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Tuesday, January 2, 2018
AWARDS SEASON 2018
BEST PICTURE
"Get Out" And "The Post" Have The Jump On Oscar
The cast of
"Get Out" (top photo), directed by Jordan Peele; Meryl Streep in Steven
Spielberg's "The Post".
Universal, Fox
by
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
FOLLOW
Tuesday,
January 2,
2018
"Dunkirk". "The Shape Of Water". "Lady Bird". "Three
Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri". "Mudbound". "The Florida
Project". Each of these films are expected or at the very least likely to
be Best Picture nominees when the Academy announces its finalists three weeks
from today. But the real fight for Best Picture come the March ceremony
will be between "Get Out" and "The Post", films with weighty social relevance.
Jordan Peele's horror-thriller and social commentary on white liberal racists
and Black identity has not fatigued at all since its theatrical release last
February 24 in the U.S. and Canada. "Get Out", shot in under 32 days for
roughly $6 million, has achieved blockbuster status with its phenomenal success
and burnished the social consciousness. "Get Out" has a lot of sentiment
going for it, including from William Friedkin, the director of the legendary
"The Exorcist", and others. "Get Out" is unique, compelling,
thought-provoking and well-acted and directed.
Steven Spielberg's "The Post" has just announced itself to the world.
Currently in exclusive runs in New York City and Los Angeles before opening on
January 12 everywhere, "The Post" chronicles The Washington Post and its
involvement with The Pentagon Papers during the 1970s. "The Post" is about
the primacy of the press and the First Amendment holding government accountable
for wrongdoing -- a matter of the public interest and informing them. A
lot of other issues percolate in "The Post" and the recent news stories of
sexual harassment in the media may or may not dovetail with this drama's look at
the lone woman owner of a newspaper in a man's world. "The Post" is
riveting.
Both films are critical favorites, particularly "Get Out". Academy members
however, do not generally look at critical sentiment when voting. The
power is in their owns hands. When the voting period ends in the next few days
it is fair to say that both films will be high on their ballots -- marked early
and often.
I think for the Academy Best Picture comes down to scope and dimension, and
although "Get Out" has depth and detail it may be a film the mostly older white
male
Academy is uncomfortable with voting for. The film's indictment, or rather
exposure, of liberal white racists may be something that (may) hit older white
male Academy voters too close to home. Who knows? How often does The
Academy vote for horror films as Best Picture? Not too often. On the
other hand, maybe this is the year that changes.
"The Post" is very likely to win Best Picture because of its political
statements and its stature as a story of big guys against the little guys.
The Academy likes political statements in films -- it just depends on which
statements and by whom. The upside for "The Post" is that it has a
well-appreciated director, an even more appreciated set of actors in Meryl
Streep and Tom Hanks, as well as great ensemble performances (as does "Get
Out".) Many of the Academy members lived through The Pentagon Papers
affair, which also helps "The Post", as does Academy members' love for Ms.
Streep.
Unless I see otherwise (look for the Producers' Guild Awards in the next few
weeks) it's "The Post" as the Best Picture winner. I can't see any other
film going home with an Oscar for Best Picture.
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