Every time a “Star Wars” film comes out and John Williams does the score, he gets nominated. The man now has 52 Academy Award nominations. Needless to say, he will not be winning his sixth Oscar this year, as the scores for “1917” and “Joker” are the front-runners.
Heading into the awards season this year, it felt like “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” might end up being the film to beat. However, then “1917” and “Parasite” came on the scene and started winning everything. Now, “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” is still apart of the Big Three, remaining in the conversation, but being overshadowed by those other two films, which have been sweeping the season thus far.
Chances are, it’s not going to win Best Picture, as three other film (“1917,” “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood,” and “Parasite”) seem to have a bigger claim to it, but it’s definitely in the range of possibilities for Joaquin Phoenix to win for Best Leading Actor and Hildur Guðnadóttir to win for Best Original Score.
As of right now, I have “Ford v Ferrari” winning two, possibly three, out of the four awards it’s nominated for. Yet, somehow, the experts place it dead last for the films in the Best Picture category. Other films, like “The Irishman” and “Little Women” I have winning zero awards and yet those are somehow ahead of “Ford v Ferrari.” That being said, there’s no way “Ford v Ferrari” wins Best Picture. The Big Three are currently “1917,” “Once Upon A Time In Hollywoood,” and “Parasite.”
“BLACK PANTHER”Kevin Feige Director: Ryan CooglerProducers: Kevin FeigeWriters: Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert ColeBased On: “Black Panther” by Stan Lee and Jack KirbyCinematography: Rachel MorrisonEditors: Michael P. Shawver and Debbie BermanComposer: Ludwig GöranssonProduction Company: Marvel StudiosDistributors: Walt Disney PicturesRelease Date: February 16, 2018Budget: $210 millionRun-time: 134 minutes FILM SYNOPSIS: After the death of his father, Prince T’Challa returns to his African homeland of Wakanda, … Read More 2019 Oscars Challenge: [29] “Black Panther” – Seven Nominations
“FIRST MAN” Director: Damien ChazelleProducers: Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Isaac Klausner, and Damien ChazelleWriters: Josh SingerBased On: “First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong” by James R. HansenCinematography: Linus SandgrenEditor: Tom CrossComposer: Justin HurwitzDistributors: Universal PicturesRelease Date: October 12, 2018Budget: $59 millionRun-time: 141 minutes FILM SYNOPSIS: In 1961, test pilot and engineer Neil Armstrong joins NASA, which has been charged with landing an … Read More 2019 Oscars Challenge: [25] “First Man” – Four Nominations
“A QUIET PLACE”Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl Director: John KrasinskiProducer: Michael Bay, Andrew Form, and Brad FullerWriters: Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, and John KrasinskiCinematography: Charlotte Bruus ChristensenEditor: Christopher TellefsenComposer: Marco BeltramiDistributor: Paramount PicturesRelease Date: April 6, 2018Budget: $21 millionRun-time: 90 minutes FILM SYNOPSIS: In a post-apocalyptic world overrun by monsters that use their advanced hearing to locate prey, the Abbott family’s life … Read More 2019 Oscars Challenge: [20] “A Quiet Place” – Best Sound Editing
“BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY”Graham King Directors: Bryan Singer & Dexter Fletcher Producers: Graham King & Jim BeachWriters: Anthony McCarten and Peter MorganCinematography: Newton Thomas SigelEditor: John OttmanComposer: John OttmanDistributor: 20th Century FoxRelease Date: November 2, 2018Budget: $55 millionRun-time: 134 minutes FILM SYNOPSIS: As he seeks to fulfill his dream of becoming a famous singer, art student Freddie rebels against his traditional Parsi family and joins the … Read More 2019 Oscars Challenge: [19] “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Five Nominations
“ROMA”Gabriela Rodríguez and Alfonso Cuarón Director: Alfonso CuarónProducers: Alfonso Cuarón, Gabriela Rodríguez, and Nicolas CelisWriters: Alfonso CuarónCinematography: Alfonso CuarónEditors: Alfonso Cuarón and Adam GoughComposer: Steven PriceDistributor: NetflixRelease Date: November 21, 2018Budget: $15 millionRun-time: 135 minutes FILM SYNOPSIS: In Mexico City in the early 1970s, Cleo is a maid in the household of a middle-class doctor. She takes on increasing responsibility caring for the family’s … Read More 2019 Oscars Challenge: [12] “Roma” – Ten Nominations
“THE SHAPE OF WATER” Guillermo del Toro and J. Miles Dale Director: Guillermo del Toro Producers: Guillermo del Toro and J. Miles Dale Cinematography: Dan Laustsen Editor: Sidney Wolinsky Composer: Alexandre Desplat Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures Release Date: December 1, 2017 Run-time: 123 minutes FILM SYNOPSIS: In 1962, janitor Elisa Esposito works at a classified government laboratory that tests new technology to help defeat the … Read More 2018 Oscars Challenge: [39] “The Shape Of Water” – 13 Nominations
“DUNKIRK” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan Director & Writer: Christopher Nolan Producers: Emma Thomas & Christopher Nolan Cinematography: Hoyte van Hoytema Editor: Lee Smith Composer: Hans Zimmer Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Release Date: July 21, 2017 Run-time: 106 minutes FILM SYNOPSIS: In the Spring of 1940, hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops are trapped by German forces on the beaches of Dunkirk in … Read More 2018 Oscars Challenge: [38] “Dunkirk” – 8 Nominations
Director: Denis Villeneuve Producers: Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson, Bud Yorkin, & Cynthia Sikes Yorkin Writers: Hampton Fancher & Michael Green Cinematography: Roger A. Deakins Composer: Hans Zimmer & Benjamin Wallfisch Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Release Date: October 6, 2017 Run-time: 163 minutes FILM SYNOPSIS: In 2049, three decades after original blade runner Rick Deckard went missing, LAPD officer K is tasked with eliminating older, … Read More 2018 Oscars Challenge: [35] “Blade Runner 2049” – 5 Nominations
Director & Writer: Edgar Wright Producers: Nira Park, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner Cinematography: Bill Pope Composer: Steven Price Editors: Paul Machliss and Jonathan Amos Distributor: TriStar Pictures Release Date: June 28, 2017 Run-time: 113 minutes FILM SYNOPSIS: A young getaway driver known as Baby is in debt to crime boss Doc, but he plans on retiring after he falls for a sympathetic waitress. Doc … Read More 2018 Oscars Challenge: [33] “Baby Driver” – 3 Nominations
Director & Writer: Rian Johnson Producers: Kathleen Kennedy & Ram Bergman Cinematography: Steve Yedlin Composer: John Williams Editor: Bob Ducsay Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Release Date: December 15, 2017 Run-time: 152 minutes FILM SYNOPSIS: Resistance heroes Poe and Finn take daring measures to save their tattered fleet from extermination by the First Order. Across the galaxy, Rae pleads with Luke Skywalker to return … Read More 2018 Oscars Challenge: [31] “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” – 4 Nominations
“SULLY” Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman Directed by: Clint Eastwood Written by: Todd Komarnicki Based on: “Highest Duty” by Chesley Sullenberger & Jeffrey Zaslow Cinematography by: Tom Stern Music by: Christian Jacob & The Tierney Sutton Band Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures Release Date: September 2, 2016 (Telluride) Budget: $60 million FILM SYNOPSIS: On January 15, 2009, the engines of US Airways flight 1549 … Read More 2017 Oscars Challenge: [6] “Sully” – Best Sound Editing
“MAD MAX: FURY ROAD” {click each category for individual look} // Produced by Doug Mitchell, George Miller, and P. J. Voeten // Directed by George Miller // // Dated Viewed: Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016 // BLU-RAY // 6 films – 6 days //
“THE MARTIAN” {click each category for individual look} // Produced by Simon Kinberg, Ridley Scott, Aditya Sood, Michael Schaefer, and Mark Huffam // Directed by Ridley Scott // // Dated Viewed: Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016 // BLU-RAY // 18 films – 26 days //
“SICARIO” {click each category for individual look} // Produced by Basil Iwanyk, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill, Edward McDonnell, and Molly Smith // Directed by Denis Villeneuve // // Dated Viewed: Saturday, January 30th, 2016 // BLU-RAY // 22 films – 30 days //
Instead of going into detail on each film and their chances (or lack thereof) as far as the sound goes, I thought it would be more beneficial to broach the topic of what the differences are between the Best Sound Editing category and Best Sound Mixing category, since I have to refresh my own memory most years when the Oscars roll around. Since more … Read More Oscars: Sound Editing Versus Sound Mixing
“THE REVENANT” {click each category for individual look} // Produced by Arnon Milchan, Steve Golin, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Mary Parent and Keith Redmon //Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu // // Dated Viewed: Sunday, January 17th, 2016 // LAEMMLE NOHO 7 // 37 films – 43 days //
“STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS” {click each category for individual look} // Produced by Kathleen Kennedy, J. J. Abrams, & Bryan Burk //Directed by J.J. Abrams // // Dated Viewed: Saturday, January 16th, 2016 // AMC CITYWALK 19 – IMAX 3D // 39 films – 44 days //
Imagine for a second that you are filming the scene from “Interstellar” where the crew of the Endurance lands on the tidal wave planet. Just to state the completely obvious, the tidal wave planet is not a real place. Therefore, if you are filming this scene, you’re likely in a body of water somewhere, where recording sound will not prove fruitful in terms of … Read More 2015 Oscars Challenge: [9] Interstellar – Best Sound Editing
Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns “All Is Lost” is the epitome of sound design. With Robert Redford having a handful of lines throughout the entire piece, the film completely relies on the sounds surrounding the character, whether it be the waves crashing against the boat while Redford is down below in the living quarters, whether it be the growing storm around Redford and the … Read More 2014 Oscars Challenge: [33] All Is Lost – One Nomination
Editing: Wylie Stateman Mixing: Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow Sound design for any war related film is hard to deny, but for “Lone Survivor”, it’s impossible. The nominations for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing normally seem arbitrary to me, like “Captains Phillips” and “All Is Lost”. Yes, I understand that “All Is Lost” leans on its sound design over dialogue, … Read More 2014 Oscars Challenge: [27] Lone Survivor – Two Nominations
Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds Last year, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” only received two nominations, one of which was for Best Visual Effects to which it lost to “Life Of Pi”, which also took home Best Directing for Ang Lee. This year, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” garners three nominations, losing the Best Makeup nomination from last year … Read More 2014 Oscars Challenge: [22] The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug – Three Nominations
Alfonso Cuarón & David Heyman “Gravity” surprised everyone this year, bringing a female driven, original screenplay, big budget blockbuster to the masses. Warner Brothers probably couldn’t be more pleased and could mark a back to back year for the studio with “Argo” winning last year. “Gravity” lands an amazing ten nominations, with a high chance of winning most of them including Best Visual Effects, … Read More 2014 Oscars Challenge: [17] Gravity – Ten Nominations
Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca What a competitive year. One of the biggest upsets when nominations were announced was the missing nomination for Tom Hanks as Captain Phillips. Almost anyone, including myself, would agree. His leadership role in the film topped only by his emotional breakdown at the end of the film leaves the audience in a state not that much … Read More 2014 Oscars Challenge: [16] Captain Phillips – Six Nominations
LIFE OF PI BEST PICTURE As strong of a film as “Life Of Pi” is, I do not see it winning Best Picture. In my opinion it’s down to “Argo” and “Lincoln”, with one of them taking the major award. But that doesn’t mean “Life Of Pi” won’t clean up. It’s going to win several awards out of its eleven nominations and it will … Read More 2013 Oscars Challenge: [31] Life Of Pi – Eleven Nominations
SKYFALL BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY All I have to say is that this better be Roger Deakins’ year. He’s been nominated ten times now (complete list) and has never won a single Academy Award. Now, he has another shot this year with one of my favorite films of 2012, “Skyfall”, made immensely more enjoyable by the amazing cinematography. With a grandness and epic sense to the … Read More 2013 Oscars Challenge: [29] Skyfall – Five Nominations
DJANGO UNCHAINED BEST PICTURE Despite Roger Ebert placing this film high on the films to win Best Picture, “Django Unchained” doesn’t have much of a chance. If we think “Argo” is a tough call due to the lack of a Best Directing nomination, “Django” must be placed below that. Meaning it will have defy even more than “Argo” to win. That being said, it … Read More 2013 Oscars Challenge: [28] Django Unchained – Five Nominations
[5 OUT OF 46 FILMS REMAINING]-[1 DAY TO OSCARS] Seeing “Drive” win its one category would be a great victory, but “Hugo” and “War Horse” are basically the only competitors in this category. With “Drive” being snubbed this year, a sound win would definitely show the naysayers the kind of following this film has but I do not believe the Academy look to honor … Read More 2012 Oscars Challenge: [41] Drive & Sound Editing
[9 OUT OF 46 FILMS REMAINING]-[7 DAYS TO OSCARS] If there is one film in the Best Picture category that could possibly knock out “The Artist” (which seems unlikely at this point), it would be “Hugo”. With Martin Scorsese at the helm (who has an Academy Award for Best Director from “The Departed”) and a stellar screenplay, “Hugo” has the most nominations of any … Read More 2012 Oscars Challenge: [38] Hugo & 11 Nominations
[33 OUT OF 46 FILMS REMAINING]-[25 DAYS TO OSCARS] Few things would be please me more than the “Transformers” franchise finally getting the praise it deserves (but perhaps all the money it makes is reward enough). As one of my favorite film series, the original Michael Bay “Transformers” garnered the same three awards at the 2007 Academy Awards.(Visual Effects, Sound Mixing, & Sound Editing), … Read More 2012 Oscars Challenge: [13] Transformers: Dark Of The Moon & 3 Nominations
2011 Oscar Challenge: “Inception” (2010)
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2011 Oscar Challenge: “Unstoppable” (2010)
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2011 Oscar Challenge: “Tron: Legacy” (2010)
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2011 Oscar Challenge: “Toy Story 3” (2010)
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2011 Oscar Challenge: “True Grit” (2010)
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AVATAR Up For: Best Motion Picture of the Year Best Achievement in Directing Best Achievement in Cinematography Best Achievement in Editing Best Achievement in Art Direction Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score Best Achievement in Sound Mixing Best Achievement in Sound Editing Best Achievement in Visual Effects For a long time, I waited to say my piece about Avatar (if … Read More 2010 Oscars Challenge: Avatar
THE HURT LOCKER Up For: Best Motion Picture of the Year Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Best Achievement in Directing Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Best Achievement in Cinematography Best Achievement in Editing Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score Best Achievement in Sound Mixing Best Achievement in Sound Editing In the lead for … Read More 2010 Oscars Challenge: The Hurt Locker
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS Up For: Best Motion Picture of the Year Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Best Achievement in Directing Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Best Achievement in Cinematography Best Achievement in Editing Best Achievement in Sound Mixing Best Achievement in Sound Editing Nothing like eight Oscar nominations to tell you how great this film is. Quentin Tarantino … Read More 2010 Oscars Challenge: Inglourious Basterds
UP Up For: Best Motion Picture of the Year Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score Best Achievement in Sound Editing Best Animated Feature Film of the Year First things first, Up deserves every award it wins this year. Up was by far the best Disney-Pixar film I have seen to date. Combine … Read More 2010 Oscars Challenge: Up
STAR TREK Up For: Best Achievement in Sound Mixing Best Achievement in Sound Editing Best Achievement in Visual Effects Ask me back when I first saw this on Blu Ray if I thought this would get any Oscar nods, let alone three, I would have simply said “no way”. Not saying the film wasn’t great, because it was by far the best Star Trek … Read More 2010 Oscars Challenge: Star Trek
