It’s not long now until the 91stAcademy Awards, and there are a number of directors who will be hoping that they did enough with their films to earn the coveted Best Picture Oscar. Some of the early candidates for the ultimate accolade include Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, Bradley Cooper’s A Star is Born, and Adam McKay’s Backseat. Do any of these offerings have a chance at being named the best of all?
BlacKkKlansman
BlacKkKlansmanhas been lauded by critics as a return to form for Spike Lee and the legendary director’s best offering since his documentary 4 Little Girls. The 1997 movie was Oscar-nominated but failed to win the paramount prize. Perhaps Lee’s latest title will stand a better chance. The picture has an impressive approval rating of 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and has already won various awards elsewhere. These included the Grand Prix and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the Cannes Film Festival in May this year. Lee has been nominated for two Academy Awards in the past but is yet to receive one. Could 2019 be his year?
A Star is Born
For those who love a feel-good picture that leaves you feeling satisfied, A Star is Borncould be best avoided. There is no doubt that this film is moving, however, and it could even be considered alongside the likes of The Shawshank Redemption, a film that was recently voted number one on Lottoland’s recent inspirational films list. The bittersweet tale of country singer Jackson Maine and his girlfriend Ally Campana-Maine’s rise to stardom was directed by Bradley Cooper and has received high critical acclaim since its release. Owen Gleiberman of Variety said that the film was stunning, and other critics have been quick to praise Lady Gaga’s exceptional turn on the silver screen.
Vice
There is no doubting Christian Bale’s dedication to his profession but his transformation to play the role of Dick Cheney in Viceis perhaps his greatest achievement. The former Dark Knight gained an astonishing 40 pounds for his role in McKay’s biographical comedy-drama. The Academy Award winner is only one of the factors which could make Vicea serious contender for the Best Picture Oscar. The all-star cast, along with the experienced production team make this one of the ones to watch. However, seeing as the movie has yet to be released, it is hard to say whether it will deliver on all its promises. There is certainly potential here but it could be considered a long shot at the moment.
Of course, these are only a few of the films which could find themselves in line for the Best Picture Award at the Oscars next year. Some other offerings which could do the business are If Beale Street Could Talk,The Favourite, and Roma.
Bohemian Rhapsody – Rami Malek
Rami Malek transforms into Queen frontman Freddy Mercury in an emotional and controversial performance that has had mixed reviews from the critics. But one thing is for sure it has created a new generation of Queen fans and caused a lot of buzz.
Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.
The question is can Rami Malek get an Oscar nod for his performance and upset the field by taking home Best Actor? Time will tell but he should at least be in the discussion for a nomination.
Hereditary – Toni Collette
Now that many moviegoers have experienced the tension and dread inducing horror film (yes I said horror film) HEREDITARY it is time to talk specifically about Toni Collette’s performance.
The film focuses on the family matriarch that passes away and leaves a family grieving by a past that is haunted by tragic and disturbing occurrences. But the past begins to unravel dark secrets. Those dark secrets are being played out through the eyes of Collette’s character. A unique perspective and one that will stick with you when the credits roll.
The mental fortitude it must take from an actress to portray the character of Annie is no easy task. Yet Collette time and time again, frame by frame found a way to slip into an unnerving place drifting to the brink of madness just before free falling off a cliff near the end of the film.
I don’t want to give anything away for anyone that has not seen the film – but the new promo clip released by A24 today gives you a brief taste of Collette’s Oscar-Worthy performance. Yes, I said Oscar-Worthy. Apparently Esquire agrees according to their pull quote seen in the trailer. Rarely do we get to use the word Oscar in the same sentence about a horror film, but this is one of those rare exceptions that should be fully recognized.
There are a handful of other films that should be on this list but these are some of our favorites. What do you think? Tell us in the comment section below.
