Oscars to Finish Off Awards Season

Written by Jon Williams

This time of year is traditionally awards season in Hollywood, when the best films of the past year are recognized. The season culminates with the most coveted awards, the Academy Awards, which will be handed out this year at the 90^th annual ceremony, to be held March 4 in Hollywood. The nominees were named earlier this week, with the prestigious Best Picture category being populated by nine outstanding films.

The movie with the most nominations is The Shape of Water with a whopping thirteen, including Best Actress (Sally Hawkins), Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), and Best Supporting Actor (Richard Jenkins). Guillermo del Toro is up for Best Director, an award he won at this year’s Golden Globes, as well as Best Original Screenplay along with co-writer Vanessa Taylor. Behind The Shape of Water is Dunkirk with eight nominations. Most of them are in the so-called “technical” categories, although Christopher Nolan did score a Best Director nominations.

One of the most decorated films of awards season so far is Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. It will play a major part on Oscar night as it has seven nominations, including Best Actress (Frances McDormand) and two Best Supporting Actors (Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell). Three Billboards was already named Best Picture (Drama) at the Golden Globes, where McDormand and Rockwell also took home their awards. With a SAG Award for Best Performance by a Cast under its belt as well, Three Billboards may have a big showing at the Academy Awards.

Following Three Billboards are two films with six nominations each. Gary Oldman has earned much acclaim for his portrayal of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour, winning Best Actor at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards. Incredibly, if he won, it would be his first Academy Award; however, he faces stiff competition. Daniel Day-Lewis has won Best Actor three previous times, and is up for it again this year for his performance (in what he says is his last role) in Phantom Thread. Among that film’s six nominations are nods for Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson) and Best Supporting Actress (Lesley Manville).

Another film with a number of awards already this season is Lady Bird, which has five Oscar nominations. It won the Golden Globe for Best Picture (Musical or Comedy), and Saoirse Ronan won that same night for Best Actress, which she is up for at the Academy Awards as well. Among its other nominations are Best Director for Greta Gerwig—after many felt she was unjustly ignored for a Golden Globe nomination—and Best Supporting Actress for Laurie Metcalf.

Get Out is something of a surprise with its four nominations, if only because it at least nominally belongs to the horror genre, which rarely sees any awards season recognition. But the performance by breakout star Daniel Kaluuya demanded attention, which his Best Actor nomination delivers. The movie was also nominated for Best Director (in his directorial debut) and Best Original Screenplay for Jordan Peele, who is primarily known for his comedy work in television.

Call Me by Your Name also scored four nominations, including Best Actor for Timothée Chalamet. It is also the only Best Picture nominee to also be nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, as it was based on the novel of the same name by André Aciman. And rounding out the nominees is the historical journalism film The Post, which, in addition to its Best Picture nod, also garnered a record 21^st acting nomination for Meryl Streep.

That does it for this year’s Best Picture nominees, but there are plenty of other movies that have the potential to make some waves at the upcoming Oscar ceremony. Among them are Roman J. Israel, Esq. (Best Actor nominee Denzel Washington), I, Tonya (Best Actress nominee Margot Robbie and Best Supporting Actress nominee Allison Janney), The Big Sick (Best Original Screenplay), and the nominees for Best Animated Film (The Boss Baby, The Breadwinner, Coco, Ferdinand, and Loving Vincent). And for the film music buffs, don’t forget the nominees for Best Score (Dunkirk, Phantom Thread, The Shape of Water, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) and Best Song (Mudbound, Call Me by Your Name, Coco, Marshall, and The Greatest Showman).

So that’s a quick look at the upcoming Academy Awards. The ceremony is sure to drive a great deal of patron interest in the winners and nominees, so use the links above or SmartBrowse on our website to find these movies and others by these incredible performers and directors. In the meantime, let us know your picks for the night’s big winners!

SAG Awards Packed with All-Star Performers

Yesterday morning, Judy Greer (The Descendants) and Regina King (Southland) stepped up to the podium at the Pacific Design Center’s SilverScreen Theater in West Hollywood to announce the nominees for the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. The awards honor outstanding performances in 2011 in five film and eight primetime television categories as well as outstanding action performances by film and television stunt ensembles.

The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will air live on TNT and TBS on Sunday, January 29 at 8 p.m. EST from the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. An encore performance will air immediately following on TNT at 10 p.m. EST. They’ll hand out the stunt ensemble awards from the red carpet before the show.

According to sagawards.org, out of the top industry accolades presented to performers, “only the Screen Actors Guild Awards are selected solely by actors’ peers in Screen Actors Guild.  Two nominating panels—one for television and one for film—each composed of 2,100 randomly selected Guild members from across the United States, chose this year’s actor and stunt ensemble honors nominees.”

The award categories are stacked with fine performances—from George Clooney in The Descendants to Melissa McCarthy of Bridesmaids to the entire cast of The Help—that it’s hard for me to speculate on any shoe-ins, at least for film—except for Michelle Williams’ stunning portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn. Many believe she is a surefire bet to win.

As for television, I have my fingers crossed for the much-deserving Broadwalk Empire star, Steve Buscemi, to win the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series sward.

And while I know some people may love the ridiculousness that is Glee, I am pulling for any other comedy ensemble to win the big award over that not-that-funny show-choiring cast. What surprises me, though—and what I consider a major snub—is that Parks & Recreation is missing from all the comedy categories. Hands down, it’s the funniest show on TV.

Looking at the stunt ensembles, Southland deserves the SAG for TV. That is not only one of the best shows on TV, but also one of the most realistic. In fact, I’m a little surprised it isn’t a nominee for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

What do you think? Who do you think was snubbed? Who do you think should win? Share your views in the comments section.

Also, be sure to check out the full list of nominees here

, and shop our collection of the nominees here.

Midwest Tape Weighs in on Grammy Nominees

Our new Music and CD Standing Order expert Danielle Desmond marks her debut into New & Views blog posts with a recap of the 2012 Grammy nominees.

‘Tis the season for Grammy Nominations! The 54^th Annual Grammy Nominees were announced Wednesday, November 30, on CBS. Grammy Winner and Hip Hop legend LL Cool J hosted the concert event, which included performances by Lady Gaga and Jason Aldean, who did a revamped version of “Dirt Road Anthem” with guest star, Ludacris.

Kanye West led the nominees with lucky number 7; behind him with a tie for 6 noms were Adele, Bruno Mars, and the Foo Fighters. 

Critics everywhere were buzzing that Kanye was snubbed for the biggest nomination of them all, Album of The Year, for his highly praised My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Thus, the big question on everyone’s mind: Will Kanye rush the stage on February 12 when Album of The Year is announced and declare that he had one of the best albums of all time?

Check out a few of the nominees below. The bold nominees are our Staff Picks for the winners. For a full list of Grammy nominees, visit www.grammy.com.

Album of the Year

Adele, 21

Foo Fighters, Wasting Light

Lady Gaga, Born This Way

Bruno Mars, Doo-Wops & Hooligans

Rihanna, Loud

Record of the Year (Artist Award)

Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”

Bon Iver, “Holocene”

Bruno Mars, “Grenade”

Mumford & Sons, “The Cave”

Katy Perry, “Firework”

Song of the Year (Songwriter Award)

Kanye West, “All of the Lights”

Mumford & Sons, “The Cave”

Bruno Mars, “Grenade”

Bon Iver, “Holocene”

Adele, “Rolling in the Deep”

Pop Vocal Album

Adele, 21

Cee Lo Green, The Lady Killer

Lady Gaga, Born This Way

Bruno Mars, Doo-Wops & Hooligans

Rihanna, Loud

Best Pop Solo Performance

Adele, “Someone Like You”

Lady Gaga, “You and I”

Bruno Mars, “Grenade”

Katy Perry, “Firework”

Pink, “F***in’ Perfect” 

Even if she doesn’t win all six of her nominations (Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Short Form Music Video), Adele Blue Adkins deserves every nomination.
Midwest Tape Staff Pick: Overall Favorite

New Artist

The Band Perry

Bon Iver

J Cole

Nicki Minaj

Skrillex

Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday
Midwest Tape Staff Pick: Best New Artist

Rock Album

Jeff Beck, Rock n Roll Party Honoring Les Paul

Foo Fighters, Wasting Light

Kings of Leon, Come Around Sundown

Red Hot Chili Peppers, I’m With You

Wilco, The Whole Love

Red Hot Chili Peppers, I'm With You
Midwest Tape Staff Pick: Best Rock Album

R&B Album

Chris Brown, F.A.M.E.

El DeBarge, Second Chance

R. Kelly, Love Letter

Ledisi, Pieces of Me

Kelly Price, Kelly

Chris Brown, F.A.M.E
Midwest Tape Staff Pick: Best New Artist

Rap Album

Jay-Z and Kanye West, Watch the Throne

Lil Wayne, Tha Carter IV

Lupe Fiasco, Lasers

Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday

Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Country Album

Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party

Eric Church, Chief

Lady Antebellum, Own the Night

Blake Shelton, Red River Blue

George Strait, Here for a Good Time

Taylor Swift, Speak Now

Lady Antebellum, Own the Night
Midwest Tape Staff Pick: Best Country Album

So those are our Grammy picks. What are yours? Share your thoughts on the Grammy nominations below in the comments section. You can also shop the full list of 2012 nominees on our website now.