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Tuesday, December 5, 2017

AWARDS SEASON 2018
My Nominees For Best Acting, Director, Cinematography


Michelle Pfeiffer as Woman in "mother!"  Paramount Pictures 
       
by Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com        FOLLOW                                            TWEET
Tuesday, December 5, 2017

There were some terrific performances on film in 2017, and with a few days of this calendar year left here are my five candidates for the best performances and other categories in 2017.  I will post the best in each category tomorrow, along with my picks of the ten best films of 2017.

BEST ACTRESS
Annette Bening, "Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool"
Shrewd work from Ms. Bening as ailing legend actress Gloria Grahame.  I felt the vulnerability, pain, confidence and self-doubt Ms. Bening radiated, and it resonates on the big screen.

Vicky Krieps, "Phantom Thread"
Ms. Krieps displays a mix of strength, intelligence and comedy in her turn as Alma in "Phantom Thread".  She is the most crucial element of Paul Thomas Anderson's drama and she towers majestically.

Frances McDormand, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Ms. McDormand gives her character a Rosie The Riveter flourish but underneath is a heart full of love and compassion.  It's a wisened performance full of grit, steel and action hero verve.

Margot Robbie, "I, Tonya"
An extravagant, relentlessly physical acting effort that cuts through the screen.  Ms. Robbie plays Tonya Harding and asks not for your praise but for your ear. 


Annette Bening as Gloria Grahame in "Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool".  Sony Pictures Classics

Meryl Streep, "The Post"
As Katherine Graham, Meryl Streep adeptly brings the crisis of the 1971 Washington Post and democracy to her shoulders, not to mention the pressure brought on by men who react to her as a powerful woman in a male-dominated and controlled industry. 


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Mary J. Blige, "Mudbound" (Netflix)
The assuredness and statesman-like work of Ms. Blige in Dee Rees' "Mudbound" is undeniable.  She is a true pro and looks as if she's been acting for generations.  The commitment, trust and focus never leaves the character she plays.  An impressive, stalwart turn.

Allison Janney, "I, Tonya" (A24)
An acid, piercing bit of acting from Ms. Janney, who shrinks into a confining, tormenting mother in "I, Tonya" while also throwing her character's ample venom into adorable physical comedy.  Fine work.

Lesley Manville, "Phantom Thread" (Focus)
Ms. Manville is crisp, cool, precise and so perfectly contained in this intoxicating and intriguing film.  Her face speaks volumes in every scene.  When she speaks it is a relief.  She is that good.

Laurie Metcalf, "Lady Bird" (A24)
Ms. Metcalf is the tough-love mother living vicariously through her daughter in Greta Gerwig's brilliant directorial debut.  Ms. Metcalf is the emotional center of "Lady Bird" and her wise, deft performance engineers and informs much of this near-flawless film.

Michelle Pfeiffer, "mother!"  (Paramount)
In a dreary, assaultive movie lacking narrative flow it is Ms. Pfeiffer who injects life and air with a wicked turn as a gatecrasher of house of horrors in "mother!"  Ms. Pfeiffer presides so well, cutting through a morass of malevolence.  A throwback performance to the 1940s.


Mary J. Blige as Florence Jackson in Dee Rees' drama "Mudbound".  Netflix

BEST ACTOR
Steve Carell, "Last Flag Flying"  (Amazon Studios)
No one wore grief and loss on their face as indelibly as Mr. Carell did in a 2017 film.  He epitomized it as his character trekked to the east coast with his dead son in Richard Linklater's drama.  This might be Mr. Carell's best and most complete performance.

Timothee Chalamet, "Call Me By Your Name"  (Sony Pictures Classics)
Mr. Chalamet is very impressive here as a teenage boy who experiences first love with Armie Hammer's character in Luca Guadagnino's resplendent summery film.  It is impacting work.  Mr. Chalamet had a small role in "Lady Bird" and did well.

Daniel Day-Lewis, "Phantom Thread"  (Focus)
Mr. Day-Lewis is at his apex here with a tightly-wound but dexterous turn as a fashion designer pulled into love and complexities.  He's skillful, insufferable, vulnerable and very clever with how he showcases and inhibits his onscreen character.

Sebastian Stan, "I, Tonya" (A24)
Mr. Stan packs volatility, reflection and fierceness into his character Jeff Gillooly in Craig Gillespie's drama "I, Tonya".  He turns on a dime, flashing danger, anger, incompetence and a touch of affection. 

Denzel Washington, "Roman J. Israel, Esq." (Sony)
Mr. Washington gets subterranean in this insightful and intelligent bit of acting as a lawyer stuck between his conscience and real world dictates.  This is palpable, pulsating acting, all honed from the inside out.


Denzel Washington as the title character in Dan Gilroy's drama "Roman J. Israel, Esq." Sony Pictures

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Willem Dafoe, "The Florida Project" (A24)
Mr. Dafoe moves from tough to tender and back with an effective anchoring performance in Sean Baker's drama.  Mr. Dafoe is impressive as a landlord of a working-poor housing complex and he gives the film a moderation amidst its harsher and fantasy elements.

Armie Hammer, "Call Me By Your Name"  (Sony Pictures Classsics)
Much wisdom and honesty in the work of Mr. Hammer, who delivers in a bona fide acting turn as an older man in love with a teenage boy in 1983 Italy.  Mr. Hammer uses restraint, subtlety and a smouldering passion to execute the personality and dictates of his character, succeeding mightily in the process.

Lil Rel Howery, "Get Out" (Universal)
It isn't easy to play "you" - specifically, a member of a movie theater audience, as you are watching a movie.  That's essentially what Mr. Howery did in "Get Out", Jordan Peele's horror-thriller.  Mr. Howery brings the authenticity, zeal, excitement and way-too-wise three-steps ahead of the action as a TSA agent who also doubles as the valuable best friend to Chris, Daniel Kaluuya's lead character in Mr. Peele's film.

Jason Mitchell, "Mudbound" (Netflix)
The maturity, poise and shown by Mr. Mitchell speaks volumes in his performance as a World War Two vet returning to the South to face the racism inflicted upon him by white people and a supremacist system.  Mr. Mitchell towers throughout the film even in quiet moments.

Sam Rockwell, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (Fox Searchlight)
Mr. Rockwell exemplifies hate, tenderness, desperation and inadequacy all rolled into one in Martin McDonagh's brutal comedy of impoliteness.  Mr. Rockwell is dedicated to a full-blooded effort and never shrinks in any category when called upon.  A work of relentless vigor.


Lil Rel Howery as Rod in Jordan Peele's horror-thriller "Get Out".  Universal

BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson, "Phantom Thread"
Luca Guadagnino, "Call Me By Your Name"
Christopher Nolan, "Dunkirk"
Jordan Peele, "Get Out"
Dee Rees, "Mudbound"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Janusz Kaminski, "The Post"
Dan Laustsen, "The Shape Of Water"
Rachel Morrison, "Mudbound"
Sayomblu Mukdeeprom, "Call Me By Your Name"
Hoyte Van Hoytema, "Dunkirk"

BEST EDITING
Walter Fasano, "Call Me By Your Name"
Michael Kahn and Sarah Broshar, "The Post"
Tatiana Riegel, "I, Tonya"
Lee Smith, "Dunkirk"
Dylan Tichenor, "Phantom Thread"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Greta Gerwig, "Lady Bird"
Liz Hannah and John Singer, "The Post"
Martin McDonagh, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
Jordan Peele, "Get Out"
Steven Rogers, "I, Tonya"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Lee Hall, "Victoria & Abdul"
James Ivory,"Call Me By Your Name"
Richard Linklater & Darryl Ponicsan, "Last Flag Flying"
Oren Moverman, "The Dinner"
Virgil Williams and Dee Rees, "Mudbound"


Jason Mitchell as Ronsel Jackson in "Mudbound".  Netflix

BEST SOUNDTRACK COMPILATION
"Baby Driver"
"I, Tonya"
"Roman J. Israel, Esq."

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Consalata Boyle, "Victoria & Abdul"
Mark Bridges, "Phantom Thread"
Jeffrey Kurland, "Dunkirk"
Ann Roth, "The Post"
Luis Sequeira, "The Shape Of Water"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Jon Brion, "Lady Bird"
Jonny Greenwood, "Phantom Thread"
Tamar-kali, "Mudbound"
John Williams, "The Post"
Hans Zimmer, "Dunkirk"

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Paul Denham Austerberry, "The Shape Of Water"
David J. Bomba, "Mudbound"
Rick Carter, "The Post"
Nathan Crowley, "Dunkirk"
Sarah Greenwood, "Darkest Hour"


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