The 90th Academy Awards took place at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles tonight. Sweeping top honours after gaining the most nominations (13) was Guillermo del Toro‘s Toronto-filmed Fantasy The Shape of Water winning four awards including Best Picture, Directing, Production Design and Original Score. The Film’s Toronto Crew celebrating tonight at Palais Royale, were credited for being a part of the Film’ success. del Toro, who has been vocal about his love for Toronto using the City regularly to base his productions, encouraged other Genre Filmmakers to continue breaking ground with the door he helped open.
See del Toro’s speech:
#ShapeOfWater‘s Guillermo Del Toro wins for Best Director at the 90th #Oscars! Don’t miss this amazing speech! pic.twitter.com/g0T9ICGtSn
— ABC Network (@ABCNetwork) March 5, 2018
While many saw Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri as the favourite to win Best Picture, it still took acting honours for Leading Actress with Frances McDormand and Supporting Actor with Sam Rockwell. McDormand gave a memorable speech which had her laughing nervously, devoting her time on-stage getting all her fellow female nominees to stand together in a call for inclusion and equality. Both The Shape of Water and this premiered at TIFF ’17 with the latter winning the coveted People’s Choice Award and the two are released by Fox Searchlight.
See McDormand’s speech:
Best Actress winner Frances McDormand rallies the crowd. Presented by @ATT. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/6loAtYheKZ
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 5, 2018
Dunkirk‘s win tally would come in at three with scores for Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Film Editing. Blade Runner 2049 by Canadian Director Denis Villeneuve, would win for Cinematography and Visual Effects. Disney’s Coco was awarded Animated Feature and also for Original Song with Remember Me, performed on the broadcast by Gael García Bernal, Miguel and Natalie Lafourcade. Call Me By Your Name earned one win for Adapted Screenplay. Allison Janney nabbed Supporting Actress for her work in I, Tonya, which presenter Jodie Foster who appeared on-stage in crutches, would joke that Meryl Streep was responsible for her injury, having “I, Tonya-ed” her.
The Evening was hosted by Funnyman Jimmy Kimmel who tackled head-on several issues of now including #MeToo and #TimesUp using case in point, the substantial pay gap between Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Williams on re-shoots for nominated All the Money in the World. Despite both being represented by William Morris Endeavor, Wahlberg was paid eight-times Williams‘ salary, although the former made right by donating his earnings to #TimesUp.
Kimmel joked that the Oscar statue is the ideal man in that he “keeps his hands to himself, never says a rude word and doesn’t have a penis. He is a statue of limitations”. A running joke for the evening was that the winner with the shortest speech would win a jet ski in the same vein as The Price is Right, which Leading Actor winner Gary Oldman was clear he wouldn’t be winning as he took his time thanking those responsible for his success. Oldman‘s Film Darkest Hour would win also for Makeup.
See Kimmel‘s running joke with the help of Helen Mirren:
Following an outcry that the Oscars lacked diversity, that certainly was addressed full force this year and repeatedly the theme of inclusion was brought-up throughout the night. We would see female nominees in categories like Directing (Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird) and Cinematography (Rachel Morrison, Mudbound) and first-time Nominee Jordan Peele winning Original Screenplay for Get Out. A Fantastic Woman starring Chilean transgender Actress Daniela Vega, would win Foreign Language Film. Basketball icon Kobe Bryant also would win his first Oscar for Animated Short Film, Dear Basketball.
Complete list of winners here.
(Photo/video credit: The Academy/Getty Images/ABC)
Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards were announced at 8:22 AM ET in Los Angeles with Andy Serkis and Tiffany Haddish filling hosting duties. Leading the way with 13 nominations is Guillermo del Toro’s Toronto-made Romance-Fantasy The Shape of Water with 13 nominations including Best Picture, Directing, Lead Actress (Sally Hawkins), Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), Original Screenplay and more.
Martin McDonagh‘s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which like The Shape of Water is distributed by Fox Searchlight and winning the People’s Choice Award at TIFF ’17, is seen as the Best Picture favourite. It comes hot-off a win for Motion Picture Drama at the Golden Globes and three Screen Actors’ Guild Award wins earlier this month. It gets seven nods including Directing, Lead Actress (Frances McDormand), Supporting Actor (Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell), Directing and Original Screenplay, among others.
While there was uproar that Greta Gerwig was omitted from Directing honours at the Globes, the Academy shows their respect for the Lady Bird Helmer in light of the #MeToo and #TimesUp initiatives at the forefront of discussion. Rachel Morrison also becomes the first woman ever to get a Cinematography nod at the Oscars for Mudbound.
Director Jordan Peele like Gerwig finds Oscars recognition with his first Feature, the Horror Get Out. The Film sees Daniel Kaluuya up for Leading Actor and Peele up for Original Screenplay.
Being in the news much of late with allegations of sexual misconduct, James Franco was omitted from the list despite great acclaim for his The Disaster Artist. The Film centering around “the worst Movie ever made”, The Room, does get a nod for Adapted Screenplay. Others are expressing discontent Armie Hammer for Call Me By Your Name and Wonder Woman were disregarded.
Singer Mary J. Blige gets her first Oscar nomination as an Actress (Supporting) for her work in Mudbound. She also is up for Original Song with Mighty River from that Netflix release.
Canada gets recognized with Canadian-produced Animated Feature The Breadwinner, in which Angelina Jolie produced. Many thought her First They Killed My Father would get a Foreign Language Film nod but alas it missed.
See more of this year’s Nominees below:
Best Picture
Leading Actor
Leading Actress
Directing
Supporting Actress
Supporting Actor
Documentary
Animated Feature
Foreign Language Film
Original Song
Adapted Screenplay
Original Screenplay
The Academy Awards air 8 PM ET on Sunday, March 4, 2018 on ABC.
(Photo credit: The Academy)
Truly we are blessed to work with an outstanding Team whom we wouldn’t be able to do it without. While you will see many Year’s Best Lists pop-up around this time of year, what makes our Team unique is that we genuinely are paying Filmgoers like you. These are real opinions without the critical pretension, of individuals who know a lot about Film and individuals who live and breathe Film. We all work day and night jobs like all of you, juggling screenings and junkets into our crazy schedules for the love of Film.
We thank David Baldwin, Jonathan Godfrey, Siobhán Rich, Amanda Gilmore and Justin Waldman for their amazing work on the daily!
We thank you for joining us on our adventures throughout the year and hope you’ll be around as we share our thoughts with you on the upcoming 2018 slate.
From our family to yours!
DAVE BALDWIN
The real world may have been a complete nightmare in 2017, but the celluloid world was nothing short of incredible. Each month gifted us with exceptional films that continually surpassed any and all expectations. While there were some terrible stinkers sprinkled throughout, 2017 will go down as a banner year for cinema. There was something for everyone, from blockbusters to indies to everything in-between, and it was incredibly hard to narrow down a list of just 10 of those films. I could easily list 10-20 more genuinely outstanding pictures — it was really that great of a year. And while there is a dark cloud over Hollywood right now, I’d like to think this year’s films prove that we are finally moving in the right direction instead of reliving the past.
1. The Shape of Water
2. The Big Sick
3. Baby Driver
4. Ingrid Goes West
5. Get Out
6. Call Me By Your Name
7. Raw
8. The Disaster Artist
9. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
10. I, Tonya
JONATHAN GODFREY
The Red Turtle
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Trainspotting 2
mother!
Ghost in the Shell
Blade Runner 2049
Alien Covenant
Justice League
Your Name.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
These are the movies that moved me the most this year. Many of them performed poorly with regards to revenue and reviews. Nevertheless, I enjoyed them deeply, and in my own way. They are all passion projects that were beautiful to behold. So much so that I don’t have an overall “favourite.” I have “favourites,” and I can’t wait to find ten more in 2018.
SIOBHÁN RICH
The Big Sick
Call Me By Your Name
Don’t Talk to Irene
Foxtrot
Get Out
Girls Trip
Ladybird
Loveless
The Post
Shape of Water
Split
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
I found it incredibly difficult to narrow down my list this year. Presented as always in alphabetical order, this list does not include Logan, Wonder Woman or Baby Driver but does include a movie that was criminally left off TIFF’s list for Canada’s Top Ten. I included a comedy that had people falling off their seats and one that reflects what my family looks like. I also snuck in some early favourites to balance out my top two foreign films from TIFF ’17 and a late entry which blew me away. Finally, I rounded out my top twelve with a few hits from TIFF that will definitely be making a comeback during Oscar season.
AMANDA GILMORE
Lady Bird
Call Me By Your Name
The Florida Project
Get Out
A Ghost Story
Dunkirk
The Shape Of Water
The Disaster Artist
Mudbound
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
My Top Ten are in no particular order. In my Top Ten there are Films that I found unique, told honest depictions of the human condition and/or pushed the boundaries of filmmaking. All the Films showcase outstanding acting, writing and direction done by all involved. These Films are in my Top Ten because no matter what time they came out throughout 2017 they have stayed with me until the end. And will probably stay with me throughout the years to come. Hope you enjoyed them if you have seen them. And I hope you seek out the ones you haven’t!
JUSTIN WALDMAN
2017 has been one roller coaster of a year for Hollywood, or Christopher Plummer being in like every movie (ha!). However if you can look past all the horrible things that have plagued Hollywood this year, there are plenty of quality films that hit the silver screen this year. In absolutely no particular order here at my top ten movies for 2017.
The Big Sick
Logan/Wonder Woman
Lady Bird
Call Me By Your Name
Get Out
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The Disaster Artist
The Post
The Shape of Water
Logan Lucky
These films all possess something to them that made them stand out this year, whether it be the subject matter, the performances, the unexpected fantastic ride it took you on, each of these 11 movies gave me something this year. As well they all have massive re-watch value and are endlessly delights to watch.
For Mr. Will‘s Best-Of 2017 including Movies, Music and Celeb Spottings, click here!
Audiences simply can’t get enough of this baby! THE BOSS BABY for a second straight week takes the top of the Box Office even with stiff competition coming from new releases. The Animated Feature from 20th Century Fox earns $25.1 million, accounting for $89 million over two weeks domestically.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST again is second this weekend with $25.1 million, bringing its four week run to $432 million in North America for Disney.
SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE debuts with $14.1 million for Sony Pictures from 3,610 theatres. This third installment in the Franchise is unable to surpass 2011’s THE SMURFS which opened with $35 million. It gets an A CinemaScore and 39% on the Tomatometer.
Remake GOING IN STYLE opens in fourth with $12.2 million for Warner Bros., from 3,061 theatres. It gets a B CinemaScore and 44% on the Tomatometer from Critics.
THE CASE FOR CHRIST debuts in eight with $4.5 million for Pureflix. It gets an 83% on the Tomatometer.
Former champ GET OUT rounds-out the Top Ten with $4.1 million for Universal Pictures. Thus far over seven weeks it has made $162 million.
THE BOSS BABY surpasses all expectations this weekend to overtake the #1 position at the Box Office this weekend across North America. It earns $51.6 million in its debut for 20th Century Fox from 3,773 theatres. Despite only a 48% from Critics on the Tomatometer, it gets an A- CinemaScore from Audiences.
In second after two weeks on-top is BEAUTY AND THE BEAST with $48.6 million from 4,210 theatres for Disney. It is just shy of the $400-million-mark domestically and should surpass that by Monday/Tuesday.
GHOST IN THE SHELL debuts in third with $20.3 million from 3,440 theatres for Paramount Pictures. Critics gave the anime/manga adaptation a 42% on the Tomatometer and it gets a B CinemaScore.
POWER RANGERS in its second week out garners $13.6 million from 3,693 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. It has made $64 million over two weeks.
GET OUT still is performing well in seventh with $6 million now in its sixth week out. It has made a healthy $157 million thus far for Universal Pictures.
THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.2 million from 541 theatres only for Focus Features/Elevation Pictures. Critics gave it a 73% on the Tomatometer.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST lives up to expectations, debuting at the Box Office this weekend for Disney with a stellar $173.5 million from 4,210 theatres, toppling previous March record-holder BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE’s opening last year of $166 million. Simultaneously it becomes the highest-opening for a Film ever pre-summer. While Critics were lukewarm about the live action adaptation starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens with a 71% on the Tomatometer, audiences resoundingly were positive in their feedback giving it an A CinemaScore. If there were ever any doubt about Watson‘s bankability as a star, this is her highest opening ever, just ahead of 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and its $169.1 million opening.
KONG: SKULL ISLAND slips to second with $25.7 million from 3,846 theatres in its second week out for Warner Bros., earning a total $107 million already domestically.
LOGAN in its third weekend out for 20th Century Fox still is going strong with $17 million, tallying-in a total $184 million already in North America.
GET OUT continues to be the little engine that could, motoring home with a solid $12.8 million now in its third week out for Universal Pictures. It has made $132 million thus far.
THE BELKO EXPERIMENT debuts in seventh with $3.4 million from 1,336 theatres for High Top Releasing. It has not yet been released in Canada. The office-Horror starring Tony Goldwyn gets a 49% on the Tomatometer from Critics
BEFORE I FALL rounds-out the Top Ten with $958k in its third week out, totaling $11.2 million thus far.
No surprises here – KONG: SKULL ISLAND was expected to take the top of the Box Office and does just that this weekend with a $54 million debut from 3,846 theatres for Warner Bros. Made for $185 million, the Blockbuster, it gets a 78% on the Tomatometer from Critics and an B+ CinemaScore from Audiences.
LOGAN settles for second after a strong debut last weekend, with $36 million for 20th Century Fox. In two weeks, it has made a stellar $150 million domestically.
GET OUT places third with $21.3 million in its third week out for Universal Pictures. It has made $111.3 million already and believe it or not was made for only $4.5 million.
THE SHACK continues to exceed expectations, placing fourth for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films with $9.6 million in its second week out.
BEFORE I FALL lands in sixth for Open Road Films/Elevation Films in its second week out with $3 million. It has made $9 million thus far.
FIFTY SHADES DARKER rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.6 million for Universal Pictures. This installment in the Franchise has grossed $111 million over five weeks.
LOGAN shreds its competition to take the top of the Box Office with a monstrous $81 million opening for 20th Century Fox. Playing it 4,071 theatres across North America, the final Wolverine Film starring Hugh Jackman receives an outstanding 93% on the Tomatometer and Audiences gave it an A- CinemaScore. Despite an outstanding performance in its debut, it still is behind 2009’s X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, which opened with $85 million, although it should be noted that was a PG-13 release and this latest installment is R-rated, setting a record for highest-ever opening for a Film of that rating in March, a record held previously by 300.
In second this weekend is GET OUT from Universal Pictures, which last weekend debuted on-top. It earns a stellar $26.5 million in its second week out, a two-week tally of $76.3 million.
Faith-based Film THE SHACK opens in third with $15.3 million from 2,888 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. It gets 16% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore.
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE is in fourth with $11.1 million for Warner Bros. Over four weeks it has made $148 million domestically.
BEFORE I FALL debuts in sixth for Open Road Films/Elevation Pictures with $4.6 million from 2,346 theatres. The Sundance selection gets a respectable 68% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore.
LA LA LAND rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.1 million after last weekend’s Oscars mis-announcement debacle where it was named Best Picture, only or it to be clarified the award actually went to MOONLIGHT. LA LA LAND over 13 weeks has earned $145 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. MOONLIGHT also gets a boost from last weekend’s Oscars exposure placing eleventh, expanding back to 1,564 theatres and earning $2.2 million. It has grossed $25 million over 20 weeks of release for A24 Films/Elevation Pictures.
It’s been a great year for Universal Pictures who take the top of the Box Office with the Jordan Peele horror, GET OUT. Just earlier this year they topped the Box Office for three weeks with SPLIT. Exceeding all expectations, GET OUT debuts at number one with $28 million from 2,701 theatres across North America. It gets an ultra-rare 100% on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore from Audiences.
Slipping to second after two weeks on-top is THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE with $18 million from 4,057 theatres for Warner Bros. in its third week. It has made $132 million thus far domestically.
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 continues to go strong in third with $8.2 million in its third week out, a tally of $74 million thus far for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films.
THE GREAT WALL is in fourth this weekend with $8 million, a two-week total of $33 million for Universal Pictures.
FIFTY SHADES DARKER is in fifth with $7.3 million for Universal Pictures, just surpassing the $100-million-mark in its third week.
Oscar Frontrunner LA LA LAND continues to perform well in eighth with $4.7 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films, a total $140 million over 12 weeks.
Rounding-out the Top Ten is Chinese Graphic Novel Adaptation ROCK DOG, with $3,5 million for Lionsgate Films from 2,077 theatres. It gets 44% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore.
Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to take Readers to GET OUT, from the mind of Jordan Peele!
Screenings take places as follows:
Toronto Wed Feb 22 7:00 PM Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Montreal Wed Feb 22 7:00 PM Cineplex Montreal Forum
Edmonton Wed Feb 22 7:00 PM Cineplex Cinemas South Edmonton
Vancouver Wed Feb 22 7:00 PM Cineplex International Village
Calgary Wed Feb 22 7:00 PM Landmark Shawnessy
Synopsis:
In Universal Pictures’ Get Out, a speculative thriller from Blumhouse (producers of The Visit, Insidious series and The Gift) and the mind of Jordan Peele, when a young African-American man visits his white girlfriend’s family estate, he becomes ensnared in a more sinister real reason for the invitation. Now that Chris (Daniel Kaluuya, Sicario) and his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams, Girls), have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate with Missy (Catherine Keener, Captain Phillips) and Dean (Bradley Whitford, The Cabin in the Woods). At first, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he could have never imagined.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
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G’luck.
Universal Pictures Canada release GET OUT Friday, February 27, 2017.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
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