Cinema and Popcorn

1. ARRIVAL Denis Villeneuve's latest got huge praise at Venice and it was considered one of the biggest next award season's contenders. While the AMPAS is no big fan of a sci-fi drama, we can not forget that younger members of the branch might go for this one, since it is expected Arrival will make a big impression in the technical categories. But while Villeneuve is still waiting for the recognition of his directing work, Amy Adams is no new face to Oscar voters (raves for her performances in this one, people!) and she might be an advantage point a Arrival' s successful Oscar campaign. " Having said that, this is ambitious, accomplished filmmaking that deserves an audience. It’s a film that forces viewers to reconsider that which makes us truly human, and the impact of grief on that timeline of existence. At its best, and largely through Adams’ performance, the film proposes that we’ve all had those days in which communication breaks down and fear over the unk...

BEST ACTOR Everything seems defined at Best Actor category, but only God knows (and Oscar experts who make their bets every year) how things can change during and after awards season. Right now, Casey Affleck seems a sure nominee in this category for his high-class acting in Manchester by the Sea , while Denzel Washington is also a top contender for the cinematic adaptation of the play Fences, given how meaty his part is and the fact he won a Tony Award for playing this same character. Ryan Gosling benefits from La La Land hot Best Picture buzz and from being overdue for his second Oscar nod after remarkable performances in movies like Lars and the Real Girl , Blue Valentine or The Ides of March , and while AMPAS doesn't go along with a musical's leading man, truth is Gosling is at his most charming ever and critics went crazy about his performance, so, we can count with him in too (but I've to admit he fits the type of "shocking snub" when it comes to ...

1.  Scarlett Johansson Born:  November 22, 1984 in New York City, New York, USA - age 32 Breakthrough performance: The Horse Whisperer (1998) Distinguished performances: Lost In Translation (2003); Girl With Pearl Earring (2003); A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004); Match Point (2005); Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008); Don Jon (2013); Her (2013); Under the Skin (2014) Academy Award recognition: none 2. Joseph Gordon-Levitt Born: February 17, 1981 in Los Angeles, California, USA - age 35 Breakthrough performance: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) Distinguished performances: Mysterious Skin (2004); Brick (2005); The Lookout (2007); 500 Days of Summer (2009); 50/50 (2011); Looper (2012); Don Jon (2013); The Walk (2015) Academy Award recognition: none 3. Jennifer Lawrence Born:  August 15, 1990 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA - age 26 Breakthrough performance: The Burning Plain (2009) Distinguished performances: Winter's Bo...