Disney’s Christmas box office smash is expected to be MaryPoppinsReturns, the sequel to the 1964 classic original. It comes from Rob Marshall, who directed 2002’s Best Picture winner Chicago. Even with the Oscar pedigree behind it, it was a legitimate question as to whether this would garner any awards chatter or just settle for raking in tons of dough.
The film has screened for the Screen Actors Guild and journalists. While official reviews are under embargo, the buzz indicates it’s in many ways a worthy follow-up to what came over a half century prior. This especially applies to Emily Blunt, taking over the iconic title role from Julie Andrews (who won the Oscar as Poppins). Best Actress is crowded this year. At this juncture, I’d say Lady Gaga (AStarIsBorn), Glenn Close (TheWife), and Olivia Colman (TheFavourite) are locks or darn close to it. That leaves two spots and plenty of contenders to fill them. The showings for Poppins indicate Blunt is a prime contender to get one. As a side note, she could be in excellent shape for Actress at the Golden Globes for Musical/Comedy.
As for other performers, it’s certainly possible Blunt gets all the attention. Lin-Manuel Miranda seems a longshot in Supporting Actor. In Supporting Actress, it’s another category that is already filling up. Yet if anyone could sneak in, it’s Meryl Streep (who would be going for an unprecedented 22nd nod). Marshall has already directed her to one of them before in Supporting Actress for 2014’s IntotheWoods.
Before its unveiling, the pic was already thought to be a contender in numerous down the line races: Costume Design, Production Design, Score, Original Song, Visual Effects and both Sound categories. That still holds true.
When it comes to Best Picture, that’s much more of a question mark. I’d say chances have undoubtedly improved, but it could depend on how others rise and fall in the coming weeks.
Bottom line: with Blunt leading the charge, MaryPoppinsReturns could have awards voters singing its praises. My Oscar Watch posts will continue…
One of my most eagerly anticipated Oscar Watch entries screened for the first time yesterday in the form of Vice, Adam McKay’s biopic of Vice President Dick Cheney with Christian Bale in the lead. While official reviews are embargoed until next month, plenty of social media reaction is available. The verdict? Just as MaryQueenofScots proved to be a potential contender at the AFI Fest earlier this week, so too has this and perhaps more so.
In particular, word of mouth on Bale’s work is rapturous. He could easily find himself in the mix for not only a nomination, but for a Lead Actor win (his most serious competition appears to be Bradley Cooper in AStarIsBorn). Amy Adams plays wife Lynne and reviews suggest she’s a lock for a Supporting Actress nod. It would mark her sixth nomination and she’s yet to win. As for Sam Rockwell in Supporting Actor as George W. Bush, that appears less certain but possible (he won that race last year for ThreeBillboardsOutsideEbbing, Missouri).
For the past several weeks, I’ve had Vice at #9 in a bit of a placeholder position in Best Picture. I feel more confident today that it gets in and I foresee its ranking rising when I update predictions on Thursday. Same goes for McKay’s direction and his original screenplay, where it faces stiff competition from TheFavourite, GreenBook, and Roma. McKay’s last screenplay (2015’s TheBigShort) won him an Adapted Screenplay gold statue. In down the line slots, Editing and especially Makeup and Hairstyling are possibilities.
Bottom line: Vice has likely solidified itself as a contender, with Bale and Adams as threats to win their respective fields. My Oscar Watch posts will continue…
AmazingGrace is a surprise late entry into the Documentary race at this year’s Oscars and it could be poised to make beautiful noise like its subject – the legendary late singer Aretha Franklin. This is a concert film shot in 1972 by famed director Sydney Pollack. After being shelved for over four decades, Grace was unveiled at the AFI FIlm Festival this week.
Reviews are strong across the board and it’s at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The pic will undoubtedly receive plenty of attention considering Aretha’s recent passing. That said, 2018 has been a banner year for docs. Just some of its significant competitors include Won’tYouBeMyNeighbor?, FreeSolo, RBG, ThreeIdenticalStrangers, and MindingtheGap.
Bottom line: there’s a lot of features competing for attention, but awards voters could certainly pay a little respect to AmazingGrace. My Oscar Watch posts will continue…
Blogger’s Note (11/20): On the eve of its premiere, I have decreased my projection for GreenBook
GreenBook is debuting on four screens this weekend, but expands to approximately 1000 over the long Thanksgiving frame on Wednesday. The 1960s set dramedy played at the Toronto Film Festival a couple of months back and is said to be quite the crowd pleaser. Oscar buzz has followed. Viggo Mortensen plays the driver to Mahershala Ali’s classical pianist Don Shirley and both are likely to nab Academy nods for their work. Peter Farrelly, best known for co-directing comedies such as DumbandDumber and There’sSomethingAboutMary with his brother Bobby, is behind the camera.
With an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Book will attempt to bring in an older audience over Turkey Day. With the anticipated awards attention, this looks to develop sturdy legs throughout the holiday season.
So how will it open? The theater count should limit its potential out of the gate, but I believe the opportunity to top double digits for the five-day is possible. I’ll say it just gets there.
GreenBook opening weekend prediction: $4.5 million (Friday to Sunday); $6.3 million (Wednesday to Sunday)
For my RalphBreakstheInternet prediction, click here:
Three years ago, the biggest surprise of Oscar night was Sylvester Stallone losing Best Supporting Actor to Mark Rylance in BridgeofSpies. The legendary performer was nominated for his seventh portrayal of Rocky Balboa in Creed, nearly 40 years after Rocky won Best Picture.
Creed was an unexpected critical and box office smash with a knockout score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Oscar attention was reserved for Stallone only. CreedII opens on Wednesday and reviews are out. The tale of the tape indicates a mostly satisfying if predictable experience that serves as a follow-up to RockyIV. The Tomato meter currently sits at 72%.
While its predecessor was heralded for Stallone’s work, early critical reaction here is more focused on Michael B. Jordan’s return in the title role. Yet any awards attention he receives will be for his supporting role in BlackPanther, I suspect.
Bottom line: CreedII may please fans of the franchise. Like the Rocky sequels, don’t expect awards voters to punch ballots for it. My Oscar Watch posts will continue…
At this year’s AFI Film Festival, there were two high-profile Oscar contenders screening for the first time. A week ago, it was On the Basis of Sex and I believe it lessened its chances at nominations. Last night, it was Mary Queen of Scots and we could have a potential contender on our hands.
The Josie Rourke directed historical drama casts Saoirse Ronan (nominated in 2015 and 2017 in Actress for Brooklyn and Lady Bird) in the title role with Margot Robbie (nominated last year for I, Tonya) as Queen Elizabeth I.
Early reviews suggest it’s a winner and it stands at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The critical notices don’t automatically vault it into Best Picture, though I’d say its chances have improved. It may find itself in direct competition for votes with another female led historical film The Favourite, which also has reviews on its side. Scots is expected to play in down the line races like Costume Design, Production Design, and Makeup and Hairstyling.
The biggest question mark was the reaction to Ronan and Robbie’s work. Buzz from AFI suggests they could both find themselves in the mix for Actress and Supporting Actress, respectively.
Bottom line: Mary has a brighter outlook for Academy attention based on last night. Expect this to appear on some category lists next Thursday when I update my predictions. My Oscar watch posts will continue…
It’s Thursday and that means my weekly Oscar predictions are updated! Here’s some developments from last week to this one:
On the Basis of Sex screened at the AFI Fest and I believe its Oscar hopes in all categories took a significant dip. We’ll see if it can rebound, but it’s dropped out of contention in Picture, Supporting Actor (Armie Hammer), and Original Screenplay with Felicity Jones falling to #10 in Actress.
Speaking of AFI Fest, Mary Queen of Scots debuts this evening at the fest. By this time next week, I’ll have a much better idea as to its prospects.
Both Supporting categories experienced a change. I’ve moved Sam Rockwell (Vice) back in the top 5 with Adam Driver out. I’ve also put Nicole Kidman (Boy Erased) in the predicted nominees with Rachel Weisz (The Favourite) out.
Let’s get to it!
Best Picture
1. A Star Is Born (PR: 1)
2. Roma (PR: 2)
3. Green Book (PR: 3)
4. BlacKkKlansman (PR: 5)
5. The Favourite (PR: 4)
6. If Beale Street Could Talk (PR: 6)
7. First Man (PR: 7)
8. Black Panther (PR: 8)
9. Vice (PR: 9)
Other Possibilities:
10. Widows (PR: 10)
11. Can You Ever Forgive Me? (PR: 11)
12. Boy Erased (PR: 15)
13. Crazy Rich Asians (PR: 14)
14. The Mule (PR: 13)
15. A Quiet Place (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
On the Basis of Sex
Best Director
1. Alfonso Cuaron, Roma (PR: 1)
2. Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born (PR: 2)
3. Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman (PR: 3)
4. Peter Farrelly, Green Book (PR: 4)
5. Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite (PR: 5)
Other Possibilities:
6. Barry Jenkins, If Beale Street Could Talk (PR: 6)
7. Damien Chazelle, First Man (PR: 7)
8. Ryan Coogler, Black Panther (PR: 9)
9. Adam McKay, Vice (PR: 8)
10. Marielle Heller, Can You Ever Forgive Me? (PR: 10)
Best Actor
1. Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born (PR: 1)
2. Viggo Mortensen, Green Book (PR: 2)
3. Christian Bale, Vice (PR: 3)
4. Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody (PR: 4)
5. Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate (PR: 5)
Other Possibilities:
6. Ryan Gosling, First Man (PR: 6)
7. Ethan Hawke, First Reformed (PR: Not Ranked)
8. Clint Eastwood, The Mule (PR: 8)
9. Robert Redford, The Old Man & The Gun (PR: 7)
10. Lucas Hedges, Boy Erased (PR: 9)
Dropped Out:
Hugh Jackman, The Front Runner
Best Actress
1. Glenn Close, The Wife (PR: 1)
2. Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born (PR: 2)
3. Olivia Colman, The Favourite (PR: 3)
4. Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me? (PR: 4)
5. Yalitza Aparicio, Roma (PR: 5)
Other Possibilities:
6. Viola Davis, Widows (PR: 6)
7. Nicole Kidman, Destroyer (PR: 8)
8. Julia Roberts, Ben Is Back (PR: 9)
9. Emily Blunt, Mary Poppins Returns (PR: 10)
10. Felicity Jones, On the Basis of Sex (PR: 7)
Best Supporting Actor
1. Mahershala Ali, Green Book (PR: 1)
2. Sam Elliot, A Star Is Born (PR: 2)
3. Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me? (PR: 3)
4. Timothee Chalamet, Beautiful Boy (PR: 4)
5. Sam Rockwell, Vice (PR: 8)
Other Possibilities:
6. Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman (PR: 5)
7. Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther (PR: 7)
8. Daniel Kaluuya, Widows (PR: 6)
9. Russell Hornsby, The Hate U Give (PR: 10)
10. Russell Crowe, Boy Erased (PR: 9)
Best Supporting Actress
1. Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk (PR: 1)
2. Emma Stone, The Favourite (PR: 2)
3. Amy Adams, Vice (PR: 3)
4. Claire Foy, First Man (PR: 4)
5. Nicole Kidman, Boy Erased (PR: 6)
Other Possibilities:
6. Rachel Weisz, The Favourite (PR: 5)
7. Natalie Portman, Vox Lux (PR: 7)
8. Michelle Yeoh, Crazy Rich Asians (PR: 8)
9. Marina de Tavira, Roma (PR: 9)
10. Linda Cardellini, Green Book (PR: 10)
Best Adapted Screenplay
1. BlacKkKlansman (PR: 1)
2. If Beale Street Could Talk (PR: 2)
3. A Star Is Born (PR: 3)
4. Can You Ever Forgive Me? (PR: 4)
5. Widows (PR: 5)
Other Possibilities:
6. First Man (PR: 6)
7. Boy Erased (PR: 8)
8. The Hate U Give (PR: 9)
9. Crazy Rich Asians (PR: 7)
10. Black Panther (PR: 10)
Best Original Screenplay
1. The Favourite (PR: 3)
2. Green Book (PR: 1)
3. Roma (PR: 2)
4. Eighth Grade (PR: 4)
5. Vice (PR: 5)
Other Possibilities:
6. First Reformed (PR: 7)
7. Private Life (PR: Not Ranked)
8. A Quiet Place (PR: 9)
9. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (PR: 7)
10. The Mule (PR: 10)
Dropped Out:
On the Basis of Sex
Best Foreign Language Film
1. Roma (PR: 1)
2. Cold War (PR: 2)
3. Shoplifters (PR: 3)
4. Girl (PR: 4)
5. Capernaum (PR: 5)
Other Possibilities:
6. Burning (PR: 6)
7. Birds of Passage (PR: 9)
8. Never Look Away (PR: 7)
9. The Guilty (PR: Not Ranked)
10. Border (PR: 8)
Dropped Out:
Dogman
Best Animated Feature
1. Incredibles 2 (PR: 1)
2. Isle of Dogs (PR: 2)
3. Ralph Breaks the Internet (PR: 3)
4. Mirai (PR: 4)
5. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (PR: 8)
Other Possibilities:
6. Smallfoot (PR: 7)
7. Ruben Brandt, Collector (PR: 6)
8. Early Man (PR: 5)
9. Lu Over the Wall (PR: 10)
10. Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
The Grinch
Best Documentary Feature
1. Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (PR: 3)
2. Free Solo (PR: 1)
3. Three Identical Strangers (PR: 2)
4. RBG (PR: 4)
5. Minding the Gap (PR: 5)
Other Possibilities:
6. Amazing Grace (PR: Not Ranked)
7. Dark Money (PR: 7)
8. Crime + Punishment (PR: 6)
9. Jane Fonda in Five Acts (PR: Not Ranked)
10. Quincy (PR: 9)
Dropped Out:
Science Fair
Hale County This Morning, This Evening
Best Film Editing
1. Roma (PR: 1)
2. First Man (PR: 2)
3. A Star Is Born (PR: 3)
4. If Beale Street Could Talk (PR: 4)
5. Vice (PR: 7)
Other Possibilities:
6. Black Panther (PR: 8)
7. Widows (PR: 6)
8. The Favourite (PR: 5)
9. BlacKkKlansman (PR: 9)
10. Green Book (PR: 10)
Best Cinematography
1. Roma (PR: 1)
2. First Man (PR: 2)
3. A Star Is Born (PR: 5)
4. The Favourite (PR: 4)
5. If Beale Street Could Talk (PR: 3)
Other Possibilities:
6. Black Panther (PR: 7)
7. BlacKkKlansman (PR: 9)
8. Widows (PR: 6)
9. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (PR: Not Ranked)
10. Cold War (PR: 8)
Dropped Out:
Green Book
Best Production Design
1. The Favourite (PR: 1)
2. Black Panther (PR: 2)
3. First Man (PR: 4)
4. Mary Poppins Returns (PR: 3)
5. Mary Queen of Scots (PR: 5)
Other Possibilities:
6. A Star Is Born (PR: 6)
7. Roma (PR: 9)
8. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (PR: 7)
9. If Beale Street Could Talk (PR: 8)
10. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (PR: 10)
Best Costume Design
1. The Favourite (PR: 1)
2. Black Panther (PR: 2)
3. Mary Queen of Scots (PR: 3)
4. Mary Poppins Returns (PR: 4)
5. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (PR: 6)
Other Possibilities:
6. Colette (PR: 5)
7. Crazy Rich Asians (PR: 8)
8. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (PR: Not Ranked)
9. If Beale Street Could Talk (PR: 9)
10. Bohemian Rhapsody (PR: 7)
Dropped Out:
A Star Is Born
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
1. Black Panther (PR: 2)
2. The Favourite (PR: 1)
3. Mary Queen of Scots (PR: 3)
Other Possibilities:
4. Stan & Ollie (PR: 5)
5. Vice (PR: 4)
6. Colette (PR: 7)
7. A Wrinkle in Time (PR: 8)
8. A Star Is Born (PR: 6)
9. Mary Poppins Returns (PR: 9)
10. Vox Lux (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
Suspiria
Best Sound Editing
1. First Man (PR: 1)
2. Black Panther (PR: 2)
3. A Star Is Born (PR: 3)
4. A Quiet Place (PR: 4)
5. Roma (PR: 5)
Other Possibilities:
6. Incredibles 2 (PR: 7)
7. Mission: Impossible – Fallout (PR: 6)
8. Mary Poppins Returns (PR: 8)
9. Widows (PR: Not Ranked)
10. Ready Player One (PR: 10)
Dropped Out:
Avengers: Infinity War
Best Sound Mixing
1. A Star Is Born (PR: 1)
2. First Man (PR: 2)
3. A Quiet Place (PR: 4)
4. Black Panther (PR: 3)
5. Mary Poppins Returns (PR: 7)
Other Possibilities:
6. Bohemian Rhapsody (PR: 5)
7. Roma (PR: 6)
8. Incredibles 2 (PR: 8)
9. Widows (PR: Not Ranked)
10. Ready Player One (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Avengers: Infinity War
Best Visual Effects
1. First Man (PR: 1)
2. Avengers: Infinity War (PR: 2)
3. Ready Player One (PR: 3)
4. Black Panther (PR: 4)
5. Annihilation (PR: 5)
Other Possibilities:
6. Mary Poppins Returns (PR: 6)
7. Solo: A Star Wars Story (PR: Not Ranked)
8. A Quiet Place (PR: 9)
9. A Wrinkle in Time (PR: 7)
10. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (PR: 8)
Dropped Out:
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Best Original Score
1. If Beale Street Could Talk (PR: 1)
2. First Man (PR: 2)
3. Mary Queen of Scots (PR: 3)
4. BlacKkKlansman (PR: 4)
5. Mary Poppins Returns (PR: 6)
Other Possibilities:
6. Widows (PR: 5)
7. Green Book (PR: 10)
8. The Sisters Brothers (PR: 9)
9. Roma (PR: 7)
10. Colette (PR: Not Ranked)
Dropped Out:
Suspiria
Best Original Song
1. “The Shallow” from A Star Is Born (PR: 1)
2. “The Place Where Lost Things Go” from Mary Poppins Returns (PR: 4)
3. “All the Stars” from Black Panther (PR: 2)
4. “I’ll Fight” from RBG (PR: 9)
5. “I’ll Never Love Again” from A Star Is Born (PR: 3)
Other Possibilities:
6. “Revelation” from Boy Erased (PR: 6)
7. “We Won’t Move” from The Hate U Give (PR: 5)
8. “Time for Change” from On the Basis of Sex (PR: 10)
9. “Always Remember Us This Way” from A Star Is Born (PR: 7)
10. “Hearts Beat Loud” from Hearts Beat Loud (PR: 8)
And that provides the following breakdown of nominations for each picture:
12 Nominations
A Star Is Born
9 Nominations
First Man, The Favourite
8 Nominations
Black Panther, Roma
6 Nominations
If Beale Street Could Talk, Vice
5 Nominations
Green Book, Mary Poppins Returns
4 Nominations
BlacKkKlansman, Mary Queen of Scots
3 Nominations
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
2 Nominations
A Quiet Place, RBG
1 Nomination
Annihilation, At Eternity’s Gate, Avengers: Infinity War, Beautiful Boy, Bohemian Rhapsody, Boy Erased, Eighth Grade, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Ready Player One, Widows, The Wife, Cold War, Shoplifters, Girl, Capernaum, Incredibles 2, Isle of Dogs, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Mirai, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Free Solo, Three Identical Strangers, Minding the Gap.
There’s not a whole lot to add to the finned villain genre some 43 years after Jaws, but TheMeg tries to do so in the form of size. The title refers to a megalodon. That’s a creature long thought to be extinct. It’s so big that it can eat normal sharks as a light snack. Size matters in this movie. We actually have two gargantuan megs that a crew must contend with. The human group of potential chum is led by Jason Statham, his massive biceps, and that voice that sounds as if he gargles gravel.
Statham plays Jonas and he’s still reeling from an incident five years ago in which he lost a group of sailors on a submarine. Jonas is convinced that an unknown and large ocean dweller caused that tragedy. As a side note, it’s interesting that the screenplay portrays him as despondent over that loss. Other characters later on seem to develop a process of rapid grieving for people they actually know.
Yet we don’t watch these pictures for lessons on dealing with death. We watch to see inventive ways for it to happen. Jonas is lured back into the water when his ex-wife (Jessica McNamee) and her mates are trapped deep underwater with that big fish lurking. She’s an employee of Mana One, a cool looking research facility looking for new species. The corporation is headed by an eccentric (is there any other kind?) billionaire played by Rainn Wilson. Li Bingbing is an oceanographer with a precocious young daughter who also serves as Jonas’s immediate love interest. Recognizable faces like Cliff Curtis and Ruby Rose are also along for the ride.
TheMeg never quite develops a satisfying identity. The PG-13 rating eliminates the opportunity for gory delights. There’s winking humor and even some of it lands. And there’s also dramatic moments that seem to want to be taken seriously. It spills its creative guts early on and essentially repeats itself. A third act that finally lets the monster expose himself to the beach going masses feels truncated.
Statham throws himself into the role and it’s admirable. We do see a couple of man vs. beast exchanges that I hadn’t seen before. However, this doesn’t rise to the level of genuine guilty pleasure or generate enough suspense, humor, or horror. They’re too infrequent to completely excuse the sizable gaps of mediocrity.
The latest cinematic iteration of the famed rich stealing and poor giving hero hits theaters over Thanksgiving with RobinHood. The action-adventure comes from TV director Otto Bathurst with Taron Egerton in the title role, Jamie Foxx as Little John, Ben Mendelsohn playing the Sheriff of Nottingham and Eve Hewson as Maid Marian. Jamie Dornan and Tim Minchin are among the supporting players.
It’s only been a little over eight years since the last Hood landed onscreen. That was Ridley Scott’s expensive epic starring Russell Crowe. That high-profile summer pic managed to gross just over $100 million, but still fell short of projections considering it was from the Gladiator team. It was 1991’s RobinHood: PrinceofThieves with Kevin Costner that was the massive blockbuster at $165 million overall.
Buzz for this reboot seems very muted and trailers leave an ambivalent feeling. I’m very skeptical RobinHood hits its target audience. Looking at Turkey Day frame comparisons, I’m stuck on Ron Howard’s 2003 Western TheMissing. I see it hitting below double digits for the traditional portion of the weekend with just over $14 million for the five-day.
RobinHood opening weekend prediction: $9.7 million (Friday to Sunday); $14.1 million (Wednesday to Sunday)
For my RalphBreakstheInternet prediction, click here:
Ralph Breaks the Internet is expected to easily hit the #1 spot at the box office over the Thanksgiving holiday. The film is Disney’s highly anticipated sequel to 2012’s Wreck-It-Ralph and reviews are out today.
The verdict? Much like its predecessor, critical notice is strong as it currently stands at 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. Some early notices say it doesn’t quite match the original, but it’s all pretty much a positive vibe.
As to where that puts Internet in the Oscar race for Best Animated Feature, I’d say it’s almost certainly in. Wreck-It-Ralph also nabbed a nomination in that category, but lost to Disney/Pixar’s Brave. That would appear to be what will happen again as Ralph should get a nod and lose to the heroes of Pixar’s Incredibles 2.
Bottom line: Ralph officially broke into awards chatter today, but studio competition should keep it from achieving gold. My Oscar Watch posts will continue…
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