Maybe I'm being too optimistic, but I'd like to think the same backlash that hit "La La Land" will do the same for "Green Book." Like, I'm sure it will be nominated, but I don't think it will win. It's also sad to me how "The Favourite" went from being rumored a likely to win when buzz was growing and now seems to have faded from the conversation.
Green Book would be a great way to represent what the Oscars actually stands for. It is always unfortunate to see good films have to go through the insane awards sniping and hit pieces; Boyhood would probably be more fondly remembered otherwise.
Of the likely Best Picture nominees, BlacKkKlansman deserves the win most, I think. Truly great film, easily in my top three of the year, plus its timeliness and relevance to current events gives it an edge over the other contenders. Doesn't have a chance though, sadly.
I saw Spike Lee speak to a group of college students in 2006 and he was still bitching Do The Right Thing wasn't nominated for Best Picture and how Driving Miss Daisy has basically been forgotten.
I’m hoping the academy’s efforts to diversify their membership will keep Green Book from winning but it’s getting way too much momentum from all these other wins to be confident that it’s not going to win BP.
Said it before but pretty mediocre year. Before the noms are out, I think of all the possible BP nominees, Beale Street and Black Panther are the ones I haven’t seen.
The biggest branch of the Academy are the actors. The Academy’s actor branch heavily overlaps with SAG (obviously). Green Book failed to get a Best Cast nod at the SAG awards. That means it likely doesn’t have the support of the biggest portion of Academy voters. Granted, that isn’t a guarantee (Shape of Water won last year without a SAG Best Cast nomination but it had way more universal acclaim/support and was made by a beloved director who was “due”), but having the support of the actors has made the difference many, many times in the past. The best recent example I can think of is when Spotlight won in a year most people considered a toss-up. Because it was an “actor’s movie” with a cast made up entirely of A-list heavy-hitters. Failing to gain the support of the actors, plus the controversies, plus the Academy’s push for younger and more diverse membership all leads me to believe that it won’t walk away with avast Picture. I’m pretty confident it will win only Best Supporting Actor for Ali and nothing else.
It’s tough to tell year to year... I was legit surprised Moonlight won (aside from the envelope mixup). It was a tiny movie with a relatively no-name cast.
But Moonlight had a SAG Best Cast nomination. You know which film didn’t have one that year? La La Land.
Best Picture: Black Panther BlackkKlansman Bohemian Rhapsody The Favourite Green Book Roma A Star Is Born Vice All the other nominees will be up shortly.
I don't think A Star Is Born was phenomenally great. It was a good movie, but I wouldn't put it in top 5. Best picture really is a toss-up this year though.