My picks for best Academy Awards for movies shown in 2018

There are some great 2018 movies, but as usual, too many violent movies and more movies are needed with women leads. It was good to see more racially diverse movies. 

Best picture

I liked “Vice” the best. Christian Bale’s performance as former Vice President Dick Cheney is amazing. I also think “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Green Book,” “BlacKkKlansman,” and “A Star Is Born” are excellent. “Black Panther” is a good story, but it’s too violent. “Roma” is a compelling story, but it’s too slow. “The Favourite” is a strange movie, a made-up story based on rumors that Queen Ann had a lesbian affair late in life.

Actor in a Leading Role

Christian Bale in “Vice.” Rami Malek in “Bohemian Rhapsody” also does a masterful job.

Actor in a supporting role

Richard E. Grant in “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” It was nice to see a movie that was just a story and not a lot of violent fighting.

Actress in a leading role

Glenn Close in “The Wife.” Close does an excellent job portraying a writer who has a complex relationship with her profession and her husband.

Actress in a supporting role

Amy Adams in “Vice.” “If Beale Street Could Talk” is a compelling movie, but, in my opinion, it’s too slow.

Animated feature film

“Ralph Breaks the Internet.” I love it when a kids’ movie is just a story and not a lot of violence. “Incredibles 2” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” are way too violent. I didn’t see “Isle of Dogs” and “Mirai.”

Cinematography

“A Star Is Born.” I didn’t see “Cold War” and “Never Look Away.”

Costume design

“Black Panther” and “The Favourite.” “Mary Queen of Scots” also have great costumes. I liked the story of “Mary Poppins Returns.” However, I don’t think it’s a winner in this category. I didn’t see “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.”

Directing

Adam McKay for "Vice."

Documentary – Feature

“RBG.” I didn’t see the others.

Documentary – Short subject

“Period. End of Sentence.” and “A Night at The Garden.” The rest “Black Sheep,” “End Game,” and “Lifeboat” are all well done, but dark.

Film editing

John Ottman for “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Foreign language film

“Shoplifters” – Japan. I didn’t see “Capernaum” – Lebanon, “Cold War” – Poland, or “Never Look Away” – Germany.

Makeup and hairstyling

Greg Cannom, Kate Biscoe, and Patricia Dehaney for “Vice.” “Border” is a terrible fantasy movie about trolls living among humans. I wished I had been able to tell more about it from the trailer so I could have skipped it.

Music – Original score

Ludwig Goransson in “Black Panther.”

Music – Original song

Diane Warren for “I’ll Fight” from “RBG” and Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, and Andrew Wyatt for “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born.”

Production design

“Black Panther,” “The Favourite,” and “First Man.” I liked "First Man," a well-told story about a talented pilot and astronaut.

Short film – Animated

“One Small Step.” The rest of the ones I saw are unremarkable. However, I didn't see "Bao," because it wasn't offered in the Comcast package of shorts that I watched. It may have been offered separately for some reason.

Short film – Live action

Nothing in this category is worth recommending. “Detainment,” “Fauve,” “Mother,” and “Skin” are depressing. ”Marguerite,” so, so.

Sound editing

“Bohemian Rhapsody.” I'm glad I heard a story about "A Quiet Place" on NPR; I don't go to horror movies.

Sound mixing

“A Star Is Born.”

Visual effects

“Christopher Robin” and “First Man.” The other nominees are just one violent scene after another: “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Ready Player One,” and “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”

Writing – Adapted screenplay

Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty for “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”

Writing – Orignal screenplay

Adam McKay for "Vice."

Comments

[Tom Sightings]

Okay, since you're asking (kind of) here's my two cents:
Liked: A Star Is Born
Liked: The Green Book
Loved: If Beale Street Could Talk
Cold War: okay
Roma ... I fell asleep.
Didn't see the others.
Academy Awards: Missed the host, and the speeches were too long.

[Rita]

Hi Tom,

Yes, I'm interested in getting reports on what people liked in the Academy Award-nominated movies.

I agree with you about "Roma." I was surprised it won oscars in three of the bigger categories.

I'm surprised that "Green Book" won best picture. It was a good movie, but I thought several others were better.

Rita

[Baby_boomster]

I'm thrilled that Green Book won. I really got into it. Loved BlackkKlansman and Vice also. I agree that Beale Street was excruciatingly slow (director choice) but Regina King and all the actors were excellent. The dresses that night were a nightmare for the most part.

[Rita]

Hi Rebecca,

"Green Book" was a surprise and there are a lot of comments about it today in the media. I thought it was a good movie, but I think "Vice," "BlackKKKlandman," and "Bohemian Rhapsody" are stronger movies.

Rita

[Senior Mates]

Your list is much better than the list of the actual Oscars.

[Rita]

Thanks. It's a lot of work to go to all those movies and watching the violent ones is troubling. However, I think it's important to point out regularly that violent images have a negative impact on people, especially children, and more movies are needed about women and older adults.

Rita