hail Caesar are the two best shot movies this year (controversial opinion, probably, but they're the two best shot movies from each of their DPs' whole careers), as far as I can recall, and the fact neither are in contention for this whatsoever infuriates me. (Live by Night is supposed to be all kinds of terrible but by goodness it does look very pretty)

Well we never know, Robbie Ryan might sneak in, his work was brilliant. And since when did the academy care that one wins for not his best job? Hell Lubezki's three wins weren't even his best work, considering his work with Malick and every film with Cuaron before Gravity. Sure it wasn't Bradford's best, but considering how every work he's done has been terrific I don't see how that is a negative. Again I only have seen American Honey and Arrival from all aforementioned films so I don't know regarding Moonlight etc.

Regarding Deakins, yes Jesse James for me is his best. Watch that train sequence again. Fargo, Man Who Wasn't There, Skyfall , Barton Fink and No Country come close

[Ribs]

Doc feature shortlist:

Cameraperson, Big Mouth Productions
Command and Control, American Experience Films/PBS
The Eagle Huntress, Stacey Reiss Productions, Kissiki Films and 19340 Productions
Fire at Sea, Stemal Entertainment
Gleason, Dear Rivers Productions, Exhibit A and IMG Films
Hooligan Sparrow, Little Horse Crossing the River
I Am Not Your Negro, Velvet Film
The Ivory Game, Terra Mater Film Studios and Vulcan Productions
Life, Animated, Motto Pictures and A&E IndieFilms
O.J.: Made in America, Laylow Films and ESPN Films
13th, Forward Movement
Tower, Go-Valley
Weiner, Edgeline Films
The Witness, The Witnesses Film
Zero Days, Jigsaw Productions

I know Oscars gonna Oscar and we'll end up somehow having the less good ones be three of the nominees but this is a crazy great list overall.

[zedz]

Doc feature shortlist:

Cameraperson, Big Mouth Productions
Command and Control, American Experience Films/PBS
The Eagle Huntress, Stacey Reiss Productions, Kissiki Films and 19340 Productions
Fire at Sea, Stemal Entertainment
Gleason, Dear Rivers Productions, Exhibit A and IMG Films
Hooligan Sparrow, Little Horse Crossing the River
I Am Not Your Negro, Velvet Film
The Ivory Game, Terra Mater Film Studios and Vulcan Productions
Life, Animated, Motto Pictures and A&E IndieFilms
O.J.: Made in America, Laylow Films and ESPN Films
13th, Forward Movement
Tower, Go-Valley
Weiner, Edgeline Films
The Witness, The Witnesses Film
Zero Days, Jigsaw Productions

I know Oscars gonna Oscar and we'll end up somehow having the less good ones be three of the nominees but this is a crazy great list overall.

I reckon Life, Animated is the most Oscar-y of those I've seen (stand by for an even more Oscar bait-y feature film in a few years). No great shakes formally, but it's still really good. I'd love to see Tower get a nomination.

[knives]

Sigh, guess I have to see Gleason now.

[hearthesilence]

Given that a**hat's role in reviving that stupid email controversy (and perhaps ensuring Trump's win and the end of the republic), it kind of irritates me how that attention whore will remain prominent in the news as the doc on his failed campaign gathers up more press during the awards season.

[captveg]

Was Voyage of Time eligible, or did they submit the shorter version to the doc shorts category?

[Ribs]

I don't think the full-length version played outside of festivals.

[dda1996a]

Was Voyage of Time eligible, or did they submit the shorter version to the doc shorts category?

Either way, when did the academy ever nominate a film like that? The Qatsi trilogy, Baraka and Samsara were never considered either.

[captveg]

Was Voyage of Time eligible, or did they submit the shorter version to the doc shorts category?

Either way, when did the academy ever nominate a film like that? The Qatsi trilogy, Baraka and Samsara were never considered either.

I figure Malick's name would draw some interest.

[GaryC]

AACTA Awards, main categories, awarded in Sydney today (7 December):

Best film - Hacksaw Ridge
Best director - Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
Best actor - Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Best actress - Odessa Young, The Daughter
Best supporting actor - Hugo Weaving, Hacksaw Ridge
Best supporting actress - Miranda Otto, The Daughter
Best original screenplay - Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan, Hacksaw Ridge
Best adapted screenplay - Simon Stone, The Daughter

I haven't seen Hacksaw Ridge, which opens in the UK on 27 January, but I'm happy with the wins for The Daughter, especially Odessa Young's. The technical awards were given out previously, and Hacksaw Ridge also won for editing, cinematography, sound and production design. Tanna won for its music score and Girl Asleep for costume design.