The Essential Films

Sunday, March 4, 2018

The 2018 Essential Film Awards

Celebrating the cinematic achievements of 2017.

Official 2017 Selections

__________

Best Film of the Year - Drama

THE SHAPE OF WATER

Guillermo del Toro

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Cast: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spencer

Screenplay: Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor

Producers: Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale

Cinematography: Dan Laustsen

Other Nominees:

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

DUNKIRK

GET OUT

LOGAN

__________

Best Film of the Year - Comedy or Musical

THE BIG SICK

Michael Showalter

Amazon Studios, Lionsgate

Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Anupam Kher

Screenplay: Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani

Producers: Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel

Cinematography: Brian Burgoyne

Other Nominees:

COCO

THE DISASTER ARTIST

I, TONYA

LADY BIRD

__________

ACTING AWARDS

Best Actor in a Lead Role - Drama

Hugh Jackman

LOGAN

Other Nominees:

Timothée Chalamet - CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

Daniel Day-Lewis - PHANTOM THREAD

Daniel Kaluuya - GET OUT

Gary Oldman - DARKEST HOUR

__________

Best Actress in a Lead Role - Drama

Sally Hawkins

THE SHAPE OF WATER

Other Nominees:

Annette Bening - FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL

Jennifer Lawrence - MOTHER!

Frances McDormand - THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

Meryl Streep - THE POST

__________

Best Actor in a Lead Role - Musical or Comedy

Harry Dean Stanton

LUCKY

James Franco - THE DISASTER ARTIST

Hugh Jackman - THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

Kumail Nanjiani - THE BIG SICK

Dan Stevens - THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS

__________

Best Actress in a Lead Role - Comedy or Musical

Margot Robbie

I, TONYA

Other Nominees:

Anne Hathaway - COLOSSAL

Saoirse Ronan - LADY BIRD

Daniela Vega - A FANTASTIC WOMAN

Emma Watson - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

__________

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Michael Stuhlbarg

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

Other Nominees:

Willem Dafoe - THE FLORIDA PROJECT

Woody Harrelson - THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

Richard Jenkins - THE SHAPE OF WATER

Sam Rockwell - THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI

__________

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Allison Janey

I, TONYA

Other Nominees:

Mary J. Blige - MUDBOUND

Holly Hunter - THE BIG SICK

Lesley Manville - PHANTOM THREAD

Laurie Metcalf - LADY BIRD

__________

Best Ensemble

Sally Hawkins, Doug Jones, Michael Shannon,

Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg

THE SHAPE OF WATER

Other Nominees:

THE BIG SICK

DUNKIRK

GET OUT

THE POST

__________

Best Performance in a Voice Acting Role

Saara Chaudry
THE BREADWINNER

Other Nominees:
Will Arnett - THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE
Benjamin Bratt - COCO
Bradley Cooper - GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2
Taika Waititi - THOR: RAGNAROK

__________

SKILL & TECHNICAL AWARDS

Best Director

Christopher Nolan

DUNKIRK

Other Nominees:

Guillermo del Toro - THE SHAPE OF WATER

Patty Jenkins - WONDER WOMAN

James Mangold - LOGAN

Jordan Peele - GET OUT

__________

Best Screenplay - Original Material

THE BIG SICK

Kumail Nanjiani & Emily V Gordon

Other Nominees:

COCO

GET OUT

LADY BIRD

THE SHAPE OF WATER

__________

Best Screenplay - Adapted or Historic Material

LOGAN

Scott Frank

James Mangold

Michael Green

Other Nominees:

THE BREADWINNER

THE DISASTER ARTIST

I, TONYA

THE POST

__________

Best Art Direction/Production Design

BLADE RUNNER 2049

Other Nominees:

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2

THE SHAPE OF WATER

THOR: RAGNAROK

WONDER WOMAN

__________

Best Cinematography

BLADE RUNNER 2049

Roger Deakins

Other Nominees:

DUNKIRK - Hoyte van Hoytema

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER - Thimios Bakatakis

MUDBOUND - Rachel Morrison

THE SHAPE OF WATER - Dan Laustsen

__________

Best Costume Design

PHANTOM THREAD

Other Nominees:

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI
WONDER WOMAN

__________

Best Film Editing

DUNKIRK

Other Nominees:

BABY DRIVER

I, TONYA

LOGAN

WONDER WOMAN

__________

Best Make-Up & Hair

THE SHAPE OF WATER

Other Nominees:

BLADE RUNNER 2049

DARKEST HOUR

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2

__________

Best Music - Original Score

DUNKIRK

Hans Zimmer

Other Nominees:

BLADE RUNNER 2049

PHANTOM THREAD

THE SHAPE OF WATER

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

__________

Best Music - Original Song

COCO

"Remember Me"

Other Nominees:

“Mighty River” MUDBOUND

“Never Enough” THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

"This Is Me" THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

“Visions of Gideon” CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

__________

Best Music - Song Score or Soundtrack

BABY DRIVER

Other Nominees:

ATOMIC BLONDE

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2

__________

Best Sound Design

DUNKIRK

Other Nominees:

BABY DRIVER

BLADE RUNNER 2049

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

__________

Best Stunts

BABY DRIVER

Other Nominees:

ATOMIC BLONDE

DUNKIRK

THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2

__________

Best Visual Effects

BLADE RUNNER 2049

Other Nominees:

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Okja

The Shape of Water

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

__________

FILM CATEGORIES

Best Action/Adventure Film

LOGAN

James Mangold

Other Nominees:

BABY DRIVER

DUNKIRK

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2

WONDER WOMAN

__________

Best Animation Feature Film

COCO

Lee Unkrich

Other Nominees:

THE BREADWINNER

COCO

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE

YOUR NAME

__________

Best Blockbuster

WONDER WOMAN

Patty Jenkins

Other Nominees:

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

__________

Best Documentary Film

ICARUS

Bryan Fogel

Other Nominees:

BATMAN AND BILL

FACES PLACES
FIVE CAME BACK

JIM & ANDY: THE GREAT BEYOND

__________

Best Foreign Language Film

A FANTASTIC WOMAN

(Una mujer fantástica)

Sebastián Lelio

Other Nominees:

OKJA

RAW
THE SQUARE

YOUR NAME

__________

Best Horror or Thriller Film

GET OUT

Jordan Peele

Other Nominees:

MOTHER!
IT

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER
RAW

__________

Best Limited Theatrical Release Film

THE FLORIDA PROJECT

Sean Baker

Other Nominees:

A GHOST STORY
THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER

LUCKY

MUDBOUND

__________

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Film

THE SHAPE OF WATER

Guillermo del Toro

Other Nominees:

BLADE RUNNER 2049
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

THOR: RAGNAROK

__________

The following films did not win any Essential Film Awards but are noteworthy for their cinematic contributions in 2017:

ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL

THE BABYSITTER

COLOSSAL

DARKEST HOUR

THE DISASTER ARTIST

FACES PLACES

FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL

FIVE CAME BACK

GERALD'S GAME

A GHOST STORY

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2

THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE

MOTHER!

MUDBOUND

PERSONAL SHOPPER

THE POST

RAW

THE SQUARE

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

THOR: RAGNAROK

Forced Perspective 104: Best of 2017

Mark, Adolfo and Draven run down their top 10 films of 2017, their overlooked/under-appreciated films and their bottom worst.  All the top films of 2017 are discussed: The Shape of Water, Get Out, Logan, Wonder Woman, Lady Bird, Call Me By Your Name and... Happy Death Day?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BgUdRX1MlI

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Forced Perspective 103: Phantom Thread, Darkest Hour, Lady Bird, Shape o...

FIRST ON YOUTUBE BEFORE ITUNES

(SPOILERS IN THIS EPISODE)

Today on our show:
• Phantom Thread
• Darkest Hour
• Ladybird
• The Shape of Water
• Call Me By Your Name
• Oscar Predictions

Thursday, March 1, 2018

This Week in History: Oscar History, King Kong, Daffy Duck, The Sound of...

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

This Week in Film History: King Kong, Daffy Duck, Spinal Tap, Oscars History

This week in Film History: •The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari •The Pilgrim •Lost Horizon •King Kong •The Curse of the Cat People •The Lady Eve •Duck Amuck •This is Spinal Tap •The Hunt For Red October •Dark City •Oscars History

STREAM IT or DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES

Forced Perspective #102: The Disaster Artist, The Greatest Showman, I Tonya, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

Music: http://www.purple-planet.com

FIRST ON YOUTUBE BEFORE ITUNES

Today on our show:

•Golden Globes Recap
•Razzie Nominations
•The Disaster Artist
•The Greatest Showman
•I, Tonya
•Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
•Oscar Nominations

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Forced Perspective Movie Podcast #101 - Thor: Ragnarok, Justice League, ...

Music: http://www.purple-planet.com

FIRST ON YOUTUBE BEFORE ITUNES

Forced Perspective Movie Podcast enters a brand new era with episode 101! Today on our show:

•Thor: Ragnarok
•Justice League
•Star Wars: The Last Jedi (SPOILERS)
•Disney/Fox acquisition
•MoviePass
•2018 Golden Globes

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Trading Places (1983)

TRADING PLACES

John Landis

1983 • 116 Minutes • 1.85 : 1 • United States

Paramount Pictures

Cast: Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Denholm Elliott, Jamie Lee Curtis

Screenplay: Timothy Harris, Herschel Weingrod

Cinematography: Robert Paynter

Producer: Aaron Russo

Awards

Academy Awards

Nominee: Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score - Elmer Bernstein

BAFTAs

Winner: Best Supporting Actor - Denholm Elliott

Winner: Best Supporting Actress - Jamie Lee Curtis

Nominee: Best Screenplay - Original - Timothy Harris, Herschel Weingrod

Golden Globes

Nominee: Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

Nominee: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: Eddie Murphy

SOME VERY FUNNY BUSINESS

SPOILERS AHEAD

You know, it occurs to me that the best way you hurt rich people is by turning them into poor people.

In this modern re-telling of Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper, John Landis explores class and race divisions of the 1980s. Louis Winthorpe III, a wealthy, successful and snobbish commodities broker for the Duke & Duke firm. Eddie Murphy is a street hustler and conman, Billy Ray Valentine. The two men's paths inadvertently cross one day, when Louis mistakenly (with a dash of racism) believes that Valentine is trying to rob him. The police quickly descend on him and cart him off to jail. Meanwhile, this gives Randolph and Mortimer Duke, Winthorpe's bosses, an idea. The two men are constantly arguing on the long standing debate of nature vs nurture. A plot is born as Randolph (Bellamy) bets his brother Mortimer (Ameche) that he can take a "useless" con man like Valentine, give him every advantage of wealth, and turn him into a success. Mortimer takes the bet, theorizing that even in a disadvantaged state, Winthorpe's superior genes will rise to the top and he can overcome any situation. Soon, the Dukes frame Winthorpe for theft, while at the same time bailing Valentine out of jail. They gift Valentine Winthorpe's home, money and butler, while Winthorpe spends the night in jail. His fiancee breaks up with him when a prostitute (paid off by the Dukes' henchman Clarence Beeks) comes onto him in front of her.

In his new role, Valentine learns all about trading and the stock market, finding he has a knack for it due to his street smarts. He quickly adapts to the pampered lifestyle and makes the most of it. Winthorpe flounders, first taking residence with the prostitute, Ophelia, (Jamie Lee Curtis), and falling into a downward spiral of drinking, drugs, pawning possessions and buying weapons. It all comes to a head when he tries to frame Valentine by planting drugs in his (old) office. The Dukes see what poverty has brought on to Winthorpe and settle their bet. Randolph wins for the tidy sum of 1 dollar. Valentine learns of the bet, tracks down Winthorpe and the two plot a scheme to take down the Dukes once and for all, using the stock market and (orange juice) as their main weapon.

Trading Places is a hilarious comedy, from start to finish, thanks to Murphy and Aykroyd, who were both at the peak of their post-Saturday Night Live careers. What is striking is the themes of race and class that are still prevalent today. Mortimer Duke, the Don Ameche character, believes that nature will win out in the bet. It is not a huge logic leap to see that he's talking about Aykroyd's status as a white man will always beat out Murphy's status as a black man, expecting Winthorpe to succeed and Valentine to fail. We also see how incredibly difficult it is for Aykroyd to survive and adapt to a socio-economic situation that plagues many African Americans. The film, through its comedic premise, is very clearly arguing for a leveling of the playing field. The film climaxes with the Dukes being punished for their greed, taken down by the very people they exploited, Valentine and Winthorpe. Or to put it another way, when the working man unites, regardless of race, they can topple the old money establishment. It's extremely satisfying.

The film was a major financial success for Paramount, grossing $90 million (approx. $263 million adjusted for inflation) and placed 4th of the top grossing films of 1983, behind Return of the Jedi, Terms of Endearment and Flashdance.

The film is not perfect. Some of the comedy is dated and overly broad, like Clarence Beaks getting stuck inside a gorilla suit. And the blackface by Aykroyd in the third act is embarrassingly cringe-worthy. But the performances by Aykroyd and Murphy overcome any bad comedy and turn it into all time classic. (Though, admittedly, I still need to look up exactly what Valentine & Winthorpe did to the Dukes at the end of the film every time I see it, as to the layman viewer, it's a little complex. All that really matters is that you know the Dukes lose.) Jamie Lee Curtis also got to display her comedic chops for the first time, breaking out of her "scream queen" roles in films like Halloween and Prom Night. Denholm Elliot as the put-upon English butler and Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy as the Dukes, round out the cast nicely. A perfect response to the "greed is good" attitude of the 1980s.

TRIVIA: The film was originally supposed to star Gene Wilder & Richard Pryor, who starred in successful buddy comedies like Silver Streak and Stir Crazy.

Friday, January 26, 2018

Now On YouTube: Short Subjects - A Look at the 2018 Oscar Nominations

Thursday, January 25, 2018