Thursday, March 18, 2021

New Gurus Predicting Oscar Winners / Concrete Cowboy Rides to Netflix / Talking Nomadland

 NEW GURUS PREDICITNG OSCAR WINNERS



The latest Gurus of Gold went up at Movie City News on Tuesday after Oscar nominations were announced.  We were tasked with predicting the likely winners in all of the feature film categories.  

As of my Guru ballot on Monday afternoon I have Nomadland winning 4 Oscars on April 25th: Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay and Cinematography.  As for its other two nominations, I am currently predicting Carey Mulligan will win Best Actress for Promising Young Woman over Frances McDormand and The Trial of the Chicago 7 winning the Oscar for film editing.

As to the other acting categories, I'm predicting Boseman for Actor, Kaluuya for Supporting Actor and Close for Supporting Actress, though I match up with the overall Gurus picks in all the categories I've mentioned so far except on the Close call.  I'm pretty lonely there with the Gurus collectively picking Yuh-jung Youn from Minari.  I'm not totally out in the cold with the Close prediction.  Mark Johnson/Awards Daily and Nathaniel Rogers/The Film Experience have also chosen Close.  


My other early predictions (and when applicable, where I diverge from the Guru collective):

Original Screenplay: Promising Young Woman
International Feature: Another round
Documentary Feature: Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (The Gurus have Time)
Production Design: Mank
Costumes: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Animated Feature: Soul
Makeup/Hair: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Score: Soul
Song: Speak Now/One Night in Miami
Sound: Sound of Metal
Visual Effects: Tenet

Biggest locks (having a perfect Gurus score):

Chloe Zhao/Director-Nomadland
Chadwick Boseman/Actor-Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Another Round-International Feature
Mank-Production Design
Soul-Best Score
Sound of Metal/Sound

Closest races:

Original Screenplay: Promising Young Woman and The Trial of the Chicago7 are close.
Cinematography: Nomadland and Mank look to duke it out.
Editing: Nomadland and The Trial of the Chicago 7 are tight.
Costumes: Ma Rainey, Emma and Mank are all close here.
Makeup/Hair: The battle is between Ma Rainey, Hillbilly Elegy and Mank.

Other semi-close races: Supporting Actress, Animated Feature and Documentary.



CONCRETE COWBOY RIDES TO NETFLIX






Netflix has acquired Ricky Staub's Concrete Cowboy starring Idris Elba and Caleb McLaughlin.  The film was a selection of TFF #47.  Netflix has set April 2nd as the release date for the film and has released both a poster (above) and a trailer (below) from YouTube:





TALKING NOMADLAND

Bloomberg recently posted an interview with the original author of Nomadland Jessica Bruder.  That interview is linked here.

Meanwhile, Slashfilm linked a Chloe Zhao interview for the American Film Institute that's up on YouTube.  Here that is:






EMAIL:  mpgort@gmail.com

TWITTER @TheMTFB OR @Gort2 

MTFB is published on Mondays and Thursdays



Monday, March 15, 2021

Oscar Nominations Are Here / A Comment or Two

 OSACR NOMINATIONS ARE HERE

TFF films in Bold.

BEST PICTURE

“The Father” David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi and Philippe Carcassonne, Producers
“Judas and the Black Messiah” Shaka King, Charles D. King and Ryan Coogler, Producers
“Mank” Ceán Chaffin, Eric Roth and Douglas Urbanski, Producers
“Minari” Christina Oh, Producer
“Nomadland” Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey and Chloé Zhao, Producers
“Promising Young Woman” Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell and Josey McNamara, Producers
“Sound of Metal” Bert Hamelinck and Sacha Ben Harroche, Producers
“The Trial of the Chicago 7” Marc Platt and Stuart Besser, Producers

BEST DIRECTION

“Another Round” Thomas Vinterberg
“Mank” David Fincher
“Minari” Lee Isaac Chung
“Nomadland” Chloé Zhao
“Promising Young Woman” Emerald Fennell

BEST ACTOR

Riz Ahmed in “Sound of Metal”
Chadwick Boseman in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Anthony Hopkins in “The Father”
Gary Oldman in “Mank”
Steven Yeun in “Minari”

BEST ACTRESS

Viola Davis in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Andra Day in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”
Vanessa Kirby in “Pieces of a Woman”
Frances McDormand in “Nomadland”
Carey Mulligan in “Promising Young Woman”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Sacha Baron Cohen in “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
Daniel Kaluuya in “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Leslie Odom, Jr. in “One Night in Miami”
Paul Raci in “Sound of Metal”
Lakeith Stanfield in “Judas and the Black Messiah”


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Maria Bakalova in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”
Glenn Close in “Hillbilly Elegy”
Olivia Colman in “The Father”
Amanda Seyfried in “Mank”
Yuh-Jung Youn in “Minari”


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad
“The Father” Screenplay by Christopher Hampton and Florian Zeller
“Nomadland” Written for the screen by Chloé Zhao
“One Night in Miami…” Screenplay by Kemp Powers
“The White Tiger” Written for the screen by Ramin Bahrani

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

“Judas and the Black Messiah” Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King; Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas
“Minari” Written by Lee Isaac Chung
“Promising Young Woman” Written by Emerald Fennell
“Sound of Metal” Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder; Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance
“The Trial of the Chicago 7” Written by Aaron Sorkin

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

“Another Round” Denmark
“Better Days” Hong Kong
“Collective” Romania
“The Man Who Sold His Skin” Tunisia
“Quo Vadis, Aida?” Bosnia and Herzegovina

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

“Onward” Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae
“Over the Moon” Glen Keane, Gennie Rim and Peilin Chou
“A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” Richard Phelan, Will Becher and Paul Kewley
“Soul” Pete Docter and Dana Murray
“Wolfwalkers” Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young and Stéphan Roelants

BEST DOCUMENTARY

“Collective” Alexander Nanau and Bianca Oana
“Crip Camp” Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht and Sara Bolder
“The Mole Agent” Maite Alberdi and Marcela Santibáñez
“My Octopus Teacher” Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed and Craig Foster
“Time” Garrett Bradley, Lauren Domino and Kellen Quinn

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

“Judas and the Black Messiah” Sean Bobbitt
“Mank” Erik Messerschmidt
“News of the World” Dariusz Wolski
“Nomadland” Joshua James Richards
“The Trial of the Chicago 7” Phedon Papamichael

BEST EDITING

“The Father” Yorgos Lamprinos
“Nomadland” Chloé Zhao

“Promising Young Woman” Frédéric Thoraval
“Sound of Metal” Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
“The Trial of the Chicago 7” Alan Baumgarten

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

“The Father” Production Design: Peter Francis; Set Decoration: Cathy Featherstone
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Production Design: Mark Ricker; Set Decoration: Karen O’Hara and Diana Stoughton
“Mank” Production Design: Donald Graham Burt; Set Decoration: Jan Pascale
“News of the World” Production Design: David Crank; Set Decoration: Elizabeth Keenan
“Tenet” Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Kathy Lucas

BEST COSTUMES

“Emma” Alexandra Byrne
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Ann Roth
“Mank” Trish Summerville
“Mulan” Bina Daigeler
“Pinocchio” Massimo Cantini Parrini

BEST MAKEUP/HAIR

“Emma” Marese Langan, Laura Allen and Claudia Stolze
“Hillbilly Elegy” Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle and Patricia Dehaney
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson
“Mank” Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri and Colleen LaBaff
“Pinocchio” Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli and Francesco Pegoretti

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

“Da 5 Bloods” Terence Blanchard
“Mank” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
“Minari” Emile Mosseri
“News of the World” James Newton Howard
“Soul” Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste

BEST SONG

“Fight For You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Music by H.E.R. and Dernst Emile II; Lyric by H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas
“Hear My Voice” from “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
Music by Daniel Pemberton; Lyric by Daniel Pemberton and Celeste Waite
“Husavik” from “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”
Music and Lyric by Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus and Rickard Göransson
“Io Sì (Seen)” from “The Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se)”
Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Diane Warren and Laura Pausini
“Speak Now” from “One Night in Miami…”
Music and Lyric by Leslie Odom, Jr. and Sam Ashworth

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

“Burrow” Madeline Sharafian and Michael Capbarat
“Genius Loci” Adrien Mérigeau and Amaury Ovise
“If Anything Happens I Love You” Will McCormack and Michael Govier
“Opera” Erick Oh
“Yes-People” Gísli Darri Halldórsson and Arnar Gunnarsson

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT

“Feeling Through” Doug Roland and Susan Ruzenski
“The Letter Room” Elvira Lind and Sofia Sondervan
“The Present” Farah Nabulsi
“Two Distant Strangers” Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe
“White Eye” Tomer Shushan and Shira Hochman

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

“Colette” Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard
“A Concerto Is a Conversation” Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers
“Do Not Split” Anders Hammer and Charlotte Cook
“Hunger Ward” Skye Fitzgerald and Michael Scheuerman
“A Love Song for Latasha” Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan

BEST SOUND

“Greyhound” Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman
“Mank” Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance and Drew Kunin
“News of the World” Oliver Tarney, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller and John Pritchett
“Soul” Ren Klyce, Coya Elliott and David Parker
“Sound of Metal” Nicolas Becker, Jaime Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés and Phillip Bladh

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

“Love and Monsters” Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt and Brian Cox
“The Midnight Sky” Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon and David Watkins
“Mulan” Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury and Steve Ingram
“The One and Only Ivan” Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones and Santiago Colomo Martinez
“Tenet” Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley and Scott Fisher



A COMMENT OR TWO

TFF #47 films score 13 Oscar nominations in this weird Covid-19 influenced year with Nomadland and The Father each earning six apiece. 

Nomadland's six were expected: Picture, Director, Actress, Adapted Screenplay, CInematography, Editng.

The Father over performed somewhat with its six nominations: Picture, Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Production Design and Edinting.

Mank lead all films with 10 nominaitons.

Surprises to me: LaKeith Satnfield in Supporting Actor for Judas and the Black Messiah.
Snub: Aaron Sorkin for directing The Trial of the Chicago 7..

Minari, Judas and the Black Messiah, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Sound of Metal each had six nominations.
Promising Young Woman,  Ma Rainey's Black Bottom each had five nominations.

If I have this right, Chloe Zhao was nominated four times this morning.

This year I was a bit under my average success rate hitting 87/118 for 73.7%.  That sixth spot in my predictions ended up hitting a nomination in 10 categories for a rate of 43.5%.


Sunday, March 14, 2021

MTFB'S FINAL OSCAR NOMINATION PREDICITONS / Final Oscar Picks from the Experts

FINAL OSCAR NOMINATION PREDICTIONS-SUNDAY, MAR. 14TH



 A couple of quick notes here...

Over the years of predicting Oscar nominations, I've worked out that my average rate of success over the last five years has been 79.4 % which in most categories translates roughly to getting four out of the five nominees correctly.  I've also found that in the 20-25% of cases where I miss, the fifth nominee is the film/performer that I have picked in the sixth spot about 37.5% of the time.  

Of course, with the weirdness that is this year's Oscar season, anything is possible.

So...here they be.  As always, TFF films are in Bold.

BEST PICTURE

1) Nomadland 
2) The Trial of the Chicago 7 
3) Minari 
4) Promising Young Woman 
5) Mank 
6) One Night in Miami 
7) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
8) Judas and the Black Messiah 
9) Sound of Metal 
10) The Father 

Other Possibles: Da 5 Bloods, News of the World


BEST DIRECTOR (Last predicted Feb. 22)

1) Chloe Zhao/Nomadland 
2) David Fincher/Mank 
3) Emerald Fennell/Promising Young Woman 
4) Aaron Sorkin/The Trial of the Chicago 7 
5) Lee Isaac Chung/Minari

6) Regina King/One Night in Miami 
7) Spike Lee/Da 5 Bloods 
8) Paul Greengrass/News of the World 
9) Florian Zeller/The Father (8)
10) Shaka King/Judas and the Black Messiah 

Other Possibles: Darius Marder/Sound of Metal, George C. Wolfe/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

BEST ACTRESS 

1) Carey Mulligan/Promising Young Woman 
2) Frances McDormand/Nomadland 
3) Viola Davis/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 
4) Andra Day/The United States vs. Billie Holiday 
5) Vanessa Kirby/Pieces of a Woman 

6) Sophia Loren/The Life Ahead 
7) Amy Adams/Hillbilly Elegy 
8) Zendaya/Malcolm and Marie 
9) Sidney Flanigan/Never Rarely Sometimes Always 
10) Michelle Pfeiffer/French Exit 

Other Possibles: Meryl Streep/The Prom, Nichole Behaire/Miss Juneteenth


BEST ACTOR 

1) Chadwick Boseman/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 
2) Anthony Hopkins/The Father 
3) Riz Ahmed/Sound of Metal 
4) Gary Oldman/Mank 
5) Steven Yeun/Minari 

6) Delroy Lindo/Da 5Bloods 
7) Tahar Rahim/The Mauritanian 
8) Mads Mikkelsen/Another Round
9) Ben Affleck/The Way Back 
10) Tom Hnaks/News of the World

Other Possibles: Kingsley Ben-Adir/One Night in Miami, John David Washington/Malcolm and Marie


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 

1) Glenn Close/Hillbilly Elegy 
2) Yuh-jung Youn/Minari 
3) Maria Bakalova/Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
4) Olivia Colman/The Father 
5) Amanda Seyfried/Mank 

6) Jodie Foster/The Mauritanian 
7) Helena Zengel/News of the World 
8) Ellen Burstyn/Pieces of a Woman 
9) Dominique Fishback/Judas and the Black Messiah 
10) Saoirse Ronan/Ammonite 

Other Possibles: Olivia Cooke/Sound of Metal, Talia Ryder/Never rarely Sometimes Always


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 

1) Daniel Kaluuya/Judas and the Black Messiah 
2) Sacha Baron Cohen/The Trial of the Chicago 7 
3) Leslie Odom, Jr./One Night in Miami 
4) Chadwick Boseman/Da 5 Bloods 
5) Paul Raci/Sound of Metal 

6) Jared Leto/The Little Things 
7) David Strathairn/Nomadland 
8) Bill Murray/On the Rocks 
9) Stanley Tucci/Supernova 
10) Bo Burnham/Promising Young Woman 

Other Possibles: Frank Langella/The Trail of the Chicago 7, Mark Rylance/The Trial of the Chicago7, Glynn Turman/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 


BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY 

1) The Trial of the Chicago 7 
2) Promising Young Woman 
3) Minari 
4) Mank 
5) Sound of  Metal 

6) Never Rarely Sometimes Always 
7) Judas and the Black Messiah 
8) Soul 
9) Da 5 Bloods 
10) Palm Springs 

Other Possibles: On the Rocks, The 40 Year Old Version


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY 

1) Nomadland 
2) One Night in Miami 
3) The Father 
4) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 
5) News of the World 

6) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
7) First Cow 
8) The White Tiger 
9) I'm Thinking of Ending Things 
10) Emma 

Other Possibles: The Mauritanian, Pieces of a Woman


DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

1) Crip Camp; a Disability Revolution 
2) Time 
3) Collective 
4) Dick Johnson Is Dead 
5) All In: The Fight for Democracy 

6) The Truffle Hunters 
7) Boys State 
8) Welcome to Chechnya 
9) My Octopus Teacher 
10) Gunda 


INTERNATIONAL FEATURE 

1) Another Round 
2) Quo Vadis, Aida 
3) Two of Us 
4) Collective 
5) La Llorona 

6) I'm No Longer Here 
7) A Sun 
8) Night of the Kings 
9) Dear Comrades 
10) Sun Children 

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

1) Soul 
2) Wolfwalkers 
3) Over the Moon 
4) Onward 
5) Croods: The New Age 

6) A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon 
7) Earwig and the Witch 
8) The Willoughbys 
9) Trolls: World Tour 
10) Demon Slayer 

Other Possibles: Lupin, Bombay Rose, On-Gaku, Calamity

CINEMATOGRAPHY 

1) Nomadland 
2) Mank 
3) News of the World 
4) Tenet 
5) Minari 

6) Judas and the Black Messiah 
7) The Trial of the Chicago 7 
8) First Cow 
9) One Night in Miami 
10) I'm Thinking of Ending Things 

EDITING 

1) The Trial of the Chicago 7 
2) Nomadland 
3) Mank 
4) News of the World 
5) Tenet 

6) Sound of Metal 
7) The Father 
8) Promising Young Woman 
9) One Night in Miami 
10) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 

ORIGINAL SCORE 

1)  Soul 
2) News of the World 
3) Mank 
4) The Midnight Sky 
5) Tenet 

6) Minari 
7) The Trial of the Chicago 7 
8) Da 5 Bloods 
9) The Little Things 
10) Blizzard of Souls 

ORIGINAL SONG

1) Io Si/The Life Ahead 
2) Speak Now/One Night in Miami 
3) Hear My Voice/The Trial of the Chicago 7 
4) Husavik/Eurovision Song Contest 
5) Fight for You/Judas and the Black Messiah 

6) Turntables/All In: The Fight for Democracy 
7) Wuhan Flu/Borat Subsequent Moviefilm 
8) Never Break/Giving Voice 
9) Rain Song/Minari 
10) See What You've Done/Belly of the Beast 

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

1) Mank 
2) News of the World 
3) Tenet 
4) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 
5) Emma 

6) The Midnight Sky 
7) The Personal History of David Copperfield
8) Mulan
9) The Trial of the Chicago 7 
10) One Night in Miami 

Other Possibles: Judas and the Black Messiah, First Cow, Jingle-Jangle: A Christmas Journey

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

1) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 
2) Emma 
3) Mank 
4) News of the World 
5) Mulan 

6) Promising Young Woman 
7) Ammonite 
8) Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey 
9) The United States vs. Billie Holiday 
10) The Personal History of David Copperfield 

Other Possibles: The Glorias, The Trial of the Chicago 7


BEST MAKEUP/HAIR

1) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 
2) Hillbilly Elegy 
3) Birds of Prey 
4) Mank 
5) Emma 

6) Pinocchio 
7) One Night in Miami
8) The Glorias 
9) Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey 
10) The Little Things 

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

1) Tenet 
2) The Midnight Sky 
3) Mank 
4) Mulan 
5) Welcome to Chechnya 

6) The One and Only Ivan 
7) Birds of Prey 
8) Soul 
9) Love and Monsters 
10) Bloodshot 

BEST SOUND

1) Sound of Metal 
2) Tenet 
3) Mank 
4) News of the World 
5) The Midnight Sky 

6) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 
7) Soul 
8) The Trial of the Chicago 7 
9) Da 5 Bloods 
10) The Outpost 

Other Possibles: Greyhound, Nomadland, The Prom, The Invisible Man

BEST ANIMATED SHORT 

1) If Anything Happens I Love You
2) Out
3) Burrow
4) Kapaemahu
5) The Snail and the Whale

6) Opera
7) To Gerard
8) Genius Loci
9) Yes-People
10) Traces

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT 

1) A Love Song for Latasha
2) Hysterical Girl 
3) A Concerto Is a Conversation
4) Colette 
5) What would Sophia Loren Do?

6) Hunger Ward
7) Abortion Helpline
8) Speed Cubers
9) Do Not Split
10) Call Center Blues


BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT 

1) The Human Voice
2) Two Distant Strangers
3) The Letter Room
4) Feeling Through
5) Da Yie

6) The Present
7) White Eye
8) The Kicksled
9) The Van
10) Bittu


FINAL OSCAR PICKS FROM THE EXPERTS






Thursday, March 11, 2021

Oscar Update: Six Categories / Guild Love for Nomadland, The Truffle Hunters and More / MTFB''s Final Oscar Nom Predix on Sunday!

OSCAR UPDATE: SIX CATEGORIES

NOTE: FINAL OSCAR NOMINATION PREDICTIONS FROM MTFB WILL DROP ON SUNDAY WITH OSCAR NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED MONDAY MORNING.

I am updating Oscar nomination predictions with days left until the nominees are announced.  As usual, you'll see the last position of the film/performer in parentheses and when the category was last predicted.  TFF films are in Bold.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE (last predicited Feb. 22nd)




1) Crip Camp; a Disability Revolution (1)
2) Time (2)
3) Collective (3)
4) Dick Johnson Is Dead (4)
5) All In: The Fight for Democracy (8)

6) The Truffle Hunters (7)
7) Boys State (5)
8) Welcome to Chechnya (6)
9) My Octopus Teacher (-)
10) Gunda (-)


INTERNATIONAL FEATURE (last predicted Feb. 22nd)

1) Another Round (1)
2) Quo Vadis, Aida (4)
3) Two of Us (3)
4) Collective (2)
5) La Llorona (5)

6) I'm No Longer Here (7)
7) A Sun (6)
8) Night of the Kings (9)
9) Dear Comrades (8)
10) Sun Children (10)

CINEMATOGRAPHY (last predicted Feb. 25th)




1) Nomadland (1)
2) Mank (2)
3) News of the World (3)
4) Tenet (4)
5) Minari (7)

6) Judas and the Black Messiah (6)
7) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (5)
8) First Cow (9)
9) One Night in Miami (8)
10) I'm Thinking of Ending Things (-)

EDITING (last predicted Feb. 25th)

1) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (1)
2) Nomadland (3)
3) Mank (4)
4) News of the World (2)
5) Tenet (5)

6) Sound of Metal (6)
7) The Father (7)
8) Promising Young Woman (-)
9) One Night in Miami (8)
10) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (10)

ORIGINAL SCORE (last predicted on Feb. 25th)

1)  Soul (1)
2) News of the World (2)
3) Mank (3)
4) The Midnight Sky (4)
5) Tenet (5)

6) Minari (6)
7) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (7)
8) Da 5 Bloods (8)
9) The Little Things (9)
10) Blizzard of Souls (10)

ORIGINAL SONG

1) Io Si/The Life Ahead (2)
2) Speak Now/One Night in Miami (1)
3) Hear My Voice/The Trial of the Chicago 7 (4)
4) Husavik/Eurovision Song Contest (5)
5) Fight for You/Judas and the Black Messiah (3)

6) Turntables/All In: The Fight for Democracy (6)
7) Wuhan Flu/Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (8)
8) Never Break/Giving Voice (7)
9) Rain Song/Minari (9)
10) See What You've Done/Belly of the Beast (10)


GUILD LOVE FOR NOMADLAND AND THE TRUFFLE HUNERS (AND MORE)




Both the Directors Guild and the Producers Guild announced their nominees earlier this week and TFF #47 selection Nomadland and Chloe Zhao was named on both lists.  

Additionally, other TFF #47 films were also haled by the DGA.  Florian Zeller was nominated for Best Frist Feature for The Father and Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw were nominated for Best Direction of a Feature Documentary.

The Truffle Hunters also was PGA nominated as well.  

The American Society of Cinematographers also named its nominees this week which included Nomadland in its Feature film lineup, The Truffle Hunters and another TFF #47 selection, Gianfranco Rosi's Notturno for Documentary Cinematography.

Coverage is here:








REMINDER AGAIN....MTFB'S FINAL OSCAR NOMINATION PREDICTIONS WILL BE HERE ON SUNDAY


EMAIL:  mpgort@gmail.com

TWITTER @TheMTFB OR @Gort2 

MTFB is published on Mondays and Thursdays

Monday, March 8, 2021

Oscar Update: The Big Eight and The Shorts / The Critics Choice Awards / A Buffet of Truffles / Latest Gurus of Gold

 OSACR UPDATE: THE BIG EIGHT AND THE SHORTS


Here I am updating Oscar nomination predictions with a week left until the nominees are announced.  As usual, you'll see the last position of the film/performer in parentheses and when the category was last predicted.  TFF films are in Bold.


BEST PICTURE (last predicted Mar. 1st)




1) Nomadland (2)
2) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (1)
3) Minari (3)
4) Promising Young Woman (5)
5) Mank (4)
6) One Night in Miami (6)
7) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (7)
8) News of the World (9)
9) Sound of Metal (8)
10) The Father (-)

Other Possibles: Da 5 Bloods, Judas and the Black Messiah


BEST DIRECTOR (Last predicted Feb. 22)

1) Chloe Zhao/Nomadland (1)
2) David Fincher/Mank (2)
3) Emerald Fennell/Promising Young Woman (3)
4) Aaron Sorkin/The Trial of the Chicago 7 (4)
5) Lee Isaac Chung/Minari (5)

6) Regina King/One Night in Miami (6)
7) Spike Lee/Da 5 Bloods (7)
8) Paul Greengrass/News of the World (9)
9) Florian Zeller/The Father (8)
10) Shaka King/Judas and the Black Messiah (-)

Other Possibles: Darius Marder/Sound of Metal, George C. Wolfe/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom


BEST ACTRESS (Last predicted on Feb. 11th)




1) Carey Mulligan/Promising Young Woman (1)
2) Frances McDormand/Nomadland (2)
3) Viola Davis/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (3)
4) Andra Day/The united States vs. Billie Holiday (6)
5) Vanessa Kirby/Pieces of a Woman (4)

6) Sophia Loren/The Life Ahead (7)
7) Amy Adams/Hillbilly Elegy (9)
8) Zendaya/Malcolm and Marie (5)
9) Sidney Flanigan/Never Rarely Sometimes Always (8)
10) Michelle Pfeiffer/French Exit (-)

Other Possibles: Meryl Streep/The Prom, Nichole Behaire/Miss Juneteenth


BEST ACTOR (Last predicted Feb. 11th)

1) Chadwick Boseman/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1)
2) Anthony Hopkins/The Father (2)
3) Riz Ahmed/Sound of Metal (3)
4) Gary Oldman/Mank (5)
5) Steven Yeun/Minari (6)

6) Delroy Lindo/Da 5Bloods (4)
7) Tahar Rahim/The Mauritanian (10)
8) Tom Hanks/News of the World (8)
9) Ben Affleck/The Way Back (7)
10) Mads Mikkelsen/Another Round (-)

Other Possibles: Kingsley Ben-Adir/One Night in Miami, John David Washington/Malcolm and Marie


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (Last predicted Feb. 18th)




1) Glenn Close/Hillbilly Elegy (1)
2) Yuh-jung Youn/Minari (2)
3) Olivia Colman/The Father (3)
4) Maria Bakalova/Borat Subsequent Movie Film (5)
5) Amanda Seyfried/Mank (4)

6) Jodie Foster/The Mauritanian (8)
7) Helena Zengel/News of the World (7)
8) Ellen Burstyn/Pieces of a Woman (6)
9) Dominique Fishback/Judas and the Black Messiah (9)
10) Saoirse Ronan/Ammonite (-)

Other Possibles: Olivia Cooke/Sound of Metal, Talia Ryder/Never rarely Sometimes Always


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Last predicted Feb. 18th)

1) Daniel Kaluuya/Judas and the Black Messiah (1)
2) Sacha Baron Cohen/The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2)
3) Leslie Odom, Jr./One Night in Miami (3)
4) Chadwick Boseman/Da 5 Bloods (4)
5) Paul Raci/Sound of Metal (4)

6) Jared Leto/The Little Things (8)
7) David Strathairn/Nomadland (7)
8) Bill Murray/On the Rocks (6)
9) Stanley Tucci/Supernova (-)
10) Bo Burnham/Promising Young Woman (-)

Other Possibles: Frank Langella/The Trail of the Chicago 7, Mark Rylance/The Trial of the Chicago7, Glynn Turman/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 


BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (Last predicted Feb. 18th)

1) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (1)
2) Promising Young Woman (2)
3) Minari (3)
4) Mank (4)
5) Sound of  Metal (5)

6) Never Rarely Sometimes Always (7)
7) Judas and the Black Messiah (8)
8) Soul (9)
9) Da 5 Bloods (6)
10) Palm Springs (10)

Other Possibles: On the Rocks, The 40 Year Old Version


BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY (Last predicted Feb. 18th)




1) Nomadland (1)
2) One Night in Miami (2)
3) The Father (4)
4) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (3)
5) News of the World (6)

6) First Cow (5)
7) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (8)
8) The White Tiger (-)
9) I'm Thinking of Ending Things (7)
10) Emma (9)

Other Possibles: The Mauritanian, Pieces of a Woman


BEST ANIMATED SHORT (First prediction)

1) If Anything Happens I Love You
2) Out
3) Burrow
4) Kapaemahu
5) The Snail and the Whale

6) Opera
7) To Gerard
8) Genius Loci
9) Yes-People
10) Traces

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT (First prediction)

1) A Love Song for Latasha
2) Hysterical Girl 
3) A Concerto Is a Conversation
4) Colette 
5) What would Sophia Loren Do?

6) Hunger Ward
7) Abortion Helpline
8) Speed Cubers
9) Do Not Split
10) Call Center Blues


BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT (First prediction)

1) The Human Voice
2) Two Distant Strangers
3) The Letter Room
4) Feeling Through
5) Da Yie

6) The Present
7) White Eye
8) The Kicksled
9) The van
10) Bittu


THE CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS




The Critics Choice Awards were held last night.  TFF films were nominated for a dozen of them.

Nomadland (6): Best Picture, Director, Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography and Editing

The Father (4): Best Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay and Editing

First Cow (2): Adapted Screenplay and Cinematography

Nomadland was the evening's big winner with four awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography.  The Father and First Cow did not secure any trophy from the occasion.

Acting winners were: Carey Mulligan-Best Actress/Promising Young Woman, Chadwick Boseman-Best Actor/Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Maria Bakalova/Supporting Actress/Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Daniel Kaluuya-Supporting Actor/Judas and the Black Messiah, Alan Kim/Young Actor/Minari and The Trial of the Chicago 7 won for Best Ensemble.

The BFCA spread the wealth with only four films winning more than one of the prizes: Nomandlan-4, Ma Rainey's-3, Promising Young Woman-2 and Minari-2.



A  BUFFET OF TRUFFLES




As Oscar nomination voting is ongoing, TFF #47 documentary selection, The Truffle Hunters continues to have a high profile.  There were three separate interviews posted this week that I came across with the film's directors Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw.

The film is definitely in Oscar contention for Best Feature Documentary (and maybe ought to also be in the conversation for cinematography).  Fully eight of Gold Derby's 24 experts are currently predicting it to be nominated.

I have linked all three of the interviews with Dweck and Kershaw below:





LATEST GURUS FOCUSES ON THE BIG EIGHT




The latest Gurus of Gold forecast focuses on the Big Eight categories. Picture, Director, the the acting and Screenplay categories.  in an interesting twist, we were asked to name just the top two contenders in all but the Best Picture category.  

Take a look at the new charts. They were posted on Friday.  As you may note, my latest Best Picture forecast from above has Nomadland back in the lead.  The race between it and Chicago 7 is tight and fluid.  Enough so that in the space of 72 hours, my prediction has changed.



EMAIL:  mpgort@gmail.com

TWITTER @TheMTFB OR @Gort2 

MTFB is published on Mondays and Thursdays

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Oscar Update: Costumes, Makeup and Hair and Visual Effects / Cannes Moving Back??? / Interviews with Hopkins and Pollard

OSCAR UPDATE: COSTUMES, MAKEUP AND HAIR AND VISUAL EFFECTS




Here's an update on three technical categories.  I last predicted these on February 15th.  Their position at that time is in parentheses.  Telluride #47 films are in Bold. 

BEST COSTUME DESIGN




1) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1)
2) Emma (2)
3) Mank (3)
4) News of the World (4)
5) Mulan (5)

6) Promising Young Woman (9)
7) Ammonite (8)
8) Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (-)
9) The United States vs. Billie Holiday (6)
10) The Personal History of David Copperfield (7)

Other Possibles: The Glorias, The Trial of the Chicago 7
Hot: Promising Young Woman
Not: The United States vs. Billie Holiday, The Personal History of David Copperfield


BEST MAKEUP/HAIR

1) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1)
2) Hillbilly Elegy (2)
3) Birds of Prey (4)
4) Mank (3)
5) Emma (5)

6) Pinocchio (6)
7) One Night in Miami (8)
8) The Glorias (9)
9) Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (10)
10) The Little Things (7)

Hot: Birds of Prey
Not: The Little Things


BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

1) Tenet (1)
2) The Midnight Sky (2)
3) Mank (3)
4) Mulan (4)
5) Welcome to Chechnya (50

6) The One and Only Ivan (8)
7) Birds of Prey (6)
8) Soul (7)
9) Love and Monsters (9)
10) Bloodshot (10)

Hot: The One and Only Ivan
Not: Soul


CANNES MOVING BACK???





Earlier this week, Deadline's Tom Grater reported that the Cannes Film Festival, which looked to be headed to run in July (and perhaps even later as some rumors have it going into late summer) may be backtracking.

Grater reports that Cannes may plan a "pre-screening" event earlier than the planned July dates as a response to industry desires.  The Deadline story suggests the possible "pre-screening" would be:

"virtual and will be purely based around industry screenings, without a traditional physical market, and will feature market titles potentially alongside films from the festival selection"

Grater also writes that Cannes is getting pressure from sales agants and French distributors to do the earlier "pre-screenings".

The upshot is that we could be back to finding out at least some of the films Cannes has chosen for whatever version of the actual festival comes to pass and that could give us some Telluride clues.



INTERVIEWS WITH HOPKINS AND POLLARD



(photo via Sundance film Festival and Screen Daily)



Screen Daily published an interview this week with acting legend Anthony Hopkins.  Hopkins would have been one of the tribute recipients had a TFF #47 gone off last Labor Day.  

Hopkins role in The Father (the TFF and Sundance selection) has earned a good deal of Oscar speculation.


Meanwhile, The Playlist posted an interview with director Sam Pollard whose documentary MLK/FBI, is on The Academy's Feature Documentary Shortlist.  MKL/FBI was also a TFF #47 selection.




EMAIL:  mpgort@gmail.com

TWITTER @TheMTFB OR @Gort2 

MTFB is published on Mondays and Thursdays

Monday, March 1, 2021

We Have Info! (And a Poster) / Nomadland Leads Golden Globes Winners / Oscar Update: Picture and More

WE HAVE INFO! (AND A POSTER)


News dropped on Friday about TFF #48.  It'll be an extra day long; five days as was planned for last year's fest.  The last five day long fest was in 2013 as a part of the celebration of the 40th Telluride Film Festival.


We also found out that no new passes are currently being sold.  There is a waitlist for all pass levels as so many of us rolled our passes from last year over for TFF 48.

Here's the release from the festival:

Telluride Film Festival today announced its dates for the 48th Telluride Film Festival. The event will take place September 2 - 6, 2021, with an added day to the weekend-long event. Festival organizers are optimistic that by September, when the vaccination process will then be long underway, and by taking all necessary safety precautions including the extra day, an in-person event will likely be possible.

 “We are beyond excited to announce our dates,” said Telluride Film Festival executive director Julie Huntsinger. “Our position within the festival calendar gives us hope that we will be able to hold the festival this year. We are guided by science and are continuously evaluating the global pandemic in relation to health, travel and live events. Time will tell, but in the meantime, we are busy planning for and putting together an incredible program.” 

 There are currently no new pass sales available to the public at this time.

 Huntsinger explains, “As a result of the Festival’s 2020 cancellation, the majority of passholders requested to roll over their passes to 2021. Without knowing theater capacity restrictions, the small number of passes left are being held back out of an abundance of caution.” 

 A waitlist is being compiled on a first come, first served basis. More information may be found on the Festival website.

 “We would like to take this moment to thank everyone for their continued support of Telluride Film Festival. There have been some truly remarkable souls who went above and beyond throughout the past twelve months,” said Huntsinger. “It has been a difficult year for everyone, and we hope to welcome back our audience to the beautiful mountains of Telluride to do what we do best: celebrate the art of film.” 


In addition, the festival unveiled the poster for TFF #48 from Meow Wolf artist Luke Dorman.  You can see the poster above.

Here's the text of the release announcing the poster:


Telluride Film Festival (September 2- 6, 2021) today presents its 2021 Festival poster, designed by Meow Wolf’s Luke Dorman. 

 Luke Dorman is the Lead Graphic Designer at Meow Wolf, a Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment company that creates immersive, interactive experiences. Luke's current focus is on design for Meow Wolf Denver, a permanent 4-story immersive experience opening in late 2021. Over the past 15 years, Luke has maintained a creative practice that straddles fine art, graphic design, and illustration. His contemporary and experimental approach to design work has led him to be recognized by Print, Communication Arts, the Society for Typographic Arts, GDUSA, among others. Prior to joining Meow Wolf, Luke worked in design education and carries his passion for teaching, mentorship and community building into his work today. 

 Dorman began his design for the poster by drawing a large assortment of shapes that functioned as a library from which he could pull forms, and then let the work develop as he moved things around on the computer. All the shapes for the poster were inspired by classic movie theater marquees and film equipment. As he started thinking what configurations he could make, a film projector seemed to make the most sense: something recognizable but also something that would give him freedom to play around with. He wanted to do something wild, colorful and celebratory because it felt like a good fit with the spirit of the Festival, and also because he felt like we are all ready for a healthy dose of “positive vibes” right now.

 Dorman said, “Oddly enough, my first encounter with Meow Wolf was actually when they submitted work to a micro-cinema film festival that I used to run, and they won the top prize. So, in some ways, this isn’t the first collision of Meow Wolf and the film world that I’ve been a part of.” 

 He goes on to say, “Of course, I jumped at the chance to represent Meow Wolf as the poster artist for the 48thTelluride Film Festival. It’s a true honor to be able to work on behalf of these two beacons of creative innovation and expression. But it’s also sort of twice as much pressure working as part of the legacy of all the great artists who have contributed to Telluride Film Festival posters and all the great artists who make up Meow Wolf.”

 Meow Wolf was recognized in Fast Company's 2020 list of The World's 50 Most Innovative Companies. It is a Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment company that creates immersive, interactive experiences to transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of story and exploration. The company's first location in Santa Fe opened in 2016 and showcases the THEA Award-winning, international sensation, House Of Eternal Return, where two million visitors have now discovered a multidimensional mystery house with secret passages, portals to magical worlds, and surreal, maximalist and mesmerizing art exhibits. In 2019, Meow Wolf expanded beyond Santa Fe and opened Kaleidoscape, the world’s first artist-driven ride at Elitch Gardens in Denver. Meow Wolf recently opened their second permanent installation, Omega Mart, at AREA15 in Las Vegas and their third permanent installation in Denver slated to open in late 2021. Meow Wolf is proud to be the only certified B-Corporation in the themed entertainment industry, with a team dedicated to social impact and building a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

 “We are HUGE fans of Meow Wolf, and Luke Dorman,” said Telluride Film Festival executive director Julie Huntsinger. “His poster is a gorgeous piece of art - for both the short and long term. It’s the perfect escape from pandemic life, right this minute. With its happy, vibrant colors and design, it creates a glorious fantasy refuge. And it will bring joy and inspiration long into the future. We’re delighted to celebrate art and film, in full color, together again in the mountains of Colorado this September.”

 Posters are an annual tradition of the Festival, and Dorman joins a prestigious list of artists who have been selected by, and who have shared their talents with Telluride Film Festival. Past poster artists include Yann Legendre, Laurent Durieux, Christian Marclay, Dean Tavoularis, Ed Ruscha, John Mansfield, Julian Schnabel, Dottie Attie, Doug and Mike Starn, David Lance Goines, Chuck Jones, David Salle, Alexis Smith, Jim Dine, Seymour Chwast, Frederic Amat, Francesco Clemente, Dave McKean, Gary Larson, Chip Kidd, John Canemaker, Mark Stock, Laurie Anderson, William Wegman, Ralph Eggleston, Maira Kalman, Dave Eggers, Lance Rutter and Edwina White. 

 48th Telluride Film Festival posters are available for purchase now on the TFF website at www.telluridefilmfestival.org.

 I have linked coverage of the announcement from:




NOMADLAND LEADS GOLDEN GLOBES WINNERS




Irrespective of the controversy surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Golden Globes, that awards show went off last night and Globes were handed out.  

TFF films were nominated for eight Golden Globes and Nomadland won Best Picture/Drama and Best Director.
Nomadland was nominated for four: Best Picture Drama, Director, Actress and Screenplay
The Father was nominated for four: Best Picture Drama, Actor, Actress and Screenplay

Here are the Globe winners for film:

Best Film Drama: Nomadland
Best Film Musical or Comedy: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm  
Best Actress/Drama: Andra Day/The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Best Actress/Musical or Comedy: Rosamund Pike/I Care A Lot
Best Actor/Drama: Chadwick Boseman/Ma Rainey's Back Bottom
Best Actor/Musical or Comedy: Sacha Baron Cohen/Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Best Supporting Actress: Jodie Foster/The Mauritanian
Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya/Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Direction: Chloe Zhao/Nomadland 
Best Screenplay: The Trial of the Chicago 7 
Best Original Song: Io Si (Seen)/The Life Ahead
Best Original Score: Soul
Best Animated Film: Soul 
Best Foreign Language Film: Minari


OSCAR UPDATE: PICTURE AND MORE



Two weeks left until Oscar nominations are announced...

BEST PICTURE

My last prediction for this category was on Feb. 22nd.  The film's previous position is indicated in parentheses.  TFF films are Bold.

1) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (1)
2) Nomadland (2)
3) Minari (3)
4) Mank (4)
5) Promising Young Woman (5)
6) One Night in Miami (6)
7) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (7)
8) Sound of Metal (8)
9) News of the World (9)
10) Judas and the Black Messiah (10)

Other Possibles: The Father, Da 5 Bloods
Hot: No changes
Not: No changes


BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

My last prediction for this category was on Feb. 8th.  The film's previous position is indicated in parentheses.

1) Soul (1)
2) Wolfwalkers (2)
3) Over the Moon (3)
4) Onward (4)
5) Croods: The New Age (7)

6) A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (6)
7) Earwig and the Witch (5)
8) The Willoughbys (9)
9) Trolls: World Tour (8)
10) Demon Slayer (10)

Other Possibles: Lupin, Bombay Rose, On-Gaku, Calamity
Hot: Croods: The New Age
Not: Earwig and the Witch


BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

My last prediction for this category was on Feb. 15th.  The film's previous position is indicated in parentheses.

1) Mank (1)
2) News of the World (2)
3) Tenet (6)
4) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (3)
5) Emma (5)

6) The Midnight Sky (8)
7) The Personal History of David Copperfield (4)
8) Mulan (7)
9) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (9)
10) One Night in Miami (10)

Other Possibles: Judas and the Black Messiah, First Cow, Jingle-Jangle: A Christmas Journey
Hot: Tenet, The Midnight Sky
Not: The Personal History of David Copperfield


BEST SOUND

My last prediction for this category was on Feb. 15th.  The film's previous position is indicated in parentheses.

1) Sound of Metal (1)
2) Tenet (2)
3) Mank (4)
4) News of the World (3)
5) The Midnight Sky (5)

6) Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (7)
7) Soul (6)
8) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (10)
9) Da 5 Bloods (8)
10) The Outpost (9)

Other Possibles: Greyhound, Nomadland, The Prom, The Invisible Man
Hot: The Trial of the Chicago 7



EMAIL:  mpgort@gmail.com

TWITTER @TheMTFB OR @Gort2 

MTFB is published on Mondays and Thursdays