The Contenders: Academy Awards 2017 - Part 3

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 unknown sets in." - Brian Tallerico in RogerEbert.com

Contending for:

• Best Picture
• Best Director - Denis Villeneuve
• Best Actress - Amy Adams
• Best Original Screenplay
• Best Editing
• Best Cinematography
• Best Original Score
• Best Sound Editing
• Best Sound Mixing
• Best Visual Effects

2. MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN

Good enough for Oscar consideration, Miss Peregrine (let's mention Burton's latest as simply Miss Peregrine, please) might have a nice shot at the most visual categories. Its director's universal is rich in visuals and while Miss Peregrine isn't sharp according to storytelling standards, truth be told it is a satisfying experience. Not seeing this getting the gold home, but Burton will add another Best Production nominee to his resumé (details in decoration piecesare simply enchanting if you watch carefully). It has also a nice shot at Makeup & Hair, but Oscar voter's often recognize less traditional works in that category.

"But the recognition of Burton’s whimsical sense of artifice is one of this movie’s chief pleasures, and it’s crucially lent a sense of emotional ballast by the director’s deep investment in the material. Set pieces that in other hands would feel like soul-deadening displays of CG prowess — the excavation of a sunken ship, a massive fight on a crowded public pier — instead feel like the wondrous stirrings of a young boy’s imagination. The sense of film craft here is so delicate and assured" - Justin Chang in Los Angeles Times

Contending for:

• Best Production Design
• Best Makeup & Hair

3. LETTERS FROM WAR

A poetic and beautiful to hear and to simply stare at the gorgeous black&white scenes of Letters from War, this art house piece of cinema almost offers a epic scale in directing, in spite of some flaws. Based on a real-life story and letters of one of the most celebrated portuguese novelists, Letters from War is a film festivals' darling but it will struggle to be as sucessful in theaters as it is in festivals. No matter what, AMPAS members often love to import tales of this kind from Europe and Portugual never had its Best Foreign Picture submission nominated, so... who knows? Cinematography can also be recognized if the movie hits a Best Foreign Picture nod.

"Sceptics may object that war on screen has rarely looked as beautiful as it does in Letters From War, the black and white feature by Portuguese director Ivo M. Ferreira. But this extraordinary non-narrative work illustrates the ability of the imaginative spirit – embodied here by a novelist in a combat zone – to find beauty and hope even amid horror and the soul-crushing tedium of the military condition." - by Jonathan Romney in ScreenDaily

Contending for:

• Best Foreign Picture (Portugal)
• Best Cinematography

4. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

It's not an inventive movie, a cinematic spectacle or one of those visually striking movies that often win most raves these days - instead, Manchester by the Sea succeeds because of the use of the most classic and traditional playbook in a successful way. What really elevates the movie is its sensitive directing, first class acting and a sharp screenplay which tells a rich and beautiful story. The "indie darling" of the year, coming straight from this year's edition of Sundance Film Festival, Manchester by the Sea is a strong contender for Best Picture for sure and it will secure a second Oscar nom to Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams, for sure. Mr. Lonergan has nice chances at best director too and Best Original Screenplay is a lock too. Manchester by the Sea will get the votes of the lovers of traditional familiar drama and indie community folks: and it deserves such recognition!

"Perhaps the most emotionally intelligent film you will see this year." - Kate Muir in Times (UK)

Contending for:

• Best Picture
• Best Director - Kenneth Lonergan
• Best Actor - Casey Affleck
• Best Supporting Actor - Lucas Hedges
• Best Supporting Actress - Michelle Williams
• Best Original Screenplay

5. DEEPWATER HORIZON

One of the most satisfying cinematic experiences of the year, Deepwater Horizon appeals to the human heart but also to your eyes and ears...! In fact, this one benefits from outstanding works in sound departments. Impressive scenes envolving flames might be a showcase for cinematography work and visual effects, while the intense action scenes will do wonders for the editing team. While it isn't a Best Picture contender, Deepwater Horizon features quality cinema and the work of crafted teams. Box-office performance was good and we all know the AMPAS tends to recognize blockbusters in sound, editing and visual effects departments. Mark Wahlberg's charisma always sells movies in award campaigns and the fact of having him re-teaming with Lone Survivor's director Peter Berg might also be appealing to the team of Oscar voters who love good action films.

"When things start going haywire director Peter Berg unleashes a prolonged, meticulously orchestrated bonfire of such magnitude and veracity you need to remind yourself it's a recreation and not the real thing." - Jim Schembri in 3AW

Contending for:

• Best Editing
• Best Cinematography
• Best Sound Editing
• Best Sound Mixing
• Best Visual Effects

6. BIRTH OF A NATION

Nate Parker's polemic words aside, we have to admit Birth of a Nation is a good movie, about an intriguing subject, with some flaws but also featuring some distinguished achievements. In fact, before Nate Parker polemic, Birth of a Nation was considered one of the major contenders to  Oscar race - Best Picture included - and while it lost most of its flame, Birth of a Nation still has some chances. While Best Picture and Best Director aren't as likely as they were before, because (alongside acting categories) these are the fields where reputation and public status play a huge part in the voting proccess. Still, I would say Parker's latest has nice chances at Best Original Screenplay (a category often used to express how asshamed AMPAS members were to vote a movie for Best Picture in spite of love it, so they honour the movie's screenplay) and Best Cinematography. Editing is superb in this one, but this category is often reserved to Best Picture nominees... Still, at the beginning of award season, everything can happen and maybe polemics have a more positive impact in word of mouth factor than most of us can hope! Black community Oscar voters might be divided between Birth of a Nation, Moonlight and Fences, this year, but don't count this one out, people!

"The Birth of a Nation is a flawed but fairly compelling chapter of the American story that powerfully resonates with how that story is playing out today." - Ann Hornaday in Washington Post

Contending for:

• Best Picture
• Best Director - Nate Parker
• Best Original Screenplay
• Best Editing
• Best Cinematography
• Best Production Design

7. The sole contender - The BFG

Contending for:

• Best Original Score