Academy Awards: And the winner will be…

BY Ron and Leigh

We’ve all heard the usual complaints about lack of diversity in the Oscar nominations. However, this year’s nominees include blockbusters as well as independent films. The stories are about auto racing, mobsters, WWI, WWII, mental illness, girl power, marital issues, Hollywood fantasy and a socio-economic foreign language thriller.

Reel People rarely agree with the Academy and don’t always agree with each other. Leigh’s 2019 Top Ten: Avengers, Downton Abbey, The Irishman, Joker, The Two Popes, Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Knives Out, Frozen II, Judy, Shazam. Ron’s Favorites: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Joker, Ford v Ferrari, Irishman, Two Popes, Midway, Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Rocketman, Knives Out and Yesterday.

Best Actor: Jonathan Pryce (Two Popes) looks like Pope Francis and makes theology discussions fascinating. Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory) delivers both feelings via subtitles. Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) picks up his fading career while Adam Driver (Marriage Story) explains why divorce lawyers are utterly evil.

And the winner will be…Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) typecast as a deranged comic who transforms into a maniacal villain. It doesn’t seem that far a reach for the peculiar actor.

Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo (Harriet) is convincing as the engineer of the Underground Railroad. Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story) gets to display her acting chops filing for divorce. Saoirse Ronan (Little Women) displays girl power before it was cool while Charlize Theron (Bombshell) airs a network’s dirty laundry for the world to see.

And the winner will be…Renee Zellweger (Judy) in a bittersweet tribute to Judy Garland, one of the brightest, most tragic stars that ever flew over the rainbow.

Supporting Actor: Tom Hanks is deserving for any role he plays, especially as America’s most cherished pre-school tutor. Nobody plays Al Pacino (The Irishman) better than Al Pacino, while Joe Pesci joins the reunion as a fellow thug. Finally, Anthony Hopkins (Two Popes) takes a bite out of his role as the other Pope.

And the winner will be…Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) who plays a cool dude with a volatile undercurrent while exuding a charming bromance with DiCaprio.

Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates (Richard Jewell) is the loving mother who believes in her security guard son accused of a heinous crime at the Olympics. Margo Robbie (Bombshell) is mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. Florence Pugh (Little Women) speaks big while Scarlett Johansson (JoJo Rabbit) hides a Jewish girl in WWII.

And the winner will be… Laura Dern (Marriage Story) playing a tough talking, powerhouse divorce attorney. The fashionable shark is committed to win at all costs.

Best Director: Martin Scorcese (The Irishman) created a career mobster masterpiece while Quentin Taratino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) chose the same year for his fantastic magnum opus. Bong Joon Ho (Parasite) surprised the industry with his creative Korean thriller while Todd Phillips (Joker) has the last laugh with his iconic villain.

And the winner will be…Sam Mendes (1917). This WWI cinematic masterpiece is a tribute to Mendes’ grandfather and was shot and edited to appear as a single take.

Best Picture: Netflix created the mobster masterpiece, The Irishman and dark emotional drama, Marriage Story while 1917 has been the industry’s favorite all year. Ford v Ferrari produced checkered results from the critics, while the surreal JoJo Rabbit illustrated a boy’s admiration for Hitler. The Joker went wild, Little Women made their statement and Parasite boldly presented a new concept developed outside Hollywood.

And the winner will be…Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. This year’s race is too close to call, but our choice is a fun, funny and a fantastic take on Hollywood’s past. DiCaprio and Pitt might be the most dynamic and charming duo since Newman and Redford.