Revisiting Brink: Andy Brinker Did The Right Thing By Joining Team X-Bladz

Brink!

When you woke up this morning, did you say to yourself, “Today I’m gonna talk or today I’m gonna skate?” That question is at the very heart of the Disney Channel Orginal Movie, Brink! Disney+ is not just for kids. It’s not only saving parents thanks to Frozen 2, but it’s saving young adults like me who want to relive their favorite movies of their childhood since Disney+ carries Disney Channel Orginal Movies.

The Luck of the Irish, Smart House, Zenon, and Johnny Tsunami are all towards the top for me, but Brink! will always be in the number one spot. I’m assuming if you’re reading this (it’s too late) article, you’ve seen Brink! before, but just in case, here’s a simple summary. Erik Von Detten is Andy “Brink” Brinker, a high school inline skater whose system of beliefs revolves around “soul skating.” Brink and his three friends (Jordy, Peter, and Gabriella) believe in soul skating, which means they skate for enjoyment and for fun, not for money. When Brink’s family runs into financial trouble, Brink betrays his friends and joins their rivals, Team X-Bladz, a sponsored skating team where skaters receive payment for their performance. The team is led by Val, an egotistical, cheating douchebag who is a GREAT villain.

Last weekend, I revisited Brink! for the first time in years thanks to Disney+. Don’t worry, the movie still holds up over 20 years later. However, I had one huge takeaway and it’s something that 8-year-old me would hate.

My Take: Brink made the right move when he joined Team X-Bladz.

There, I said it. Brink had to do what was best for his family. The fact that Jordy, Peter, and Gabriella kicked Brink off his own team was mind-boggling. They never let him truly explain his actions. Brink could have committed murder and the trio would have stuck with him, but Brink decides to make some money for his family and he’s Benedict Arnold.

Did Brink betray his friends’ trust? Yes. Should Brink have been honest with his friends from the beginning? Of course. Did he make the wrong decision by joining Team X-Bladz? Absolutely not. Brink’s family was in financial trouble. His mom, a real estate agent, was struggling to sell houses and his dad, a construction worker, was on disability and there’s no guarantee he’d get his job back. Brink did not join Team X-Bladz to bond with Val. He joined because he wanted to make some money for his family. If you ask me, that’s very admirable for a high school student.

Brink didn’t join Team X-Bladz for free. He was making $200 a week. TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS A WEEK. Find me a better paying job for a high schooler who inline skates. I don’t even think inline skaters make that much in 2020. Who the hell was sponsoring Team X-Bladz? Bill Gates? Who thought it was a good idea to pay teenagers money to skate for a living? Regardless, $200 a week is not going to pay the mortgage, but it can supply Brink’s family with groceries and other small purchases. $200 a week leads to $800 a month, which leads to $2400 every three months and $9,600 per year. That’s pretty damn good for a teenager in 1998.

A lot of kids want to be professional athletes when they grow up. What’s better than getting paid to play a sport? Using that mindset, wouldn’t Brink want to be paid to continue his inline skating career? I doubt that he was going to study biology in college. What Peter and the gang didn’t understand was when Brink went to Team X-Bladz, it opened the door for their entry as well. Brink would eventually become the leader since Val sucks and would have run into trouble with the law. I’d bet my life savings that Val would get lost in a pyramid scheme or a pump-and-dump security fraud. Once that happened, Andy could have made an ultimatum to Team X-Bladz. His friends are allowed to join or Brink walks away. Do you think X-Bladx would let the Tony Hawk of inline skating walk away from their team? Not a chance. Imagine Team Pup n Suds joined Team X-Bladz to form one super team. They would never lose a competition. In this scenario, everyone in Brink’s crew would get paid to skate. The soul skating mantra would still be alive, but they’d be making money doing what they love.

Brink made the right decision to join Team X-Bladz. However, he didn’t execute his plan properly. Once Peter, Jordy, and Gabriella joined Team X-Bladz, all would have been well with the world. Don’t hate Andy for making money. Soul skating doesn’t pay the bills.

Did Andy Brinker make the right decision by joining Team X-Bladz? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @danny_giro.

What Is The Greatest Television Theme Song Of All Time?

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air television theme song

What is the greatest television theme song of all time? Christopher Gates posted this question on Twitter.

I was born in the early 1990s so I apologize in advance to the older crowd for missing theme songs from the 1950s-1990s. I respect Happy Days, The Jeffersons, The Brady Bunch, M*A*S*H, and Cheers (which could be #1 on a lot of lists), but I rarely watched those shows so therefore, I never made a connection to their theme songs.

With so many theme songs, I’m going to forget many of the great themes so please take hit me up on Twitter, @danny_giro, and let me know what song should be added to the list.

Honorable Mention

Full House

Whatever happened to predictability?

Law & Order

DUN DUN.

One Tree Hill

Gavin DeGraw has a sneaky-good discography and this anthem will live on in the lives of many teenagers.

Gilmore Girls

Whenever I think of the Gilmore Girls theme song, the word, “delightful,” comes to mind.

The Wire

This might ruffle some feathers. The Wire is one of the greatest television shows of all time. However, I view the theme as an experience, not as a song. Most of the songs on this list were made to be catchy. The Wire‘s theme was made to tell a story about what to expect in the upcoming season. It served a purpose and didn’t care about making the Billboard Hot 100. Every season has a different recording of “Way Down in the Hole.” My rankings for each recording by Season: 1, 4, 2, 5, 3.

Friends

Even if the opening theme for Friends is allowed on the list, it misses my top 5 by a hair. It’s still a jam at any ’90s bar.

The Golden Girls

An instant smile on my face whenever I hear “Thank You for Being a Friend.”

My Top 5

5a/5b. Game Of Thrones/The Office

I wanted to include at least one instrumental theme song on the list, but I cheated and named two. The Game of Thrones theme opening song is a long, intricate masterpiece. The graphics are superb, highlighting the regions that would be covered in the episode. When that cello hit on a Sunday night at 9 PM, you knew it was time to visit Westeros. On the flip side, The Office theme is a short, uplifting tune that’s a head-bopper. When a theme is good enough to be remixed by Lil Wayne, then it’s a flat out winner.

4. The O.C.

I fully expect to be in the minority on this one. First of all, The O.C. Season 1 is as close to perfection as you can get. The pilot is top 10 in my book. Without The O.C., there are no MTV reality shows like Laguna Beach. There’s no Real Housewives of any city, and “The Californians” on SNL ceases to exits. When the drums start to build and you’re about to belt out “California” as loud as you can, that’s when you know it’s special.

3. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

Finish the lyric: “Now this is a story all about how…” I’m a betting man by nature so I’d venture to say that if you walked up to 10 strangers under the age of 50, seven of them would be able to finish the lyric with “my life got flipped-turned upside down.” You’re a true Fresh Prince fan if you can rap the longer version with “First class, yo this is bad, drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass.”

2. Family Matters

https://youtu.be/kYvNiKwWvhk

This is my favorite piano opening to a television theme. It makes me want to pull out my keyboard and tickle some keys. (I’m not good at playing the piano.) Fun fact: Steve Urkel was not featured in the original opening credits. Urkel appeared midway through the first season as a one-time appearance. However, Urkel was so beloved that he eventually became a main cast member and the show’s most memorable character.

1. Growing Pains

The reigning, defending, undisputed television theme song champion of the world is Growing Pains. Once “show me that smile again” hits my ears, without hesitation, I reply with “show me that smile.” Everything about this theme song is perfect. The show’s premise revolves around growing up so adding pictures of the cast at various stages of their lives was a genius move. “As Long As We Got Each Other” is a beautiful duet that will always hold a special place in my heart.

What is the greatest television theme song? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us your answers, @unafraidshow.

This Is Us Season 4 Finale: Three Predictions For Season 5

This Is Us

The story of the Pearson family came one step closer to the ending after the Season 4 finale. Overall, this was probably my second favorite season in the entire series (behind Season 1). Kevin, the MVP of Season 4, went from the dumb, good-looking brother to a smart, charismatic character that’s layered with emotion and depth. That’s character growth at its finest. Randall still did his thing, Kate grew as a mother, and Jack and Rebecca remain perfect.

Going into last night’s episode, I made four predictions.

1) Kevin will wish Randall was never adopted.
2) Rebecca knew about her future memory issues early on. (Dr. K told her)
3) Jack D will name his daughter, Rebecca.
4) Kevin’s fiancée is a complete stranger that will be introduced tonight.

One out of four isn’t bad, but it’s not good. I would’ve bet my life savings that the baby’s name would be Rebecca. Since more babies are on the way (more on that later), there’s still time to name one of them Rebecca. To recap, these were the major components revealed in last night’s episode.

  • Kevin said the worst day of his life was when Randall came home for the first time, causing the schism in the family.
  • Madison is pregnant with twins and Kevin is the father.
  • Kate and Toby decide to adopt a daughter, Hailey.
  • Jack’s daughter is named Hope.
  • Both Nicky and Kevin wear a wedding ring in the flash-forward.
  • Rebecca is going to St. Louis for the clinical trial with Miguel.

It’s time to look ahead to Season 5. If you haven’t done so already, read Dan Fogelman’s interview where he discusses the Season 4 finale and gives some hints for future seasons. There are two seasons left, but a lot of unanswered questions. Here are three predictions for Season 5 of This Is Us.

*This post will contain major spoilers from the Season 4 finale of This Is Us. You’ve been warned.

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This Is US / NBC

Kevin Will Name His Daughter After His Mother

Someone is going to name their child, Rebecca, in honor of the matriarch of the Pearson family. It has to happen. Kate honored her father by naming her son, Jack. Randall has no more kids so Kevin is one of the last lines of defense. We know that Kevin will have a son and a daughter. This is his chance to name his daughter, Rebecca. It’s only fitting that Jack and Rebecca’s legacies live on through their grandchildren. Also, don’t be surprised if Kevin names his son, Nicky, after his uncle.

Miguel Will Die

This may not happen in Season 5, but this is coming. Miguel is going to die before Rebecca eventually passes. With Rebecca going to St. Louis for the trial, Fogelman mentioned that the writers have planned a big storyline for Rebecca which includes a deeper look into her relationship with Miguel over the decades.

Bonus Note: Is Kate going to die? The Internet seems to believe she’s dead due to her lack of involvement in the flash-forwards. There are only three options: Kate dies, she divorces Toby, or she’s still married to Toby. I came out swinging from the beginning of Season 3, saying that Kateis doomed. My tune has changed a bit because if Rebecca dies at the end of the show, I don’t see that moment happening without all members of the Big Three. For reference, this is what I wrote in September 2018.

The Birth Of Twins Will End The Fight Between Kevin And Randall

Fogelman also stated that the theme of Season 5 was “rebirth” and a lot of new beginnings are on the horizon. In the flash-forward from the Season 4 finale, Kevin and Randall embrace, which means their feud most likely ended years ago. If that’s the case, when did the Pearson brothers bury the hatchet? My money is at the birth of Kevin’s children. Major events seem to happen at the hospital. Randall was adopted when Kevin and Kate were born and Kevin stopped drinking when Jack Damon arrived. I can’t think of a better place for Kevin and Randall to forgive each other than at the hospital after the birth of Kevin’s children.

What are your predictions for Season 5 of This Is Us? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us @unafraidshow.

The Unafraid Show’s Quarantine Binge Guide: Movies

Movies unafraidshow

Now that you’ve watched all of our television recommendations, it’s time to focus on movies. With thousands of films to choose from, I tried to stick to films that came out within the past three years. From action thrillers to romantic comedies, this list has it all. Stay inside and watch movies. It’s that easy.

The Unafraid Show Quarantine Binge Guide: Movies

The Pound For Pound Streaming Champ – Mission Impossible: Fallout

Mission Impossible: Fallout: 147 minutes. Watch on Hulu or Amazon Prime.

Right now, the pound for pound champ on the streaming services is Mission Impossible: Fallout. It’s rare to find a franchise that continues to improve with each new addition, but that’s exactly what Mission Impossible has done. No actor or actress understands how to physically and emotionally channel a specific role more than Tom Cruise and his portrayal of Ethan Hunt. Don’t let the death dying stunts distract you from the film’s brilliant and suspenseful story. Watching Fallout will be the best two and a half hours you spend today.

A Star Is Born That’s Not Named Gaga – Wild Rose

Wild Rose: 101 minutes. Watch on Hulu.

“Shallow” was the best musical moment of 2018. In 2019, Lady Gaga passed the torch to Jessie Buckley with her performance of “Glasgow (No Place Like Home)” in Wild Rose. Why didn’t we pay attention to this film more upon its release in April 2019? Unfortunately, I’m guilty as well since I didn’t see the film until January 2020. However, I’m atoning for my mistake by shouting about the brilliance of Buckley from every rooftop in New York City. Unlike most stocks on the DOW, Buckley’s stock is trending upwards thanks to stellar performances in Wild Rose and Chernobyl. Don’t believe me? Listen to her sing “Glasgow” at the 2020 BAFTAs. I dare you to tell me she’s not a star. Go ahead. Try me.

Humans Are Awesome – Free Solo

Free Solo: 100 minutes. Watch on Hulu or Disney+.

Every so often, a movie comes along that leaves you speechless. Your mind can’t comprehend what occurred onscreen and it fills you with the belief that anything is truly possible. For me, that movie is Free Solo. The film profiles Alex Honnold on his journey to perform a free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. For those that don’t know, a free solo climb occurs when climbers don’t use any ropes, harnesses, or protective equipment. It’s you, a bag of chalk, and the rock. The visuals in Free Solo may be magnificent, but they can make you sick to your stomach. In a time where inspiration is hard to find, Free Solo will inject you with hope and optimism.

A Delightful Movie – Long Shot

Long Shot: 125 minutes. Watch on HBO Go.

The surprise couple of 2019 was Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron. Who knew they had so much chemistry? I’m not trying to belittle the film by describing it as delightful. Long Shot is delightful because I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing throughout the movie. Maybe that’s because I was so surprised by how well it worked. Theron could turn water into wine, which is why she’s one of the best working actresses in Hollywood. However, I did not expect such a sweet and thoughtful performance from Rogen. The actor still made me laugh with his stoner persona, but it was his believable performance as a man in love with his crush that won me over.

Don’t Chew Your Popcorn Loudly – A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place: 90 minutes. Watch on Hulu or Amazon Prime.

The tagline should have been “A Quiet Place: You Will Need A Xanax To Watch.” It’s difficult to describe A Quiet Place without revealing any spoilers. Essentially, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, and their two children live in a world where blind creatures attack when they hear a sound hence why they need to be quiet. It’s a quick, entertaining horror film that’s a damn good time. Keep your chewing sounds to a minimum.

Maya Erskine Fan Club – Plus One

Plus One: 98 minutes. Watch on Hulu.

Welcome to the Maya Erskine Fan Club. Please take your seat as the meeting will begin shortly. As I wrote in this piece about rising actresses, Erskine had a great 2019. First, Erskine and her creative partner, Anna Konkle, released the charming and hilarious show, Pen15, on Hulu. Then, Erskine built on that momentum with Plus One, a romantic comedy about two friends that agree to be one another’s plus ones to future weddings. Erskine’s excellent comedic timing and strong chemistry with Jack Quaid made Plus One a contender for most underrated movie of the year. It’s one of the better rom-coms of the past five years. Go watch Plus One, and I’ll see you at the next meeting.

Rapid Fire

Let’s Blow Some Shit Up – 6 Underground. 128 minutes. Watch on Netflix. Ryan Reynolds plays Deadpool without a mask in a Michael Bay film with more explosions than Saving Private Ryan‘s opening scene. Sign me up.

You Need To See This Movie To Believe It – Midsommar. 148 minutes. Watch on Amazon Prime. Lol. That’s really all I have to say about Midsommar.

The Movie That Reignited Rom-Coms – Set It Up. 105 minutes. Watch on Netflix. Rom-coms didn’t die in the 2010s. They just took a break. Set It Up reignited the genre.

Pete Davidson Can Act – Big Time Adolescence. 90 minutes. Watch on Hulu. I really, really enjoyed this version of Pete Davidson.

Lizzo’s Lyrics As A Movie – Booksmart. 105 minutes. Watch on Hulu. I just took a DNA test turns out… You know the rest. Booksmart rules.

https://youtu.be/Uhd3lo_IWJc

Watch Parasite Before You Watch Anything Else – Parasite. 132 minutes. Rent on VOD or wait until April 8 when it streams on Hulu. Nothing else matters until you watch Parasite. It will change your life.

What movie will you be watching? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

The Unafraid Show’s Quarantine Binge Guide: Television

Television UF

Are you stuck inside? Do you practice social distancing? Are you slowly losing your mind? I’ll cut right to the point. This global pandemic sucks. It’s scary and nervewracking. Be smart, stay safe and most importantly, stay inside! I’ve been working from home for well over a year so I was born from the seclusion just like Bane was born from the darkness. Since you’re inside, it’s time to binge that television show you’ve always wanted to watch, but never had the time to put in the effort? Guess what? Now is the perfect time for a quarantine binge watch.

My recommendations will be for shows that are either currently on television or premiered a season within the past year or two. I don’t need to beat a dead horse and say to watch classic shows like The Wire, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and The Sopranos. There’s no better time than now to watch those iconic programs. For me, The Sopranos has always been my white whale. I never finished it all (shame on me), but I’m making an effort to go back and rewatch it. See, I’m flawed human, too.

Here it is. The Unafraid Show Quarantine Binge Guide: Television

The Best Show Of The Past Year – Fleabag

Fleabag
Fleabag / Amazon Prime

Fleabag: Two seasons, 6 episodes per season, 20-28 minutes per episode. Watch on Amazon Prime.

I’m running out of words to describe Fleabag. But, I did have a lot to say when the second season premiered this past April. Fleabag is one of the most creative shows ever made. It will make you piss your pants and cry your eyes out. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a god.

Let’s Get Weird – Devs

https://youtu.be/aoNloYTsH0Y

Devs: Currently in 1st season, 3 episodes released, 50 minutes-1 hour per episode. Watch on Hulu.

The plot description for Devs is pretty straightforward. Lily Chan (Sonoya Mizuno), a software engineer, believes her boyfriend was murdered by her employer, the Amaya Company, which is run by the CEO, Forest (Nick Offerman). However, after a few minutes of the first episode, the show quickly becomes a haunting and mesmerizing thriller based around technology. Devs‘ creator is Alex Garland, the mind behind Ex Machina and Annihilation. Similar to those two movies, Devs has many twists and turns that will fuck with your mind, but it a good way.

Smoke Weed With Your Friends And Laugh Your Ass Off – The Real Bros Of Simi Valley

The Real Bros of Simi Valley: Currently in 3rd season, 4 episodes in S1/10 eps in S2/5 eps released so far in S3, 6-25 minutes per episode. Watch Season 1 on YouTube and Seasons 2-3 on Facebook Watch.

Do you even burn, bro? The weed is optional, but watching Real Bros is mandatory. Real Bros is a parody of The Jersey Shore and The Real Housewives set in Simi Valley. From truck nut obsessions to kickbacks, Jimmy Tatro created a series that is just as funny as it is ridiculous in nature. Squash your beef, get exterior, and binge the show in one sitting.

Quarantine And Chill – You

You: 2 seasons, 10 episodes per season, 41-50 minutes per episode. Watch Netflix.

Hello, you. To be honest, lifetime shows are usually not my cup of tea. They’re usually too melodramatic for my liking. However, You is different. The show highlights a creep who stalks girls and commits evil acts of violence. I wouldn’t say You is a fun show, but it was built to binge with your significant other. It’s uncomfortable at times, but it will spurn a conversation after every episode. Again, I usually wouldn’t watch this show, but it’s so damn addicting.

Watch With Me – Jack Ryan

Jack Ryan: 2 seasons, 8 episodes per season, 40-64 minutes per episode. Watch on Amazon Prime.

This is my current show of choice. I’m late to the game, but Jack Ryan is an enjoyable binge. I’ll watch a CIA political thriller about an analyst attempting to stop a terrorist attack any day of the week. The charismatic John Krasinski is the star, but Wendell Pierce’s presence creates a buddy-cop dynamic that leaves you wanting a spinoff with the two characters.

Girls Kick Ass – Killing Eve

Killing Eve: 2 seasons, 8 episodes per season, 41-55 minutes per episode. Watch on Hulu.

Fleabag might have been my favorite show of 2019, but Killing Eve owned that title in 2018. Killing Eve portrays a cat-and-mouse game between Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), a British intelligence officer, and Villanelle (Jodie Comer), a psychopathic assassin. Oh and Comer give spectacular performances and the duo have undeniable chemistry. The “will they, won’t they” romantic narrative adds to the show’s addictive nature and suspense. Plus, Phoebe Waller-Bridge wrote the first season. Enough said.

Rapid Fire

Best Star Wars Show That Star Wars Fans And Non-Star Wars Fans Will Love – The Mandalorian. 1 season, 8 episodes, 31-46 minutes per episode. Watch on Disney+. MANDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. It’s a bounty hunting adventure that happens to be set in the Star Wars universe. Even if you hate Star Wars, The Mandalorian rules.

Think You Have It Bad? – Chernobyl. 1 season, 5 episodes, 60-72 minutes each. Watch on HBO. A reminder that acting quickly helps and every decision matters. The show may be full of existential dread, but the subject matter is important, compelling, and captivating.

Comics Are Cool – Watchmen. 1 season, 9 episodes, 52-67 minutes per episode. Watch on HBO. Give comic book adaptations a chance! Watchmen is too smart for its own good. It’s brilliantly paced and expertly thought out. Regina King is a badass. Tick tock.

Don’t You Forget About Me, I’m Still The Best Written Show On TV – Better Call Saul. Currently in its 5th season, 10 episodes per season, 42-61 minutes per episode. Watch Seasons 1-4 on Netflix and Season 5 on AMC. Like LeBron James, it’s important to appreciate greatness during its run because when it’s gone, it’s gone forever. That’s Better Call Saul in a nutshell.

Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby – Sex Education. 2 seasons, 8 episodes per season, 47-59 minutes per episode. Watch on Netflix. A raunchy sex comedy is somehow one of the sweetest and most endearing coming-of-age stories on television.

If You Know, You Know – The End of the F***ing World. 2 seasons, 8 episodes per season, 19-24 minutes per episode. Watch on Netflix. If you know, you know. Just watch this quirky and funny little show.

NoHo Fucking Hank – Barry. 2 seasons, 8 episodes per season, 26-35 minutes per episode. Watch on HBO. Once you meet NoHo Hank, you’ll be hooked. It also helps that Barry is one of the best dark comedies I’ve ever seen with Bill Hader’s best performance as an actor.

https://youtu.be/b09aJdWqVp4

Did I miss anything? Do you have more suggestions? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

How I Would Defeat The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man

Could you defeat an invisible man? Ever since I saw The Invisible Man, which I thoroughly enjoyed, it’s the only debate that matters in my life. I read an article from Newsweek about the invisibility suit in the film and how it’s more plausible than other iterations of invisible men. That’s good enough for me to assume this could happen.

After taking some time to plan my attack, I’ve determined that I could defeat an invisible man. With the right tools and traps, I, a blogger, could outsmart a scientific genius. Here’s what I need and how I would do it.

Will include very light spoilers about The Invisible Man, but I won’t give away any major plot points.

Walk With A (Blind) Cane*

Getty Images

With an invisible man in the vicinity, I need something to try and physically feel his presence before he sneaks up on me. If he somehow gets within a foot of me, I’m history. This is where a cane comes into play. The cane potentially puts a few feet of space between myself and the invisible man. If the cane hits him, I can swing away like Merrill in Signs.

*I don’t want to offend anyone that’s blind so I’d ask the blind community if I could use this type of cane. If not, I’d just get a really long walking cane. An invisible man could kill me, but I won’t let a Twitter mob get the same chance.

Carry A Knife

pocket knife
Unbox Therapy

As the iconic Lil Wayne once said, “Always strapped (when there’s an invisible man on the run).” Let’s assume this invisible man has the same suit from the movie, which is made up of cameras to make the suit appear invisible. In order to render the cameras ineffective, they need to be altered or destroyed. A pocket knife can puncture the suit, but at the very least, it will break some of the suit’s cameras. The suit will malfunction, making him visible at times. Plus, if I stab hard enough, there’s a chance I could puncture his skin, causing blood to run down his body, which would give me a temporary outline of his body. For the pro-gun crowd, I would only use a gun at home, but I’d still be hesitant to bring it out. If the invisible man got a hold of the gun, I’m history. If he gets the knife, I have a fighting chance.

Water Guns Or Squirt Bottles With Paint

The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man / Universal

Using paint is not optional; it’s mandatory. In The Invisible Man trailer, Elisabeth Moss’s character pours paint on the invisible man, which outlines most of his body. Visibility is the key to his demise so I need to have paint on me at all times. If I’m in my house, I’d rock a super soaker full of paint. If I’m in public, carrying around a tiny squirt gun or bottle should do the trick.

Hire A Police Dog

Sussex Police Dog

Logistically, I don’t expect the cops to rent their K9 to me in order to stop an invisible man. Would that be cool? Yes. Is it realistic? Probably not. That being said, having a big dog to attack the intruder would only be beneficial so if any person has a well-trained German Shephard, hit me up.

Break Glass To Track Footsteps

In Mission Impossible I, when Ethan Hunt returns to the Prague safe house after the failed mission, he breaks a light bulb and scatters the glass pieces all over the hallway leading up to his room. If someone walks over the glass, Hunt knows an intruder is close. That’s exactly the same logic I’m using to defeat the invisible man. My plan would be to hunker down in a room and scatter broken glass all over the room. If he’s in the room, I’ll hear his footsteps. Coffee, which was used in the movie, and legos will also work.

How I Would Defeat The Invisible Man

Using all of my knowledge and gear, this is my plan to defeat an invisible man. I’m assuming the invisible man is a psychopath so he’ll hunt me even if I’m stocked with supplies. Psychopaths are arrogant. If you plan it, he will come.

  • Pick one room in my house that has a corner with no window in the vicinity.
  • Shatter glass all over the room.
  • Have an arsenal of paint cans and water guns.
  • Once I know he’s in the room, light him up with paint.
  • Use pepper spray to temporarily blind him.
  • Stab him multiple times to destroy the cameras.
  • Call the police while he’s subdued.
  • Watch him rot in prison.

Seems pretty easy to me.

How you would defeat the invisible man? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

Portrait Of A Lady On Fire Review: Beautiful Story Of Forbidden Love

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Portrait of a Lady on Fire is one of the most powerful portrayals of forbidden love you will ever see. Winner of Best Screenplay at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the film begins with the titular portrait of a lady on fire. Marianne, played by Noémie Merlant, is visibly moved when her art students bring out the portrait unbeknownst to her. There’s significant meaning behind this vivid painting, and director Céline Sciamma expertly fills in the details, one stroke at a time

Portrait of a Lady on Fire chronicles Marianne, an 18th-century French painter hired to paint the portrait of Héloïse, played by Adèle Haenel. Marianne travels to a remote island in Brittany at the orders of Héloïse’s mom, The Countess, played by Valeria Golino, to paint the portrait. Héloïse, who was abruptly removed from the convent, will soon be forced into a marriage with a nobleman from Milan. The Countess explains to Marianne how Héloïse refuses to sit for her portrait so she must paint in secret and go on daily walks with Héloïse in order to memorize her features. The finished portrait will be a gift to Héloïse’s future husband that she will marry soon enough.

Adèle Haenel in Portrait of a Lady on Fire / Neon

At first, Marianne and Héloïse struggle to bond as they both err on the side of caution. Héloïse feels trapped in a marriage she wants nothing to do with and Marianne wants to act on her desires but hesitates in her initial encounters. It’s a game of chicken as Marianne and Héloïse hesitate to make the first move. However, as the two women spend more time together, their chemistry is magnetic and the sexual tension is palpable. The “will they, won’t they” narrative builds whenever Marianne and Héloïse look into each other’s eyes. There’s a time constraint that lingers over the love story, but Sciamma meticulously crafts a slow burn that is in no rush to end.

For a film that uses little music, the silence speaks volumes. It’s the quiet moments that Marianne and Héloïse spend together on the beach and in bed that the audience will cherish. On this island, these women express themselves in any way they please. Forbidden love can’t last, but the freedom to love is more important because it’s their choice. They are not bogged down by the restraints of society and the orders of powerful men. Marianne and Héloïse challenge each other intellectually just as much as they embrace romantically. Whether debating the tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice with Sophie (Luàna Bajrami), a maid, or pondering their impending futures, Marianne and Héloïse create a world to themselves even if it’s only for a few days.

Thanks to stunning imagery and a brilliant script, Portrait of a Lady on Fire will move you in ways you didn’t think were possible. The final scene will leave you motionless and short of breath. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire is as beautiful as it gets.

4.5/5 Stars

Note: My goal is to see more foreign films in 2020. I absolutely loved Parasite, which was my favorite film in 2019. As Bong Joon-ho said, “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” Neon produced Parasite as well as Portrait of a Lady on Fire so it’s clear the studio has good taste. I encourage everyone reading this to at least go into 2020 with an open mind when it comes to movies. See anything and everything, but at the end of the day, just see something.

2021 Oscars: Way-Too-Early Predictions

2021 Oscars

2021 Oscars? It’s never too early! Going into the 2020 Oscars, I expected all of the favorites to win. 1917 and Sam Mendes would win Best Picture and Best Director, respectively. Joaquin Phoenix, Renée Zellweger, Brad Pitt, and Laura Dern would win in their respective acting categories. I would have been fine with all of those decisions.

Then, the unthinkable happened.

Hearing “Parasite” still gives me goosebumps. Parasite not only won Best Picture, Best Orginal Screenplay, and Best International Feature, but Bong Joon-ho shocked the world when he won Best Director. I’m here to firmly state that Parasite is the real deal. It was my favorite movie of 2019 and it deserved every major award and then some.

That being said, it’s time to look ahead to the 2021 Oscars. It may be considered “downtime” for award season movies, but I’m always looking towards what’s on the horizon. I did this same article last year and my predictions were rocky, to say the least. It’s bad, but I’ve definitely seen worse. Here were my predictions in Feb. 2019.

*Did not pick supporting categories

After I clean my mouth of vomit from those predictions, I’ll move on. So what’s on tap for 2020 that we could see at the 2021 Oscars? Three heavy hitters come right to mind: Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck reunite as writers for the first time since Good Will Hunting in The Last Duel. Guillermo del Toro should be releasing his followup to the Oscar-winning The Shape of Water. Sofia Coppola, Wes Anderson, Spike Lee, David Fincher, and Aaron Sorkin all have films coming out in 2021. A lot can change from now until next February. However, here are my way-too-early (and reckless) predictions for the 2021 Oscars.

Best Picture

  • Dune
  • The French Dispatch
  • Hillbilly Elegy
  • Mank
  • Nightmare Alley
  • Nomadland
  • Tenet
  • The Trial of the Chicago 7
  • Untitled David O. Russell film
  • West Side Story

Best Actor

  • Adam Driver, The Last Duel
  • Anthony Hopkins, The Father
  • Christian Bale, Untitled David O. Russell film
  • Denzel Washington, Macbeth
  • Gary Oldman, Mank

Best Actress

  • Amy Adams, Hillbilly Elegy
  • Ana de Armas, Blonde
  • Cate Blanchet, Nightmare Alley
  • Frances McDormand, Macbeth
  • Jennifer Hudson, Respect

Best Supporting Actor

  • Bill Murray, On the Rocks
  • Chadwick Boseman, Da 5 Bloods
  • David Strathairn, Nomadland
  • Mark Rylance, The Trial of the Chicago 7
  • Willem Dafoe, Nightmare Alley

Best Supporting Actress

  • Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy (If this movie gets positive reviews, expect a HUGE campaign for Close for Best Supporting Actress. Once again, if the movie is well-received by critics, Close will finally win an Oscar.)
  • Jodie Comer, The Last Duel
  • Octavia Spencer, The Witches
  • Rita Moreno, West Side Story
  • Saoirse Ronan, Ammonite

Best Director

  • Chloe Zhao, Nomadland
  • David Fincher, Mank
  • David O. Russell, Untitled film
  • Steven Spielberg, West Side Story
  • Wes Anderson, The French Dispatch

If I get more than 5 of these predictions right, I’ll be happy. See you next February.

Do you agree or disagree with my predictions? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @danny_giro.

Betting The 2020 Oscars: Best Bets To Make

Ready for the 2020 Oscars? First, I gave you my picks. Now, I want to make you some money. Betting the Oscars is not a typical bet. It’s not like a sports bet where the result is determined live. Oscar bets are voted on by the Academy so essentially, we’re betting on how a group of people voted. It’s not easy, but there are some keys to look for while betting the 2020 Oscars.

  • Use Results From Other Award Shows As Guide – It’s very rare for an award winner to come out of nowhere. Usually, each category has one to three contenders. In most cases, these contenders won awards at major shows like the Golden Globes, SAGs, or BAFTAs. Furthermore, for technical awards, there are guild awards given out for crafts like writing, editing, and cinematography. The more awards won at the guilds, the better the chances of winning an Oscar.
  • Favorites Win A Lot – This doesn’t help when it comes to making money, but it does pay off to pick favorites if you are doing an Oscars pool where you have to pick winners without odds.
  • Look For Bets With The Best Value – The bets I’m suggesting to make are not “locks.” Most of them are underdogs and long shots. They may not win, but it’s your best chance of making money. Try to avoid categories where the favorite is significantly out of reach.
  • Bet At Your Own Risk – I’m not legally obligated to say this, but I’m going to say it anyway. Have fun, but be smart!

*Odds taken from Draftkings at 5:30 PM EST. Subject to change.

My picks do NOT reflect who I believe will win. They reflect the best bet you can make to win the most money.

Best Picture

DK Best Picture 2020

Great value here for the top three spots. 1917 is the favorite because of Best Picture wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and PGAs. Right on its tail is Parasite, which won the Best Ensemble Award at the SAGs and will win Best International Feature Film. My pick is 1917 because the PGA winner has won 8 of the last 10 Best Pictures at the Oscars. Plus, it has great odds for a frontrunner. I’d bet on both 1917 and Parasite. If you have extra money to blow, sprinkle a little cash on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The Academy loves Tarantino and they love movies about Hollywood. 10 to 1 odds make for a great payout.

Bets To Make: 1917 in Best Picture -125 and/or Parasite in Best Picture +150

Every Acting Category

Do you like lighting your money on fire? If so, then you’ll love betting on the acting categories. I’m trying to make a case for any actor not named Renée Zellweger, Joaquin Phoenix, Brad Pitt, and Laura Dern, but I can’t do it with a straight face. All four actors are heavy favorites and have few losses on their resumes this season. Even though I don’t believe this will happen, if I had to pick one upset, it would be Scarlett Johansson in Best Actress. I can’t advise anyone to place a bet on an underdog in any of these categories, but Scar Jo in Marriage Story would be my play.

Bet To Make: Scarlett Johansson in Best Actress +1000

Best Original Screenplay And Best Adapted Screenplay

Two categories, two underdogs that have legitimate shots at winning. Let’s start with original screenplay. Parasite is the favorite because of wins at the WGAs and BAFTAs. However, right on Director Bong’s heels is Mr. Quentin Tarantino. You can never count out Tarantino in the original screenplay category because of his two previous wins for Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained. I would never blame someone for betting on Tarantino. In adapted screenplay, Jojo Rabbit also picked up wins at the WGA and BAFTAs. However, Greta Gerwig wrote the best adaptation of Little Women to date. Do not count her out, but Taika Waititi and Jojo is the best bet to make.

Bets To Make: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in Best Orginal Screenplay +150 // Jojo Rabbit in Best Adapted Screenplay -177

Best Sound Editing And Best Sound Mixing

DK sound editing mixing Oscars 2020

The 1917 domino starts in the technical categories. If it wins in both sound editing and sound mixing, then 1917 is due for a huge night. That’s a possibility that may end up happening. However, for betting, Ford v Ferrari as a slight underdog in both categories is juicy. Ford v Ferrari is a very loud and effective film. If I had to choose which category Ford v Ferrari will win, I’m going with sound mixing.

Bet To Make: Ford v Ferrari in Best Sound Mixing +125

What are your best bets for the 2020 Oscars? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

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.