Film Review: Oscar Nominees 2017 - Part II

In just a few hours, the film industries finest will be taking their seats inside Hollywood's Dolby Theatre for the 89th Academy Awards. Of course, I will be watching eagerly but thought I'd share my final thoughts and predictions with Part II of my Oscars 2017 rundown...

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Arrival (Denis Villeneuve, 2016) - Nominations (8) - Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievement in Directing (Denis Villeneuve), Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay, Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Film Editing, Best Achievement in Sound Mixing, Best Achievement in Sound Editing, Best Achievement in Production Design.

Plot: Louise Banks (Amy Adams), is a linguistics professor who leads an elite team of investigators when mysterious spaceships settle on Earth. With the United Nations concerned for their safety and on the verge of declaring global war, Louise and her crew must work against the clock to find why the extraterrestrial visitors are here. 

Predictions: Arrival received mixed reviews from movie-goers in 2016 but, personally, I believe it to be an incredibly smart and beautifully directed narrative. A fresh take on the sci-fi genre, the film defies conventions and will leave you guessing throughout. It grips you not with jump scares or CGI, but with the strength of its execution. Whilst I unfortunately cannot see it picking up Best Picture, I do believe it may have a strong chance of winning for Editing and Production Design. Again, however, I do believe this to be another underdog that had it not been up against such films as La La Land or Manchester By The Sea, could have won otherwise.

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Fences (Denzel Washington, 2016) - Nominations (4) - Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Denzel Washington), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Viola Davis), Best Adapted Screenplay (August Wilson).

Plot: Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) is an ageing sanitation worker living in Pittsburgh, who once dreamed of a baseball career. Despite his efforts to be a good husband and father, his lost dream of glory eats at him - causing a bad decision which tears his marriage apart.

Predictions: Adapted for the screen by playwright, August Wilson, you feel very much as if you are watching a performance on a stage. Comprised of a simple set of Troy's home and garden, Fences is an extraordinary film centred purely on character development and script. This makes way for booming performances from both Washington and Viola Davis who are truly outstanding - delivering each line with depth and heart.

Up until seeing Fences, I was convinced that Casey Affleck had Best Actor in the bag but I know believe that there is a tiny chance Denzel could just steal it away. If I know the Academy though, Viola Davis will have the golden statue in the bag although it would be fantastic to see it win Best Adapted Screenplay also.

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Hidden Figures (Theodore Melfi, 2016) - Nominations (3) - Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Octavia Spencer), Best Adapted Screenplay.

Plot: Behind one of the greatest operations in history, three African-American women at NASA -- Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) serve as the brains behind the launch of NASA astronaut, John Glenn (Glen Powell), into orbit.

Predictions: Fighting adversity as both women and African Americans, Hidden Figures is a powerful, and previously untold story, of three extraordinary women who went unrecognised at a time of racial divide. With an all-star cast, this one has Oscars written all over it and so it is surprising to see that it only has three nominations. Though not entirely without flaws (there are some scenes of sketchy editing and inconsistencies), Hidden Figures is undoubtably an emotional and empowering rollercoaster executed brilliantly. Unfortunately, however, the competition this year seems too great for it to take home any awards *sad face*.

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Captain Fantastic (Matt Ross, 2016) - Nominations (1) - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

Plot: Ben Cash (Viggo Mortensen) lives with his wife, Leslie (Trin Miller) and their six children outside society, in the wilderness of Washington state. Having devoted their lives to raising their kids, Ben and Leslie teach them to think critically, to be physically fit and to understand the beauty of co-existing with nature. However, when Leslie dies suddenly, Ben must take his sheltered offspring into the outside world for the first time and fight against her family who refuse to accept his life choices.

Predictions: I was genuinely both surprised and super pleased to see Viggo Mortensen nominated since films such as this tend to go completely unrecognised by the Academy. Besides being beautifully shot, Captain Fantastic offers a strikingly original and unpredictable character narrative about a group of colourful outsiders, with a statement about the current society we live in. As such, it's so unfortunate that it is likely to home empty handed though I'm so happy to see it nominated. It's most definitely worth the watch.

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Moana (John Musker, Ron Clements, 2016) - Nominations (2) - Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)

Plot: A Disney adventure following the story of Moana Waialiki (Auli’i Cravalho) - the teenage daughter of a chief on the small Polynesian island of Motunui. With the island's resources running out, Moana embarks on a seemingly impossible mission across the sea to find demigod, Maui (Dwayne Johnson), and return the heart to the goddess Te Fiti. In doing so, she proves herself a master wayfinder and fulfils the unfinished quest of her ancestors. 

Predictions: Moana is a rare and much needed celebration of Polynesian culture and there are so many factors which make it groundbreaking. Firstly, Moana is not a Disney princess - she is a daughter of a chief and, as such, is expected to lead her people. She does not have a love interest, nor does she need a male role to save her - she is entirely her own person. If you want to dig a little further, you may also find some very interesting feminist theories surrounding the role of the goddess Te Fiti. Throw in some incredibly catchy songs written by Broadway legend Lin Manuel Miranda; stunning visuals, a talented cast of Polynesian/Hawaiian actors, excellent writers (including Taika Waititi) - you've got yourself one incredible Disney classic and a stand out film of 2016.

Personally, I would absolutely love to see Moana take home both awards but unfortunately I do believe these are already taken by Justin Hurwitz for La La Land and Kubo and the Two Strings for animation.

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The Lobster (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2015) - Nominations (1) - Best Original Screenplay

Plot: David (Colin Farrell) finds himself single when he is unexpectedly dumped by his wife. However, the breakup is made all the worse by the fact that he has 45 days to find true love, or else they are turned into the animal. Arriving at a mysterious hotel in the middle of nowhere, David begins his search for a new partner but after several failed romantic encounters, he makes a daring escape. Now on the run from society, David joins rebel group, 'The Loners' - a group founded on a complete rejection of romance and who live in the woods. However, it is here that David meets an enigmatic stranger (Rachel Weiss) with whom he falls in love.

Predictions: Colin Farrell delivers a fantastic performance within this beautiful yet bizarre film. Undoubtably, it is one of the most unique screenplays and narratives I've seen in a longtime. It's fantastic to see The Lobster nominated at this year's Academy Awards as, much like Captain Fantastic, it is outside the usual Oscar conventions. Again, I'm not sure if The Lobster has enough hype surrounding it to encourage a golden statue but it's worth the watch all the while. 

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Loving (Jeff Nichols, 2016) - Nominations (1) - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Ruth Negga).

Plot: Based on true events, Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Ruth Negga) are an interracial couple who marry in Central Point, Virginia in 1958. Despite living in one of the more integrated areas of the State, the couple are faced with extreme prejudice and are jailed and banished having refused to end their marriage. Once freed, Richard and Mildred are forced to relocate with their children but decide to return to Virginia - leading to a powerful legal battle which would make history within the US Supreme Court. 

Predictions: From the trailer, you might expect Loving to be a civil rights drama much like that of A United Kingdom (Amma Asante, 2016) but in fact, it is actually more of an intimate and hard-hitting portrait of a marriage suffering unimaginable stress. Its phenomenal narrative approach and career-best performances from Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton make this one of the most underrated films at this year's Oscars. I do, however, think this is fantastic opportunity for Ruth Negga who shines in every performance she has given so far (especially if you've seen her in TV series, Preacher). I can't wait to see her career grow off the back of this nomination though sadly, I feel that the Oscar already has Viola Davis written on it. 

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13th (Ava DuVernay, 2016) - Nominations (1) - Best Documentary Feature

Plot: Filmmaker Ava DuVernay (director of Selma, 2014) writes and directs a documentary which explores the history of racial inequality in the United States. Providing a previously unseen look in to the legal system, the film is an in-depth look into why the nation's prisons are disproportionately filled with African-Americans through a series of footage and interviews. 

Predictions: Personally, I think it's wonderful to see a Netflix Original nominated for an Oscar and so rightfully so with 13th. A few years ago, DuVernay turns heads at the Academy with Selma, a film about Martin Luther King Jr. which had prominent themes which were just as relevant in modern society. It comes at no surprise then that 13th is even more sobering and powerful as it holds up a mirror the current US prison system and it's comparisons to modern slavery. I'm pretty sure it has a firm chance of taking home Best Documentary Feature and have got my fingers and toes crossed for it's success.  

Well, that's it for Part II of my Oscars rundown and predictions. Will you be watching this evening? Who are you rooting for to win? As always, I love reading your comments so please do leave me lots of lovely ones down below. You can also check out Part I here. 

Until next time film fans,