From insane superhero team-ups and nostalgic sequels to heartfelt biopics and choose-your-own-adventure films, 2018 had plenty to offer for the cine goers.
Among the slew of great movies, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) is known to pick only the crème de la crème. As we await the official announcement of the Oscar nominees, here is a list of films, directors and actors THE WEEK thinks will get a chance to compete in the race.
Best Picture
1. A Star Is Born
2. A Quiet Place
3. If Beale Street Could Talk
4. Roma
5. First Man
6. Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Actor
1. Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born
2. John David Washington – BlackkKlansman
3. Willem Dafoe – At Eternity’s Gate
4. Christian Bale – Vice
5. Rami Malek – Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Actress
1. Lady Gaga – A Star Is Born
2. Olivia Colman – The Favourite
3. Glenn Close – The Wife
4. Yalitza Aparicio – Roma
5. Claire Foy – First Man
6. Emily Blunt – A Quiet Place
Best Director
1. Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman
2. Alfonso Cuaron – Roma
3. Barry Jenkins – If Beale Street Could Talk
4. Yorgos Lanthimos – The Favourite
5. Damien Chazelle – First Man
Best Original Screenplay
1. Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara - The Favourite
2. Alfonso Cuaron - Roma
3. Adam McKay – Vice
4. Bo Burnham – Eighth Grade
Best Adapted Screenplay
1. Barry Jenkins – If Beale Street Could Talk
2. Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee – BlacKkKlansman
3. Debra Granik, Anna Rosellini – Leave No Trace
4. Josh Singer – First Man
Best Documentary Feature
1. RBG
2. Three Identical Strangers
3. Minding The Gap
4. Shirkers
Best Foreign Language Film
1. Mexico – Roma
2. South Korea – Burning
3. Lebanon – Capernaum
4. Germany – Never Look Away
5. Japan - Shoplifters
Among an impressive line of motion pictures that stand a chance of being nominated, two favourites of mine would be Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma and Bryan Singer’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Arguably two of the best films of the year, these movies have swept the audience off their feet through the intimate portrayals of the lives of their protagonists.
Cuaron portrays the struggles of a largely disregarded class of modern society in Roma while Bohemian Rhapsody relives 70’s glam rock pioneer Freddie Mercury’s life through the celebratory notes of his music—from the start of his career all the way to 'Live Aid', the performance of a lifetime.
Nonetheless, it is important to note that these two may not necessarily be the best films of the year. 2018 has given us so many movies that there are plenty of them more popular with the audience than the aforementioned two.
The term ‘popular film’ brings to mind the stir caused by the Academy when they introduced a new category for the ‘Best Popular Film’. After the widespread negative reaction, the Academy postponed the award to "examine and seek additional input regarding the new category" until at least the 2020 ceremony.
Some of the other remarkable motion pictures that, if not an Oscar, deserve at least a nomination are listed below:
SPECIAL MENTIONS
Best Picture
1. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
2. Bohemian Rhapsody
3. At Eternity’s Gate
4. Green Box
5. Black Panther
6. Mary Poppins Returns
Best Actor
1. Lucas Hedges – Boy Erased
2. Rami Malek – Bohemian Rhapsody
3. Timothee Chalamet – Beautiful Boy
Best Actress
1. Nicole Kidman – Destroyer
2. Rosamund Pike – A Private War
3. Constance Wu – Crazy Rich Asians
Best Director
1. Peter Farrelly – Green Book
Best Original Screenplay
1. Brian Currie, Nick Vallelonga, Peter Farrelly – Green Book
Best Foreign Language Film
1. Girl – Belgium
