Weird Cinema

Time: Sunday, January 12th, 2020, 4:00 PM MST

Where: The Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA

Who: Taye Diggs as host on the CW

Best Score (2019 winner: Justin Hurwitz, First Man)

 

1. Thomas Newman, 1917
2. Hildur Guonadottir, Joker
3. Randy Newman, Marriage Story
4. Alexander Desplat, Little Women
5. Michael Abels, Us
6. Robbie Robertson, The Irishman

 

 

My Pick: Alexander Desplat, Little Women

After the surprising Hildur wins for Joker at the Golden Globes, this race has taken a dramatic turn and if Hildur wins here this would mean yet another awards season with Thomas Newman’s not giving a speech on Oscar night. Newman’s still the prohibitive favorite, but he needs to win here. Hildur is gaining a ton of momentum quickly.

Best Song (2018 winner: Shallow, A Star is Born)

 

1. Love Me Again, Rocketman
2. Into The Unknown, Frozen II
3. Glasgow, Wild Rose
4. Stand Up, Harriet
5. Spirit, Lion King
6. Speechless, Aladdin 
7. I’m Standing With You, Breakthrough 

 

My pick: Love Me Again, Rocketman

Rocketman winning at the Globes felt very Globes-y, but at the moment, Frozen 2 is losing momentum fast and Universal has been campaigning the shit out of Rocketman and people want to see Elton John. There’s an outside chance Glasgow comes out of nowhere to win here as Wild Rose is seemingly more popular among critics than anywhere else.

Best Foreign (2018 Winner: Roma)

 

• Parasite

 

1. Pain and Glory 
2. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
3. Atlantics
4. Les Misérables

My Pick: Parasite 

Lock of the night. Amazing category of films and the Portrait of a Lady on Fire mention after the France Oscar snub is one of the best stories of the night. Parasite is the clear winner in this category and possibly many other awards. All these films are among the best in 2019.

Best Sci-Fi/Horror (2019 Winner: A Quiet Place)

 

1. Us
2. Avengers Endgame
3. Ad Astra
4. Midsommar

 

My Pick: Midsommar

The first of the genre awards, Us feels like the most logical pick with the strong reviews, Peele factor, and great box office. Endgame could certainly sneak one out here as the ridiculous popular hit. There’s no precedent and the only signifier of a Us win is Lupita Nyong’o’s nomination.

Best Comedy (2019 Winner: Crazy Rich Asians)

 

1. Jojo Rabbit
2. Knives Out
3. The Farewell
4. Dolomite is My Name
5. Booksmart

 

My Pick: Jojo Rabbit

All strong films up-and-down this category. Taika Waititi’s satire is the only film with a Best Picture nomination so an obvious winner here. Knives Out has a screenplay nomination, and last year the picture nomination (The Favourite) didn’t line up with the winner of this category. Expect the unexpected?

Best Action Movie (2019 Winner: Mission: Impossible Fallout)

 

1. 1917
2. Ford v. Ferrari 
3. Avengers: Endgame
4. John Wick: Chapter 3
5. Spider-Man: Far From Home 

 

My Pick: 1917

The Globes winner is picking up speed quickly, and unless something out of left field happens it will be 1917 in this category.

Best Animated Feature (2019 Winner: Spider-verse) 

 

1. Toy Story 4
2. Frozen II
3. Missing Link
4. I Lost My Body 
5. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World 
6. Abominable 

 

My Pick: Missing Link

The Critics Choice often goes with Pixar films in Animated and Toy Story 4 was, again, a critics darling. However, It would be pretty funny if Laika pulled out another random win for Missing Link. 

Best Visual Effects (2018 Winner: Black Panther)

 

1. The Irishman
2. 1917
3. Avengers: Endgame
4. Ad Astra
5. Ford v. Ferrari 
6. Lion King
7. The Aeronauts 

 

My Pick: Ad Astra

My confidence level in this pick is extremely low, and the winner will likely set them on a path toward the Oscar (unless Ad Astra or Aeronauts win which missed the Oscar shortlist). They usually go for the most VFX and the boldest choice on the list, and The Irishman feels like that choice

Best Hair and Makeup (2018 Winner: Vice)

1. Bombshell
2. Joker
3. Rocketman
4. Judy
5. The Irishman
6. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood 
7. Dolemite Is My Name

My Pick: Bombshell

Let’s face it, Bombshell makeup artist Vivian Baker turned Charlize Theron into an exact replica of Megyn Kelly. The work is remarkable and while it might not be a hugely popular film with critics, the work is undeniable.  The plus the last two winners have been based on people they recognize and see the makeup transformation.

Best Costume Design (2018: Ruth E. Carter, Black Panther)

1. Little Women
2. Dolemite Is My Name
3. Rocketman
4. Downton Abbey 
5. Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood 
6. The Irishman 

My Pick: Ruth E. Carter, Dolemite is my Name

I decided to predict the more traditional period piece costumes over the flashy Rocketman and Dolemite costumes. I could see them going back to Ruth E. Carter two years in a row, but I know the critics loved Little Women. Weirdly enough, if Mark Bridges got a nomination for Joker, that’s who I would’ve predicted. Duran (costumer for Little Women) does have a win in this category for Anna Karenina (2013) at Critics Choice.

Best Editing (2018 Winner: First Man)

1. Ford v Ferrari 
2. The Irishman 
3. 1917
4. Parasite
5. Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood 
6. Uncut Gems

My Pick: Parasite

Critics Choice, much like the Oscars, usually go for the technical achievement film rather than the more subtle editing. Winners like Dunkirk and First Man show a clear pattern, and Ford v. Ferrari is looked at as the favorite come February currently. However, honoring Thelma Schoonmaker would be a great moment so she’s a player to watch if there is an upset.

Best Production Design (2018 Winner: Black Panther)

1. Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood 
2. 1917
3. Parasite
4. Little Women
5. Joker
6. The Irishman 
7. Downton Abbey

My Pick: Parasite

Once Upon A Time…in  Hollywood feels like a runaway train in production design and almost a lock at the Oscars. If Critics try to predict the Oscars this wins in a landslide, but there’s a chance the 1917 love shows through or even Parasite, a film set to do big things, lands a surprise win here. But the smart money is on Barbara Ling, Nancy Haigh for Hollywood recreating 1960’s Los Angeles 

Best Cinematography (2018 Winner: Roma)

1. 1917
2. Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood 
3. Ford v. Ferrari 
4. Joker
5. The Lighthouse
6. The Irishman 

My Pick: The Lighthouse

The lock of the night and maybe of the century. They might as well rename 1917 “Cinematography: The Movie”

Best Adapted Screenplay (2018 Winner: If Beale Street Could Talk)

1. The Irishman 
2. Little Women
3. Jojo Rabbit
4. The Two Popes 
5. Joker
6. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 

My Pick: Little Women

Adapted is a fluid category in 2020 so nobody feels entirely safe, but this is a good spot to reward Scorsese and Zailian for their work on The Irishman. However, Little Women and Jojo Rabbit could sneak one out here. Little Women is gaining momentum. Absolutely loved the last two winners at CC (Call Me by Your Name and If Beale Street Could Talk)

Best Original Screenplay (2018 Winner: First Reformed)

1. Parasite
2. Marriage Story
3. Knives Out
4. Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood 
5. The Farewell

My Pick: Parasite

Huge category in determining the Best Picture winner at the end of the night. Critics often go for innovative, nuanced scripts that push boundaries. Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite fits that bill and is also a critics darling. Marriage Story could also get recognized, but they might save it for the performances. If Parasite wins here, watch the f*ck out…

Best Acting Ensemble (2018 Winner: The Favourite)

1. Knives Out
2. Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood 
3. Marriage Story
4. Parasite
5. The Irishman 
6. Little Women
7. Bombshell

My Pick: Little Women 

Knives Out feels like the obvious choice with the most ensemble-ly film of the group and critics loved it. Honestly, though, 1-6 all feel like possibilities and wouldn’t be surprised to see any of them win. Even Bombshell feels like a threat. There’s certainly no clear consensus outside of Knives Out.

Best Young Actor/Actress (2018 Winner: Elsie Fisher, Eighth Grade)

1. Roman Griffin Davis, Jojo Rabbit
2. Noah Jupe, Honey Boy
3. Thomasin Mackenzie, Jojo Rabbit
4. Shahadi Wright Joseph, Us
5. Archie Yates, Jojo Rabbit
6. Julia Butters, Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood 

My Pick: Thomasin Mackenzie, Jojo Rabbit 

Critics go for the bigger roles here over supporting so that puts it down to Jupe or Griffin Davis and only one of those actors is in a best picture nominee.

Best Supporting Actress (2018 Winner: Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk)

1. Laura Dern, Marriage Story
2. Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers
3. Florence Pugh, Little Women
4. Margot Robbie, Bombshell
5. Zhao Shuzhen, The Farewell
6. Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit

My Pick: Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers

Laura Dern is going to sweep awards season in supporting en route to her first deserved Oscar win. Lopez has been working the campaign trail hard, but Dern has too much overall support in a much more loved film. CC usually lines up with Oscars here too.

Best Supporting Actor (2018 Winner: Mahershala Ali, Green Book)

1. Brad Pitt, Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood 
2. Joe Pesci, The Irishman 
3. Al Pacino, The Irishman 
4. Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes
5. Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in The Neighborhood 
6. Willem Dafoe, The Lighthouse

My Pick: Joe Pesci, The Irishman

I entertained the idea of Pesci winning here and here alone, but look, Pitt is going to win the Oscar and they’re not going to be the only awards body that didn’t pick him. He’s sweeping the televised awards. CC, like in supporting actress, usually picks the Oscar winner here.

Best Actress (2018 Winner: TIE Glenn Close & Lady Gaga)

1. Renee Zellweger, Judy
2. Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
3. Lupita Nyong’o, Us
4. Saoirse Ronan, Little Women
5. Charlize Theron, Bombshell
6. Awkwafina, The Farewell
7. Cynthia Erivo, Harriet

My Pick: Saoirse Ronan, Little Women

Renee Zellweger is the favorite, but she doesn’t feel entirely secure. This could be one of the surprises of the evening with Scarlett or even an outside chance at critics darling Lupita Nyong’o winning. Judy’s most vulnerable so watch for some fireworks, but then again, are  2-5 nominees really strong enough to make it happen. That’s why I still have Renee at the top.

Best Actor (2018 Winner: Christian Bale, Vice)

1. Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
2. Adam Driver, Marriage Story 
3. Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems
4. Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory
5. Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood 
6. Robert De Niro, The Irishman
7. Eddie Murphy, Dolemite is My Name

My Pick: Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory

Joaquin is definitely not a lock, but he gives the largest most transformative performances which usually means winning. It’s truly a two-horse race and with Critic’s love over Marriage Story, there’s most definitely a scenario where Driver takes the win after Phoenix won the Globe.

Best Director (2018 Winner: Alfonso Cuaron, Roma)

1. Bong Joon-ho, Parasite
2. Sam Mendes, 1917
3. Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood 
4. Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
5. Greta Gerwig, Little Women
6. Safdie Bros, Uncut Gems
7. Noah Baumbach, Marriage Story

My Pick: Bong Joon-ho, Parasite

Bong Joon-ho’s direction on Parasite is masterful and I know critics feel the same way. 1917 is the broader directorial achievement in scope, but it feels as if Parasite is a critics film and 1917 is the industry. The winner here has coincided with picture winner four out of the last five years.

Best Picture (2018 Winner: Roma)

1. Parasite
2. Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood 
3. The Irishman
4. Marriage Story
5. 1917
6. Little Women
7. Jojo Rabbit
8. Joker
9. Ford v. Ferrari 
10.  Uncut Gems

My Pick: Parasite

If Critics go for back-to-back foreign language films in Picture, I’d be ecstatic and it’d be so well deserved. Parasite is a film that hits all your senses and is a technical marvel. Critics have been going to bat for it since Cannes and I don’t expect anything to change here. 1-3 all have a shot, so watch for whoever wins director to win picture.

Thanks for reading and expect all my picks to be wrong.