OSCARS 2017

It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of film and in turn the Academy Awards.  I always look forward to unveiling mystery, that is the annual early morning announcement.  This also means I’m a huge step closer towards my annual viewing extravaganza. The following are my thoughts on this years nominees.

Going into the announcement there were three films I thought were going to be best picture nominees: La La Land, Moonlight, & Manchester by the Sea.  It came as no surprise to me when I heard all three titles listed in many categories including best picture.  Other titles that I’m glad did well are Arrival, Hell or High Water, and Hidden Figures.

Where there surprises yesterday morning?  Yes.  Michael Shannon’s nomination for supporting actor for Nocturnal Animals and Viggo Mortensen’s Captain Fantastic best actor nomination came as a surprise to me.  The previous more so then the latter.  

In down the line categories Life Animated was a great documentary and well deserving of its nomination.  Kubo and the Two Strings was my favorite animated movie of last year and I am pleased that it found a spot in the animated feature category.  I really enjoyed A Man Called Ove, so it’s nominations in makeup and foreign language film excite me.  

There were snubs as well in the nominees, as there always are.  Tom Hanks was incredible in Sully and its director Clint Eastwood created an incredible movie.  Both I thought were worthy of the nomination.  The best actress category presented two huge snubs.  Amy Adams (Arrival) and Jessica Chastain (Miss Sloane) both gave incredible performances.  I feel both would serve the category better then seeing Meryl Streep nominated for the twentieth time for the sub par Florence Foster Jenkins.

In time I’ll by making my predictions of what will be taking home Oscar gold.  First impressions go to La La Land.  I hope I’m wrong there.  To me a best picture winner should be an incredible movie that also reflects the times in which is was made.  For me that movie is Moonlight.  I could go on but that’s for another time.

In the mean time I’m going to try my best to enjoy this time of year as I put the final touches on the Oscar party.

Preview of Coming Attractions

Happy New Year Blog readers!

How was your holiday season? See any good movies?

Now that I have posted my top ten films of last year and 2016 has officially conceded to 2017 I am eagerly look forward to what goodies the cinematic year has in store.

I was surprised had how much I enjoyed watching John Wick a few years back and the sequel looks like it will entertain me.

The movie I’m looking forward to most this winter is The Lego Batman Movie.  It looks like a blast and a half to watch.  If it’s a quarter as entertaining as The Lego Movie I’ll be pleased.

March will bring two blockbuster features and a cartoon I want to see.  First up is Logan, which looks like it’s going to be atmospheric.  That appeals to me.  The second feature is Kong: Skull Island.  The cast is incredible and the trailer surprised me at how exciting the movie looks.  The Boss Baby, featuring the voice of Alec Baldwin, looks funny.  At the age of 30, almost 31, I’m not ashamed to go see a kids cartoon.

I’m curious to see The Fate of the Furious in April.  The Fast and the Furious franchise unveils it’s eighth entry and first entirely with out Paul Walker.  I’m interested to see what direction franchise will head.

Guardians of the Galaxy vol II will open the summer season in May.  This looks just as entertaining as the first.  The Prometheus sequel Alien: Covenant will also grace the silver screen in May.  I am eager to see what tricks director Ridley Scott has to offer.

Cars 3 will drive into cinemas in June.  I’m a Pixar fan and have enjoyed every film of their’s to date, without fail or exception.  Despicable Me 3 will also arrive in June.  The first two were reliably entertaining and I have the same expectation for number three.

July will bring the two movies I’m most excited to see all year.  War of the Planet of the Apes will debut just in time for my Mom’s birthday.  So that’s what I’m thinking for her party.  The next week is Christopher Nolan’s war epic Dunkirk.  I’m a huge fan of both Christopher Nolan and war features.  I’m eager to see this one.

Annabelle 2 will be in August.  I enjoyed Annabelle, not as much as The Conjuring & The Conjuring 2 but still enjoyed it.  I have decent hopes for the sequel.

The Lego Ninjago Movie will appear in September.  Please refer to my remarks about The Lego Batman Movie.  They apply hear as well.

Blade Runner 2049 and Kingsman: The Golden Circle both debut in early October.  I’m curious and skeptical about Blade Runner 2049.  The first is a favorite of mine.  While I want to see the sequel I don’t know how I feel about returning to that world so many years after the first.  Kingsman: The Golden Circle is a sequel I’ve been waiting for ever since the credits rolled on Kingsman: The Secret Service.  What a hell of a good time the first one was and I look forward to taking that ride again.

The fourth Insidious feature and the new Cloverfield picture, God Particle, both will open in October as well.  Both franchises are constant popcorn flicks.

Thor is my favorite hero of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and his solo films are entertaining to me.  They don’t have the quality of the ladder two Captain America flicks but are big speculate flicks that I enjoy anyways.  Certainly Marvel can’t do any worse then the train wreck known as Ironman 3.

The year will end, yet again, with another Star Wars feature.  I hope Episode 8 continues to be as high quality as The Force Awakens & Rogue One.

During the year I’ll issue open invitations to go to the movies via facebook.  Whether the movie is listed here or not please join me at the cinema.