Monday, December 31, 2018

2018 YEAR-END BALLOT

the point of this exercise isn't merely to stand in contrast to industry awards shows but to shine light on other works/achievements/performances that might've not gotten enough consideration during their initial releases 



Past ballots at The Wandering Image:

 19801981198219831984198519861987,
 19881989, 199019911992199319941995
19961997199819992000 200120022003,
 200420052006, 20072008200920102011,
 2012, 20132014201520162017

To view my Top 30 films of 2018, visit the Final Cinema.




Note: As usual, Oscar winner predictions will be added towards the end of January beneath my *top pick in each category.


**Actual AMPAS nominees added 1/22/2019**
**Oscar winner predictions added 1/26/2019 below actual AMPAS nominees** 

**Actual AMPAS winners added 2/24/2019**













2018
*BURNING
FIRST REFORMED
SHOPLIFTERS
ZAMA
ANNIHILATION
AS BOAS MANEIRAS
CLAIRE'S CAMERA
LET THE SUNSHINE IN
WESTERN
SUPPORT THE GIRLS
BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS
SWEET COUNTRY
BLACKKKLANSMAN
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND
MANDY
I AM NOT A WITCH
THE ENDLESS
PADDINGTON 2
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
THE NIGHT COMES FOR US


actual best picture oscar nominees:
BLACK PANTHER

BLACKKKLANSMAN
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
THE FAVOURITE
GREEN BOOK (won)
ROMA
A STAR IS BORN
VICE

prediction:
ROMA



actual foreign language oscar nominees:
CAPERNAUM

COLD WAR
NEVER LOOK AWAY
ROMA (won)
SHOPLIFTERS

prediction:
COLD WAR














2018
*Chang-dong Lee for BURNING
Paul Schrader for FIRST REFORMED
Hirokazu Koreeda for SHOPLIFTERS
Lucrecia Martel for ZAMA
Coen brothers for BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS

actual oscar nominees:
Spike Lee for BLACKKKLANSMAN

Pawel Pawlikowski for COLD WAR
Yorgos Lanthimos for THE FAVOURITE
Alfonso Cuaron for ROMA (won)
Adam McKay for VICE

prediction:
Alfonso Cuaron for ROMA














2018
*Regina Hall in
               SUPPORT THE GIRLS
Olivia Coleman in THE FAVOURITE
Claire Foy in UNSANE
Thomasin Mckenzie in LEAVE NO TRACE
Toni Collette in HEREDITARY

actual oscar nominees:
Yalitza Aparicio in ROMA

Glenn Close in THE WIFE
Olivia Coleman in THE FAVOURITE (won)
Lady Gaga in A STAR IS BORN
Melissa McCarthy in CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?

prediction:
Glenn Close in THE WIFE













2018
*Ethan Hawke in
               FIRST REFORMED
Jim Cummings in THUNDER ROAD
Nicolas Cage in MANDY
Willem Dafoe in AT ETERNITY'S GATE
Christian Bale in VICE
Stephan James in IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

actual oscar nominees:
Christian Bale in VICE

Bradley Cooper in A STAR IS BORN
Willem Dafoe in AT ETERNITY'S GATE
Rami Malek in BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (won)
Viggo Mortensen in GREEN BOOK

prediction:
Viggo Mortensen in GREEN BOOK
















2018
*Regina King in
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
Jong-seo Jun in BURNING
Sissy Spacek in THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN
Michelle Yeoh in CRAZY RICH ASIANS
Margot Robbie in MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

actual oscar nominees:
Amy Adams in VICE

Marina de Tavira in ROMA
Regina King in IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (won)
Emma Stone in THE FAVOURITE
Rachel Weisz in THE FAVOURITE

prediction:
Regina King in IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK














2018
*Steven Yeun in BURNING
Daniel Kaluuya in WIDOWS
Richard E. Grant in CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
Jesse Plemons in GAME NIGHT
Sam Elliot in A STAR IS BORN

actual oscar nominees:
Mahershala Ali in GREEN BOOK (won)

Adam Driver in BLACKKKLANSMAN
Sam Elliot in A STAR IS BORN
Richard E. Grant in CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
Sam Rockwell in VICE

prediction:
Richard E. Grant in CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?














2018
*FIRST REFORMED - Paul Schrader
WESTERN - Valeska Grisebach
SUPPORT THE GIRLS - Andrew Bujalski
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU - Boots Riley
PRIVATE LIFE - Tamara Jenkins

actual oscar nominees:
THE FAVOURITE

FIRST REFORMED
GREEN BOOK (won)
ROMA
VICE

prediction:
THE FAVOURITE














2018
*BLACKkKLANSMAN 
- Spike Lee, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, Charlie Wachtel
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK - Barry Jenkins
BURNING - Jung-mi Oh, Chang-dong Lee
LEAVE NO TRACE - Debra Granik, Anne Rosellini
THE ENDLESS - Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson
ANNIHILATION - Alex Garland

actual oscar nominees:
THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS

BLACKKKLANSMAN (won)
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
A STAR IS BORN

prediction:
BLACKKKLANSMAN













2018
*PROTOTYPE 3D - Blake Williams
HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING
SHIRKERS
BISBEE '17
MINDING THE GAP
GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI
MOUNTAIN
DID YOU WONDER WHO FIRED THE GUN?
THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD 3D
THE ZEN DIARIES OF GARRY SHANDLING

actual oscar nominees:
FREE SOLO (won)

HALE COUNTY THIS MORNING THIS EVENING
MINDING THE GAP
OF FATHERS AND SONS
R.B.G.

prediction:
R.B.G.















2018
*HAVE A NICE DAY 
大世界
TEEN TITANS GO! TO THE MOVIES
READY PLAYER ONE
INCREDIBLES 2
MIRAI
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
EARLY MAN
ISLE OF DOGS
MARY AND THE WITCH'S FLOWER
TENACIOUS D: POST-APOCALYPTO [Roadshow feature edit]

actual oscar nominees:
INCREDIBLES 2

ISLE OF DOGS
MIRAI
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE (won)

prediction:
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE











2018
*MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS 
                          - Max Richter >
FIRST MAN Justin Hurwitz >
SUSPIRIA - Thom Yorke >
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK - Nicholas Brittel >
MANDY - Jóhann Jóhannsson >
BLACK PANTHER - Ludwig Göransson >

actual oscar nominees:
BLACK PANTHER (won)

BLACKKKLANSMAN
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
ISLE OF DOGS
MARY POPPINS RETURNS

prediction:
MARY POPPINS RETURNS









2018
*NORMAN NORMAN
THE GAL WHO GOT RATTLED [BUSTER SCRUGGS segment]
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM: OH BABY
FAUVE by Jérémy Comte
ALL GOLD CANYON 
                [BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS segment]
ANDERSON .PAAK:
           TIL IT'S OVER (Apple HomePod "Welcome Home")
VINCE STAPLES: FUN!
SHIVA BABY
MARGUERITE
BLACK SHEEP


actual oscar live action short nominees:
DETAINMENT

FAUVE
MARGUERITE
MOTHER
SKIN (won)

prediction:
SKIN


actual oscar documentary short nominees:
BLACK SHEEP

END GAME
LIFEBOAT
A NIGHT AT THE GARDEN
PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE. (won)

prediction:
PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE.















2018
*BLOEISTRAAT 11
WEEKENDS by Trevor Jimenez
Phil Tippet's MAD GOD PART III
LOST PROPERTY OFFICE by Daniel Agdag
LA CHUTE by Boris Labbé
SOLAR WALK by Réka Bucsi
LATE AFTERNOON
BILBY
BIRD KARMA
BAO

actual oscar nominees:
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

BAO (won)
LATE AFTERNOON
ONE SMALL STEP
WEEKENDS

prediction:
BAO






categories below this point are
↓for you technical craft lovers↓

2018

*ROMA - Alfonso Cuaron, AMC
MANDY - Benjamin Loeb, ASC, FNF
BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS - Bruno Delbonnel, ASC, AFC
AT ETERNITY'S GATE - Benoît Delhomme, AFC, BSC
THE FAVOURITE - Robbie Ryan, ASC, ISC

actual oscar nominees:
COLD WAR

THE FAVOURITE
NEVER LOOK AWAY
ROMA (won)
A STAR IS BORN

prediction:
ROMA













2018
*MANDY - Brett W. Bachman
YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE - Joe Beni
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK - Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders
PROTOTYPE - Blake Williams
THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS - Roderick Jaynes
LET THE CORPSES TAN - Cattet/Forzani
FIRST REFORMED - Benjamin Rodriguez Jr.
BLACKKKLANSMAN - Barry Alexander Brown
UPGRADE - Andy Canny

actual oscar nominees:
BLACKKKLANSMAN

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (won)
THE FAVOURITE
GREEN BOOK
VICE

prediction:
BLACKKKLANSMAN















2018
*THE FAVOURITE 
                    - Fiona Crombie
BLACK PANTHER - Hannah Beachler, Alan Hook
PADDINGTON 2 - Gary Williamson, Patrick Rolfe
STAN & OLLIE - Claudia Parker, Hindle, John Paul Kelly
ANNIHILATION - Mark Digby, Denis Schnegg
ROMA - Eugenio Caballero
MUTE - Gavin Bocquet, David Scheunemann

actual oscar nominees:
BLACK PANTHER (won)

THE FAVOURITE
FIRST MAN
MARY POPPINS RETURNS
ROMA

prediction:
THE FAVOURITE















2018
*THE FAVOURITE - Sandy Powell
BLACK PANTHER - Ruth Carter
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS - Alexandra Byrne
THE BALLAD OF BUSTERS SCRUGGS - Mary Zophres
AQUAMAN - Kym Barrett
BLACKkKLANSMAN - Marci Rodgers
AT ETERNITY'S GATE - Karen Muller Serreau
DETECTIVE DEE: FOUR HEAVENLY KINGS - Bruce Yu

actual oscar nominees:
THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS

BLACK PANTHER (won)
THE FAVOURITE
MARY POPPINS RETURNS
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS

prediction:
THE FAVOURITE
















2018
*BLACK PANTHER
THE FAVOURITE
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
SUSPIRIA
STAN & OLLIE
OVERLORD
VICE
BORDER
THE BALLAD OF BUSTER SCRUGGS

actual oscar nominees:
BORDER
MARY POPPINS RETURNS
VICE (won)

prediction:
VICE















2018
*A QUIET PLACE
ANNIHILATION
FIRST MAN
SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
AQUAMAN
INCREDIBLES 2

actual oscar nominees:
BLACK PANTHER
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (won)
FIRST MAN
A QUIET PLACE
ROMA


prediction:
A QUIET PLACE















2018
*FIRST MAN
A QUIET PLACE
AQUAMAN
SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY
UPGRADE
READY PLAYER ONE
MOM AND DAD
A STAR IS BORN

actual oscar nominees:
BLACK PANTHER
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (won)
FIRST MAN
ROMA
A STAR IS BORN

prediction:
FIRST MAN















2018
*SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY
ANNIHILATION
FIRST MAN
THE RITUAL
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
SICARIO: DAY OF THE SOLDADO 

actual oscar nominees:
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN
FIRST MAN (won)
READY PLAYER ONE
SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

prediction:
AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR














muriel awards categories:



2018
*1) The Lighthouse. 
Final 22 other-worldly minutes of ANNIHILATION
2) Hae-mi's jazz dance at sunset - BURNING
3) Nobuyo's tearful confession - SHOPLIFTERS
4) "Too Late to Turn Back Now" - BLACKkKLANSMAN
5) Jack Jack VS Raccoon - INCREDIBLES 2
6) Kiere finally finds his Father's grave - MINDING THE GAP
7) Visions during transcendental meditation 
-------------------------------------- FIRST REFORMED
8) The beach drowning - ROMA
9) Helicopter pursuit climax 
--------------------------- MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
10) Daniel's monologue about his jail time 
--------------------------- IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
11) Mandy's bad "wasp acid" trip. Maniacal laughing, etc. 
--------------------------------------------------- MANDY
12) Casino fight & street chase in Busan S.Korea 
--------------------------------------- BLACK PANTHER
13) Going into labor at the worst possible moment 
------------------------------------------- A QUIET PLACE
-tie- the mutant bear - ANNIHILATION
14) Final 40 mins wall-to-wall violence 
--------------------------------------- THE NIGHT COMES FOR US
15) The painful "voodoo doll" dance sequence - SUSPIRIA
16) Kubrick's "The Shining" - READY PLAYER ONE
17) The stillness of the Moon. Crater visit, etc. - FIRST MAN
18) Spaniards are ambushed by stealthy natives - ZAMA
19) Ally singing "La Vie En Rose" at night club 
--------------------------------------- A STAR IS BORN
20) Vandor-1 Train robbery sequence 
---------------------------------- SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

also this;










2018
*BLACKkKLANSMAN
ANNIHILATION
BLACK PANTHER
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
PADDINGTON 2
THE DEATH OF STALIN
THE PARTY
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
THE FAVOURITE










Other year-end ballots posted at The Wandering Image:   
198019811982198319841985198619871988, 
 199819992000200120022003200420052006
200720082009201020112012201320142015,
 2016, 2017,