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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
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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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