Candis R. McLean
Each year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences go about the task of awarding the achievements of filmmakers and performers. The culmination of the tireless work put into a production is the ultimate recognition that comes with this night. Nominees and the Academy are often dissected for their diversity, range, and the overall merit of their selections. Passionate moviegoers and critics alike both take turns in putting the most beloved and questionable films and performances of the year under the microscope. Here’s a list of who could potentially be grasping the shimmering golden statues next month in major categories:
Academy Award for Best picture:
Arrival
Fences
Hacksaw Ridge
Hell or High Water
Hidden Figures
La La Land
Lion
Manchester by the Sea
Moonlight
Academy Award for an Actress in a Leading Role:
Isabelle Huppert, Elle
Ruth Negga, Loving
Natalie Portman, Jackie
Emma Stone, La La Land
Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins
Academy Award for an Actor in a Leading Role:
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea
Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge
Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic
Denzel Washington, Fences
Academy Award for an Actress in a Supporting Role:
Viola Davis, Fences
Naomie Harris, Moonlight
Nicole Kidman, Lion
Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures
Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea
Academy Award for an Actor in a Supporting Role:
Mahershala Ali, Moonlight
Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water
Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea
Dev Patel, Lion
Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals
Academy Award for Best Director:
Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge
Barry Jenkins, Moonlight
Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea
Denis Villeneuve, Arrival
…
La La Lost
La La Land officially tied the Oscars record for the most nominations for a feature with fourteen. The last and only film to achieve this was Titanic. As a person who’s seen almost every film nominated this year, the love this film gets simply remains a mystery to me. Obviously the films whimsical nature did enough to mask its true lack of depth and overall basicness to the voters. When the winners attached to the project repeatedly stated at the Golden Globes “I can’t believe we made a musical,” I squinted and thought “because it’s never been done before?” Those awards were a La La Land harvest so today was not surprising in the least. It appears Hollywood is prepared make this average boy-meets-girl, while doing basic tap, and singing poorly its crowning jewel. Moonlight’s, Manchester By the Sea’s , Fences’, and Hacksaw Ridge’s successful award seasons carried through to the Oscars. These projects produced multiple nominations in wide spectrum of categories.
Meryl Reigns Again
The lead actor, supporting actor, and supporting actress categories held true to form. There was relatively not switch from previous nominations and media predictions. In the best actress category, Florence Foster Jenkins landed Meryl Streep her 20th Academy Awards nomination. This is a shakeup from the Golden Globes that placed Streep in the Musical or Comedy category. Her surge onto the list seemingly ousted talented hopefuls Amy Adams and Taraji P. Henson. If only the duo could dance on top of cars and get dumped by Ryan Gosling. Tom Ford got no love for his direction in the edgy and fantastic thriller Nocturnal Animals. Tom Hanks’ gem and miraculous tale Sully received no nominations, Trolls and Finding Dory deserved better, and it’s still multiple orange shaded angry emojis to the lost cause Birth Of a Nation.
What to Watch For
There’s plenty to look forward to in the Documentary Feature category with strong and thought-provoking productions 13th, Fire at Sea, I Am Not Your Negro, Life, Animated, and O.J.: Made in America all nominated. The supporting actor and actress categories are the tightest they’ve been in years. I predict almost every category to go the way of previous awards shows, including awarding problematic nominee Casey Affleck the award for best Best Actor. Isabelle Huppert will most likely continue here best actress winning ways for her role in the jaw-dropping drama Elle.
The Academy Awards will air on February 26th at 8:00 P.M. Jimmy Kimmel will host the ABC network live broadcast for the first time. Be sure to catch the ceremony and mute it when the music for “City of Stars” hits.
You can follow Candis McLean on Twitter (@CandisRMcLean) and e-mail her at [email protected]. Follow Philly Influencer on Twitter (@PHL_Influencer), Facebook and Instagram.