91st Academy Awards: Preview

At long last, its time for the Oscars. Its been a winding road, with a potential wide open Best Picture race (that has the potential to make a lot of people, myself included, pretty irritated at 1 prospective winner). But enough about that, lets get to some predictions.



Best Animated Short Film:
Animal Behaviour
Bao
Late Afternoon
One Small Step
Weekends

You can never count out Pixar when it comes to shorts, but this is a strong group of nominees. I think Late Afternoon is going to take this. Along with One Small Step, it was one of the most moving of this group, with the way it portrays a woman with dementia traveling through her memories.

Best Animated Feature:
Incredibles 2
Isle Of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

This has been one of the most open and shut years for animated feature, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is easily taking this Oscar home.

Best Foreign Language Film:
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)

The question here is will Academy voters spread it out and perhaps give this to Cold War, not wanting to double up Roma with best picture. I'm going the safe, practical route with Roma.

Best Live Action Short Film:
Detainment
Fauve
Marguerite
Mother
Skin

Doesn't it always seem the case that when it comes to live action short, the various plots of these nominees tend to be depressing? That's why I'm going with one that stands out, Marguerite, dealing with an older woman confronting her own sexuality when learning that her nurse is a lesbian.

Best Sound Editing:
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
A Quiet Place
Roma

Much like the Grammys' awards for song and record of the year, sound editing and mixing can seem redundant. Editing deals with the creation of sound effects, whereas mixing is about recording sound (simplest way to put it). Now, with that out of the way; a safe bet could be Bohemian Rhapsody for these sound awards (or A Star Is Born) being musical films, but i'm going with Black Panther.

Best Sound Mixing:
Black Panther
Bohemian Rhapsody
First Man
Roma
A Star Is Born

A sounds sweep with Black Panther is my call.

Best Production Design:
Black Panther
The Favourite
First Man
Mary Poppins Returns
Roma

When it comes to design awards, the Oscars tend to go for period pieces. With that, I'm going with The Favourite.

Best Documentary Short Feature:
Black Sheep
End Game
Lifeboat
A Night at the Garden
Period. End of Sentence

This year's documentary shorts are actually quite accessible to view (whether through netflix, pbs or youtube). The one that particularly stood out to me is A Night at the Garden. Its rather eye-opening footage of a Nazi rally in NYC that I never knew about. The imagery is truly shocking.

Best Documentary Feature:
Free Solo
Hale Country This Morning, This Evening
Minding the Gap
Of Fathers And Sons
RBG

I could see either RBG or Minding the Gap taking this, but I'm going with Free Solo. It includes some of the most thrilling scenes in film over the past year with the climb of El Cap. Its truly breath-taking.

Best Adapted Screenplay:

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (Joel & Ethan Coen)

BlacKkKlansman (Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee)

Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Nicole Holofcener, Jeff Whitty)

If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins)

A Star Is Born (Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, Will Fetters)

I'm going with BlacKkKlansman. Spike Lee gets his much deserved Oscar.

Best Original Screenplay:

The Favourite (Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara)

First Reformed (Paul Schrader)

Green Book (Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly)

Roma (Alfonso Cuaron)

Vice (Adam McKay)

There are a different number of ways this could go. It'd be a bad sign (for me personally) if Green Book somehow takes this, but I'm going with a film that seems to be peaking at the right time, The Favourite. 

Best Makeup And Hair Styling:

Border

Mary Queen of Scots

Vice

Given the transformation that took place, I'm going with Vice. The amount of work they did with Christian Bale to allow him to resemble Dick Cheney is astounding.

Best Costume Design:

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Black Panther

The Favourite

Mary Poppins Returns

Mary Queen of Scots

Just like production design, this seems like a safe bet for The Favourite. The much nominated Sandy Powell rightfully takes home another Oscar.

Best Cinematography:

Cold War

The Favourite

Never Look Again

Roma

A Star Is Born

This should go to Roma. The photography and overall look really added to Roma's aesthetic.

Best Original Song:

"All the Stars", Black Panther 

"I'll Fight", RBG

"The Place Where Lost Things Go", Mary Poppins Returns

"Shallow", A Star Is Born

"When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings", The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

The safest of bets, this is going to Shallow. And rightfully so.

Best Original Score:

Black Panther (Ludwig Goransson)

BlacKkKlansman (Terence Blanchard)

If Beale Street Could Talk (Nicholas Britell)

Isle of Dogs (Alexandre Desplat)

Mary Poppins Returns (Marc Shaiman)

This could go to If Beale Street Could Talk, but I'm leaning towards Black Panther. That score really stood out to me. It could be the sign of a big night night for Black Panther.

Best Film Editing:

BlacKkKlansman

Bohemian Rhapsody

The Favourite

Green Book

Vice

It was a little surprising to see the omissions from editing. With these nominees, it seems that Vice is making a push as a potential editing favorite, so that's my pick. 

Best Visual Effects:

Avengers: Infinity War

Christopher Robin

First Man

Ready Player One

Solo: A Star Wars Story

This could to go Avengers, but I'm leaning towards First Man. It gave a realistic look at space travel for the moon landing.

Best Supporting Actor:

Mahershala Ali, Green Book

Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman

Sam Elliott, A Star Is Born

Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Sam Rockwell, Vice

All signs are pointing to Mahershala Ali. Among the acting awards, this one seems like the most locked down. If there is an upset, look for Richard E. Grant.

Best Supporting Actress:

Amy Adams, Vice

Marina De Tavira, Roma

Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk

Emma Stone, The Favourite

Rachel Weisz, The Favourite

I'm going with Regina King. Early on, she was a heavy favorite, though there have been some openings. Rachel Weisz has been coming on late, but as I said, I'm going with King.

Best Actor:

Christian Bale, Vice

Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born

Willem Dafoe, At Eternity's Gate

Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody

Viggo Mortensen, Green Book

This looks like a 2-man race with Bale and Malek. It could be close, but I'm going with Rami Malek. He's taken more of the main signal awards. Whether its deserved or not...that isn't up to me.

Best Actress:

Yalitza Apricio, Roma

Glenn Close, The Wife

Olivia Colman, The Favourite

Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born

Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

This is likely the closest among the acting awards. Its between Glenn Close and Olivia Colman. I had a tough time deciding between the two.....but ended up going with Olivia Colman. For me this goes back to the rise of The Favourite. You can't really go wrong either way.

Best Director:

Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman

Pawel Pawlikowski, Cold War

Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite

Alfonso Cuaron, Roma

Adam McKay, Vice

All signs here are pointing to Alfonso Cuaron. He could have taken on any project following Gravity, but the work he did with Roma was astounding. This project was truly a labor of love for him, showing us glimpses of his background and upbringing. 

Best Picture:

Black Panther

BlacKkKlansman

Bohemian Rhapsody

The Favourite

Green Book

Roma

A Star Is Born

Vice

If you thought last year's best picture race was wide open, you haven't seen anything yet. The big guild awards for the most part spread it out among these films. Like I mentioned in the intro, the one film that has a chance that I'm hoping doesn't come away with this is Green Book. On top of being historically inaccurate and being another "white savior" film, there were a number of controversies that have popped up over the last couple of months (look it up). 

I could see BlacKkKlansman, The Favourite, or even Black Panther (after its SAG ensemble award) winning, but I'm going with Roma. For being in black & white, and seeing it on Netflix, it still was able to stand out for me. The look and attention to detail in every shot is like something I've never really seen before. It'd be a very worthy best picture winner.

2019 Grammy's Preview

Best Music Video:
"Apes***" - The Carters
"This Is America" - Childish Gambino
"I'm Not Racist" - Joyner Lucas
"Pynk" - Janelle Monae
"Mumbo Jumbo" - Tierra Whack

I'm going with This Is America. The word 'genius' gets thrown around a lot, but "This Is America" as a visual medium was astounding with its symbolism.

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical:
Boi-1da
Larry Klein
Linda Perry
Kanye West
Pharrell Williams

Producing such hits as "Be Careful" and "God's Plan", I'm calling this for Boi-1da.

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media:
Call Me By Your Name
Deadpool 2
The Greatest Showman
Lady Bird
Stranger Things

It was such a selling hit, that I don't see how this doesn't go to The Greatest Showman (as overrated as it was as an actual musical).

Best Jazz Vocal Album:
My Mood Is You - Freddy Cole
The Questions - Kurt Elling
The Subject Tonight Is Love - Kate Mcgarry, Keith Ganz, Gary Versace
If You Really Want - Raul Midon with The Metropole Orkest Conducted by Vince Mendoza
The Window - Cecile McLorin Salvant

Granted, I don't know much about these nominees, but with prior award recognition, I'm going with The Window.

Best Country Album:
Unapologetically - Kelsea Ballerini
Port Saint Joe - Brothers Osbourne
Girl Going Nowhere - Ashley Mcbryde
Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves
From a Room: Volume 2 - Chris Stapleton

This is tough to choose from. As much as I like Chris Stapleton, Golden Hour deserves this win.

Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Everything Is Love - The Carters
The Kids Are Alright - Chloe X Halle
Chris Dave and The Drumhedz - Chris Dave and The Drumhedz
War & Leisure - Miguel
Ventriloquism - Meshell Ndegeocello

I think this is down to The Carters and Chloe X Halle, and I'm leaning towards the collaborative effort between Beyonce and Jay-Z, Everything Is Love.

Best Rap Album:
Invasion of Privacy - Cardi B
Swimming - Mac Miller
Victory Lap - Nipsey Hussle
Daytona - Pusha T
Astroworld - Travis Scott

I honestly don't see how Invasion Of Privacy doesn't take this. It was such a top seller and a perfect introduction to Cardi B.

Best R&B Album:
Sex & Cigarettes - Toni Braxton
Good Things - Leon Bridges
Honestly - Lalah Hathaway
H.E.R - H.E.R
Gymbo Unplugged (Live) - PJ Morton

With an "adventurous effort" (Pitchfork Magazine), I'm going with Good Things from Leon Bridges.

Best Dance/Electronic Album:
Singularity - Jon Hopkins
Woman Worldwide - Justice
Treehouse - Sofi Tukker
Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides - Sophie
Lune Rouge - TOKiMONSTA

I'm calling this one for Jon Hopkins' Singularity.

Best Alternative Music Album:
Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino - Arctic Monkeys
Colors - Beck
Utopia - Bjork
American Utopia - David Byrne
Masseducation - St. Vincent

A fairly loaded field here, with Arctic Monkeys, Beck, Bjork and St. Vincent. I think Masseducation takes this one.

Best Rock Album:
Rainier Fog - Alice In Chains
M A N I A - Fall Out Boy
Prequelle - Ghost
From the Fires - Greta Van Fleet
Pacific Daydream - Weezer

I could go the safe route here with Greta Van Fleet, but if I'm being honest....I'm not super impressed with them. Where's the originality? I'm going with hard-rock Ghost's Prequelle.

Best Pop Vocal Album:
Camila - Camila Cabello
Meaning of Life - Kelly Clarkson
Sweetener - Ariana Grande
Shawn Mendes - Shawn Mendes
Beautiful Trauma - Pink
Reputation - Taylor Swift

I would love to see my personal favorite Kelly Clarkson take this, but with as big of a year as she had, I'm going with Camila. She really made a name for herself with that effort.

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
"Fall In Line" - Christina Aguilera featuring Demi Lovato
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" - Backstreet Boys
" 'S Wonderful" - Tony Bennett & Diana Krall
"Shallow" - Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
"Girls Like you" - Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B
"Say Something" - Justin Timberlake featuring Chris Stapleton
"The Middle" - Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey

A much more deserved soundtrack hit than "The Greatest Showman", this should and hopefully will go to Shallow.

Best Pop Solo Performance:
"Colors" - Beck
"Havana" (Live) - Camila Cabello
"God Is A Woman" - Ariana Grande
"Joanne (Where Do You Think You're Goin'?)" - Lady Gaga
"Better Now" - Post Malone

Like I said for Pop Vocal Album, this was Camila Cabello's year, I'm going with Havana.

Best New Artist:
Chloe X Halle
Luke Combs
Greta Van Fleet
H.E.R
Dua Lipa
Margo Price
Bebe Rexha
Jorja Smith

I went back and forth between Chloe X Halle, H.E.R and Dua Lipa. I could see any 3 coming away with this, but I'm going with a bit of the safe/mainstream pick and calling it for Dua Lipa.

Song Of The Year:
"All The Stars" - Kendrick Lamar & Sza
"Boo'd Up" - Ella Mai
"God's Plan" - Drake
"In My Blood" - Shawn Mendes
"The Joke" - Brandi Carlile
"The Middle" - Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
"Shallow" - Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
"This Is America" - Childish Gambino

A number of ways this could go. I could see "Shallow" being competitive here, but I'm going with my personal favorite, Brandi Carlile's The Joke. Its such a soaring and perfectly written song.

Record Of The Year:
"I Like It" - Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
"The Joke" - Brandi Carlile
"This Is America" - Childish Gambino
"God's Plan" - Drake
"Shallow" - Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
"All the Stars" - Kendrick Lamar & Sza
"Rockstar" - Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
"The Middle" - Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey

Given her breakout year, and that it was the song of the summer (IMO), I'm going with I Like It.

Album Of The Year:
Invasion Of Privacy - Cardi B
By the Way, I Forgive You - Brandi Carlile
Scorpion - Drake
H.E.R - H.E.R
Beerbongs & Bentleys - Post Malone
Dirty Computer - Janelle Monae
Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves
Black Panther: The Album, Music from and Inspired By - (Various Artists)

The big award. I could easily see Cardi B cap off a big night taking this Grammy,or Kacey Musgraves rightfully winning, but I just have a feeling about Brandi Carlile's By The Way, I Forgive You. Its a perfect folk-style album, with every track being practically flawless. It seems like a perfectly designed winner.

Grammy's Album Of The Year Review: "H.E.R" - H.E.R

I've decided to bring back my Album Of The Year nominee reviews. The field got expanded this year, so expect a review a week or thereabout. I'll draw at random which album I'll review week to week. I score each track on whether it stands out, is merely okay, or is a miss. The final score will be out of a high of 200. 

(All Rights To RCA Records)

1) "Losing"

It has a cool flow to it, but has an awkward mid transition.

2) "Avenue"

Starts off with a tranquil intro. 

3) "Let Me In"

There's a club/funk feel to "Let Me In". 

4) "Lights On"

With a slow beat, her vocals really are able to shine.

5) "Say It Again"

This track tends to drag a bit.

6) "Facts"

Despite a trippy feel, this track just sort of feels that it's there.

7) "Focus"

There's a nice classical style of intro. Overall, there's just a gorgeous instrumental mix.

8) "U"

There's a sort of old-school 90s r&b style here that really works.

9) "Every Kind Of Way"

A nice slow groove makes this track pop.

10) "Best Part" (ft/ Daniel Caesar)

There's a cool flow, with a nice blend between the two.

11) "Changes"

This drags way too much.

12) "Jungle"

This track sort of feels like filler, its just there.

13) "Free"

With a nice guitar intro, this track particularly sticks out. H.E.R describes how the relationship she's talking about here seems to be only physical; "I don't even feel no love, only in-between the sheets, only time you notice me...". 

14) "Rather Be"

This is a catchy track, with a sort of rock-esque vibe to it.

15) "2"

H.E.R is showing how easily she was able to move on; "Thought I was up in my room, crying myself to sleep. I was with a better you, while you were busy playing me."

16) "Hopes Up"

A rather simple track, this feels like a bit of a mess.

17) "Still Down"

There are some good segments here, but it doesn't quite mesh as a collective.

18) "Wait For It"

There's a nice groove & beat to this track.

19) "Pigment"

There's a really cool jazz/blues feel. A spoken word portion makes "Pigment" stand out, as we see H.E.R detailing a one-sided relationship. There's a true message.

20) "Gone Away"

There could use more backing in this track.

21) "I Won't"

This track doesn't stand out, sounding too similar.

This is quite a loaded album. The length of it makes it tougher for tracks to stand out (which is far and few between here). There's definite possibility, but it needs to be better realized. 

"By The Way, I Forgive You": Brandi Carlile - 200

 "Golden Hour": Kacey Musgraves - 169.2

"Invasion of Privacy": Cardi B - 161.5

"Dirty Computer": Janelle Monae - 150.1

"Black Panther: The Album" - 135.7

"Scorpion": Drake - 128 

"H.E.R": H.E.R - 109.5

"Beerbongs & Bentleys": Post Malone - 99.9