When I think of a movie sequel, I automatically think of a film that’s bigger and raised the stakes from its predecessor. That doesn’t mean it works. In fact, I’d argue that most sequels fail because it can’t recreate the magic that made the first film successful. In turn, failed sequels usually don’t bring anything new to offer so the film can’t stand on its own. When a sequel is done right, it’s special. When a sequel outdoes the original, it’s legendary.
On the Unafraid Show’s Twitter, we asked which three sequels would you pick from a list of nine films.
— the Unafraid Show with George Wrighster (@UnafraidShow) April 9, 2020
The Choices
The Dark Knight
The Godfather Part II
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (T2)
Toy Story 2
Aliens
Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Before Sunset
This lineup is the 1927 Yankees aka Murderers’ Row. Not only are they some of the best sequels ever made, but these movies are some of the most important films ever made. It’s like choosing between children (that I don’t have). One is by far your favorite, but all the others make compelling cases for spots two and three. You truly can’t make a bad decision when it comes to narrowing it down to three films, or can you?
By definition, a sequel is any movie that continues the story or expands upon the previous entry so, therefore, you could make a case that the third, fourth, and fifth films from a series are sequels. However, when I think of sequels, it’s the second movie that comes out after the original or the second film in a series of movies. It’s why films like Toy Story 3 or Mad Max: Fury Roadwere not included on the list.
Here are my picks.
The Dark Knight, Aliens, and in an upset, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers https://t.co/skM8XzTkfD
The Dark Knight – This is my favorite child out of the nine. The Dark Knight is one of my top five films of all time. I hold it near and dear to my heart. It changed how I thought critically about films. A superhero premise disguised as a neo-noir blew my mind. Christopher Nolan, one of my favorite filmmakers ever, opened up new doors for comic book adaptations and how these films could be massive events on a global scale. I haven’t even mentioned Heath Ledger yet, who gave the most memorable performance by any actor in the last forty years. Whenever The Dark Knight is on television, whatever I planned to do takes a backseat to the cat-and-mouse game between Batman and The Joker.
Aliens – Imagine looking at Alien and The Terminator (which Cameron wrote and directed) and thinking not only could you make a sequel, but you could make it better than the original? There’s a reason why James Cameron has two films on this list. T2 is a great movie, but Aliens kicks so much ass. It’s one of the greatest action films ever. Alien is more of a slow burn as the Xenomorph plays “hide and seek” as it takes out the crew one by one. On the other hand, Aliens is in-your-face, nonstop action as soon as Ellen Ripley and the crew land on LV-426. Aliens changed genre filmmaking forever. Aliens include edge-of-your-seat thrills along with being downright terrifying especially when the marines invade the nesting ground of the creatures. This movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Actress for Sigourney Weaver. A female action star receiving a Best Actress nomination in a sci-fi epic is something that doesn’t happen today. That’s how important Aliens is to the history of moviemaking.
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers– When making this list, I did not expect The Two Towers to crack the top 3 with the likes of Empire Strikes Back, Godfather Part II, and T2 still on the board. However, when I started to compare The Two Towers to its competitors in terms of rewatchability and enjoyment, The Two Towers stood taller than the rest. It starts and ends with The Battle of Helm’s Deep. Battle scenes were not a new thing in 2002. Just look at the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan and the fighting scenes in Braveheart. However, Helm’s Deep became the new standard for battle scenes thanks to its use of CGI. Before the Battle of Winterfell in Game of Thrones, The Two Towers had the title of the longest consecutive battle scene in movie and television history. The Battle of Helm’s Deep is a spectacular feat of filmmaking. However, the quieter moments behind the city walls and the scene-stealing Gollum are what make The Two Towers one of the best fantasy films ever made.
We took the discussion to Twitter and let’s just say people had some thoughts.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 / Universal
Using paint is not optional; it’s mandatory. In The Invisible Mantrailer, 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 onFire 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 Ladyon 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.
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE: Powerful love story. Stunning imagery. My theater was silent for 5 minutes after it ended. Will be thinking about the last half of the film for a long time. #PortraitOfALadyOnFire
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? 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.
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.
Slowly but surely, I'm creating my Top 10 movies of 2019. That being said, I guarantee that Parasite will be in my Top 3. Not only one of the movies films of the year, but it will eventually go down as one of the best films of the decade. #Parasite
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.
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
Great value here for the top three spots. 1917is the favorite because of Best Picture wins at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and PGAs. Right on its tailis 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, butTaika 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
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.
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
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.
The year in film for 2019 is about to close after the Oscars on February 9. Once that happens, we’re officially onto 2020 (Read that with a Bill Belichick voice). 2020 is going to be an interesting year. There are no Star Wars films and Disney is only releasing one live-action remake (Mulan). Most likely, the box office is going to be down, but that doesn’t mean the quality of films will diminish. Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, and Denis Villeneuve will all release films. Plus, Black Widow and Wonder Woman return to the center of pop culture. Here are the 10 most anticipated movies of 2020.
I tried to mix it up and include a variety of movies from different genres. I could have easily put both Marvel films, the new Fast and Furious (this is my personal favorite), and every awards season contender on the list. However, I tried to include one movie every couple of weeks so movie nerds like myself have something to look forward to every month.
The Invisible Man – February 28
Blumhouse has significantly changed the horror industry with how films are made and released. Low budgets and huge returns are the Blumhouse special. Since 2017, Blumhouse has produced four films that have grossed over $240 million: Split, Get Out, Halloween, and Glass. The next potential hit could be February’s The Invisible Man. Directed by Leigh Whannell (Saw writer), The Invisible Man stars Elisabeth Moss as Cecilia Kass, an abused ex who leaves her partner. However, when Cecilia’s ex commits suicide and leaves his fortune to her, Cecilia believes her ex is still alive as an invisible man, wreaking havoc in her life. Do not be surprised if The Invisible Man quickly grosses $100 million.
A Quiet Place Part II – March 20
A Quiet Place was phenomenal. Can A Quiet Place Part II live up to the hype? To be honest, I have no idea what to expect. The sequel revolves around the Abott family, led by Emily Blunt, and their fight for survival in the outside world. John Krasinski wrote and directed the sequel so he’s earned our trust. Don’t forget to pack a Xanax.
No Time To Die – April 10
Goodbye to my favorite Bond, Daniel Craig. Sign me the hell up for Craig’s final James Bond film. There’s no need to hype up a film that doesn’t need my help drumming up interest. I need another long tracking shot from Cary Joji Fukunaga more than I need air.
Wonder Woman 1984 – June 5
It took some time to find its footing, but DC found its first critical and financial hit with Wonder Woman in 2017. The 80s are hot right now so I support the decision to set the Wonder Woman sequel in 1984. 2020 and 2021 are going to make or break the future of the DCEU. In succession, the DCEU will release Bird of Prey, Wonder Woman 1984, The Batman, The Suicide Squad, and Black Adam over the next two years. Your move, Marvel.
Tenet – July 17
Christopher Nolan, espionage, and time travel. Do I need to say anything more? Christopher Nolan movies are the only original movies in Hollywood that can be advertised as events. Prepare to be mind blown.
The French Dispatch – July 24
As I tweeted out earlier, “Cast. Stacked.” The French Dispatch is Wes Anderson’s first live-action film since 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. Not much is known about Anderson’s latest film, but it’s described as a “love letter to journalism.” That cast is enough for me to buy a ticket.
Last Night In Soho – September 25
Edgar Wright’s follow up to Baby Driver will be Last Night In Soho. This is all I have on the film and it’s from Empire: In 1960s London, Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie), who may or may not live in the decade, starts an unusual friendship with Sandy (Anya Taylor-Joy). It’s described as a psychological horror, but look for Wright to add his typical comedic spin like he’s done in the past films like Shaun of the Dead and Baby Driver.
Do you remember the 2015 Twitter thread about the tale of a stripper and her crazy friend? It is WILD. Turns out, Twitter threads make good movies. Zola, which is based on the thread, premiered to positive reviews at Sundance. I don’t want to spoil anything for you. Whether you read the thread or go in blind, Zola will be insane.
Mank – TBD
David Fincher's first movie in six years (#Mank) and Charlie Kaufman's first film in five years are both coming to Netflix in 2020.
David Fincher has not directed a film since 2014’s Gone Girl. During the 6-year absence, he essentially became the godfather of Netflix thanks to his work on House of Cards, Mindhunter, and Love, Death & Robots. Fincher will still be working with Netflix, but this time, it’s for a film called Mank, which centers around Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), and his battles with Orson Welles over the screenplay credit for Citizen Kane. I don’t see a world where Mank is not a huge part of next year’s awards season.
This is the big one. This will determine if Denis Villeneuve, who I believe had the best decade for a director in the 2010s, can join Christopher Nolan and create films that become events. The movie is Dune, which revolves around the son (Timothée Chalamet) of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy. It’s based on the 1965 novel of the same name. It’s noteworthy that David Lynch also adapted the novel into a feature film in 1984. I’m most curious about its release date and box office performance. This will be the first time since 2014 where December will not have either a Star Wars or superhero movie on its release schedule. Can Dune fill this void and become a giant blockbuster?
What is your most anticipated movie of 2020? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
As Jim Cramer might say, “buy, buy, buy.” I’ll be first to admit that I’m horrible with financial stocks. I pretend to know what I’m saying when it comes to IPOs and annual reports, but I’m actually clueless. That being said, when it comes to scouting acting talent, I’d like to think I can spot a few superstars in the making. I had my chips in early on Saoirse Ronan and Jennifer Lawrence and those bets have paid off significantly. For these four actresses, superstardom is on the horizon.
It’s not Mount Rushmore season, but here are my four actresses to watch in 2020.
Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh in Little Women / Sony
Breakout Star of the Year starts and ends with Florence Pugh. Lamar Jackson is a close second. From the end of 2018 to 2019, this is Pugh’s run: Outlaw King, The Little Drummer Girl, Fighting with My Family, Midsommar, and Little Women. Soon, Pugh will become an international superstar in the upcoming Marvel film, Black Widow. Pugh has such a strong and commanding presence that she seems to steal the show in every film she’s in. Look at what Pugh did in Little Women. Amy was famously the most hated March sister. Thanks to a brilliant script from Greta Gerwig, Pugh brought Amy from the outhouse to the penthouse and even picked up her first Oscar nomination for the performance. All aboard the Florence Pugh Hype Train.
LITTLE WOMEN: For the 7th adaptation, Greta Gerwig somehow made her version seem so fresh and original. Jumping back and forth between timelines was brilliant. Saoirse, as always, delivers. Florence Pugh is going to be the biggest star on the planet one day. #littlewomen
Maya Erskine delivered one of the sneaky-best / most enjoyable performances of the year as Alice in Plus One. The film stars Erskine and Jack Quaid as two friends who decide to attend weddings together as each other’s date in order to avoid the fact that all of their friends are getting married. If you’re in your late 20s, this movie is not a work of fiction, but rather, a documentary. Erskine is hilarious and charming in one of the better rom-coms of the past five years. Plus, along with Anna Konkle, Erskine co-created and starred in Hulu’sPEN15, the hysterical series about the trials and tribulations of middle school in the early 2000s. Konkle and Erskine star as 13-year-old versions of themselves, which provides countless laughs and cringeworthy moments. Binge now to bask in Erskine’s comedic genius before season 2 arrives in 2020.
Jessie Buckley
Jessie Buckley is on a rocketship to superstardom. It is a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY that “Glasgow (No Place Like Home)” did not receive a nomination for Best Orginal Song. The world was robbed of an all-time Oscar moment because Buckley will not be able to perform this beautiful song at the Dolby Theatre. For now, go watch Wild Rose on Hulu. Wild Rose stars Buckley as Rose-Lynn Harlan, an aspiring country singer from Glasgow who dreams of moving to Nashville and becoming a star. It’s a delightful film with a knockout performance from Buckley. The talented actress also starred in Chernobyl as the pregnant wife of the fallen firefighter. Buckley is joining my must-see list, where I’ll watch anything that a certain actor or actress is in regardless of the subject matter. Buckley has a packed 2020 including a starring role in Fargo season 4 and the latest film from Charlie Kaufman, I’m Thinking of Ending Things.
Ana de Armas
Ana de Armas in No Time to Die / Universal Pictures
Once I saw Ana de Armas in War Dogs, I was sold. As Stevie Wonder sings, “Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours.” If you didn’t see War Dogs, Knock Knock, Hands of Stone, your first introduction to de Armas could have been Blade Runner 2049. However, her true breakout role with American audiences happened in Knives Out, one of the best films of 2019. Knives Out proved to me that de Armas could star in big productions and deliver memorable performances. De Armas’s profile is about to skyrocket when she portrays a CIA agent in the new Bond movie, No Time to Die. Furthermore, de Armas will play the iconic Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. There’s no stopping the Cuban-Spanish actress.
Do you agree with this list? Do you want to add anyone? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet me, @danny_giro.
