This year, the academy awards experienced the smallest viewing figures of its 88-year reign as the highest accolade at the precipice of a packed awards season. The reasons for this drop in viewing figures are mere speculation, however it’s difficult to rule out last year’s moonlight controversy and the Allegations made against Harvey Weinstein as key factors in a loss of popularity, despite the academy and nominees’ best efforts to put equality and feminism at the forefront of the awards.
Best actress
Nominees
Sally Hawkins > The Shape of Water
Margot Robbie > I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan > Lady Bird
Meryl Streep > The Post
Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri > WINNER!
In a week that we celebrate international women’s day it seems apt to begin by talking about the winner of the best actress in a leading role. Frances McDormand is an actress that seems to have been around for forever and is no stranger to the Academy, having picked up the award for best actress in 1998 for Fargo. However, she is most commonly associated with her Husband and lifelong collaborator Ethan Coen’s unique brand of offbeat, dark comedy. Yes, ‘Three Billboards’ is dark and it is comic but there is something different about this performance from McDormand. It is the work of an actress that has polished her craft for years, in preparation for this career defining role that is sure to be enter into the pantheon of classic modern-day screen performances and what’s more she dedicated the win to all of her female peers, asking them to stand with her as she accepted her award.
Best Actor
Nominees
Timothée Chalamet > Call Me By Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis > Phantom Thread
Daniel Kaluuya > Get Out
Denzel Washington > Roman J Israel, Esq
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour > WINNER!
Despite a career that has spanned four decades and produced performances of an array of iconic characters at the heart of pop culture including: Sirius black, commissioner Gordon and Dracula. Gary Oldman had previously never won an Oscar, in finally doing so, Oldman beat out three-time winner Daniel Day Lewis. Ironically emulating the completely transformative, method style that many would attribute to the Phantom Thread star. In a time where, as a nation, we seem obsessed with the Second World War and Churchill’s life, perhaps this is the seminal, most complete embodiment of the great man- the one that will stand the test of time when those who remember the image and the voice of the real Churchill are gone.
Best costume design
Nominees
Beauty and the beast
Darkest Hour
The Shape of Water
Victoria & Abdul
Phantom Thread > WINNER!
Paul Thomas Anderson’s second and supposedly final collaboration with acting legend Daniel Day Lewis has to get a mention for its virtuoso cinematography with Anderson debuting at the helm, as well as its masterful acting performances. Despite a disappointing result on the night, picking up one of a nominated five, I mention it primarily in a fit of narcissistic name drop, as I was actually in the film as an extra. Whilst I can’t take all of the credit for the Academy’s recognition of costume design, I don’t think I need to comment that the twenty second appearance of a nun wearing angel wings is pretty swaying. Your welcome, Paul mate.
The other big results are as follows…
Best supporting actor
Nominees
Willem Dafoe > The Florida Project
Woody Harrelson > Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Richard Jenkins > The Shape of Water
Christopher Plummer > All the Money in the World
Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri > WINNER!
Best director
Nominees
Paul Thomas Anderson > Phantom Thread
Greta Gerwig > Lady Bird
Christopher Nolan > Dunkirk
Jordan Peele > Get Out
Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water > WINNER!
Best picture
Call Me by Your Name
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Get Out
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
The Post
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
The Shape of Water > WINNER!
Adam Thompson
Volunteer
Illustration by Isaac Coppin & Design by Becky Gibbs
