Hey, it wouldn't be an MATM Hot Shots list if five time Oscar nominee Amy Adams didn't top the list. However, the actress formerly known as Princess Giselle just keeps doing great stuff every year! This year, she's in the Oscar conversation for her luminous work in the brainy, emotional sci-fi drama Arrival (fingers crossed for Oscar nomination #6, people!). But she also delivered a knockout performance in the noir/melodrama Nocturnal Animals. #getitgirl
The actor is known for his work on House of Cards and The Hunger Games. This year, he played a memorable supporting character on Luke Cage. And he starred in one of the best films of the year Moonlight. His sensitive, commanding performance is one of the year's most affecting, and it probably will win him an Oscar. Mahershala Ali has been toying with the A-list but he is such a terrific actor with charisma and conviction in spades.
The Emmy winning star of ABC's hit How to Get Away with Murder is the the front runner for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar this year. She stars in Denzel Washington's adaptation of the August Wilson play Fences, recreating the role she played on Broadway. And she won a Tony for that role. a few years ago. Earlier this year she played Amanda Waller in the box office smash but critical failure Suicide Squad. The lady is finally having the career spotlight after a few years of waiting her turn.
Ryan Reynolds waited years for his passion project to be made and it was worth it. The R-rated irreverent superhero comedy took $783 million worldwide (off a measly $58 million budget) and opened to an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. This movie is a lot of fun, and it's the role Reynolds was born to play. This was the right movie at the right time. And it was made with care, affection, the right tone, and a love for its audience (like most Marvel movies)
Speaking of Marvel, you know who else hit it big this year? Disney. The Mouse House had a record year at the box office with films that are well-regarded by critics and audiences. The Jungle Book, Captain America: Civil War, Finding Dory, Moana, Zootopia, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story--these are films that were made by people who care about what audiences want. They delivered on spectacle, yeah, but also told enriching stories starring memorable characters. And diversity seemed to be a major selling point, thanks to the inclusive casts of Rogue One, Moana, and the Jungle Book (plus the Mira Nair directed Queen of Katwe--critically acclaimed but sadly not big at the box office). We can all forgive Alice Through the Looking Glass, right?
After playing one of the best characters on HBO's Girls, Adam Driver catapulted to international stardom playing the villain Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. That film ruled the box office in early 2016. Driver then went back to his indie roots with the acclaimed Paterson (a film I haven't been able to catch yet but and eagerly anticipating). He also was cast in Martin Scorsese's Silence, which basically solidifies his movie star credibility. The guy is set for big things, and this year was just the start.
Though his time as Spider-Man was short, Andrew Garfield has officially bounced back with two big performances: Hacksaw Ridge and Silence. In the former, his performance as a pacifist medic in WWII has won him major acclaim, awards nominations, and Oscar buzz. In Silence, he's directed by Martin Scorsese, which is high praise enough. The guy is great, in my opinion, and I'm glad he's entering this phase of his career.
Moonlight is one of the best reviewed films of the year, in no small part due to director Barry Jenkins' visual inventiveness. The film is pure poetry on screen, evocative, romantic, tragic, and uplifting. The song choices are great ("feels like a mighty long time..."), the cast is excellent (Mahershala Ali is a major frontrunner for Best Supporting Actor), and the story is just heart-rending. Moonlight is a definitely a big favorite for me this year, and Jenkins is a director to watch out for.
A victim of terrible online hate crimes, SNL star Leslie Jones came out of it stronger and funnier than ever. She was terrific as a historian Ghostbuster in the summer comedy Ghostbusters, and her sketches on SNL are great. She also is known as a warm, funny presence on Twitter, especially her coverage of the Summer Olympics. Jones is not afraid to be herself, and for that we are thankful. Hopefully her career will blossom even further after SNL.
It's become sort of cool to say "movies are dead" especially after the twin artistic disasters of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad. But 2016 has given us many gems like La La Land, Jackie, Arrival, Moonlight, Loving, Dear Zindagi, Toni Erdmann, Hail, Caesar!, 10 Cloverfield Lane, The Nice Guys, Neerja, among many others. It's been a great couple of years and we should celebrate that.
Usually, the Best Actress category has some interest but can be rather inert. This year, the race is very robust. While the shortlist has gotten shorter over the last few months, it's been one heck of a year. Emma Stone and Natalie Portman are battling it out as the frontrunners, but the other three slots are anyone's to lose. Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Annette Bening, Isabelle Huppert, Ruth Negga, Taraji P. Henson--we may be in line for an upset. Women have had a good year on the big screen--though we could always do better--and the Oscars are reflecting that.
The best thing about HBO's Insecure is that it's just another "HBO white people comedy," except that it's about black twenty-somethings. The show is specific and sharp, insightful and funny. Issa Rae is powerhouse in the lead role as a young woman trying to balance her mess of a life, and the show explores her career, friendships, and love life. The cast is full of interesting supporting characters, who offer a window into LA culture and its many shapes.
Riz Ahmed starred in the hit miniseries The Night Of and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, one of the biggest movies of the year. Dev Patel might get an Oscar nomination for Lion. Mindy Kaling, Aziz Ansari, and Priyanka Chopra have hit TV shows (plus Baywatch for Chopra and Ocean's 8 for Kaling coming up!). Hasan Minhaj is a correspondent on The Daily Show. Mira Nair directed a major movie for Disney. Naveen Andrews, Indira Varma, Aasif Mandvi, Kumail Nanjiani are all in supporting roles on TV shows.
Like what you read? Please like my blog at Facebook.com/MathurMarquee. Also, follow me on Twitter @HippogriffRider. Agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments below!
No comments:
Post a Comment