Oscar 2017 – The ‘Other’ Oscar

Every year during the Academy Award nominations, films and performances get snubbed.  It happens every year and we have to suffer for it.  So, to honor those films and performances that did not get nominated this year, these are what I call The ‘Other’ Oscars.  This is a personal list of movies and performances that I feel should have gotten nominated, not a list of movies and performances that almost got nominated, because I don’t have that information.  So, here are my nominations and winners for The ‘Other’ Oscars.

 

I am not going to do all the categories, just the major ones for time’s sake.

 

 

BEST PICTURE

This list could go on and on.  I thought 2016 was an extremely strong year for movies, particularly the last half of the year.  Such a diverse year, featuring legendary directors and new faces to the scene.  But, one of the first movies I saw in 2016, back at the Sundance Film Festival, that stayed with me for the entire year.  Sure, the other nominees are great films, but nothing comes close to The Birth of a Nation, a film that should have been a shoo-in for Best Picture and one that will forever be remembered for it’s controversial downfall.

 

1 – THE BIRTH OF A NATION – *WINNER*

2 – CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

3 – ELLE

4 – HAIL, CAESAR!

5 – JACKIE

6 – KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS 

7 – THE NICE GUYS 

8 – PATRIOTS DAY

9 – SILENCE

 

 

BEST DIRECTOR

So many great directors made great movies this year.  Legends like Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, and Paul Verhoeven pushed their filmography to new levels, and directors like Peter Berg, Jeff Nichols, and Pablo Lorrain are getting their due.  But, as with Best Picture, Nate Parker’s hot-blooded, passion project is something to behold.

 

1 – PETER BERG – PATRIOT’S DAY

2 – JEFF NICHOLS – LOVING 

3 – NATE PARKER – THE BIRTH OF A NATION – *WINNER* 

4 – MARTIN SCORSESE – SILENCE 

5 – PAUL VERHOEVEN – ELLE 

 

 

BEST ACTOR

This is a list of actors we don’t appreciate as much.  There were a number of great actors who had a breakout performance this year, though it isn’t really a surprise.  We saw Joel Edgerton unlike anything we’ve seen him in, Adam Driver continue is Hollywood rise, Ryan Reynolds in a performance only he was made for, Chris Pine showing unseen dramatic chops, and Nate Parker finally starring a film worthy of his talent.

 

1 – ADAM DRIVER – PATERSON 

2 – JOEL EDGERTON – LOVING 

3 – LEWIS MACDOUGALL – A MONSTER CALLS 

4 – NATE PARKER – THE BIRTH OF A NATION  

5 – RYAN REYNOLDS – DEADPOOL – *WINNER*

 

 

 

BEST ACTRESS

Three of these performance were probably on the cusp of getting a nomination.  The other two are from two actresses and two movies not enough people saw.  Rebecca Hall is the reason Christine stays afloat, even if it’s narrative is a bit flawed.  And Mary Elizabeth Winstead channels her inner Ripley to give a strong, badass, performance.

 

1 -AMY ADAMS – ARRIVAL 

2 – JESSICA CHASTAIN – MISS SLOANE – *WINNER*

3 – REBECCA HALL – CHRISTINE

4 – HAILEE STEINFELD – THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN 

5 – MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD – 10 CLOVERFIELD 

 

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

There were so many great supporting actor performances this year, making this list was tough.  It was hard leaving off the likes of Armie Hammer for The Birth of a Nation, Glen Powell in Everybody Wants Some!, Shia Lebeouf in American Honey, or the double hit from Aaron Eckhart for Sully and Bleed for This.  But, these are five spectacular performances that all warranted a nomination.

 

1 – ALDEN EHRENREICH – HAIL, CAESAR!

2 – JOHN GOODMAN – 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE – *WINNER* 

3 – AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON – NOCTURNAL ANIMALS 

4 – DANIEL RADCLIFFE – SWISS ARMY MAN 

5 – CRAIG ROBINSON – MORRIS FROM AMERICA

 

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

It was a strong year for actresses, and the supporting actress field was a big reason why.  Great work on the comedic front from the always reliable Kate McKinnon and, surprisingly, Scarlett Johannson, along with some indie darlings in Paulina Garcia, Rachel Weisz, Jenna Malone, and a double whammy from Janelle Monae, who was excellent in two Best Picture nominees.

 

1 – PAULINA GARCIA – LITTLE MEN

2 – SCARLETT JOHANNSON – HAIL, CAESAR!

3 – KATE MCKINNON – GHOSTBUSTERS – *WINNER*

4 – JANELLE MONAE – HIDDEN FIGURES 

5 – RACHEL WEISZ – THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS 

 

 

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY 

The Nice Guys was my favorite screenplay of the year and it is a travesty it wasn’t recognized.  I also loved the messages and originality of Zootopia and Hail, Caesar! is destined to be a Coen classic.

 

1 – 10 CLOVERFIELD LAND

2 – HAIL, CAESAR!

3 – MISS SLOANE

4 – THE NICE GUYS – *WINNER*

5 – ZOOTOPIA

 

 

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

A few pitch perfect book adaptations and a comic book film unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.

 

1 – SILENCE – *WINNER*

2 – A MONSTER CALLS

3 – PATRIOT’S DAY

4 – NOCTURNAL ANIMALS 

5 – DEADPOOL

 

What movies and performances do you think deserve recognition at Oscar 2017?  Comment below or hit me up on Twitter and Instagram, @kevflix, or on Facebook by searching Kevflix.