The Best of the 10's - Danny's Best Movies of the Decade!

- Well, we did it - we made it to 2020! At times though, it felt like we just barely got there. And the great films of the decade often reflected the anger, the angst, the anxieties of the times we live in - as well as the need to preserve things like truth, and compassion, and empathy, and hope.

The decade saw new movies from legendary filmmakers - Scorsese, Spielberg, The Coen Brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson, David Fincher, George Miller, Quentin Tarantino, and more. But it also saw the rise of countless exciting new voices. People like Steve McQueen, Greta Gerwig, Bong Joon Ho, Ava Duvernay, Alex Garland, Ryan Coogler, Taika Waititi - and so many more.

These past ten years have, in many ways, flown by. The previous decade, for me, was marked by change. I graduated from high school, and college, and moved to LA. This decade - well, it's been more about plugging away, grinding it out, and figuring out how to build the life for myself that I want. But one thing is clear: almost no experiences were better, or more memorable, or more meaningful than the times I had with the movies.

Here's to a great decade ahead.


THE BEST MOVIES OF THE 2010's:


1. Mad Max: Fury Road

- The best and most heart-pounding action movie ever made, this improbably amazing sequel from director George Miller is the most incredible cinematic experience of the decade. It's filled with memorable characters, jaw-dropping set pieces, all-timer performances, and an urgent message that felt much-needed this decade. And how often, in these crazy last few years, have we all felt like Furiosa - donning our warpaint, bracing for battle, and running/racing/escaping towards a sometimes seemingly-impossible dream of a better future. Mad Max is my pick for the decade's best.


2. The Social Network

- When David Fincher's film was first released, it felt important. Now, it feels vital. A brilliantly-written, amazingly-directed, impeccably-acted film - the movie is a tech-world origin story for our time. Writer Aaron Sorkin's dialogue has never been sharper, and Fincher's direction has never been more confident - he imbues even small moments with a near-apocalyptic intensity.


3. Boyhood

- Richard Linklater's crowning achievement - shot over a decade - is an incredibly moving portrayal of growing up that impeccably captures moments big and small. It's a unique cinematic achievement that may never again be replicated. Linklater created a film that gave us an unprecedented feeling of watching a life unfolding before our eyes.


4. Her

-What was once sci-fi dystopian fiction is now nearly reality. That alone nets Her a spot near the top of this list - but the film is also just incredibly well-made. It's riveting. I remember seeing it in the theater - you could hear a pin drop at certain moments. What director Spike Jonze accomplished with this one is right up there with his other great directorial efforts like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - like that film, this is a movie that will provoke discussion well into the next decade.


5. Inception

- Christopher Nolan's pop-cultural atom bomb shows the director at his pulse-pounding best. The movie nearly vibrates with thunderous intensity, and its twisty sci-fi plot was, is, and will be debated for years to come. 


6. The Wolf of Wall Street

- Martin Scorsese's best film of the decade is also one of the legendary director's all-time masterworks. A scathing satire of Wall Street greed and excess, the film felt like essential art following the economic crash at the end of the last decade.


7. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse

- The more I thought about this movie, the more I was in awe of it. It's nearly perfect. The way it introduces so many characters, so quickly, yet makes us care so much about each of them. The way it looks. The way it emotionally involves you. The way it gives you so many moments of sheer cinematic awesomeness.


8. Jojo Rabbit

- A minor miracle of a movie, Jojo Rabbit is hilarious and heartfelt and subversive and daring and really, really shouldn't work. But this story about a Hitler-worshipping young boy in Nazi Germany - who slowly begins to shake off the cobwebs and see the error of his ways - somehow becomes both a brilliant satire of times past and a vital reflection of the times we live in now. Well done, Taika Waititi.


9. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

-Edgar Wright's rock n' roll action-comedy is the decade's ultimate new cult classic. Mixing ultra-stylized visuals, quotable comedy, and a hefty dose of Millennial angst - Scott Pilgrim is, quite simply, one of the coolest movies ever.


10. Inside Out

- Pixar's best movie of the decade, Inside Out was a movie about empathy at a time when empathy was sorely needed. An instant-classic that makes you laugh, cry, and actually come away with a better understanding of your fellow humans. Pretty remarkable.



THE NEXT BEST:


11. Cloud Atlas

- The Wachowski's time-spanning epic is a truly one of a kind film that left me floored. It's a sprawling, ambitious, thematically-rich epic that is practically bursting with ideas, philosophy, high-concept storytelling, and audio-visual fireworks.


12. The Handmaiden

- A true stunner from one of the great directors, Chan Wook Park. The Handmaiden casts a spell from moment one - and despite its length it leaves you wanting more. The entire story turns on its head halfway through, making you question everything you thought you knew about its characters.


13. The Witch

- One of the creepiest and most genuinely disturbing horror movies ever made. Director Robert Eggers made a film that might have been great even without the horror element - but when things ramped up, they *really* ramped up. The Witch almost feels like something you shouldn't be watching.


14. 12 Years a Slave

- A riveting look at a life in slavery, this film featured several star-making turns. Here is a film that is a stark reminder of the horrors of slavery. But man, this is also a cinematic tour de force - an utterly captivating, tension-packed narrative filled with unforgettable moments.


15. The Raid: Redemption / The Raid 2

- Arguably two of the best, most insane action movies ever. Jaw-dropping. Directed by Welsh-born Gareth Evans, these Indonesian-set films, in my view, forever raised the bar for martial-arts action cinema.


16. Planet of the Apes (trilogy)

- One of the greatest movie trilogies ever, the rebooted Apes had everything - great action, great characters, incredible f/x, and a lot to say. These movies transcended being mere blockbusters to become something truly special. They masterfully follows in the grand tradition of the original film (and in the tradition of original Apes writer Rod Serling) - for they are a profound, Twilight Zone reflection of our own world.


17. Eighth Grade

- Writer/director Bo Burnham absolutely kills it with this one - delivering a movie that's hilarious, emotional, and spot-on in its depiction of life as an eighth grader. Sure, some of the details were specific to 2018 - but the genius of the film is that it hits on universal truths that anyone who's ever been 13 can immediately relate to.


18. Parasite

- A searing look at class struggle, Parasite is also just an incredible piece of edge-of-your seat filmmaking. It's a darkly funny thriller that has Hitchock-ian levels of tension, all while delivering some biting, eat-the-rich social commentary.


19. Gravity

- An incredible journey into deep space, seeing Gravity in IMAX 3D was an all-time amazing movie-going experience. Gravity is also a powerful reminder of the human spirit. Space travel has always represented the pinnacle of human achievement, and that to me is what Gravity is really about - the will and desire to literally reach for the stars.


20. The Grey

- One of the most purely badass and downright awesome movies of the decade. A stunning, stirring tale of man vs. nature - more specifically, Liam Neeson vs. hordes of giant, merciless WOLVES. But it's a tale told with style and a surprising amount of substance, ultimately becoming a more-epic-than-expected rumination on life, death, and finding the will to fight on no matter the cost.


21. Uncut Gems

- Uncut Gems will put directing powerhouses The Safdie Brothers on your radar, and it will also remind you that Adam Sandler is a uniquely talented actor when cast in the right film. This movie never stops, never relents, never slows down. It's kinetic, intense-as-hell.


22. The World's End

- More than fitting capper to the thematically-linked trilogy that started with Shaun of the Dead and continued with Hot Fuzz. In fact, this may be the best of the three - a film that's at once an all-too-relatable meditation about how you can't go home again


23. Drive

- Stylish to the extreme (and with a killer soundtrack to boot), Drive was the neon-lit breakout for director Nicolas Winding Refn. It's rare that a film combines the over-the-top badassery of the best B-movies with the sense of artistry inherent in many Oscar-worthy dramas. But Drive is that movie and more.


24. Toy Story 3

- Pixar imbued its Toy Story franchise with incredible poignancy and surprising darkness in this third and best installment. A film that kids and adults can enjoy with equal enthusiasm, Toy Story 3 is another credit to the continued genius of Pixar.


25. Whiplash

- "Not quite my tempo." Damien Chazelle's breakout film was a nightmarish meditation on the pain and suffering that comes with attempting to be the best. Unforgettable. In this film, music is a battle, and Miles Teller's young, would-be-drummer extraordinaire is at war.

THE NEXT BEST

26.) Nightcrawler

- A dark satire of our culture of exploitation, Nightcrawler sadly becomes more relevant with each passing year.

27.) The Florida Project

- An incredible film about the hopes and dreams of those who are marginalized and left behind in our society, I still think about the ending of this movie all the time.

28.) Dunkirk

-  Christopher Nolan's ultra-intense war movie takes you on an unforgettable, visceral journey.

29.) Roma

- Alfonso Cuaron paints an incredible portrait of a life remembered in this affecting, amazingly-directed film.

30.) Phantom Thread

- Paul Thomas Anderson's at times overlooked, not-quite-what-it-seems masterpiece features an all-time great (and possibly final!) performance from Daniel Day Lewis.

31.) Inside Llewyn Davis

- The Coen Bros' best film of the decade is another hard-to-pin-down film from two of the best ever. It's incredibly-written, funny, weird, mysterious, and deeply layered.

32.) This Is The End

- One of the flat-out funniest movies ever, this over-the-top comedy features an all-star cast of celebrities (playing themselves!) dealing with the end of the world in incredibly hilarious fashion.

33.) How To Train Your Dragon

- One of my favorite-ever animated movies, How to Train Your Dragon featured soaring visuals, an amazing score, and an epic mythology - as well as a deeply moving father-son story at its core.

34.) Creed

- Ryan Coogler injected a second life into the Rocky series, casting Rocky Balboa as the mentor to a new generation of fighter. Michael B. Jordan made Adonis Creed into the hero we needed this decade.

35.) Interstellar

- Christopher Nolan brought us to the farthest regions of the universe in this mind-bending, mind-blowing science fiction epic.

36.) Ex Machina

- Alex Garland was one of my favorite directors of the decade. His sci-fi AI film Ex Machina was an awesomely dark and crazy thriller that has to be seen to be believed.

37.) It Follows

- I was such a big fan of this horror movie that it inspired me to try my hand at writing horror movies. The film that helped open the floodgates to the decade's new wave of indie horror movie-making, It Follows is a creepy, fun, atmospheric blast of horror movie magic.

38.) The Irishman

- A fitting summation of a life in crime films. But this time, Scorsese's usual rock and roll filmmaking style is tempered by an elegiac, mournful look at aging characters filled with regret.

39.) Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

- The film is quieter and more contemplative than typical Tarantino fare, but that makes it all the better of a film to live in for a bit and take in all the great little details - from the world-building to the great dialogue moments to the iconic Brad Pitt performance at its center.

40.) The Shape of Water

- Guillermo Del Toro is a filmmaker who I have so much admiration for, and The Shape of Water might just be his best work to date. It's a monster movie, a love story, and an adventure film wrapped in one - but Del Toro's passion and attention to detail is evident in every frame.

41.) Burning

- This Korean thriller is one of those crazy, holy-$%&# movies that is hard to talk about for fear of spoilers. Suffice it to say, it's an unforgettable movie about revenge and presumption of guilt and man, it goes to some dark places.

42.) Hell or High Water

- This badass crime thriller pits two young would-be criminals against a grizzled sheriff in the form of one Jeff by-god Bridges. I mean, 'nuff said - right? But the movie also shows an America - decaying, desperate - crawling towards an apocalyptic end-times.

43.) Moana

- One of the best Disney animated movies of the decade, Moana is a colorful, uplifting journey filled with fantastic music and - finally - a Disney "princess" who feels modern and empowered.

44.) They Came Together

- The comedic geniuses behind Wet Hot American Summer came together again (see what I did there?) for what was, I think, another absolutely hilarious film. If you like weird, absurdist comedy - it doesn't get much better than this.

45.) Moonrise Kingdom

- One of Wes Anderson's best, as the director's whimsical sensibilities play perfectly with a movie about childhood and first loves.

46.) Snowpiercer

- Bong Joon Ho's modern cult classic is an insane journey packed with crazy action, an up-for-anything cast (Tilda Swinton!), and some pretty cutting social commentary to boot.

47.) The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

- The Coen Bros' Wild West anthology of weird tales about life and death is, I think, a low-key masterpiece. It can be riotously funny and also oddly poignant - and it's chock full of great performances.

48.) Black Panther

- Wakanda forever! Marvel's best movie resonates because of the thematic depth that Ryan Coogler brings to the table. The movie's got cool action and the requisite superhero bombast, but it also felt relevant to the here and now in a way that the late, great Stan Lee always strove for in his comics.

49.) Coco

- Another Pixar great, Coco tackles some potentially dark subject matter with wit and humor and heart in the sort of way that Pixar is so incredibly skilled at.

50.) Spotlight

- The searing true story of how a group of determined Boston Globe reporters uncovered the Catholic Church scandal, this one is an important reminder of the power of the press and of a society that values truth above all.


THE NEXT 50:
 

51.) Young Adult
52.) 13 Assassins
53.) Black Swan
54.) Logan
55.) First Reformed
56.) The Hateful Eight
57.) Mission: Impossible - Fallout
58.) Captain America: The Winter Soldier
59.) The Lighthouse
60.) Midsommar
61.) Zero Dark Thirty
62.) Beasts of No Nation
63.) Us
64.) Frances Ha
65.) Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
66.) The Big Sick
67.) Okja
68.) Avengers: Infinity War
69.) Long Shot
70.) Ladybird
71.) Apollo 11
72.) Captain Phillips
73.) Django Unchained
74.) 1917
75.) The LEGO Movie
76.) Green Room
77.) Knives Out
78.) Warrior
79.) Captain America: The First Avenger
80.) Short Term 12
81.) Martha Marcy May Marlene
82.) A Better Life
83.) Star Wars: The Last Jedi
84.) Suspiria (2018)
85.) Big Hero 6
86.) Guardians of the Galaxy
87.) True Grit
88.) Room
89.) Selma
90.) Tron Legacy
91.) Pacific Rim
92.) Edge of Tomorrow
93.) Lincoln
94.) Sing Street
95.) Thor: Ragnarok
96.) Train To Busan
97.) The Farewell
98.) The Conjuring
99.) Nebraska
100.) Searching

30 More That Just Missed The Cut:

The Guest, Attack the Block, Hello My Name Is Doris, Dredd, You're Next, Wild Rose, Mandy, Get Out, The Nice Guys, IT, The Cabin in the Woods, The Shallows, Obvious Child, The Adventures of Tintin, I Don't Feel at Home In This World Anymore, Predestination, Looper, Safety Not Guaranteed, The Way Way Back, Shoplifters, Raw, The Post, Kick-Ass, Locke, John Wick (1-3), The Babadook, Crimson Peak, Three Identical Strangers, Stoker, Fruitvale Station

OSCAR 2019 - Pre-Show Thoughts & Predictions & Rants

OSCARS 2019 Thoughts and Predictions:

- I've never really cared about the Oscars as a form of validation for what movies are actually good or great. Most years, the Oscars get it largely wrong - and most years, a lot of the actual best movies are not even recognized with major nominations. And yet ... the Oscars are still a big event for movie fans. Oscar season is a time of year when everyone talks about and cares about movies. And it inspires a lot of interesting conversations - both about the best movies of the last year, and also in terms of predictions for the big show. Ever since the whole La La Land vs. Moonlight controversy, it's felt like the Academy has factionalized between the more old-guard members who lean towards a particular type of movie, and the new blood that wants to promote diversity and less traditional Oscar bait-y fare. Still, the mood of the Academy can be very hard to read. For example, it's sort of shocking, in retrospect, that The Shape of Water won Best Picture last year. The Academy had all but ignored the brilliant yet eccentric works of fanboy-fave director Guillermo Del Toro for years, yet here, suddenly, they were showering praise on Del Toro and one of his films. Was it because, for all its eccentricities, The Shape of Water was, at its core, a traditional star-crossed Hollywood romance (albeit between a woman and a fish-creature?). Was it that the Academy simply can't resist giving love to any movie that pays homage to Hollywood's golden age? Or ... was it that there were new, more open-minded members of the Academy who were more eager to embrace the quirky, the weird, and the less-traditionally-Oscar-friendly sort of movies? Honestly, it's hard to say. But we now find ourselves in a year where you have predictable Oscar-bait fare like A Star Is Born competing directly with things like Marvel's pop-cult sensation Black Panther. I go in skeptical that the best movies will end up winning out - but, man, it will be fascinating to see how things unfold.


Now, as is tradition ... here are my Top 10 OSCAR SNUBS for this year:

1.) Eighth Grade - Best Picture, Best Director (Bo Burnham), Best Lead Actress (Elsie Fisher)


- For the second year in a row, my pick for Best Movie of The Year was snubbed in most major Oscar awards categories. It's insane to me that this film isn't in the running - it was an amazing, hilarious, heartfelt, hyper-relevant look at growing up in 2019 - and it was impeccably directed and written and featured a stellar lead performance from Elsie Fisher.

2.) The Ballad of Buster Scruggs - Best Picture, Best Director (Joel and Ethan Coen)

- It was easy to predict that Buster Scruggs would get snubbed come Oscar time. Coen Bros comedies are *always* ignored by the Oscars, despite time and again becoming classics with cult followings. The Coens rightfully got a Writing nomination this year, but man, Buster Scruggs was so good - top-tier Coens - and should have gotten much more love. 

3.) First Reformed - Best Picture, Best Lead Actor (Ethan Hawke)

- First Reformed got a well-deserved Writing nomination for its legendary writer/director Paul Schrader - but it should have been in the Best Picture conversation. It's a jaw-dropper that more people should have been talking about ... though I guess it's one of those movies that is too dark and bleak and nihilistic to get full-blown Oscar love. That said, in a somewhat weak year for the Best Actor category, Ethan Hawke 100% should be in the mix. He kills it in First Reformed.

4.) Best Leading Actor - Jonathan Pryce for The Wife

- Glenn Close is rightfully getting a ton of praise and awards love for her role in The Wife. But after seeing the film, her scene partner and co-lead Jonathan Pryce deserves similar recognition. Watching these two tango is an absolute pleasure, and Pryce - like Close, a legend - is at the absolute top of his game in this one. 

5.) Searching - Best Picture, Best Director (Aneesh Chaganty)

- I'm not sure why Searching wasn't really in the awards conversation this year - it should have been! It's one of the best and most clever thrillers in years, and is a total showcase for up-and-coming director Aneesh Chaganty. It's omission is disappointing because this is the sort of movie that should be championed by the Oscars.

6.)  First Man - Best Director (Damien Chazelle)

- It's really strange that recent Oscar favorite Chazelle was left in the cold this year, despite First Man being, in many ways, his most ambitious film yet. First Man was a film that was both epic and intensely personal, and arguably Chazelle's best directorial effort yet.

7.) Burning - Best Foreign Language Film

- This one is honestly crazy. I saw some truly amazing foreign films this past year - from Roma to Shoplifters ... but when I finally caught Burning in recent weeks, I was left stunned that it wasn't up for any Oscars, least of all Best Foreign Language Film. The movie is a flat-out masterpiece, and I encourage any and all to give it a watch asap.

8.) Three Identical Strangers - Best Documentary

- There were a lot of popular and buzzworthy documentaries this year, but ... how was arguably the best of the bunch, Three Identical Strangers, not nominated? It's one of the most riveting documentaries I've ever seen, and easily among the best and most must-see movies of 2018.

9.) Best Leading Actress - Nicole Kidman for Destroyer

-Nicole Kidman is at her best in Destroyer - de-glammed and totally badass. The movie is violent and pulpy - so maybe not in Oscar's wheelhouse - but come on, people, Kidman absolutely deserved recognition for Destroyer - a career-best performance.

10.) TIE: Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse - Best Picture

- In a year when Black Panther got a (well-deserved, IMO) Oscar nom for Best Picture, the year's other instant-classic Marvel movie should have received equal recognition. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse is a likely favorite to win the top Animated prize, but it's an animated movie that is a near-perfect movie, period - equally as compelling to kids and adults and just a remarkable piece of cinematic storytelling. It's a legit work of art.

10.) TIE: Mission: Impossible - Fallout - Christopher McQuarrie for Best Director

- So you're telling me that one of the most jaw-dropppingly directed action movies of all-time doesn't deserve a Best Director nomination? Fine, be that way Oscars. But we all know that McQuarrie knocks it out of the park with the latest and greatest MI movie, and that no conversation about the best directors working today is complete without mention of his name. Get with it, Academy.

10.) TIE: Tilda Swinton for Best Supporting Actress (Suspiria)

- Tilda Swinton delivered an all-timer performance in Suspiria, playing three different roles. Thanks to some incredible makeup and costume work, I honestly had no idea that she was even playing two of the three roles when I first saw the film. Suspiria further cements Swinton as one of the most talented and risk-taking actors working today ... but since the Oscars still don't really do horror, no recognition at all for this film.


2019 OSCAR PICKS AND PREDICTIONS:

BEST PICTURE:

Should Win: Roma, Blackkklansman, or Black Panther

- With my favorite movie of 2018 - Eighth Grade - getting snubbed, I find myself having a really hard time picking between the three movies above as my choice to win. All three were phenomenal films, and are definitely the best of the nominated movies. Roma is a slice-of-life masterpiece, Blackkklansman is an incendiary satire from Spike Lee that's his best in years, and Black Panther is an instantly-iconic superhero film that's likely the pinnacle of the Marvel cinematic universe. If any of these three movies wins, I'd be cool with it.

Will Win: A Star Is Born

- Very tough to call. I think Roma has an outside shot. I think Black Panther does too. Maybe Green Book? But when it comes to the Oscars, there's one solid rule of thumb: never bet against a movie that glamorizes showbiz and stardom. And never bet against the "big" Hollywood epic. Moonlight was a recent exception when it managed to beat out La La Land, but still ... while Star Is Born is not my personal favorite, it's hard to bet against it.

BEST ACTOR:

Should Win: Tie: Christian Bale (Vice), Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)

- This is a tough one - because both of the above are phenomenal performances in movies that, for me, didn't 100% hit the mark. But Bale's transformation into Dick Cheney is remarkable in Vice, and Rami Malek is similarly fantastic as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody.

Will Win: Christian Bale (Vice)

- It's a toss-up between the two actors I listed above, but I give Bale the slight edge because he's a known commodity and his transformation was just a bit more impressive, ultimately, than Malek's.

BEST ACTRESS:

Should Win: Glenn Close (The Wife)

- I actually loved Lady Gaga in A Star Is Born, but she's great in that movie in large part because of the musical performance of it all. But ... Close is just awesome in The Wife, and it's a very classical, very theatrical, very commanding tour de force performance that leaves an impression.

Will Win: Glenn Close (The Wife)

- I can see Gaga winning, but I'll give the slight edge to Close because she's an extremely beloved legend who is getting awards love partly as a lifetime achievement award. That said, The Wife isn't just some random role for her - it's one of her career best and it's also, symbolically, the quintessential "#metoo" role for the moment we're in.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Should Win: Adam Driver (Blackkklansman)

- Adam Driver was really great in a somewhat understated way in Blackkklansman - but I think it's among his best roles yet. He brings a quiet intensity to the role but also a lot of humor and an emotional core. The whole cast of this movie kicks ass, but Driver might be the biggest standout.

Will Win: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)

- I don't know that Green Book will get a ton of wins this year, but this category seems like the safest bet. Mahershala is on a role recently - killing it left and right in movies and TV shows like True Detective. While I had a couple of issues with Green Book as a whole, Ali is typically excellent in it and it's he and Viggo that elevate the film beyond what it might have been otherwise. 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Should and Will Win: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)

- First off, what's with the Actor categorizations for The Favourite? Olivia Colman is up for Lead Actress, when she should have been Supporting - and the two leads, Emma Stone and Rachel Weiss, are up for Supporting? Makes no sense. I would actually have picked Weiss if she was up for Supporting Actress, but now I think she'll get lost in the shuffle. In any case, this is a really weak category this year (odd, since it's usually one of the most loaded). So King is sort of the favorite by default. She's great in Beale Street - but she's only in it for a short time and has only a handful of truly standout moments. But she is part of an outstanding overall cast, and she is fantastic during key scenes, and hey, who doesn't love Regina King? She will win, easy.

BEST DIRECTOR:

Should and Will Win: Alfonso Cuaron (Roma)

- In any other year, I'd be picking Spike Lee. It's insane that Spike hasn't yet won an Oscar, and Blackkklansman is 100% deserving of a directorial win. BUT ... Roma is this year's 500 lb gorilla - a directing clinic from Cuaron that is just visually breathtaking, innovative, and quite frankly bar-raising in many ways. Cuaron crafts one of the most poetically shot, picturesque, immersive and engrossing films I've ever seen - cementing his rep as the best in the biz. Sidenote: I also loved the directing in The Favourite and Cold War.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

Should and Will Win: First Reformed

- First Reformed was one of those great movie gems where you sit down, watch it, and have NO IDEA where it's all going. And when all is said and done, you're left in a state of shock and the craziness you've just witnessed. Paul Shrader gave us scripts for movies like Taxi Driver - he's earned his street cred. So I think there's a shot that he might get some renewed recognition for his latest. If he does, it will certainly be well-deserved.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:

Should Win: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

- Nobody does it better than the Coen Brothers. Buster Scruggs is case in point - the brothers' gift for language is unmatched, and they have a supernatural gift for crafting iconic, poetic, hilarious dialogue that will be quoted through the ages and studied and obsessed over for generations. And that's not (to paraphrase) just, like, my opinion, man. It's straight-up fact. 

Will Win: If Beale Street Could Talk

- Beale Street was a really great film that I liked a lot, and its screenplay is sprawling and flowery and seemingly captures the essence of the book on which it was based. I think this one will probably net the win here.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:

Should and Will Win: Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse

- Here is perhaps the night's biggest no-brainer ... which is saying something in a year where Disney and Pixar put out two extremely strong animated movies in Ralph Breaks the Internet and Incredibles 2. Those would be huge favorites in any other year. But this was the year of Miles Morales, baby. Spiderverse was a masterpiece, and I think the word of mouth was SO strong that, by the time Oscar voting began, the buzz was too much for even the non-superhero-inclined to ignore. Good.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:

Should and Will Win: Roma

- Roma is the clear favorite here, since it's also nominated for Best Picture. But man, it's a loaded category this year. Shoplifters is one of, IMO, the absolute best movies of 2018 - highly recommend giving it a watch. And Cold War was also excellent. But Roma is the one to beat - rightfully so.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:

Should Win: Ready Player One

-To me, the year's biggest movie magic trick was Steven Spielberg putting the cast of Ready Player One smack dab in the middle of The Shining's iconic Overlook Hotel. It was a moment of pure f/x awesomeness, and it's just one of the many eye-popping nerd-out moments in the unfairly-maligned Ready Player One. This was the most IMAX 3D-worthy movie of 2018.

Will Win: Avengers: Infinity War

- That's not to say that Infinity War wasn't an F/X marvel (pun intended). The work on Thanos alone was amazing, and I think that that transference of Josh Brolin's surprisingly humanizing and multilayered performance is what will net Avengers the win.

BEST FILM EDITING:

- Should and Will Win: Blackkklansman

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

- Should and Will Win: Roma

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN:

- Should Win: Black Panther
- Will Win: The Favourite

BEST ANIMATED FILM SHORT:

- Should and Will Win: Bao

BEST DOCUMENTARY:

- Should and Will Win: Minding the Gap

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT:

- Should Win: ?
- Will Win: Black Sheep

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT:

- Should Win: ?
- Will Win: Detainment

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:

- Should and Will Win: Black Panther

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING:

- Should and Will Win: Vice

BEST SOUND MIXING:

- Should Win: First Man
- Will Win: Roma

BEST SOUND EDITING:

- Should and Will Win: First Man

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:

- Should and Will Win: Black Panther

BEST ORIGINAL SONG:

Should and Will Win: “Shallow" - A Star Is Born

And there you have it. Final thought: there should be an annual "BEST NIC CAGE AWARD" and that award, this year, should go to Mandy. And on that note, watch movies!