{"id":256,"date":"2018-02-26T03:29:48","date_gmt":"2018-02-26T03:29:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=256"},"modified":"2018-03-31T00:43:51","modified_gmt":"2018-03-31T00:43:51","slug":"oscars-2018-which-flick-will-win-best-pic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=256","title":{"rendered":"Oscars 2018: Which flick will win Best Pic?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Photo courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter<\/p><\/div>\n

Curious to know which movie will win this year\u2019s top prize at the 90th<\/sup> Academy Awards?<\/p>\n

Me, too! Here\u2019s a quick rundown of each nominee and my thoughts on what each has to offer in its quest to take Oscar gold.<\/p>\n

And the nominees \u2013 in the order in which I saw them \u2013 are:<\/p>\n

Dunkirk<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s it about?<\/strong> During World War II allied soldiers are surrounded by the German Army when an unconventional rescue mission is set in motion.<\/p>\n

What makes it a contender?<\/strong> Umm, its director is a freakin\u2019 genius. I\u2019m not big on war movies, but Christopher Nolan is the reason I wanted to see this. Nolan easily is one of the most cerebral filmmakers in recent memory, and he once again amazes with gritty and visceral battle sequences, and that disjointed timeline of air, land, and sea events that is so trademark Nolan and the only<\/em> way this story could be told. There\u2019s very little dialogue here, but that\u2019s fine; the action says everything.<\/p>\n

Will it win?<\/strong> It probably won\u2019t win Best Picture, but I expect \u201cDunkirk\u201d<\/a> to clean up the technical awards.<\/p>\n

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s it about?<\/strong> An understandably pissed off mother rents three billboards on the edge of town to keep attention on solving her daughter\u2019s brutal murder after local law enforcement seems to have dropped the ball.<\/p>\n

What makes it a contender?<\/strong> Its sharp-tongued, unfiltered dialogue; the heavy and emotional subject matter; and stand-out performances from Frances McDormand (who will, oh by the way, win for Best Actress), Woody Harrelson as the town\u2019s beloved Chief Willoughby, and Sam Rockwell (a lock to win his first Oscar, for Supporting Actor) as the dopey deputy with \u201cslightly racist leanings\u201d whose transformation is something to behold.<\/p>\n

Will it win?<\/strong> Probably, and I sure hope so. This is my favorite of the nominees, and I would love to see \u201cThree Billboards\u201d<\/a> take home the win.<\/p>\n

Lady Bird<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s it about?<\/strong> Wacky coming-of-age tale that follows Christine \u201cLady Bird\u201d McPherson as she navigates high school ridiculousness with best bud Julie \u201cJules\u201d Steffans, examines relationships with boys, expresses herself in artistic ways, and desperately tries to distance herself from both Sacramento and<\/em> her overbearing mother.<\/p>\n

What makes it a contender?<\/strong> It takes a realistic and relatable look at the mother-daughter dynamic. Director Greta Gerwig expertly balances the curiosities and naivete of youth against the jaded wisdom and unfulfilled ambition of adulthood. Saoirse (pronounced \u201cSeer-sha\u201d \u2013 you\u2019re welcome) Ronan and Laurie Metcalf are a joy to watch, even when (read: especially when<\/em>) they\u2019re bickering. Metcalf would be nabbing the Supporting Actress Oscar for this role if not for Allison Janney (\u201cI, Tonya\u201d<\/a>), but Metcalf\u2019s role still is worthy of gold.<\/p>\n

Will it win?<\/strong> I doubt it, but that\u2019s not to say that it isn\u2019t deserving of the nomination or the win.<\/p>\n

The Shape of Water<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s it about?<\/strong> A wonderfully weird Cold War-era fantasy about a mute maintenance worker in a government laboratory and the unconditional bond she forms with a top-secret aquatic being.<\/p>\n

What makes it a contender?<\/strong> It\u2019s quirky and freakishly gorgeous, and the story of forbidden longing goes far deeper than what\u2019s on its surface. It\u2019s acceptance \u2013 and feeling accepted. And the performances from Sally Hawkins (a Best Actress nominee) and Richard Jenkins (up for Supporting Actor) are so achingly bold you\u2019ll be completely immersed in the narrative. Also, is it just me or does Michael Shannon get creepier with each role?<\/p>\n

Will it win?<\/strong> This is a tough one; Best Picture and Best Director used to go hand-in-hand, but lately that hasn\u2019t seem to be the case. I don\u2019t think \u201cThe Shape of Water\u201d<\/a> will win Best Picture, but I do<\/em> think Guillermo del Toro will win Best Director. His vision here is extraordinary!<\/p>\n

The Post<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s it about?<\/strong> The First Amendment\u2026 aaaand gender competencies with regard to leadership roles takes center stage as a determined newspaper publisher \u2013 a woman, gasp! \u2013 risks her business and its reputation in an attempt to expose a decades-long government cover-up because divulging the information is in the best interest of the people.<\/p>\n

What makes it a contender?<\/strong> Three words: Streep, Hanks, Spielberg. They\u2019re historically the best at what they do, and “The Post”<\/a> masterfully depicts the importance of journalism at a time when \u2013 ironically, but that\u2019s no accident \u2013 its very relevance is habitually being questioned.<\/p>\n

Will it win?<\/strong> No, but I think its message is head loud and clear, and that\u2019s the real victory here.<\/p>\n

Darkest Hour<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s it about?<\/strong> Newly appointed Prime Minister Winston Churchill takes office at a most inopportune time: when the fate of World War II-era Western Europe is dependent on his decision to continue fighting or negotiate peace talks with Adolf Hitler.<\/p>\n

What makes it a contender?<\/strong> An undeniably incredible performance from an unrecognizable \u2013 except for those tell-tale eyes \u2013 Gary Oldman; it\u2019s the major source of promise in this seemingly hopeless scenario. As Churchill, Oldman is loud and intense and a little bit frightening: \u201cYOU CANNOT REASON WITH A TIGER WHEN YOUR HEAD IS IN ITS MOUTH!\u201d (This is in all caps because that\u2019s how I heard it).<\/p>\n

Will it win?<\/strong> I don\u2019t think so. But Oldman almost surely will win his first Oscar (shocking, considering his talent and extensive filmography) for Best Actor; all eyes are on the man with those patented peepers.<\/p>\n

Phantom Thread<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s it about?<\/strong> The odd and sometimes unsettling story of a 1950s eccentric dressmaker and the young woman who inspires him and affects his routine life.<\/p>\n

What makes it a contender?<\/strong> Daniel Day-Lewis\u2019s method acting is downright magnetic and is matched here by knockout performances by Vicki Krieps and Lesley Manville \u2013 the lighting effectively expressing the respective softness and harshness of each of their personalities. The imagery is stunning, and this story will have you reassessing everything even after the credits roll.<\/p>\n

Will it win?<\/strong> No, but look for \u201cPhantom Thread\u201d to likely score costuming and visual awards.<\/p>\n

Get Out<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s it about?<\/strong> Despite half-joking warning from his best friend Rod (Lil Rey Howery), Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) spend the weekend with her parents, whom Chris is meeting for the first time \u2013 \u201cDo they know I\u2019m black?\u201d he wonders.<\/p>\n

What makes it a contender?<\/strong> It\u2019s amazing! The story in this psychological thriller \u2013 with a touch of horror \u2013 is MESSED<\/em>. UP<\/em>. But that\u2019s a compliment. It\u2019s well thought-out and hypnotically (heh) executed by writer\/director Jordan Peele. The racial issues are both obvious and subtle, and the little hints along the way culminate in the most shocking \u201choly sh*t\u201d moment. \u201cGet Out\u201d is wickedly innovative and so disturbing, and Kaluuya is outstanding.<\/p>\n

Will it win?<\/strong> I don\u2019t think it will win, but I wouldn\u2019t be surprised. This one totally blew my mind.<\/p>\n

Call Me by Your Name<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s it about?<\/strong> Seventeen year-old Elio (Timothee Chalamet) develops a relationship with his father\u2019s visiting research assistant Oliver (Armie Hammer) in 1980s Italy.<\/p>\n

What makes it a contender?<\/strong> The backdrop is clearly breathtaking, but two other aspects of \u201cCall Me by Your Name\u201d stand out even more so than the Italian countryside. The deep, raw feelings that are discovered and displayed bring a tangible quality to what it\u2019s like to experience love. There\u2019s an unmatched realness to these emotions that are wholly exhilarating and agonizing. And Chalamet? Get outta here; he\u2019s INCREDIBLE \u2013 like, shake-your-head, jaw-dropping, mind-blowing incredible. This film ends with one of the most profound speeches I\u2019ve ever heard as well as one of the most intense gazes I\u2019ve ever seen. And if I wasn\u2019t already a puddle at that point, there\u2019s a dedication to Bill Paxton<\/a> on the end credits. My heart!<\/p>\n

Will it win?<\/strong> Based on the sensitivity and emotional weight, \u201cCall Me by Your Name\u201d very well might win. It was one of my favorites, so I wouldn\u2019t be upset. Chalamet is nominated for Best Actor, and he absolutely<\/em> deserves to win; if you\u2019ve seen this flick, I don\u2019t even have to explain why. But we\u2019ll see if he can best Gary Oldman for the statue.<\/p>\n

There you have it. Watch the 90th<\/sup> Academy Awards on March 4 to see if your favorites take home Oscar gold.<\/p>\n

You have just enjoyed the insights of Movie Addict Mel, a cinema dork and conversational writer. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@movieaddictmel<\/a>, and \u201clike\u201d her Facebook page\u00a0www.facebook.com\/movieaddictmel<\/a><\/em>.\u00a0You also can email her at movieaddictmel@outlook.com<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Curious to know which movie will win this year\u2019s top prize at the 90th Academy Awards? Me, too! Here\u2019s a quick rundown of each nominee and my thoughts on what each has to offer in its quest to take Oscar … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nOscars 2018: Which flick will win Best Pic? - Movie Addict Mel<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Oscars 2018: Which flick will win Best Pic? - Movie Addict Mel\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Curious to know which movie will win this year\u2019s top prize at the 90th Academy Awards? 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