2020 Oscars: Who Should Win And Who Will Win

Oh, happy day! The 2020 Oscars are finally here. I love the Oscars. I always see people complaining about how it’s boring or too long on Twitter. I’m in the opposite camp. Make the ceremony 10 hours long and I’ll watch it from start to finish.

Will tonight be all chalk or will history be made? 1917 could clean up in all of the technical categories along with wins for Best Director and Best Picture. Parasite could become the first foreign film to win Best Picture. All of the acting categories include huge favorites, but the technical categories are up for grabs. Overall, I’m excited for tonight.

Without further ado, here are my picks.

BEST PICTURE

  • Ford v Ferrari 
  • The Irishman 
  • Jojo Rabbit
  • Joker 
  • Little Women
  • Marriage Story 
  • 1917 
  • Once Upon a Time in Hollywood 
  • Parasite 

The biggest award of the night is a two-horse race. 1917 is the favorite thanks to Best Picture wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and PGAs. However, Parasite, my favorite movie of 2019, is making a late push thanks to its win at the SAGs. If Parasite wins Best Picture, it would be the first foreign film to ever accomplish this feat. However, 1917’s win at the PGA was significant since 10 of the last 12 PGA winners went on to take home Best Picture at the Oscars. My pick is 1917.

P.S. The wild card in this race is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Quentin Tarantino has a lot of support in the Academy. It’s a movie full of stars during the Golden Age of Hollywood. It’s right up the Academy’s alley. Plus, OUATIH has multiple acting nominations. The last film to win Best Picture without an acting nomination was Slumdog Millionaire in 2009. (1917 and Parasite both have zero acting nominations.) If Tarantino wins for original screenplay, look out for OUATIH.

P.S.S. Enough with the narrative that 1917 winning Best Picture is boring. It’s an achievement in filmmaking that people are going to remember for a while.

Who Should Win: Parasite
Who Will Win: 1917

BEST DIRECTOR

  • Martin Scorsese – The Irishman
  • Todd Phillips – Joker
  • Sam Mendes – 1917
  • Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
  • Bong Joon-ho – Parasite

Take my Best Picture argument and apply the same principles to Best Director. Mendes has won practically every directing award on the awards season circuit. However, people (including me) love Director Bong and Parasite. Tarantino is on the outside looking in. However, 1917 is in for a big night and Mendes will pick up his second win for Best Director.

Who Should Win: Bong Joon-ho – Parasite
Who Will Win: Sam Mendes – 1917

BEST ACTOR

  • Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory as Salvador Mallo
  • Leonardo DiCaprio – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Rick Dalton
  • Adam Driver – Marriage Story as Charlie Barber
  • Joaquin Phoenix – Joker as Arthur Fleck / Joker
  • Jonathan Pryce – The Two Popes as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio

I wish this category was more of a competition between Adam Driver and Joaquin Phoenix. I preferred Driver’s performance because of his ability to capture the emotional trauma and brutal truth of what happens during a divorce. However, Joaquin’s physical and mental transformation in Joker was undeniably good. I like Joaquin and I enjoyed Joker so I have no problem with him winning.

Who Should Win: Adam Driver – Marriage Story as Charlie Barber
Who Will Win: Joaquin Phoenix – Joker as Arthur Fleck / Joker

BEST ACTRESS

  • Cynthia Erivo – Harriet as Harriet Tubman
  • Scarlett Johansson – Marriage Story as Nicole Barber
  • Saoirse Ronan – Little Women as Josephine “Jo” March
  • Charlize Theron – Bombshell as Megyn Kelly
  • Renée Zellweger – Judy as Judy Garland

Confession: I never saw Judy. I had the opportunity to watch it on a plane, but I chose to watch The Peanut Butter Falcon instead. Renée Zellweger hasn’t lost in this category all season and I don’t expect that to change. However, I’d love for Saoirse Ronan to win. She’s probably the best actress of her generation and it sucks that she’s going to have to wait a little longer to win an Oscar.

Who Should Win: Saoirse Ronan – Little Women as Josephine “Jo” March
Who Will Win: Renée Zellweger – Judy as Judy Garland

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

  • Tom Hanks – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood as Fred Rogers
  • Anthony Hopkins – The Two Popes as Pope Benedict XVI
  • Al Pacino – The Irishman as Jimmy Hoffa
  • Joe Pesci – The Irishman as Russell Bufalino
  • Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Cliff Booth

Brad Fucking Pitt. This is the speech I’m looking forward to the most.

Once Upon Time in Hollywood / Sony

Who Should Win: Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Cliff Booth
Who Will Win: Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as Cliff Booth

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

  • Kathy Bates – Richard Jewell as Barbara “Bobi” Jewell
  • Laura Dern – Marriage Story as Nora Fanshaw
  • Scarlett Johansson – Jojo Rabbit as Rosie Betzler
  • Florence Pugh – Little Women as Amy March
  • Margot Robbie – Bombshell as Kayla Pospisil

I love Florence Pugh and she’ll be a force for years to come, but it’s time for Laura Dern to collect some hardware. No arguments here.

Who Should Win: Florence Pugh – Little Women as Amy March
Who Will Win: Laura Dern – Marriage Story as Nora Fanshaw

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

  • Knives Out – Rian Johnson
  • Marriage Story – Noah Baumbach
  • 1917 – Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns
  • Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Quentin Tarantino
  • Parasite – Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won

Toughest category to predict. All five of these scripts are stellar. However, this will come down to Tarantino and Bong. Tarantino has the experience thanks to his two previous wins in this category. That being said, Bong won at the Writers Guild Awards (Tarantino was not eligible) last week, but I still believed Tarantino would win at the Oscars. Fast forward to the BAFTAs and Bong beat Tarantino head-to-head in this category. Because of that, I’m going with Bong by the slimmest of margins.

Who Should Win: Parasite – Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won
Who Will Win: Parasite – Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

  • The Irishman – Steven Zaillian based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt
  • Jojo Rabbit – Taika Waititi based on the novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunens
  • Joker – Todd Phillips and Scott Silver based on characters created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson
  • Little Women – Greta Gerwig based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott
  • The Two Popes – Anthony McCarten based on his play The Pope

Once again, another early frontrunner came back to the pack. This should be Greta Gerwig’s first Oscar win because Little Women was brilliant. Unfortunately, I don’t think she wins here. Taika Waititi has all the momentum in the world thanks to two wins over Gerwig at the WGAs and the BAFTAs. Taika walks home a winner.

Who Should Win: Little Women – Greta Gerwig based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott
Who Will Win: Jojo Rabbit – Taika Waititi based on the novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunens

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

  • How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – Dean DeBlois, Bonnie Arnold, and Brad Lewis
  • I Lost My Body – Jérémy Clapin and Marc du Pontavice
  • Klaus – Sergio Pablos, Jinko Gotoh, and Marisa Román
  • Missing Link – Chris Butler, Arianne Sutner, and Travis Knight
  • Toy Story 4 – Josh Cooley, Jonas Rivera, and Mark Nielsen

When in doubt, Pixar at the Oscars. When in even more doubt, Toy Story at the Oscars.

Who Should Win: Toy Story 4 – Josh Cooley, Jonas Rivera, and Mark Nielsen
Who Will Win: Toy Story 4 – Josh Cooley, Jonas Rivera, and Mark Nielsen

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

  • Corpus Christi (Poland) in Polish – Directed by Jan Komasa
  • Honeyland (North Macedonia) in Turkish and Macedonian[9] – Directed by Tamara Kotevska and Ljubomir Stefanov
  • Les Misérables (France) in French – Directed by Ladj Ly
  • Pain and Glory (Spain) in Spanish – Directed by Pedro Almodóvar
  • Parasite (South Korea) in Korean – Directed by Bong Joon-ho

Who Should Win: Parasite (South Korea) in Korean – Directed by Bong Joon-ho
Who Will Win: Parasite (South Korea) in Korean – Directed by Bong Joon-ho

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

  • American Factory – Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert, and Jeff Reichert
  • The Cave – Feras Fayyad, Kirstine Barfod, and Sigrid Dyekjær
  • The Edge of Democracy – Petra Costa, Joanna Natasegara, Shane Boris, and Tiago Pavan
  • For Sama – Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts
  • Honeyland – Ljubomir Stefanov, Tamara Kotevska, and Atanas Georgiev

Flip a coin between American Factory and Honeyland. I’ll back the Obama-produced American Factory.

Who Should Win: American Factory – Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert, and Jeff Reichert
Who Will Win: American Factory – Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert, and Jeff Reichert

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

  • Joker – Hildur Guðnadóttir
  • Little Women – Alexandre Desplat
  • Marriage Story – Randy Newman
  • 1917 – Thomas Newman
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – John Williams

Five really good scores. If any person in this category won, I’d be happy. It’s a win-win-win-win-win for me. One of my favorite scores of the year belongs to Randy Newman, who has never won in this category. However, Hildur Guðnadóttir’s haunting score was the co-MVP of Joker.

Who Should Win: Marriage Story – Randy Newman
Who Will Win: Joker – Hildur Guðnadóttir

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

  • “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” from Toy Story 4 – Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman
  • “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman – Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
  • “I’m Standing with You” from Breakthrough – Music and Lyrics by Diane Warren
  • “Into the Unknown” from Frozen II – Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
  • “Stand Up” from Harriet – Music and Lyrics by Joshuah Brian Campbell and Cynthia Erivo

This should have happened at the Oscars. It’s a damn shame. Since it’s not happening, I’ll always root for Elton John.

Who Should Win: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman – Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Who Will Win: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman – Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Bernie Taupin

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

  • The Irishman – Rodrigo Prieto
  • Joker – Lawrence Sher
  • The Lighthouse – Jarin Blaschke
  • 1917 – Roger Deakins
  • Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Robert Richardson

Roger “The God” Deakins.

Who Should Win: 1917 – Roger Deakins
Who Will Win: 1917 – Roger Deakins

*Note: The difference between sound editing and sound mixing at the Oscars is confusing and I still don’t understand it. However, if you said 1917 wins all of the technical categories, I wouldn’t blame you. That being said, Ford v Ferrari might split with 1917. I’m honestly not sure and I’ll stop talking.

BEST SOUND EDITING

  • Ford v Ferrari – Donald Sylvester
  • Joker – Alan Robert Murray
  • 1917 – Oliver Tarney and Rachael Tate
  • Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Wylie Stateman
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Matthew Wood and David Acord

Who Should Win: 1917 – Oliver Tarney and Rachael Tate
Who Will Win: 1917 – Oliver Tarney and Rachael Tate

BEST SOUND MIXING

  • Ad Astra – Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson and Mark Ulano
  • Ford v Ferrari – Paul Massey, David Giammarco, and Steven A. Morrow
  • Joker – Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic and Tod Maitland
  • 1917 – Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson
  • Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Michael Minkler, Christian P. Minkler, and Mark Ulano

Who Should Win: Ford v Ferrari – Paul Massey, David Giammarco, and Steven A. Morrow
Who Will Win: 1917 – Mark Taylor and Stuart Wilson

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

  • The Irishman – Production Design: Bob Shaw; Set Decoration: Regina Graves
  • Jojo Rabbit – Production Design: Ra Vincent; Set Decoration: Nora Sopková
  • 1917 – Production Design: Dennis Gassner; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales
  • Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Production Design: Barbara Ling; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
  • Parasite – Production Design: Lee Ha-jun; Set Decoration: Cho Won-woo

Who Should Win: Parasite – Production Design: Lee Ha-jun; Set Decoration: Cho Won-woo
Who Will Win: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Production Design: Barbara Ling; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

  • Bombshell – Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan, and Vivian Baker
  • Joker – Nicki Ledermann and Kay Georgiou
  • Judy – Jeremy Woodhead
  • Maleficent: Mistress of Evil – Paul Gooch, Arjen Tuiten, and David White
  • 1917 – Naomi Donne, Tristan Versluis, and Rebecca Cole

Who Should Win: Bombshell – Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan, and Vivian Baker
Who Will Win: Bombshell – Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan, and Vivian Baker

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

  • The Irishman – Sandy Powell and Christopher Peterson
  • Jojo Rabbit – Mayes C. Rubeo
  • Joker – Mark Bridges
  • Little Women – Jacqueline Durran
  • Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Arianne Phillips

Who Should Win: Little Women – Jacqueline Durran
Who Will Win: Little Women – Jacqueline Durran

BEST FILM EDITING

  • Ford v Ferrari – Andrew Buckland and Michael McCusker
  • The Irishman – Thelma Schoonmaker
  • Jojo Rabbit – Tom Eagles
  • Joker – Jeff Groth
  • Parasite – Yang Jin-mo

Who Should Win: Parasite – Yang Jin-mo
Who Will Win: Parasite – Yang Jin-mo

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

  • Avengers: Endgame – Dan DeLeeuw, Matt Aitken, Russell Earl, and Dan Sudick
  • The Irishman – Pablo Helman, Leandro Estebecorena, Stephane Grabli, and Nelson Sepulveda
  • The Lion King – Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones, and Elliot Newman
  • 1917 – Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler, and Dominic Tuohy
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Roger Guyett, Neal Scanlan, Patrick Tubach, and Dominic Tuohy

Who Should Win: Avengers: Endgame – Dan DeLeeuw, Matt Aitken, Russell Earl, and Dan Sudick
Who Will Win: 1917 – Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler, and Dominic Tuohy

Note: I’m a novice when it comes to shorts at the Oscars so these predictions are based on what I’ve read.

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

  • In the Absence – Yi Seung-Jun and Gary Byung-Seok Kam
  • Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) – Carol Dysinger and Elena Andreicheva
  • Life Overtakes Me – John Haptas and Kristine Samuelson
  • St. Louis Superman – Smriti Mundhra and Sami Khan
  • Walk Run Cha-Cha – Laura Nix and Colette Sandstedt

Who Should Win: Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) – Carol Dysinger and Elena Andreicheva
Who Will Win: Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) – Carol Dysinger and Elena Andreicheva

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

  • Brotherhood – Meryam Joobeur and Maria Gracia Turgeon
  • Nefta Football Club – Yves Piat and Damien Megherbi
  • The Neighbors’ Window – Marshall Curry
  • Saria – Bryan Buckley and Matt Lefebvre
  • A Sister – Delphine Girard

Who Should Win: Brotherhood – Meryam Joobeur and Maria Gracia Turgeon
Who Will Win: Brotherhood – Meryam Joobeur and Maria Gracia Turgeon

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM

  • Dcera (Daughter) – Daria Kashcheeva
  • Hair Love – Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver
  • Kitbull – Rosana Sullivan and Kathryn Hendrickson
  • Memorable – Bruno Collet and Jean-François Le Corre
  • Sister – Siqi Song

Who Should Win: Hair Love – Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver
Who Will Win: Hair Love – Matthew A. Cherry and Karen Rupert Toliver

Do you agree with these predictions for the 2020 Oscars? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Giants Hire Joe Judge As Next Head Coach. Now What?

Joe Judge

Actions speak louder than words, but saying the right things matter. That’s exactly how I feel after watching Joe Judge’s press conference. To the surprise of many including myself, the New York Giants hired Joe Judge as their next head coach.

To quote Snoop Dogg on The Breakfast Club, “Who?”

Judge is a 38-year-old coach who happened to work for two of the greatest coaches in football history: Nick Saban and Bill Belichick. If you ask me, that’s two of the best minds to learn something about football and how to be a head coach. Judge worked with the special teams in New England since 2012 and even worked with wide receivers this past season. (We’re not going to talk about that part.)

Did Judge become the Giants head coach via the process of elimination? Maybe. It’s clear the team was heavily interested in Matt Rhule, but the former Baylor coach went to Carolina after being offered a contract worth 7 years, $60 million, which the Giants declined to match.

However, when watching the Judge press conference, you can tell why the Giants were blown away with one of Belichick’s disciples. Discipline, work ethic, and accountability are three things the Giants lacked during the Ben McAdoo and Pat Shurmur eras. McAdoo and Shurmur didn’t exactly inspire confidence in fans and they would be two of the last coaches I would want to be stuck in a foxhole with at battle.

However, Judge makes you want to run through the nearest brick wall.

From an introductory standpoint, (Joe) Judge hit a home run. It’s clear he wants to turn things around by focusing on the fundamentals, finding well-disciplined players, and playing hard on both sides of the ball.

This all sounds great. It’s every fans’ wet dream. However, at the end of the day, it’s just words and what the Giants need are actions.

Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shephard, Evan Engram, and Darius Slayton is a nice, emerging offensive core. That’s a good start. Now, protecting Daniel Jones with competent offensive tackles is a priority.

However, the bad is bad and most of it is on defense. The Giants have zero pash rushers. (If anyone says Leonard Williams, then you can count, on me, waiting for you in the parking lot.) Big Blue needs linebackers desperately and the secondary has more questions than a game of “Clue.”

Plus, there’s another problem and that problem is named Dave Gettleman.

I’m not going to waste time on Gettleman and his deficiencies because I don’t want to beat a dead horse.

All I want from the Judge and the Giants is to put together a plan. That’s it. It sounds so simple, but the last couple of seasons have been so off-the-rails that a unified plan is exactly what this team needs. Protect Jones, build a defense, and honestly, just play hard. If the Giants struggle this year, but play like the Dolphins did for Brian Flores this past season, I’ll be ecstatic for the future.

The ball is your court, Joe Judge.

Follow me on Twitter, @danny_giro.

Can 1917 Shake Up The 2020 Oscars?

Awards season is in full swing. With just over two months before Oscar nominations, most of the potential nominees have been released in theaters, premiered at festivals, or at the very least, been screened by critics. However, there’s still one film on the horizon that hasn’t been seen by most. It’s this year’s “ace-in-the-hole” and it should be on everyone’s watchlist. That film is 1917.

1917 tells the story of two young British soldiers (George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman) who are given a seemingly impossible task during the height of World War I during Spring 1917 in northern France. The soldiers must deliver a message in enemy territory that will stop 1,600 men, including one of the soldier’s brothers, from walking into a deadly trap.

1917 is no ordinary war epic. Director Sam Mendes imagined and eventually directed the film as one continuous shot, meaning that the film will feel like a few long takes with choreographed moving camera shots. The idea behind the one-shot technique heightens the race against time as well as immerse the audience with the two young soldiers throughout the entire film. Cinematographer Roger Deakins, who worked on the film, worried that the one-shot approach was a “gimmick” at first, but he later said, “It’s a way to get sucked into the story.”

1917 is full of speculation in the film community because hardly anyone has seen it. The majority of critics have not seen this film and most likely won’t see it until the end of November. The film will have its world premiere on December 4 at a UK Royal Charity event. However, back in September, there were reports about a test screening with enthusiastic and positive reactions, with one source comparing it to Saving Private Ryan.

If the test screening reactions are a sign of what’s to come, 1917 could end up being the film that shakes up the 2020 Oscars. Right now, most critics have Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Irishman, and Marriage Story as the leaders of the pack this awards season. However, with strong reviews and a successful run at the box office, 1917 could catapult to the top of the Best Picture hopefuls.

First of all, the Academy loves war movies. Giant set pieces, elaborate battle sequences, and elegant costumes are right up the Academy’s alley. Out of 91 ceremonies, 16 films set against the backdrop of war have won Best Picture at the Oscars. Casablanca, Patton, Platoon, Braveheart, and The Hurt Locker are some of the war films that have won Best Picture. That list doesn’t include previously nominated war movies that didn’t win like Saving Private Ryan, War Horse, and Dunkirk.

The Academy also loves familiarity and rewarding previously nominated filmmakers and actors. Mendes directed American Beauty, which won five Oscars including Best Director and Best Picture. Deakins is a living legend and one of the most heralded cinematographers ever. Deakins has received fourteen nominations (!) for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, winning once for Blade Runner 2049. Plus, the cast includes Golden Globe and Oscar nominees and winners such as Richard Madden, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

1917 has all the ingredients of an Oscar-nominated film. I don’t see a world where 1917 isn’t nominated for Best Picture. 1917 should be nominated (and win) for Best Cinematography. Plus, it should clean up in all of the technical categories (film editing, sound editing, etc.) and there’s a chance that Mendes could pick up a nomination for Best Director.

Let the 1917 Oscar campaign begin.

Will 1917 be a force at the 2020 Oscars? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow, or email us immad@unafraidshow.com.

10 Best Movies Of The Decade

Determining the 10 best movies of the decade is a somewhat impossible task. For starters, there are thousands of movies to choose from so narrowing it down to 10 is not easy. That being said, a huge selection is a great problem to have. Think about how far movies have come in a decade. Who would’ve thought that streaming services would be winning Oscars? Maybe I’m the “old man yelling at cloud” but I didn’t think it would happen, but I’m glad it has.

When making my best of the decade list, I took into account the following factors:

  1. Do I rewatch the movie frequently and can I find something new every time?
  2. Do I think about it often?
  3. When I watch a film in the same genre, do I compare it to this film?
  4. Do I revisit scenes on YouTube?
  5. Was it a memorable theater viewing?

There were so many films I had to cut and if you talk to me in a few weeks, I’m sure I’ll adjust this list in some way, shape, or form. That being said, here are the 10 best films of the decade.

10. Free Solo

I watch movies to be inspired, and one of the most inspiring movies I’ve ever seen is Free Solo. I can’t remember leaving a theater saying “humans are awesome” until I saw Free Solo. Not only is the story of Alex Honnold’s death-defying climb inspiring, but it’s visuals are jaw-dropping. Even though I knew Honnold would complete the climb, my heart could not stop racing to the point where I debated on taking a xanax after it ended.

9. Get Out

By far, Get Out is the most memorable viewing experience I’ve ever had at a theater. I saw Get Out on a Sunday afternoon a few days after its premiere. The sold-out crowd was laughing, screaming, and cheering throughout the entirety of the film. I felt like I was at a basketball game. It’s an experience that will never be replicated. Get Out is one of the most unique pieces of social commentary I’ve ever seen. Jordan Peele is a genius.

8. Moneyball

Every year, you can make a case that X should have won the Oscar over Y. I understand it’s completely subjective and arguments can be made for or against every performance. That being said, one of the biggest crimes of the decade happened at the 2012 Oscars when Brad Pitt lost in Best Actor for Moneyball. Look at this category and make the case that any of these performances should have won over Pitt.

Billy Beane is my favorite Brad Pitt performance of all time. Pitt somehow made a movie about spreadsheets and on-base percentage so entertaining and riveting that whenever it’s on television, I stop everything I’m doing to watch.

7. Sicario

A “Best of the decade” list without a film from Denis Villeneuve should be invalid. This is Villeneuve’s decade of movies since 2013: Prisoners, Enemy, Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049. Swap in any of those for Sicario and you won’t hear a peep out of me. However, I’m going with one of the most underrated films of the 21st century, Sicario. It’s a thriller that relentlessly punches you in the stomach and shakes you to your core for two hours. It’s terrifying but brilliant.

6. The Wolf of Wall Street

I’m not fucking leaving! I’ve done an entire 180 on The Wolf of Wall Street. When I first saw it in 2013, I thought it was over-the-top, long, and ridiculous. Now, it’s one of the funniest movies of the decade and I appreciate all the aspects that I initially believed held it back. It’s an adrenaline rush fueled by cocaine and quaaludes. Oh, it also has one of the greatest living directors, Martin Scorsese, and actors, Leonardo DiCaprio, at the top of their games.

5. Parasite

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect a South Korean black comedy thriller from 2019 to be included in the best of the decade list. That all changed when I saw Parasite. I saw Parasite on a Friday afternoon in November, three weeks after it premiered in my local theater. The theater was packed. Parasite fever is real. Masterpiece is the only word that comes to mind when describing Bong Joon-ho’s film. Parasite successfully manages to be a popcorn thriller disguised as a social commentary piece on the wealthy versus the poor. Could this be recency bias? Honestly, who cares. Parasite is phenomenal.

4. Inception

Christopher Nolan is the greatest living director of mass spectacle. His ability to craft gigantic set pieces and enthralling action sequences is second to none. This spot on my list came down to Dunkirk or Inception. You can’t go wrong in my opinion. However, I went with his 2010 follow-up to The Dark Knight. Imagine directing the greatest comic book movie of all time and following that up with a film about the unconscious mind and our perception of what’s real and what’s a dream. That takes stones and Nolan has major onions. It’s a genius and innovative film that still keeps you guessing a decade later.

3. Mad Max: Fury Road

In an age where content is often rushed, Mad Max: Fury Road is the perfect example of when patience is rewarded. After a 30 year absence, Max Rockatansky returned to the big screen in 2015’s Max Max: Fury Road. This film is the greatest action film of the decade. From the exhilarating chase sequences to the spectacular performance from Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road proved that blockbusters can be both entertaining and thematically compelling.

2. The Social Network

The Social Network is a perfect movie. Having both David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin was a cheat code. Between Sorkin’s sharp script and Fincher’s keen direction, The Social Network is a spell-binding look into the mind of one of the most important minds of the 21st century. Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield Armie Hammer, and Justin Timberlake all give career-best performances. The score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is a triumph for cinematic music. How it lost Best Picture is beyond me. Spend your next two hours revisiting this 21st-century classic.

1. La La Land

This musical is a joy to watch. La La Land a love letter to all of the dreamers searching for a better life. The musical numbers are breathtaking and bring me so much joy. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone have so much chemistry together that it’s shocking to learn that they’re not a real-life couple. From Justin Hurwitz’s score to Damien Chazelle’s script and direction, La La Land is a film I find myself revisiting every week of my life. The ending is not your fairytale ending, but its sheer honesty is beautiful. Simply put, La La Land is why I watch movies.

What are your favorite movies of the decade? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet me, @danny_giro.

12 Greatest Christmas Movies of All-Time

‪It’s Christmas Eve. Most of us are celebrating with our family, friends, and loved ones. If you choose to spend some of that time watching movies, I have some help for you when deciding what to watch. Don’t waste your time watching other Christmas movies before you finish these 12. It just so happens that some of the greatest Christmas movies of all-time are not kid-friendly, so I have included the ratings. The best Christmas movies are those you can watch year in and year out and still be entertained. Be sure to leave a comment or drop an email unafraidshow@gmail.com. Here is the definitive list of the 12 Best Christmas movies of all time:  

12. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG-13)

Come hell or high water, Clark Griswold is determined to have a great Christmas. He hassles his wife and kids while trying to make sure the lights, tree and everything else is perfect. Between unplanned family members showing up and not getting a holiday bonus at work all hell breaks loose.  

11. Miracle on 34th Street (PG)

You can’t go wrong with either version of this Christmas classic. It’s the story of a man on trial for claiming to be Santa Claus. It is impossible to leave Miracle on 34th Street off the list despite only needing to see it once.   

10. Gremlins (PG)

There’s far more naughtiness than niceness on display in the 1984 horror-comedy Gremlins. There is a mystical Chinese creature known as a “mogwai” named Gizmo. It looks cute and cuddly, but when fed after midnight or touched by water it gives bubbling birth to mischievous monsters.  

9. The Best Man Holiday (R)

The Best Man Holiday is completely underrated as a Christmas movie. It has everything you want. There is football, family, food, presents, and surprises. You laugh and cry when friends and family get together for the first time in 15 years.  

8. A Charlie Brown Christmas (G)

Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism that he sees everywhere during the Christmas season. Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant, and Charlie Brown accepts. He tries to restore the proper Christmas spirit and teach those around him.  

7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (PG)

You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch. You really are a heel. You’re as cuddly as a cactus, you’re as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch. You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel! A classic Dr. Seuss book adapted for the movies. The people of Whoville get their villain and hero in one.  

6. Bad Santa (R)

Bad Santa is a hilarious dark comedy. Santa Claus is a cold-hearted, drunk, sex-addict, and thief who robs department stores. The story ends well when Santas ends up finding hope and a heart in from a little boy who is determined to give him a Christmas present.

5. Die Hard (R)

I cannot believe that some people have the nerve to debate the validity of Die Hard as a Christmas movie. It is set on Christmas Eve, John McClane delivers the gift of freedom, there’s a pregnant woman, and it has a great Christmas Song (Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC).   

4. Home Alone (PG)

There is no limit on the number of times that a person can watch and enjoy Home Alone. Macaulay Culkin is forgotten at home by his family as they leave on a trip. He is forced to battle a couple of dimwit thieves who he catches in the act of robbing a home.  

3. It’s a Wonderful Life (PG)

Not only is this a Christmas movie, but it is also a classic movie despite the genre. Few films define Christmas like Frank Capra’s 1946 fantasy starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, who, on the verge of committing suicide, is visited by an angel who shows him the true importance of his life.  

2. Trading Places (R)

Trading Places doesn’t get enough praise as a Christmas movie. This movie embodies everything about the Christmas spirit. It starts a few days before Christmas and ends after New Years Day. What better way to embody the Christmas spirit than by charity, love, and a little payback!  

1. A Christmas Story (PG)

Absolutely and unequivocally the Best Christmas movie of all-time! This movie teaches you about bullying, leg lamps, washing your mouth out with soap, and air rifles. It is impossible to forget the best line from the entire movie, “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

Uncut Gems Review: Adam Sandler Delivers Career-Best Performance In This Thriller On Steroids

In the trailer for Uncut Gems, there’s a clip where Howard Ratner, played by Adam Sandler, barricades Arno (Eric Bogosian), a loan shark who happens to be his brother-in-law, and Arno’s henchmen in the glass-enclosed security entrance at Howard’s store. As the trio angrily sits on the floor, one of the henchmen asks Howard if he’s having a good time. Even with his back up against the wall and knowing that things can only get worse, a desperate Howard sadistically smiles and says, “Yes.”

That sense of sheer desperation lingers throughout Uncut Gems, the latest thriller from brothers Josh and Benny Safdie. It’s the Spring of 2012 and Howard is a jewelry store dealer in the famous Diamond District of New York City. Howard is a Jewish family man with a severe gambling addiction who loves to risk-it-all at any chance he gets. As Josh Safdie said, Howard is not a loser, but a “winner who doesn’t win.”

There are four things Howard loves: money, gambling, his mistress, Julia (Julia Fox), and the opal. The Ethiopian stone, which Howard values at over a million dollars, is set to be Howard’s “Get out of jail free” card with his debts to Arno and his bookie. However, that all changes when Demany (LaKeith Stanfield), Howard’s friend, shows up with Boston Celtics’ star Kevin Garnett. As soon as Garnett sees the gem, he’s hooked, believing it will bring him good luck in the NBA Playoffs. Once Howard agrees to lend Garnett the stone for the game, Howard’s life is turned upside-down and tailspins out of control, culminating with a massive wager on Garnett and the Celtics.

The Safdie Brothers emphatically raise heart rates and amplify suspense brilliantly in their films as evidenced in Good Time and now Uncut Gems. Every cut and song choice further adds fuel to Howard’s desperation, making each decision more important than life or death. It’s a thrilling script from start to finish that rarely has any moments for the audience to catch their breath. Sandler is spectacular (more on this later), and the supporting cast keeps up with the legendary actor in every scene. Garnett is so magnetic and natural in his first movie role that the soon-to-be Hall of Famer has a future on the big screen. Stanfield continues to impress in every role as his star power steadily increases. Fox, also in her first role, is a revelation and her scene with The Weeknd and Sandler showcases her true potential. Even Mike Francesa, the Sports Pope himself, plays Howard’s bookie to perfection.

Adam Sandler / A24

With all that being said, Uncut Gems is Adam Sandler’s magnum opus. Sandler’s long and successful career has been building towards this performance. Howard Ratner is the perfect character for Sandler because it allows him to showcase his dramatic range while still keeping his comedic charm that audiences have loved since Saturday Night Live. From the accent and glasses to his desperation and risk-it-all attitude, Sandler is in complete control from start to finish. This is the Sandler performance the world has been waiting for and it’s a damn shame if Sandler doesn’t get recognized at the Oscars.

Uncut Gems is a basketball movie, a gambling movie, an addiction movie, and a thriller all wrapped into one. It’s the kind of movie that should be on most year-end lists. The Safdies and Sandler are a match made in heaven. Don’t walk to the theater. Run to it and enjoy the beautiful chaos of Uncut Gems.

9.0/10

What are your thoughts on Uncut Gems? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet me, @danny_giro.

2020 Oscars: Biggest Takeaways From Golden Globes And SAG Nominations

The chaos of awards season has only just begun. This past week, both the Golden Globes and SAG Awards released its nominations, which means it’s one step closer to the Oscars in February. The Irishman, Marriage Story, and Once Upon a Time In Hollywood all took giant steps towards Oscar glory while Little Women, Uncut Gems, and The Farewell have a lot of campaigning left to do. Here are the biggest Oscar takeaways from these nominations.

Four (Maybe Five) Movies Can Best Picture

Parasite / Madman Films

While the field of Best Picture nominees slowly narrows, the frontrunners are clear. As of 12/13, there are four films that can win Best Picture: The Irishman, Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Parasite. These four films are towards the top of every expert’s ranking on GoldDerby. The only film that could make it a five-way race is 1917, which hits theaters on Christmas Day. The Golden Globes will announce their Best Picture winners in early January, but the most important show for films looking to win Best Picture at the Oscars is the Producers Guild Awards (PGA). 21 of the 31 winners for Best Theatrical Motion Picture at the PGA Awards have gone on to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Win at the PGA Awards and you become the frontrunner.

Robert De Niro And Adam Sandler Are In Trouble

Best Actor is one of the most crowded races of the season. There are 10-15 performances that have legitimate cases for a Best Acting nomination. Two of the most notable names that are on the outside looking in are Robert De Niro for The Irishman and Adam Sandler for Uncut Gems. Both De Niro and Sandler failed to receive a best acting nomination at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards. This is less than ideal for their Oscar chances. De Niro has a better chance to crack into the field because of his previous Oscar wins, but Sandler is in serious trouble despite winning Best Actor from the National Board of Review. That being said, not all hope is lost. Bradley Cooper received a best acting nomination for American Sniper despite being shut out from the Globes and SAGs. The precedent is there, but the difficulty remains.

Can Anyone Beat Renée Zellweger or Laura Dern?

By the time the Oscars air on February 9, Renée Zellweger and Laura Dern will be experts at acceptance speeches. Both Zellweger and Dern are huge frontrunners for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively. The Academy loves transformations and honoring “Old Hollywood” so Zellweger portraying Judy Garland is like using L + Down, R + C-Right, R + C-Up, L + Right, L + C-Down, R + C-Up, L + Right, R + Down, L + Left, L + R + C-Right for invincibility in N64’s Goldeneye. Barring an unexpected nomination, Dern’s only competition is Jennifer Lopez, who was fantastic in Hustlers. In any other year, Lopez would be the favorite, but Dern’s on fire with an Emmy win and Golden Globe win since 2017. It’s her time to win the Oscar.

No Love For Little Women

This is my biggest surprise of awards season. Little Women has all the components for an awards season movie: Established filmmaker (Greta Gerwig), star-studded cast (Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Eliza Scanlen, Timothée Chalamet, Laura Dern, and MERYL STREEP), and a favorable release date (Christmas Day). Little Women checks all of the boxes and yet the film received two Golden Globes nominations and zero SAG nominations. It makes no sense. After nine Critics’ Choice Award nominations, Little Women has the ability to make a late-push for the Oscars, which is what I believe will happen. Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score are all possibilities.

Check back in January for Oscar nomination predictions. In the meantime, go see Parasite.

Follow me on Twitter for more analysis.

2020 Golden Globes Predictions: What Films And Shows Will Receive Nominations?

Awards season is about to kick into high gear this Monday morning when the nominations for the 77th Golden Globes are announced. The Globes are the most enjoyable and entertaining awards show because the biggest film and television stars are under one roof and drink like there’s no tomorrow. It’s my dream to attend a Globes afterparty (hit me up if you have an in).

That being said, it’s been a strong year in television thanks to hits like Fleabag, Succession, Barry, When They See Us, and Chernobyl. The year in film started off slowly but after the release of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, it’s really taken off with critically acclaimed films like Parasite, The Irishman, and Joker. With the Oscars in February, the Globes are a critical event for many actors and films that have Academy Award aspirations.

When predicting nominations, there are a few things to keep in mind.

  1. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) loves to spotlight new shows and talent.
  2. The HFPA LOVE stars. If there’s an A-list star in a movie or television show, whether it’s good or bad, there’s a solid chance they’re getting a nomination in order to guarantee their attendance.
  3. The Golden Globes don’t predict Oscar winners, but it’s a good barometer. For example, Rami Malek, Olivia Colman, Mahershala Ali, Regina King, Alfonso Cuaron, and Green Book all won Golden Globes before going on to win the Oscars in the same categories.

Here are my Golden Globes nomination predictions.

Marriage Story
Scarlett Johansson, Azhy Robertson, and Adam Driver in Marriage Story / Netflix

FILM

BEST MOTION PICTURE — DRAMA

The Irishman
Marriage Story
Little Women
Joker
1917

BEST MOTION PICTURE — MUSICAL or COMEDY

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Jojo Rabbit
Rocketman
Knives Out
Cats

BEST ACTOR – DRAMA

Adam Driver, Marriage Story
Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Robert De Niro, The Irishman
Adam Sandler, Uncut Gems
Paul Walter Hauser, Richard Jewell

BEST ACTRESS – DRAMA

Renee Zellweger, Judy
Saoirse Ronan, Little Women
Charlize Theron, Bombshell
Scarlett Johansson, Marriage Story
Lupita Nyong’o, Us

BEST ACTOR – COMEDY/MUSICAL

Eddie Murphy, Dolemite Is My Name
Leonardo DiCaprio, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Taron Egerton, Rocketman
Daniel Craig, Knives Out
Himesh Patel, Yesterday

BEST ACTRESS – COMEDY/MUSICAL

Awkwafina, The Farewell
Beanie Feldstein, Booksmart
Kaitlyn Dever, Booksmart
Constance Wu, Hustlers
Ana de Armas, Knives Out

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Al Pacino, The Irishman
Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Shia LaBeouf, Honey Boy

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Laura Dern, Marriage Story
Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers
Margot Robbie, Bombshell
Florence Pugh, Little Women
Zhao Shuzhen, The Farewell

BEST DIRECTOR

Martin Scorsese, The Irishman
Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Bong Joon Ho, Parasite
Sam Mendes, 1917
Greta Gerwig, Little Women

BEST SCREENPLAY

Marriage Story
The Irishman
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Little Women
Parasite

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

“Spirit,” Beyoncé, The Lion King
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” Elton John, Rocketman
“Beautiful Ghosts,” Taylor Swift and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats
“Glasgow,” Mary Steenburgen, Wild Rose
“Into the Unknown,” Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Frozen II

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Alexandre Desplat, Little Women
Hildur Guðnadóttir, Joker
Randy Newman, “Marriage Story”
Thomas Newman, 1917
John Williams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Parasite
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Atlantics
Les Misérables
Pain and Glory

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Toy Story 4
Frozen II
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Abominable
Weathering with You

Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Fleabag / Amazon

TELEVISION

BEST TELEVISION SERIES — DRAMA

Succession
The Crown
The Morning Show
Game of Thrones
Big Little Lies

BEST TELEVISION SERIES — MUSICAL or COMEDY

Fleabag
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Barry
Russian Doll
Schitt’s Creek

BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES or MOVIE

When They See Us
Chernobyl
Unbelievable
El Camino
Fosse/Verdon

LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA

Billy Porter, Pose
Jeremy Strong, Succession
Brian Cox, Succession
Tobias Menzies, The Crown
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones

LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION DRAMA

Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies
Olivia Colman, The Crown
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Sandra Oh, Killing Eve

LEAD ACTOR IN A TELEVISION COMEDY

Bill Hader, Barry
Ben Platt, The Politician
Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
Paul Rudd, Living with Yourself
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek

LEAD ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION COMEDY

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Hailee Steinfeld, Dickinson
Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll
Kirsten Dunst, On Becoming a God in Central Florida

LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM

Jharrel Jerome, When They See Us
Jared Harris, Chernobyl
Aaron Paul, El Camino
Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon
Mahershala Ali, True Detective

LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TELEVISION FILM

Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon
Merritt Wever, Unbelievable
Helen Mirren, Catherine the Great
Joey King, The Act
Kathryn Hahn, Mrs. Fletcher

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A SERIES, MINISERIES, OR TELEVISION FILM

Andrew Scott, Fleabag
Tony Shalhoub, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Stellan Skarsgard, Chernobyl
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A SERIES, MINISERIES, OR TELEVISION FILM

Meryl Streep, Big Little Lies
Toni Collette, Unbelievable
Patricia Arquette, The Act
Laura Dern, Big Little Lies
Helena Bonham Carter, The Crown

Check back for predictions in January and follow me on Twitter for more analysis

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week 15

College Football Rankings Week 8

After 14 weeks, the College Football Playoff comes down to the conference championships. By my calculations, seven teams can make the College Football Playoff: No. 1 Ohio State, No 2. LSU, No. 3 Clemson, No. 4 Georgia, No. 5 Utah, No. 6 Oklahoma, and No. 7 Baylor*. All of these teams will be in action this weekend in their respective championship games.

For comparison, my College Football Playoff includes:

  1. LSU
  2. Ohio State
  3. Clemson
  4. Georgia

I still don’t agree with the committee’s decision to switch LSU and Ohio State since LSU never lost, but that should change this weekend if LSU beats Georgia. In Week 15, all eyes will be on the Pac-12 Championship, SEC Championship, Big 12 Championship, and the Big Ten Championship. Here are the top five CFP storylines heading into the weekend.

Will Ohio State Or LSU Make The Playoff If They Lose?

If Ohio State and LSU win their respective conference championships, they’ll make the College Football Playoff. That’s an obvious fact. However, what happens if Ohio State or LSU lose? Do both teams have strong enough cases to still make the Playoff? Truthfully, I’ve watched enough football this year to confidently say that Ohio State and LSU are two of the four best teams in the country. Between Ohio State’s domination and LSU’s wins against top-10 teams, their resumes are extremely strong and better than those of Utah, Oklahoma, and Baylor. In terms of which team can afford a loss more, it’s Ohio State since they’re currently at 1. To drop from 1 to 5 would be drastic for the Buckeyes if they lost to Wisconsin. I don’t have the same conviction for LSU if they lose to Georgia and either Utah, Oklahoma, or Baylor wins. However, if Ohio State and LSU win, then there’s nothing to worry about.

Is Ohio State Making A Case For Best Team Ever?

I’m jealous of Joel Klatt for tweeting this before me, but we’re both on the same page. This year’s Ohio State team is on track to become one of the best teams of all time. Besides the 11-point victory over Penn State, Ohio State has won every other game by at least 24 points. Furthermore, the Buckeyes are fifth in total offense and first in total defense. Ohio State has the stud quarterback in Justin Fields, the workhorse running back in J.K. Dobbins, and the best player in college football, Chase Young. If Ohio State rolls through No. 8 Wisconsin, Clemson, and LSU on the way to a National Championship, then the Buckeyes will go down as one of the best teams of all time.

Utah Needs To Put Pressure On The Committee With A Dominant Win

For the fifth-ranked team in the nation, Utah has gone fairly under-the-radar because of their lack of television presence on the East Coast. Make no mistake about it, the Utes are for real. Utah’s defense punches teams in the mouth and never backs off. Since their only loss to USC back in September, the Utes defense has given up 15 or more points once. Although Utah sits just outside of the playoff, I’m not convinced they have a “win and in.” Conventional wisdom says Utah gets in if Ohio State, LSU, and Clemson win and Georgia loses. However, Utah still needs to make a statement against Oregon and dominate from start to finish. Utah must silence its critics and put pressure on the committee to choose the Utes for the playoff.

Does The Big 12 Have Any Chance Of Making The Playoff?

To answer the question, yes, the Big 12 has a chance to make the playoff. Both Oklahoma and Baylor sit at 11-1. The winner would be 12-1 with a Power 5 conference championship. The only problem is both teams need Utah to lose in order to surpass them in the rankings. If Ohio State, LSU, and Clemson win and then Georgia and Utah lose, the Big 12 champion should make the playoff. I’m calling my shot. That’s exactly what’s going to happen. The top 3 teams will win, Georgia and Utah will lose, and Oklahoma will beat Baylor. Oklahoma is going to be the fourth playoff team. Bank on it.

Is Clemson Out Of The Playoff If They Lose To Virginia?

Yes. Next question. I like Clemson and believe they are one of the four best teams in the country. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Clemson wins the whole thing. But if Clemson loses to Virginia in the ACC Championship, the Tigers don’t deserve to make the playoff. Clemson has the No. 85 strength of schedule and the worst loss in the Power 5 title games. Clemson must (and will) win on Saturday.

Bonus: Georgia Can Spoil The Party

Failing to write a paragraph about Georgia was not my intention. The Bulldogs are a good football team with impressive wins over No. 15 Notre Dame, No. 9 Florida, and No. 11 Auburn. The Bulldogs will keep it close against LSU. If the Bulldogs can force Burrow to make mistakes, Georgia could be representing the SEC in the playoff.

Also, how weird is it to see Alabama outside the top-10?

What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 15? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow, or email us at immad@unafraidshow.com.

*Rankings used in this article are from the latest College Football Playoff Rankings.

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week 14

After three months, the college football regular season comes down to one final week. No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 LSU, and No. 3 Clemson all control their own destiny. You could say that No. 4 Georgia also controls their own destiny as well since they will play LSU in the SEC Championship. However, teams like No. 5 Alabama, No. 6. Utah, and No. 7 Oklahoma will need some help to move up in the College Football Playoff rankings.

This past Tuesday, the committee revealed their latest playoff rankings*. The top five remain the same, but a string of one-loss teams sit at 6-9.

For comparison, my College Football Playoff after Week 13 includes:

  1. LSU
  2. Ohio State
  3. Clemson
  4. Georgia

I don’t believe in moving a team back after a win so LSU is still my number one. That doesn’t mean they’re better than Ohio State, but LSU has better quality wins so they’re still my top team. The regular season comes to an end with rivalry weekend. The marquee games include Ohio State taking on Michigan and Alabama traveling to Auburn. Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 14.

Can Ohio State Complete A Dominant Regular Season?

This year’s Ohio State team is approaching all-time great territory. Before the Penn State game, the Buckeyes had won every game by at least 24 points. Last week was easily Ohio State’s worst game of the season and they still won by double digits. Now, Justin Fields (who may be injured), Chase Young, and co. must go to the Big House and take on a hot Michigan team. If Ohio State goes to Michigan and dominates the Wolverines, the Buckeyes will move into the top 10 of the greatest college teams of all time.

Can LSU reclaim the top spot?

Last weekend, LSU destroyed Arkansas by 36 points and yet Ohio State surpassed the Tigers in the rankings. Neither Ohio State nor LSU wants to play Clemson, who will be the third seed if both the Buckeyes and Tigers win out. So both teams still want to impress the committee these final two weeks. Ohio State has the upper hand this week because beating Michigan on the road will go farther than LSU beating Texas A&M in Baton Rouge. That being said, if LSU knocks off Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, then the Tigers could catapult past the Buckeyes back to number one. Keep an eye on LSU this weekend to see if they run up the score to gain style points with the committee.

Utah Has A Path To The College Football Playoff

Simply put, Utah is the real deal. The Utes have the third-ranked defense in the country have allowed 7 points or less in five out of six games. Utah should get past Colorado this weekend and enter the Pac-12 Championship game at 11-1. Oregon’s loss hurt’s Utah’s resume, but it’s not a deal-breaker. Can Utah jump Alabama in the standings if the Utes are 12-1 with a Pac-12 Championship and the Tide are 11-1 with no conference title? The answer should be yes, but I’m not convinced it will happen. What Utah needs to do is dominate Colorado and then blow out Oregon in order to convince the committee they belong in the playoff.

Wisconsin And Minnesota Play For A Spot In The Big Ten Championship

The Big Ten West comes down to the last game of the regular season as No. 12 Wisconsin plays No. 8 Minnesota for the Paul Bunyan Axe. Last year, Minnesota defeated Wisconsin for the first time since 2003. This year, the stakes are even higher as the Gophers still have a fighter’s chance to make the playoff. Expect a low scoring game with an emphasis on ball control as both teams rank in the top five for time of possession.

Who Will Be The Top Group Of Five Team To End The Season?

The teams who will play in the New Year’s Six is starting to take shape, but which team will be from the Group of Five? Currently, the highest-ranked Group of Five team is No. 18 Memphis. After that comes No. 19 Cincinnati. Fittingly, Cincinnatti plays Memphis on Friday night with huge AAC implications on the line. If Memphis wins, they will play Cincinnatti at home for the AAC Championship next week. If Cincinnatti wins, then the game will be in Cincinnatti against either Navy if the Midshipmen win against Houston. If Navy loses, then Memphis will face Cincinnati in the title game. Tune in for Round 1 on Friday.

Bonus Storyline: Alabama Is Still Alive

Do not count out the Crimson Tide just yet. Alabama is more than alive for the playoff. The Tide are ranked fifth in the country and are on the outside looking in. If they get past Auburn in the Iron Bowl, they will have to sit and wait for the conference championships to finish. I’m not so sure that Utah, Oklahoma, Minnesota, or Baylor can pass the Tide in the rankings. We will know more after this weekend.

What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 14? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow, or email us at immad@unafraidshow.com.

*Rankings used in this article are from the latest College Football Playoff Rankings.