Here’s a list of every Oscar movie nominee for 2019, and the RunPee Family‘s thoughts about who might and should win, and who we think will be snubbed this year. All links go to RunPee’s reviews if we have one, and the (post-Oscar) winners are listed in bold.

Best Picture

Black Panther: RunPee Mom  – Excellent Oscar-worthy movie. RunPee Jilly – I just want to see Black Panther win, because I’m a die hard geek and I don’t think anything has won Best Picture in my genres since The Return of the King. This winning would make me deeply happy.

BlacKkKlansman: Mom –  Haven’t seen this one, but I’ve read excellent reviews. I’m sure it’s Oscar-worthy. Jilly – I remember RunPee Dan really liking this one, but I haven’t seen it.

Bohemian Rhapsody: Mom – Nor have I seen this movie, but according to second-hand information, it’s also Oscar-worthy. Jilly – I know this is the big one, but I found it more sad than I was ready for. It’s not enjoyable to watch people be sad and suffer that much.

The Favourite: Mom –  It would make me happy for Queen Anne of Brittany if a movie made about her won an Oscar. Anne was one of the more colorful monarchs of the past, and should have her own movie.

Green Book:  Mom –  Nope, haven’t seen this one either, but this is my daughter’s number one pick and that’s good enough for me. I’ll see it soon. RunPee Sis – This is the best film ever and you feel really good after seeing it.

Roma: Mom –  Good grief, why oh why, was this nominated for Best movie and Best Foreign Film? One or the other Academy, not both.  Also, this isn’t really a movie I could even finish watching when I downloaded it last night.

A Star is Born: Mom – My favorite, my very, very favorite. This is why I want Roma taken out of the mix. If my movie doesn’t win, then I’m pretty sure my anger, along with millions of other fans, will cause a polar shift. Jilly – Like Bohemian Rhapsody, too sad for me. I prefer pulse-pounding excitement in a fantastical story. Why are Dramas always selected for Best Picture?

Vice: Mom – A great movie, but I question if it’s Oscar-worthy. Granted, Christian Bale did an outstanding job of capturing the essence of Dick Cheney, but I don’t think Dick’s essence made for an outstanding movie.

 

Best Actor in A Leading Role

Christian Bale: Mom –  It was no great stretch for Bale to play Dick Cheney. He doesn’t deserve an Oscar for simply looking like Dick Cheney. That award should go to the makeup department.

Bradley Cooper: Mom – My favorite. Brad went way out of his comfort zone to not only act and sing in this movie, but direct it as well. Jilly – Brad did a great job, but I don’t think it was better than other movies he’s acted in. I’d call his role here ‘regular good’, not “blow-my-mind good.”

Willem Dafoe: Mom – A multi-talented actor for sure, but he’s up against some stiff competition.

Rami Malek: Mom –  He just may walk away with the Oscar, and even though Bradley is my favorite, my money is on Rami for the win. Jilly – Rami became Freddie in my eyes. I think this is the clear winner.

Viggo Mortenson: Mom –  Again, the competition is stiff and I don’t see the Academy recognizing him with an Oscar. Jilly – Viggo has a reputation for becoming the role he’s tasked with.  Green Book really shows off his skills.

 

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Yalitza Aparicio: Mom –  Okay Academy, are you really going to award the Oscar to an actress with only one movie in her filmography, and snub seven-time nominee Glenn Close?

Glenn Close: Mom –  My favorite. This lovely lady has given us some of the best movies we’ve seen, and that’s validated by the fact that she’s been nominated seven times for an Oscar, but never taken one home. The time is now Academy, to right that wrong.

Olivia Colman: Mom –  A superior actress, but I don’t think the Academy will find her performance as great as her fans did.

Lady Gaga: Mom –  I think this amazing woman will take home the gold, and even though I’d like to see Glenn finally become a winner if only for sentimental reasons, Lady Gaga deserves every eight and a half pounds of the Best Actress award. Jilly – I think Gaga and her movie, along with Bohemian Rhapsody, will sweep the awards.  Regardless, the Lady did a truly fine job in her big role debut.

Melissa McCarthy: Mom – The Academy will snub Melissa; it’s just what they do. It doesn’t matter that this funny lady cranked out some great drama for the movie, the Academy will not award her gravitas. Jilly – I’d be shocked if Melissa won this.  She’s not be taken seriously as an actor before, and this film never went to wide release, so the support might not be there for ‘comic’ actor.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Mahershala Ali: Mom – I think Ali will walk away a winner.

Adam Driver: Jilly – A promising young actor. He’s worth watching.

Sam Elliot: Mom – Probably won’t take home the gold, but it’s great the Academy gave him a small pat on the back. Jilly – This was a relatively small role in a big film, and his arc wasn’t very satisfying, so this nom surprised me.

Richard E. Grant:  We’ll add something if we think of it. 🙂  No thoughts yet (hereafter to be called NTY).

Sam Rockwell: Mom – Sam did the best job portraying George W Bush than any other actor in Hollywood, however his role was so small it would be hard to screw it up. On the other hand, where the hell is Steve Carell‘s nomination? Jilly – I agree with Mom: this should have gone to Steve Carell.

 

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams: Mom – She played the wife of Dick Cheney; how hard could that be for an actress of her caliber?

Marina de Tavira: Mom – Most likely she’ll take home the gold.

Regina King: NTY

Emma Stone: Jilly – A versatile young actress who gets better every year.

Rachael Weisz: NTY

 

Best Animated Feature Film

Incredibles 2: Jilly – If Into the Spider-Verse hadn’t come out this year, Incredibles 2 would clearly take the win. It was as good, and in some ways better than the first Incredibles film, was funny, completely enjoyable, and a sure crowd-pleaser.  Pixar usually pulls out the win, but in this case I’m going with the Sony Spiderman nominee.

Isle of Dogs: Mom – I loved everything about this movie, but it won’t take home the gold. Jilly – I very much enjoyed this film, but I think it’s a little too quirky, and a bit unrelatable for the Academy. It’s a small film, compared to Incredibles 2, Ralph Breaks the Internet, and the best one: Into the Spider-Verse.

Mirai: Jilly – A small movie, and I’m not sure how this could compete with the others.

Ralph Breaks The Internet: Jilly – I very much enjoyed this film, and I hadn’t even seen the original. Like Incredibles 2, it’s a big crowd-pleaser that still won’t take the win from Into the Spider-Verse.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Mom – Even though my favorite is Isle of Dogs, the Spidey movie is the clear winner. Jilly – The hands-down Oscar win. This is nothing short of an amazing achievement in animated film. The look, the story, the voice acting, the plot, the EVERYTHING. I don’t have enough pluses to give to this A+ film.

Best Cinematography

Cold War:  Not seen.

The Favorite: NTY

Never Look Away:  Not seen.

Roma: NTY

A Star Is Born: Mom – With Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in the ‘photograph’, why are we even talking about this? Jilly – Most of the shooting was very straightforward, so I’m not sure why this was nominated.  It’s not a fantasy, it’s not a period piece, and most of the big scenes were two people on a stage. There were so many other interestingly filmed movies this year, so what gives?

Best Costume Design

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: Mom – This quirky little movie probably won’t take Oscar home, but it was great fun watching it anyway.

Black Panther: Mom – The obvious winner. Jilly – Now we’re talking.  This epic film created an entire futurist nation’s worth of fabulous garments and sparked an entire design movement. I don’t think a lot of films in the history of ever can boast this. (Read more: Dress like a Wakandan from Black Panther.)

The Favourite: Jilly – A period piece with many gorgeous dresses. The Academy likes this kind of thing.

Mary Poppins Returns: Jilly – The costumes were okay, as this is a period piece that seamlessly picks up a generation after the first Mary Poppins leaves off. It looked good. But the costumes weren’t exactly

Mary Queen of Scots: Mom – This is my favorite movie of the category, however, it can’t win against Black Panther. Jilly –  Another great-looking period piece; this is worth having on the list. But Black Panther should leave this category in the dust.

Best Director

BlacKkKansman: Mom – Spike Lee is the obvious choice here. The other five can stay home. Jilly – The Academy likes Spike Lee, and the movie’s a meaty one. This should be the winner.

Cold War:  Not seen.

The Favourite: NTY

Roma: NTY

Vice: NTY

Best Documentary

Free Solo: Jilly – I’m the rock climber in the family, so I should have seen this. However, we don’t tend to cover documentaries, so unfortunately I have no option on Free Solo. I’ve heard good things, though, and look forward to seeing movie snippits  at the Oscars.

Hale County This Morning, This Evening: Not seen.

Minding the Gap: Not seen.

Of Fathers and Sons: Not seen.

RBG: Mom – My choice. Jilly – Agreed.

Documentary (Short Subject)

Black Sheep: Not seen.

End Game: Not seen.

Lifeboat: Not seen. (Jilly – I’d like to see this one.)

A Night at The Garden: Not seen.

Period. End of Sentence: Not seen.

Film Editing

BlacKkKlansman: NTY

Bohemian Rhapsody: Mom –  My choice, this could not have been an easy film to edit.

The Favourite: NTY

Green Book: NTY

Vice: NTY

Foreign Language Film

Capernaum: Not seen (Jilly – we don’t see many foreign films.)

Cold War:  Not seen.

Never Look Away: Not seen.

Roma: Mom – Not my choice, but it’ll win anyway.

Shoplifters: Not seen.

Makeup and Hair Styling

Border: Not seen.

Mary Queen of Scots: Mom – Definitely the clear choice. Jilly – Of the three listed, this one is the shoe-in. Good period work.

Vice: Mom – Turning Christian Bale into Dick Cheney was nothing short of a miracle, but is it enough to take home the gold? Jilly – Yes, Christian was converted into an older, heavier man, but where is Black Panther for this category? One actor in heavy makeup shouldn’t take the gold, no matter how well acted it was. Have you SEEN the amazing hair and makeup in Black Panther?

Music (Original Score)

Black Panther: Mom – The obvious winner. Jilly – There should be no competition  with the fabulousness of this score. It paints a magical picture and carries the view along the story with finesse.

BlacKkKlansman: NTY

If Beale Street Could Talk: NTY

Isle of Dogs: Jilly – Honestly, I really enjoyed this film, but I cannot remember the score. It was a little bombastic, I think. Kind of out there? That kind of thing can be noticed by the academy, but I doubt it will win, compared to Black Panther.

Mary Poppins Returns: Jilly – like the costuming, the music fits on perfectly as a sequel to the original. It’s not my favorite choice, however.

Music (Original Song)

‘All The Stars’ from Black Panther: Jilly – I do enjoy this song, but I don’t think it’s good enough to win, and certainly not against Shallow. I wish this song was going to be playing live during the Oscars, like the others.

‘I’ll Fight’ from RBG:  Jilly – This will be playing during the night of the Oscars, like all the other nominated songs except for Black Panther.

‘The Place Where Lost Things Go’ from Mary Poppins Returns: Jilly – This is a sad and sweet lullaby, but nothing I find outstanding. If I had to pick a song from Mary Poppins Returns it would  be the “Light Fantastic” song with the Lamp Lighters, as a callback to the showstopping Chimney Sweep passage from the original Mary Poppins.

‘Shallow‘ from A Star Is Born: Mom – I can assure you that if this song doesn’t win, there will be blood. Jilly – The best part of A Star is Born  is this song. It should bring down the house when they perform it live at the Oscars, even though Brad Cooper will not perform it as himself and not his character.

‘When A Cowboy Trades his Spurs For Wings’ from The Ballad of Buster: Scruggs – NTY

Production Design

Black Panther: Mom – Why is anyone else nominated? Jilly – The win, I’m sure.

The Favourite: NTY

First Man: Jilly – Except for the brief moon scene, everything was just set on  1950s and 60s Earth. I see this movie has several noms, but it was so understated and underwhelming that I’m not sure why.

Mary Poppins Returns: Jilly – Nice, but not outstanding. It could have been a stage play for the production quality evident here. I don’t think a single scene looked like it was filmed on location.

Roma: NTY

Short Film (Animated)

Animal Behaviour: Not seen. Jilly – We don’t see a lot of shorts, since they don’t need Peetimes.  😉 

Bao: Jilly – This is the only one I watched, coming as it did before The Incredibles 2.  I found it creepy. I know it means a  lot to some cultures and it’s probably the only one most people have seen. It will probably win.

Late Afternoon: Not seen.

One Small Step: Not seen.

Weekends: Not seen.

Short Film (Live Action)

Detainment: Not seen. Jilly – We don’t see a lot of shorts, since they don’t need Peetimes.  😉 

Fauve: Not seen.

Marguerite: Not seen.

Mother: Not seen.

Skin: Not seen.

Sound Editing

Black Panther: NTY

Bohemian Rhapsody: Mom – A clear winner.

First Man: NTY.

A Quiet Place: Jilly – Although I love this movie, I was struck by the seeming irony of this movie about silence getting nominated for sound. Then I thought about it, and looked a few things about A Quiet Place up, and I’d like to see this take the win. It’s a great lesson in less being more and I can’t wait to see the clips for this during the Oscars.

Roma: NTY.

Sound Mixing

Black Panther: Jilly – If Black Panther doesn’t get the bigger awards, like Best Picture, then I expect it to sweep the smaller Oscars like this one.

Bohemian Rhapsody: Jilly – Great as the Queen songs are in Bohemian Rhapsody, I’m not sure this film has significant sound mixing effects.

First Man:  Jilly – Besides playing period-appropriate golden oldies tunes, I don’t remember much sound in First Man. I suppose the mixing from the experimental jets and rockets is what they have in mind for amazing award-worthy sounds. We will see during the Oscar night clips.

Roma: NTY

A Star Is Born: Mom – My favorite and it better win.

Visual Effects

Avengers: Infinity War: Mom – Oh for god’s (no pun intended) sake, how can you even put more than one film in this category. Jilly – WIN WIN WIN, in my book. I don’t think it gets any better than this.

Christopher Robin: Jilly – Christopher Robin was lovely, but I don’t expect it to win.

First Man: Jilly – I only thought the few moments on the moon looked interesting, but it wasn’t all that and a bag of chips.

Ready Player One: Jilly – This was certainly a visual feast, but the movie underwhelmed and really has no chance to win this.

Solo: A Star Wars Story: Jilly – I enjoyed Solo a lot, and it looked as good as a Star Wars film can but it can’t win against the well-deserved Avengers: Infinity War.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: NTY

BlacKkKlansman: Mom – Brilliant writing; should take home the gold.

Can You Ever Forgive Me?: Not seen.

If Beale Street Could Talk: NTY

A Star Is Born: Mom – An incredible story, but not an entirely new story.

Writing (Original Screenplay)

The Favorite: NTY

First Reformed: Not seen.

Green Book: NTY

Roma: Mom – Of course it’ll win.

Vice: Mom – There were some really great lines in this movie, but not enough to skate past Roma.