This episode of Playback is brought to you by Warner Brothers. A Star is Born. As we talk about important films of this past year, this one is top of mind, resonating with critics and audiences for its emotional authenticity, and the film's director, Bradley Cooper, is being recognized for his brilliant work as a filmmaker and actor, along with his cast Lady Gaga and Sam Elliott for their stunning performances.
Varieties Film critic Peter de Bruge has said Bradley Cooper's directorial debut as a dazzling reminder of why we love movies in the first place. In Los Angeles, Times critic Justin Chang said, from the first frame, it casts a spell, the kind that lets you know immediately that you are in good hands. A star is born for your consideration in all categories. You're listening to Playback a Variety I
Heart Radio podcast. I'm your host, Variety Awards Editor Chris Tapley, and we're changing things up a little bit this week. We've got the lovely Janelle Riley office here today, the deputy Awards and Features editor or something like this. We're not really clear. It's very long and important title. Basically, we've got the band back together. Jennelle and I used to talk about the Oscar season every week, and we're
gonna talk about the Oscar season today. Uh, you're the lucky ones listening, So thank you for coming on the show general. Absolutely. Um. Yeah, Like you know, late December probably a good time to start talking about awards, like we haven't been talking about it. Yeah. Um, you know, I thought I would start by just kind of this is my assessment of the Best Picture category, and just
to kind of layout where we're at right now. We've had a ton of critics give out awards, regional critics across the country, which I they're not like important in terms of oh that means oscars are gonna happen for these movies, But I do think it's instructive when you see how such a wide variety of people period are voting on these awards, and at this point, I think we've got like twenty groups of have chimed in and so it just gives you an interesting data point list
to look at. Also, of course, we've had the Screen Actors Guild released the strange nominations I mean, not completely off the wall. But I sort of saw the Bohemian Rhapsody ensemble coming. It's a little weird, just I think we'll get into that. But part of that is definitely, I think the merger of AFTRA with absolutely I don't know who the voters are anymore. I used to be able to predict the agwards perfect jockeys, and that's no disrespected,
but you know, you're basically I don't know what. And also we've had obviously the Golden Globe nominations, which is ninety four in journalists who have their own take, and a couple of other things. So let's just dive in with the Best Picture race. I'm still at the number one in two that I've been on since August. I think number one is Stars Born. I think number two is Roma too in you're saying just your terms of nominations, no,
just in terms of what it's likely to get nominated. Uh, you know, I think those are the two at the top of the heap right now. I'm so impressed with Roma because it has so much going against it, black and white, foreign film, and then the Netflix factor, which you know, I think is stupid, like any anybody's saying, like Netflix isn't really seeing real movies or you know, they don't count, or something like needs to Did he
really say that, he said something like that. I mean he kind of said and I don't want to misquote him, but it was something like he did he didn't think that Netflix movie should be up for Oscars? Really And did he add get off my Lawn? You might have, but they didn't print it. But yeah, I mean, it's it's just indicative of where were things are changing. They're
making great movies. They're making they're making movies no one else will make by the way they and you know, so I'm thrilled to see how people are embracing Roma because you know, there is that that bubble. We live in several bubbles actually where I was like, of course, we all of it. But you know, I've been to some screenings, I've done some screenings and really it's it's it's speaking to everyone absolutely. Yeah. I think it's the best movie of the year. Really, yeah, I mean I
think it's a masterpiece. I mean also speaking to everyone's stars born it's like it's kind of hard to be that big of entertainment and that's successful at box office and also be so beloved by critics, and I don't thrilled for the success of it. That's why I love that movie so much. I mean that movie. People don't really realize how difficult it is to pull off populist filmmakers. Oh my god, right, and when when it's done, you know, I know there are people that are snarky about Argo,
but that movie had a nice movie, had tomato. So there's some revisionist history that happens instantly after the only got snarky when Argo became an Oscar movie or Lalla Land for that matter. It's great filmmaking. And again, it's hard to pull off and and and dude did it on his first movie. I mean, Bradley Cooper has been on sets for a while, but like he clearly knows not just it's damning with fate, praise to say he
knows how to put a movie together. He knows how to truly tell story with with imagery, and that that is the trick. He did a great job. And I don't think anybody objects to a star is born. Well, maybe there are some people that, you know, I think it's too popular for its own good. Guess. I think it's winning Best picture probably. Um. I also think that like there's the cynicism of like, oh, Star is Born. You know, people always say like this movie was created
to win Oscars. It is the fourth iteration of a story we all know starring an well an untested leading woman and the lead. Like this was not you know, a packaged, manufactured movie. It's like it really comes from the heart. It's also the best version of that story, which is far. Yeah, I think some people might disagree with that. There's a lot of Judy Garland fans out there, but that movie felt like it was forty hours long.
I just think this is this is an expert piece of filmmaking, and I think and I think that I mean, and just in my conversations it hasn't lost really steam, like people know that this is a good movie. And yeah, I just it's the front runner to me right now, the one I would look out for is Black Landsman, And I was very curious, you're jumping ahead. Oh sorry, you're jumping ahead. But that's interesting that you would go there next. I think number three would be Green Book.
At the moment, I don't know, I feel like it really needed to they were selling it all along as even if critics don't like it, it'll do great at the box office. And it hasn't hasn't done badly, Like it's not a flop like people say, but it hasn't become the runaway hit. I feel like it needs to be to win it certainly. I don't think it would win.
Just in terms of nominations nomination. All of this for me is like, this is the order I think it would be nominated, like like on the Finalist, Let's explain this. I find actually if I rank something, people are like, you think that's gonna win, And it's like, so I think of me think Internet, I guess I should captain Cape nice that the studios page you up have each
other giving you. This is this list to me is just in order of likelihood to be nominated for Best Picture, Like you know what I mean, And you disagree with Book at three, I do you think it would be lower? I do? I think Black Clansman would be third? And I was waiting for the SAG nominations to really have Black Plansman at four to be good. People love Green Book, that like that the stuff. You know. I have my issues with the movie. The studio knows I have issues
with the movie. Uh sorry, guys, Oh do we need to cut to the egg copy now? But I'll read. I think that people don't that that's not registering for everyone really, and uh, people are going to like what
they like. I'm being vague. I mean, look, there's I guess there are critical points that have been made about the movie that it's kind of got a rose colored grasp of racism in the sixties, right, and and you know people have called it like driving this daisy of of this era, and blah blah blah, this isn't this isn't me. And whether it is or isn't, I'm not
even gonna touch this anymore because I'm upset people. But I will just say that the point being that hasn't really translated to the voting populace, right, So it's it's people. You know, an Oscar winning Best Actor Oscar winner. I just heard yesterday it's his favorite movie of the year. I'm hearing that a lot people, really. I mean, herschel Ali is you know, so beloved. People really like vegle mar is overdue as well, and he is. Yeah, but number four, I would say, as Black Clansman, you think
that's up there too. Here's the thing, Um, I was hearing from so many people how much they love this movie, and a lot of chatter about Spike Lee being overdue, which you know, I guess he is um even though he's not like I think everyone really respects him, but he's not cuddly you know that show not that you have to be. Yeah, no, I I think he's great. I adore him, but you know he's not um. You know someone you want to throw your arms around. We can see him UM. Not that you should be doing
that with anyone, by the way, yes, without permission. But I was really wait to see if that translated into SAG nominations. And when they got the ensemble nomination, I was like, Okay, the love is there. And then as I haven't been predicting for weeks, if not months, and everyone was telling me I was crazy. John David Washington got in Yeah, and you know, we put them on the cover of Actors on Actors, and I said, like,
I think this is like Daniel Coluga last year. It's a lead actor in a breakout role of a movie that is really beloved, and I think he gets an OSCAR nomination. H I have that spot going to Ethan
Hawk at the moment, but we'll talk that is. Yeah, I think this gets back to what we're talking about about SAG and how there is a caveat here, like it's a much different organization than it was a few years ago, and so how does that shift how you determine what their picks mean versus what the Oscar choices will mean. I mean, for the longest time, if you're not nominated for an ensemble, you're not going to win
Best Picture. In Shape of Water just did it last year, So it's gonna happen, or maybe not this year because I've forgot Stars Born is nominated for ensemble. But like a lot of the top movie, we're not the favorite. But we were just talking about favorite, wasn't Romo wasn't So Mary Poppins wasn't, which actually surprised me. That's my
number fives returns is wonderful, frightful. I I kind of felt like, I don't know if I still feel this way, but I certainly after I saw it in an industry crowd, I was like, that's the movie that feels like it could be the Star is Born. Um again, I don't know. If I still feel that way. The critics kind of like they did not embrace it as much as I expected them. I've had a huge break with the critics
this year. I'll just say that much. But yeah, and who knows how that kind of thing will affect perception. But yeah, I mean it's just I think Rob Marshall and company nailed it. I think it's a It's a hugely craft heavy, beautiful film. Like below the line, everything they did in that movie was like just it was sumptuous. It was great, like that the whole animal and sequence. You know, it's no one else but Emily Blunt could play that role. She is so fantastic. She's perfect for it.
And I just feel like, more so than any other movie, it is something different. I mean not to say that these movies are all the same. They're so not, but it is the one that is the feel good solved for our soul. That's key. It's absolutely yourself because like all these movies make you feel like shit in various ways. If we're honest, at least at some point. Yeah, I mean it's like this, That movie sends you out on a cloud literally with a song singing. There's nowhere to
go but up. So I don't know. I think that that connection fires in the synapsies for some brains. You know. I've got for number six, The Favorite, which is not a movie I liked, I adore, and you don't like. I don't like it. I saw it and tell you right, it's would you watch it again? I would? I love the screenplay and I love the performances. I just like, why do you not like the movie because of the filmmaker? I mean, do you respect to Mr lathamos? I just think that is it the land in too much on
this one? Like I know he's a guy who loves to just put his fingerprint all over the movie, but but it was it was too far for me to enjoy this film. And yeah, the camera work I thought was hugely questionable. It's so interesting because I think, like my biggest testament to filmmaking is when I don't notice it's And I definitely was pulled out a couple of times by you know, those those shots. But overall, I you, I would not have believed this was a yorgo slam
from his film. Well that's all about the script a little bit, I think too. I mean it's he didn't write it. Um, are you sure about that? Why? I don't know. That's what information. I don't know, No, no, no, no, no. I just I would assume if you wrote it, there would have been arbitration and his name would be on it. He well, yeah, but we know how that works. We do. But this doesn't feel like it doesn't It doesn't mean you know, the voice of it doesn't feel like him.
I don't know, but I don't know anything further. But I should have done more diligence on this movie this year. I should have talked to Robbie Ryan the DP and been like, look, your lighting was beautiful. Why are you doing these whippans that are totally unmitt it motivated? Why are you doing these fish eye lenses? That was you know, there's all these modern touches, like of course the dance number? Did you not laugh during the dance number? I don't
remember the dance number? Are you serious? You're trying to awake I know the elevation and tell you right, I don't. I don't, honestly, I don't remember it. What is that refreshman? Oh, it's it's actually sort of near the beginning where Joe Allen and Rachel Weiss are dancing together and it turns into this weird modern sort of elements dance where like he has a high kick in the air right at
the camera and I do not remember that. What do you call this movie where you go behind yourself right now? And actually no, I don't. I don't remember that. And you know I saw it like five months ago, so you know I will see it again. Any like of the movie does not matter, obviously, thankfully, I think people would say, actually, interestingly enough, it's very rare. I like all the movies on the list. Yeah, which is the favorite? Is more than the key thing about a movie, like
the favorite is below the line. I mean, it's like it's a craft heavy movie. It's going to pull people from the various branches into it. Uh. You know, it's doing really well with critics, one of the most critically claimed movies of the year. And the performances. Again, I love I love Olivia Coleman. I think she's fantastic glad lead I don't know, Yeah, yeah, I do, I think
she could. I actually think support I have a problem with putting her in lead, but certainly that seems to be the overwriting take is that she was supporting, but I I think they're all three leads personally. I don't disagree with that honestly, but for some reason I find it more to be Emma Stone story. Yeah, that's that's the overwriting logic. I think this is very strange. I'm trying to look up a gift of the gift of the favorite dance and Black Panther probably my top three
of the year. I think some people think it's like, that's gonna win. Like, I think I don't have it on the tier that a lot of other people do in terms of nominations, but I could end up wrong there. I do think it's the Best Picture player, and I have for a long time. I mean, you don't make seven million dollars in the States, which is like, wow, you don't you have that, plus the critical acceptance that you had, and the embrace of course the cultural and
pop cultural crater that it's left. If this movie wasn't nominated for Best Picture, it would be a blight. And there's people that are like, oh, it's just a Marvel movie. I don't understand. Watch it again, bro, Like this movie has way more on its mind than other Marvel movies. It simply does. It's fantastic, it's a great story. Let's
talk about the cultural significance all, you know. I interviewed Michael B. Jordan recently and we talked about all the black panthers and kill mongers we saw at Halloween and how exciting that was. And he was joking about he saw a kill monger with like a beard drawn on
with a sharpie. Yeah. Yeah, I just feel like, you know, someone said on Twitter, ha ha, of course, something like superhero movies are made for for for teenagers and children, and I'm like, what what about movies that are about, you know, centering a conversation about growing up with systemic oppression versus growing up with like, as Michael B. Jordan said to me in an interview, a tribe that encourages
you with positivity. I mean, that's an important conversation that's being had in a major movie that made seven hundred million dollars. Who's that movie for? Yeah, obviously everyone, it's such a fantastic movie, just you know, superhero or not. I mean, honestly, like the only other movie that I would put up there with that in terms of it is another superhero movie is spider Man into the Spider Verse. Oh my, got so good, so good. I wish I
would love to have that on this list. Yeah, I mean I think one of the critics groups speaking earlier, Utah Film Critics Association, they gave it best Picture, which that's the right awesome. Yeah, number eight, I have vice pretty low here talk about the critics takings that is the most divisive movie I think of the year. That's funny because we both really liked it. I loved it. I mean, but there are people that have said, with a straight face, it's the worst movie of the year. Oh,
come on, it's definitely understanding. Yeah, how can you say that? But I love that movie. I think it's like rich and just like I keep saying, I sort of stared into the void afterwards, because it just talk about leaving you feeling like shit. I mean like this is a portrait of a soulless individual and an incredibly efficient bureaucrat and uh, it's it's you know, Adam McKay saying, hey, maybe this is how we got to where we are well and also like what is it that they want
from that movie? Do we want to find out that like Dick Cheney is like a secretly lovable guy, or some people think that it was being sympathetic toward him. And I know that the filmmakers have said that they found the story emotional, but to say that it's sympathetic, I think it was fair to him. Yeah, I don't know if that means sympathetic. Yeah, if if that reads sympathetic to you, then then you know, just check yourself
a bit maybe. But like, also, how can you argue against the artistry of a movie that you know, has characters start speaking in Shakespearean verse, or does credits role made film or just like just really creative original filmmaking. It's bold, Yeah, I mean, and I think it's in. But getting back to the critics, you never know how that kind of a profile will affect the movie. But
I've seen it. I've I've been in a handful of gatherings full of Academy voters at the premiere, at a private event for screening for the movie as well, and I was picking up Love and Passion, So we'll see. Then. I've got Anna parn his other film this year, If Beal Street Could Talk, which is one of my favorite movies of the year. Actually, these two are back to back on my top five. I love that movie. Um, I love Barry Jenkins. Everyone I think that listens to
the show knows how much I love him. He's been on twice and I hope this movie makes it through. Uh you know it might not. I thought it would, but now you've got me worried. Yeah, you know. By the way, have you heard about this the story, um,
about Barry Jenkins's worst day on set. Oh, well, the angriest he's ever been honest at and the biggest fit he ever had happened on Beale Street and he kicked the box and then immediately apologized, Like everybody was laughing about how like you know, you hear about directors having melt downs and apparently he kicked the box and was like, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. And that's Barry Jenkins at his worst. I love him. It's the photography is stunning. Let me
talk about below the lineup peal. The score is outrageously good. And I also wanted to say if any Academy members, actors, branch members are are are listening, I don't know, man. I think Brian Tyree Henry deserves a supporting Actor nomination for this fantastic. I wanted him for Widows. When I first saw Widows, I thought he was so gripping in that movie, and the scene with Violet Davis dog terrified me. And then I saw him in this and I was like, nominate him for this. And he's in it for like
five ten minutes. He covers a range in this scene. It's one scene where he's just gotten out of jail, and you know, the conversation between him and Stefan James goes from like jovial to yeah, man, I'm I'm a little damaged from this, and you hear more about that, and it's just it's it's a stunning scene. I find him so much more dessert. You know. I never like to say that people are snubbed if they're not nominated, because it's just people picking the five people they like.
But I find him so much more deserving and some people who seem to be sure things in that category. And then lastly, you know, there's a couple of ways you go. Obviously we just mentioned earlier, Bohemian Rhapsody is is kicking around. People like the movie, regardless of what
critics said. It's closing in on the foreign film Cold War is actually a favorite, pretty beautiful, and I'm actually picking Pablokowski the director as a as a nominee because directors really love I think a lot of people are not. I shouldn't say a lot, but I felt a little bit on a limb with that. Well. I do think Joanna Coolig the Star any other year. This is the most competitive actress race and history. I think she would get in there too. She's fantastic. I've got eighth grade
on here to people love that movie. Elsie Fisher any other year. Yeah, yeah, yeah, she's gotten some love from critics and globes. But Josh Hamilton as her father another person I would love to see a supporting an actor. I've got Leaving No Trace as a possibility because this movie. Uh, it's worth noting that there's not a single negative review on Rotten Tomatoes. I mean it is worth mentioning that when you've got two reviews, it's been hard for them
to get people to watch the movie. I think the Los Angeles Film Critics Association giving Deborah Granting their Best Director award is the kind of thing that hopefully bubbles up that screener in the pile, you know, and maybe they'll put it in because I do think that Thomas and Harcourt Mackenzie is one possibility for supporting actress. I really do. The problem is do you think that's a supporting role? Uh? Not really, But I'm not gonna I
will not have those debates anymore. People go off about category for every year and it's like how but whatever? Like Thank Foster is wonderful too, I mean as shocking about that you have him on here for something Hell or high Water? Oh yeah yeah? And then Quiet Place is lingering because you know, a f I selected it as one of his ten movies huge Box Office in April, great reviews as well, and just absolutely well made. I mean it's like a very well crafted piece of work.
So it's you know, it has fans feel like a Quiet Place sort of took the slot that people thought Hereditary would phil because and by the way, have you read the Quiet Place screenplay because they sent it out It is it's just action, right, It's so well written, like almost like a novel, like the Well it's all text because there's obviously very little dialogue. It's so gripping, like it's it's such a it's a great read. And Emily Blunt was a surprise for Up Me Anyway, a
nominee for for that at the ZAG Awards. Do you think that translates to Oscar nomination? Thinks so, but I don't know. No. I think she's in for Mary Poppins, but probably not a quiet place. I think she could win for Mary Poppins. My number ten though its First Man and and this could be just like be done, but because of box office and it just felt like it went away. The Critics Choice Awards nominated for ten awards, which was a huge boost for them, including Best Picture.
In fact, this ten is the ten that the that the broadcast Film Critics uh well, of which I am a member, but they always you know, that's like three people voting. And this is what I'm this is the point of making about critics is when you finally get like a big group of people voting, not some thirty member forty member regional critics group on its own, when you can kind of analyze how these things play out
with a broad group of people. It's interesting. And First Man was in there, and I think it's one of the best movies of the year. I love it so much. I love Damien Chisell the director. I think he's infuriating Lee talented, talented, and yeah, I think Gosling is fantastic in it. It's a very quiet performance, a purposefully quiet performance. It is such a good movie across the board, aspires so much. Add too, Yeah, I don't. I can't explain why it didn't off at the box office. You might
have better theories than I do. Um. I think it was a release date. I think they needed to move it. Yeah. I also think I also feel like I only ever saw the same trailer over and over again. Yeah, I mean Universal is going to think I'm like bagging on them after Green Book now, But you know, whatever, what happened is what happened. I still think the movie is a great piece of work, and I think the Academy
is gonna recognize that. I hope. So if anything, like maybe they'll say, like, hey, screw you for not I don't know who they're talking to when I say, hey, screw you, screw you for not checking this out and we liked it anyway and we're putting it forward. Well, they do need I do think it would be a statement in terms of like the whole flag controversy quote unquote around the movie was such bullshit. Can we just
like you see the flag? You see like countless times like when I saw the movie, and tell you right, the first thing I tweeted was the fucking flag is right there, like because the controversy was bubbling out of venice at that point. Anyway. Uh, and if you don't know what we're talking about, there's there is a lack of a scene depicting Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong planting planting the flag. You definitely see the flag on the moon,
like this is a Michael Bay military commercial or something like. Anyway, I've just gotta pay some bills here really fast. Uh. Speaking earlier of A Star Is Born, you know, this episode of Playback is brought to you by Warner Brothers.
A Star Is Born. As we talk about important films of this past year, this one is top of mind, resonating with critics and audiences for its emotional authenticity, and the film's director, Bradley Cooper is being recognized for his brilliant work as a filmmaker and actor, along with his cast Lady Gaga and Sam Elliott for their stunning performances varieties. Film critic Peter de Bruge insert applause here, wait wait wait, has said Bradley Cooper's directorial debut as a dazzling reminder
of why we love movies in the first place. In Los Angeles Times critic Justin Chang said, from the first frame, it cast a spell that kind of lets you know immediately that you're in good hands. Would just we love Justin Justin, I agree with that. That's a great way to put it. A star is born for your consideration in all categories. Oh, I just want to say I
totally agree with your list. I think this is the ten. Um. Can I just tell you that we sort of touched on eighth grade in some other movies that we'd love to see on this list. Um, two of my favorite movies of the year. They Hate You give UM fantastic movie. I really thought it would make a hundred million dollars. And Russell horns being amandalist. Stenberg would be in the conversation by the way. Russell is in the conversation in a way you might not realize. Yeah, the critical I
think he's second to Richard E. Grant right now. From can you ever forgive me huge, But yeah, that's notable, So No, Box might want to wake up a little bit around that. If if they I don't know what they're doing. Have they done a lot? I feel like they have. I feel like they like they did a good campaign and good advertise seen and I really thought word of mouth, which is and the movie is not a disappointment. I mean, it's just I just I only recently saw it too. Well, that's part of the problem.
I think every week I've been asking people like, why haven't you seen this movie? And I was really hoping Sag might come through because the whole it's just a star. She's a star. Um. The other one is as I previously mentioned, I think, um, Spider Man into the Spider Verse might be the best movie of the year. Should be on this list. When did you see It's it's been a little while, Yeah, but not I love that movie.
It's so good in that movie. I hope the sound branch gets a listen if you will, everything about that movie. And I'm afraid it's going to be snubbed for animated film the way that Lord and Miller's Lego movie was and Cloudy with a Chance of meat Boss. You know, I've never seen that. I mean, they were they they just haven't made it in there yet. So we'll see. Uh, let's do a quick kind of blast through the acting categories. For best Actor, I think we all agree Bradley Cooper,
Christian Bale, Viggo Mortenson, and probably Romney Malick for Bohemian Rhapsody. Yeah, I think he's a lock. And then your fifth is John David. I'm going with Ethan Hawk, probably the most awarded performer on the critics circuit so far. Naturally, I mean that is a critics performance in so many ways in movie First Reformed. So you think that translates to I think I think so. Well. He also has the benefit of the movies now on Amazon Prime, like anyone
can see it. There's no excuse. Yeah, but I just I, you know, I think John David Washington. Um. By the way, I would not be surprised to see Ryan Gosling pop up here. We had all these people on the show this year except for Vigo. Oh, how convenient we go for Captain fantastic Um. You know again, Gosling is great. I'd love for him to get some traction, but it's such a passive performance. That's hard, which is like the hardest thing to do to like, he's he's so good
in it. Lucas Hedges was nominated for Boy or Raised at the Golden Globes. Uh, you know, playing a young man who was forced into convert Visian therapy by his parents. He's he's going to have like twelve oscars in a few years. He's great. Shoutout to North Carolina school Yard. Uh. John c Riley stand and Ali got the Golden Globe nomination. Also picked up critics when um for playing Uh, which one is he He's a hearty party. Yes, it's a fun performance. It's a it's a nice movie. You know,
it's a sony classics. Uh. It's a very sweet property this year. And you know, nothing makes us so good. Nothing takes me out of a movie faster than bad prosthetics and a bad wig. And I don't know how they made him. He looked, it looked. Really it's it's eerie. And I've got Willem Dafoe kind of at the bottom of the list here. He won the Venice Prize for Add Trinity's Gay He plays Vincent van go Um nominee
last year for Florida Project nearly a winner. Uh, you know, hard for that kind of movie to get some trash. It's such a you know, Julian schnab Oh. I respect Julian and Chinabo's work quite a bit. You know, no one makes movies the way he does, certainly so, but yeah, best actress. I think it's going to be the SAG five. Absolutely.
We've got Lady Gaga, Olivia Coleman from the Favorite, Emily Blunt, Mary Poppins, Molista McCarthy from Kenny Every Forgive Me, and Thank God she kind of turned on the afterburners because there was a moment where it felt like she was fading. I was getting nervous, it was taken over, and I was just like, dude, she's amazing, come on. And then she started picking up some more critics awards, and she's in. I think by the way, I would I would love.
I think that that movie might actually get into Best Picture. It could. When I saw both that and Favorite, obviously I had my feelings on the Favorite, I tell you right, I kind of thought, can You ever Forgive Me? Was just made more sense, It plays more broadly. I really liked that movie. I love that movie. It's one of my favorites. And Merial Heller is that the light head her on the show. Wonderful, It's awesome, wonderful. I cannot
wait for her Mr. Rogers movie. Yeah, Tom, thanks uh and then Glenn Close I have for number five and in the Wife, but it could go to Elsie Fisher eighth grade. You know if that hasn't do you think in the fifth position? Wow, So you don't think she's winning? I never have. Well that's I know you haven't, but like I thought, maybe you came to your senses recently. I mean, I don't know. I think we're the fire
for something like that. I don't sense that this is like Julianne Moore with that movie she won for or anything like that. You know, I understand she's overdue. I don't know if this is the performance to do it though. That's all. Think she's a treasure and all of that. But you know, coming down to Emily Blunt, Olivia Coleman, and Lady Gaga, if I had to guess, I would say Lady Gaga. Really, I mean I would not be unhappy with that. I' don't be unhappy with any of those.
I'm happy unhappy with any of these five amazing women, let me put it that way. But back to the wife, I kind of thought, maybe this is like sacrilege. I thought Jonathan Price was better. He's fantastic and we had more work with In my mind, I mean, she doesn't really she she's kind of like she doesn't get a ton to chew on until towards the end of the movie. But he's really just kind of so much going on.
I mean, I get the performance, I just I just don't think it's the one that would bring her the win. I think, you know, she's doing a play. I mean certainly not in a year like this. Also one for for performance. Maybe she wouldn't have won for in a much more competitive year. That's absolutely true. Well that's also like when Leonardo DiCaprio one, I mean like he was gonna win, he was overdue, but it's biggest competition that
he was Brian Kranston and Trumbo. Right. Uh. Then, Also, you know Rosamond Pike got a surprise nomination from the Golden Globes for a Private War. I thought she might break into sag really respond to that performance. It's it's uh, it's a moving movie. Again any other year. Yeah, Tony Collette is my personal favorite performance of the year period. Uh, hereditary. I wish she could get in here. I'm just like fingers crossed. If the critics can push anybody in, maybe
it's her. But it's it's hard man that that that horror is always hard kind of gory harror is certainly hard too, So I don't know if which is crazy because it gives people a chance to show so much range and vulnerability. And yeah, she's fantastic. I actually thought by Old Davis would get in as well, but people just aren't saying the reason. It's a bummer. Yeah, Liza Pericio from Roma, you know, the non actress of the
bunch um. You know, she's they're working her hard, like she's everywhere, and she's delight and she's really good in the movie, and you know, she could squeeze in. I absolutely think that she is fifth or six. I think I would not be surprised to see her show up again. I have to you know, gauge how much uh the love for Roma is true, But if she shows up, I would not be surprised at all. In fact, I'd
be delighted. Nicole Kidman and Destroyer. Oh gosh, I totally forgot. Yeah, it's hard to believe the nomination for that, and she's so good and that end boy erased, and I think I thought her best chances were with boy or raised. I think you might be right, but this is just a hard movie for people. Destroyer it is, and she's wonderful in it. Sporting actor Richard Grant is like leaving
everybody in his dust. Can forgive me maybe at this point? Yeah, because of just I wouldn't have expected this like amount of uniformity around the category. Otherwise I would have said Sam Elliott, yeah, because it would sweep. Yeah, here we are. And then he didn't. He didn't get a Globe nomination, did he, which I mean, I'm sorry, don't even get me started. Yeah, yeah, Merchel Ali we mentioned earlier Green Book, Timothy Shallowman and Beautiful Boy, and Adam Driver for Black Plans,
but I think that's the SAG lineup right. Yeah, Yeah, so that's kind of what I'm thinking. Possible to jump in there. Sam rockwell as George W. Bush and Vice. He was nominated by the Golden Globes. Michael B. Jordan we were talking about from Black Panthers would love to see him in there. I mean it's one of those things where like it's not like Heath Ledger in the Dark Night, but it is a complex villain character where the actor really chewing is chewing on it and it's like,
you know, it's it's it elevated the material. And again getting back to what I was saying about the conversation that movie centers, I mean, his character is is front and center there. If he makes so many good arguments that you're like, you're actually kind of Rudy Monger was right. I mean, like it's it's it's interesting. You know, if he hadn't like killed his girlfriend, I might be more on his side. But was she his girlfriend or was she just a means to an end? Both Russell Lawrence
you give you know, possible, I would love possible. I would I think if if I don't know what they're kind of planning in the last push with when ballots go out in January, but I would zero in on him if he can, because there's something sparking there for people and Daniel Kaluya and Widows Great like he was such a totally different role too that I think we're used to seeing him, and I feel like, because I know him best from obviously Get Out but also Black Mirror,
where I feel like he's being victimized so much, it's kind of nice to see him kind of just like this quiet, like you know, Oh, he comes back for Cicario to No No as well Cicios Ccario Day of the Soldado, which actually I love that movie. Noone like that movie, but I thought it was really well made. And then you know, we're kind of like at the bottom of the list and who it's like whatever, But I just threw Nicholas Holt in here for the favorite
people do. A lot of people love him like that's s performance, and so you know, you always get these like out of the blue, like oh, they nominated Maggie Jillen Hall for Crazy Heart, which I predicted, but you know, people don't see it coming, and you know, something like that could happen. You know, who else is wonderful? We already talked about Brian Tyree Henry and a Field Street Talk, but Coleman Tobingo has a couple of really great scenes too.
Oh Man. I talked to him at the Apollo premier in New York at the after party for a while. Guys awesome supporting actress. I would say Regina King is number one because she's bawling everybody away with critic wars. But it was where was screen Actors Guild on? Okay, So here's what I heard from. For some reason, I know a lot of people on nominating committee. They did not get the screeners for Beal Street or a Vice. They until two days after voting closed. Um now, but
they got them during voting. The people I talked to, I mean some of them, people got it after, but I'm talking. There was about six people I talked to who were like, no, I got it two days, Like to the screening. Well, that is the thing. They went to the Vice screenings they did because it's big and flashy and it's Christian Bale and Amy Adams. So it did not affect although it might have affected it because
I thought a Vice would get in flour ensemble. They did not make the effort to go out for Real Street, which is, you know, frankly on them. But we also understand how hard it is. So it's so hard to watch him, so hard you're gonna if you're gonna agree to join the nominating committee. I'm just saying, like, putt in the diligence, that's embarrassing that well. I also don't understand why screeners didn't go out in time because Bealstree
premiered to Toronto. Yeah, so I don't know if something went wrong or they're waiting for Vice or maybe maybe I don't know. It's just it's really unfortunate because I and I do think that it's that that's what cost her the nomination. Yep, I agree, So I can't imagine any other logical reason for seeing that movie and not nominating Regina King. Yeah, well she should be in. I still think she wins Amy Adams and Vice playing uh Lynn Cheney. Yeah, for some reason, I always get Marry
and Lynn swapped in my head. Mary's the daughter, right, so yeah, she's, you know, a perennial at this point, she'll win one day, could be, could be. Yeah, I think she's gonna win Sack Yeah, yeah, well without competition now. Yeah, Emma Stone and Rachel Weiss for the favorite out of the two of them. Rachel's my favorite, really really, she just yeah it was great, but like Rachel really gets to play with some fun stuff like yeah, you know,
she's there where she gets carried out. My fear is that voters are going to say, like, you know, she's you know, we're seeing Emma do something totally different, you know. But Rachel is so good at these kind of roles that maybe, you know, I actually think one of them might not get into the final five. At Oscars, Marina did Tavera for Roma. Plays the mother so wonderful, and
she's been a delight on the circuit. She is I remember the year is showing up for though, like no, no, I know, it's so strange to me, um, but she's someone I could see again. If this Roma love is real. With the Academy, I think she might have a better shot than Galicia, just because the category is also competitive. Oh that's so cute. And she also she's been slaying the red carpets. She's been like the Lapida New Yonko, know, like she's the one actress that's actually this is what
she does for a living. You know. I think she's going to explode in the next few years at to this movie, if if she wants to, if she wants to make American movies. I kind of think that she and my prediction for the fifth spot. Are chasing are kind of chasing the same eyeballs in a way. I mean everyone's seeing Roma, but in terms of like getting that vote for her, I think I feel like the actress votes are shift, which shift to the elitza more.
But the one I'm predicting for number five really on a whim because I wonder if like these this critical attention has made people put the movie in the in the player is Thomason really? I'm just like, you could see this happen, and she's wonderful and she's a discovery. Yeah, so they're chasing the kind of the same vote there, if you will, in a way. And then we have Emily Blunt and quiet Place. Did you know Thomason's mother, I believe is Nicole Kidman's acting coach. I knew that
her family. Like there's like some acting royalty there, something like the Hardcourt of it All or something. I could be wrong, but something like that. That's interesting though. But this is why I think someone from the Favorite isn't getting nominated, and it's not Olivia Coleman. I think it's gonna be Rachel or Emma, And I see a spot from Marina or Nicole Kidman or thomasin Uh Emily Blunt Possible with Quiet Place. For this she got the SAG nomination.
Margot Robbie got the SAG nomination from Mary Queen of scott which I sort of predicted, did you I did. I knew that seg was responding in a big way to that movie, and it is like, have you seen it right? And it is like a very um look she gets. She gets to be ugly. There's like actually a moment where like you see like a blister like fall off her face, like you know, and she's great. So then she getmin for Best blister falling off a face.
She's good. The performances are fine in that movie. I just was not big on the structure of the story. Was just kind of was It's weird to me that we have a year with two focus movies that are like biography. This is something that they do so well, biographies with a wonderful lead performance on the basis of sex and Mary Queen of Scott's and they're not in the Best Picture discussion. I think they were just late. Yeah, on the basis of sex took some slings and arrows.
That is such a bummer to me because I love that movie. Well, I kept saying, I don't want to hear anybody talking smack about this movie that turned around and rave Green Book. I really thought there was a period of time where Felicity Jones would win. Yeah, I know, you told me yeah, And I was like, wow, she's good. I think that accent kind of comes and goes. But Michael Caine won an Academy Award Accents every Captured on Film, and Army Hammer gets to play the role reversal there
the how great is Army Hammer this year? By the way, between this and Sorry to Bother You? Like, oh yeah, always I forget I'm sorry to bother you. So that I said that Ja Door, that was very very clearly what is it? Not Green? But let's get Boots in here, Boots here, we had Boots on the show. Claire Foy for First Man. She was nominated by the Golden Globes, right, yeah, she got in for First Man. She's playing Armstrong's wife, Janet,
and she's awesome in the movie. She's fierce, she's you know, it's it's kind of a role we've seen before, like from Kathleen Quinlan and Apollo thirteen or like Barbara Hershey and the right stuff a little bit, but she makes it her own and she has not been able to campaign as much as I think she would have been to. Yeah,
what's she doing? I don't actually know, but I know that like she wasn't able to come out for Governor's Awards weekend, which yeah, and then as you mentioned, Nicole Kiman and boy are raised as well as a possibility. So those are the acting categories. Um, we're we should wrap it up. I don't know what I have to say here. Critics Awards, I mentioned all of that. You know, we can talk about her favorite what's your favorite movie of the year? Probably Spiderman Into the Spiders Spiderman. It's
just it's a perfect movie. Or it's either that or they hate you. Give what movie have you not mentioned that you'd like to mention people should check out? You know what? Oh? Of course Blockers. Blocker was one of my favorite movies. And just it's so well done and Leslie Man is amazing. This young cast, particularly Katherine Newton, are so fantastic and I just rewatched it again for like the seventh time the other night, and I love that you can make a raunchy comedy that is also
very respectful. Like, you know, I'm assuming everyone has seen it by now, but like the very last scene, like the guys keep asking for consent with the women, um, and then when like when a couple of them are like, no, I don't want to do this, They're like, Okay, that's that's cool. That's cool, you know, and it's just it's it's it was such a pleasant surprise. I did not expect to like it, let alone love it. For me, I would say Minding the Gap documentary. If you haven't
seen that movie, it's on Hulu. It's amazing. It would be my number two after Roma this year. It's uh, just the story of these skateboard kids growing up in a suburb of Chicago, and it feels like it's going to be just that, but it becomes this fascinating sort of document of spousal abuse and how it's how you know, how it affects across the spectrum, and it's really good. It's really one of Barry jenkins favorite movies too. You can kind of turn me onto it, yes, so check
that out. Is that Crystal Mozzel's film, No, It's being lou Is his name, and he's a cinematographer and and so naturally it's well shot, but it's it's a great film. To check that out. To clarify, Army Hammer chastises Lakeith Stanfield for going through the olive door, not the jade. There you go, we've had to clear that up. I could remember the one. What's that color green? That door is clearly all of them. Well, that's it. That's our look at the Oscar Race and our favorite movies of
the year. You guys should go out and see some of these movies if you haven't already. Um, I think it's a good year from movies. So I think it's a fent plastic year. Like I was saying, there isn't a movie on this list that I hate, you know, and usually there's one movie that I'm just like, why does everyone that's always nice? When that doesn't happen? So go see the movies. Everyone, Happy holidays, Merry Christmas to you, Malik Leaky mak Are you going to Hawaii? All right?
That was very good? Actually I am not because it's only eighty degrees Like co it's gotta be nine year above to get me on the Beach Well, thanks again for coming on the show once again. This episode of Playback has been brought to you by Warner Brothers. A
Star Is Born. As we talk about important films of this past year, this one is top of mind, resonating with critics and audiences for its emotional authenticity, and the film's director, Bradley Cooper, is being recognized for his brilliant work as a filmmaker and actor, along with his cast Lady Gaga and Sam Elliott for their stunning performances varieties. Film critic Peter de Bruge has said Bradley Cooper's directorial debut is a dazzling reminder of why we love movies
in the first place. In Los Angeles, Times critic Justin Chang said, from the first frame, it cast a spell, the kind that lets you know immediately that you're in good hands. A Star is born for your consideration in all categories,