Today, I want to assume the role of an Oscar voter.
Obviously, I am not one nor will I probably ever be one, but for the purposes
of this post, I want to reveal what my ballot would have looked like for some
of the major categories if I had a say in this year's Oscar race. I'm not going
to give out every single award to spare you and myself, but I am going voice my
opinion on what I think was some of the best of the best from 2017. Keep in
mind, this is my personal ballot, so you may (you probably will) disagree with
some of my selections, but that's the beauty of the Oscars: everyone has an
opinion, and everyone's opinion matters. This is not what I think the Oscars
should have looked like; this is what I wanted the Oscars to have looked like.
Now, the strange thing about my ballot is that I will not be
revealing my votes for Best Picture. The reason being is that on a later date,
I will be posting an entirely new post about my top ten films of 2017.
Therefore, if I reveal my top ten on this post, you have no reason to come back
and read that one, and I want you to read that one too. So for this post, we'll
stick to the main awards except for the biggest prize of them all.
Best Supporting Actress
Ana de Armas, Blade Runner 2049
Lily James, Baby Driver
Tatiana Maslany, Stronger
Elizabeth Olsen, Wind River
Tessa Thompson, Thor: Ragnarok
Honorable Mentions: Carrie Fisher, Star Wars: The Last Jedi; Zendaya, The Greatest Showman; Kelly Marie Tran, Star Wars: The Last Jedi; Gal Gadot, Justice League; Claire Foy, Breathe; Carey Mulligan, Mudbound; Elizabeth Olsen, Ingrid Goes West
WINNER: Ana de Armas
RUNNER-UP: Tessa Thompson
I absolutely love Blade Runner 2049. In a film starring Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford (who, spoiler alert, will be discussed in more detail later on), it was a welcomed and pleasant surprise that the true scene-stealer of the film was newcomer Ana de Armas. I had never heard of Armas prior to seeing this film, but she is squarely on my radar now thanks to this subtle, nuanced, and sophisticated breakout role as the computer program Joi. I will admit that her role is not the most vital in the film (the plot works around her instead of through her), but she takes what she is given and triumphantly delivers a phenomenal performance. Elsewhere in this category, Tessa Thompson turns in yet another great performance in her young and promising career as she embodies Valkyrie with immense humor and ethos. If Creed gave her the spotlight, Ragnarok catapulted her to superstar status. Also, Elizabeth Olsen continues to become one of my favorite actresses in the industry today, and her latest role opposite Jeremy Renner is another winner in her filmography. This role may not be the flashiest, but it certainly works, especially in the context of this movie and the story it is wanting to tell. Furthermore, Maslany goes toe-to-toe with the incredible Jake Gyllenhaal and runs away with the show. Gyllenhaal is obviously great in the film as he always is, but it is Maslany as Erin Hurley who becomes the actor to remember above all else. Finally, in such a dynamically awesome cast, Lily James stands out from the crowd in Baby Driver as the catalyst that sparks the entire sequence of events for the film, ultimately leading to the film's emotional climax. She is simply awesome in this film as she once again proves herself as an actress to buy a lot of stock in going forward into the rest of her promising career.
Best Supporting Actor
Adam Driver, Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Harrison Ford, Blade Runner 2049
Michael Keaton, Spider-Man: Homecoming
Chris Pine, Wonder Woman
Patrick Stewart, Logan
Honorable Mentions: Luke Evans, Beauty and the Beast; Idris Elba, Molly's Game; Zac Efron, The Greatest Showman; Will Poulter, Detroit; Daniel Craig, Logan Lucky; Woody Harrelson, The Glass Castle; Bob Odenkirk, The Post
WINNER: Adam Driver
RUNNER-UP: Harrison Ford
This year's blockbusters really delivered some high quality performances, especially in this category which is overflowing with some of my favorite performances of 2017. The winner of this category, as you can see, is Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, who over the course of just one film boldly inserted himself into the discussion for the best Star Wars villain in the saga's history. Driver's ability to emote with just his eyes and facial expressions is simply phenomenal, and throughout The Last Jedi, he wears that emotion on his sleeve as the audience can palpably feel the tension and conflict arise from within Ren. Writer/director Rian Johnson gave Driver a ton of great stuff to work with, and Driver delivered the goods yet again as this trilogy's signature antagonist. The incomparable Harrison Ford returned as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner 2049, bringing back to life a character he originated in this film's predecessor from 1982, and in 2017, Ford turned in what may just be his most impressive performance of his career without donning a Fedora or flying a spaceship. His performance exudes raw, genuine emotion in each scene he is on screen, and in any other year, he probably wins this category running away because he's that good in this movie. Additionally, Michael Keaton's Vulture in Homecoming is firmly in the conversation to be considered the Marvel Cinematic Universe's best villain to date. By staying remarkably grounded and relatable (which is a testament to the film's writers), Keaton is able provide a real threat to our hero without possessing any particular skill set other than the natural ability to hold a grudge. Also, while Gal Gadot is the unquestioned highlight of Wonder Woman, Chris Pine brought his A-game too in what is his best performance outside of the Star Trek universe. He's charming, empathetic, and hilarious in a standout role that could have easily become an ordinary role in the hands of a less talented actor. Then, you have Patrick Stewart, who brings his character arc for Professor X to a beautiful and heart-wrenching conclusion with a performance for the comic book ages. He's been good in the X-Men universe before, but in Logan, he is beyond great.
Best Actress
Jessica Chastain, Molly's Game
Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman
Daisy Ridley, Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Meryl Streep, The Post
Emma Watson, Beauty and the Beast
Honorable Mentions: Brie Larson, The Glass Castle; Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird; Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water; Aubrey Plaza, Ingrid Goes West; Brooklyn Prince, The Florida Project
WINNER: Gal Gadot
RUNNER-UP: Jessica Chastain
This category was absolutely loaded this year, but I think it is pretty clear that Gal Gadot's performance as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman was not only the year's best, but it is a performance that will be remembered fondly for decades to come. We saw what Gadot was capable of in Batman v. Superman as Wonder Woman undoubtedly stole the show from the two main characters and became the unrivaled highlight of the entire film, so finally being able to see Gadot in the primary spotlight for an entire film was truly a joy to behold. She delivers one of the best performances in comic book movie history and one of the defining performances of an entire generation. Elsewhere, Jessica Chastain is electric in the criminally underrated Molly's Game. Writer/director Aaron Sorkin gave her a lot to do and a lot of words to say, and Chastain embodied this character beautifully as she turned in yet another career-defining performance in her already illustrious career. Also, Daisy Ridley won this award in 2015 for her breakout role as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and while she falls just short of repeating this year, it should not diminish her excellence in The Last Jedi. Her scenes with Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker and Driver's Kylo Ren are the highlights of the entire film, and throughout the movie, Ridley is the glue that holds the entire story together. She is the spark that'll light the fire that'll burn the First Order down. Additionally, Meryl Streep was great, but what else is new? Her role as Katherine Graham may not be as flashy and showy as some of her previous roles, but it is the subtleties and nuances of The Post where her immense talent truly shines. You can palpably sense the internal and external conflict surrounding Graham's soul with every word and facial expression exuded by Streep. Finally, while I may be in the minority with this opinion, I thought Emma Watson was terrific as Belle in Disney's live action Beauty and the Beast. From the moment she first stepped out of her cottage onto the streets of her little town, she commanded the screen and demanded your attention. It takes a special talent to bring such an iconic character to life in a brand new and unique way, but Watson brilliantly succeeded in doing so.
Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread
Ryan Gosling, Blade Runner 2049
Tom Hanks, The Post
Hugh Jackman, Logan
Andy Serkis, War for the Planet of the Apes
Honorable Mentions: Tom Cruise, American Made; Hugh Jackman, The Greatest Showman; Tom Holland, Spider-Man: Homecoming; Chris Hemsworth, Thor: Ragnarok; Mark Hamill, Star Wars: The Last Jedi; Jeremy Renner, Wind River; Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq.; Jake Gyllenhaal, Stronger; Charlie Hunman, Lost City of Z; Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out
WINNER: Ryan Gosling
RUNNER-UP: Hugh Jackman
I cannot understand for the life of me why Ryan Gosling was not universally praised for his stunningly brilliant work in Blade Runner 2049. If 2016 was his announcement to the world that he had officially became a Hollywood superstar with the classic film La La Land, then 2017 was Gosling proving that he was no one-hit wonder and that his status as one of the most interesting and talented actors in the business today was here to stay. I am not sure words can adequately express how much I love this performance from Gosling. It is easily one of my favorite performances of the past decade due to his nuanced approach to a character that is literally questioning his mere existence. Gosling is simply wonderful in this masterpiece of a role found within a masterpiece of a movie. Next, we come to Hugh Jackman, who turns in a career-best performance in his final stint as the iconic comic book hero, Wolverine. The script for Logan gives Jackman so much to work with, and the insanely talented actor takes that material and runs away with the show. In an industry that rarely nails the ending for a series or even a particular character, Logan is a welcomed exception as the film is the perfect ending to the best character in the X-Men universe. Then, we have the greatest actor potentially of all-time with Daniel Day-Lewis in supposedly his final film before retirement, Phantom Thread. While I was overall indifferent about the film in general, anybody with eyes can plainly see that Day-Lewis is just outstanding in this film. As is the case with basically all of his movies, watching Phantom Thread is like taking a masterclass in acting from one of the all-time greats. Now, while Day-Lewis is probably the greatest actor of all-time, my personal favorite actor of all-time is Tom Hanks, so naturally, I loved him in The Post. Whenever he works with Steven Spielberg, good things tend to happen (Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, Bridge of Spies...you get my point), and this films continues that pattern as Hanks is awesome in The Post. Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the brilliance of Andy Serkis in the conclusion of one of the best trilogies of the modern era. As Caesar in War for the Planet of the Apes, Serkis proves that he is more than just a CGI savant; he is an actor, and this film gives him the opportunity to show the world how talented he really is.
Best Director
Rian Johnson, Star Wars: The Last Jedi
James Mangold, Logan
Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk
Steven Spielberg, The Post
Denis Villeneuve, Blade Runner 2049
Honorable Mentions: Patty Jenkins, Wonder Woman; Taika Waititi, Thor: Ragnarok; Jordan Peele, Get Out; Matt Reeves, War for the Planet of the Apes; Michael Gracey, The Greatest Showman; Lee Unkrich, Coco; Edgar Wright, Baby Driver
WINNER: Rian Johnson
RUNNER-UP: Denis Villenueve
Cue the hatred and backlash from the legions of upset Star Wars around the world. Now, just so we're clear, you won't find a bigger Star Wars fan than me; I grew up with the prequels in all of their imperfect glory and considered the original trilogy to be the best example of what movies can be when executed with passion and vision. I loved The Force Awakens and was beyond excited for The Last Jedi, and the primary reason for my excitement stemmed from writer/director Rian Johnson's involvement in the highly-anticipated sequel. His genius as a writer is only rivaled by his genius as a director, and to see what he was going to bring to my beloved saga was a prospect that necessitated an abundance of joy. My excitement was rewarded with one of the most ambitious, daring, bold, hilarious, epic, and vital movies in the franchise's storied history. What Johnson brought to the table in The Last Jedi was so unexpected and yet so appreciated. In a cinematic landscape that far too often sticks to the status quo, Johnson dared to challenge that status quo, creating a unique masterpiece that time will revere as not only one of the best Star Wars films of all-time, but also one of the best movies of all-time, period. I could write for pages upon pages about how much I love Rian Johnson, but I'll spare you today and move on to our other nominees who are certainly deserving of attention. The runner-up is Denis Villeneueve, and in any other year, he probably runs away with this award with little to no competition to dethrone him. If we're being completely honest, we didn't really need a sequel to a cult classic from 1982 that bombed at the box office, but Blade Runner 2049 not only justifies its existence, but also confirms its existence as one of the best films of the twenty-first century. Akin to what Johnson did for the Star Wars universe, Villeneueve brought a uniqueness to the Blade Runner franchise that was wholly originally, visually stunning, and deeply personal and necessary. The runner-up to the runner-up is Christopher Nolan, and as was the case with Villenueve, in any other year, Nolan probably runs away with this award with little to no competition to dethrone him (this field was packed this year). Nolan's bold attempt to place the audience right in the midst of a crucial World War II battle was executed flawlessly as Dunkirk is a film that only a mastermind like Nolan could pull off. He is this generation's Steven Spielberg, the director that everyone knows and therefore flocks to the theater to see each new entry into his filmography (and he continues to challenge Spielberg for the top spot on my Favorite Directors Power Rankings). Speaking of Spielberg, his work behind the camera for The Post is extraordinary as per usual. This film is a piece of necessary filmmaking that also happens to be entertaining and deeply personal. My favorite director has brought us yet another classic for the ages. Finally, we have James Mangold for Logan, who successfully crafted one of the most unique superhero films of all-time. This film is emotional and entertaining, giving Wolverine the grand finale he deserves.
That's my ballot, folks! Happy awards season!
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