Movie Talk: 22nd Critics' Choice Awards Predictions

Welcome to another episode of moviemanMDG’s Movie Talk, where I talk about everything film-related.  The month of December marks the final month of 2016, and while we impatiently wait for the new Star Wars film to come out, along with the rest of the Oscar-potential films, it’s time to shift our focus to a simple awards show known as the Critics’ Choice Awards.  Like the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards, the Critics’ Choice Awards honors the best in filmmaking.  The nominations for the 22nd Critics’ Choice Awards were announced on December 1, so for this episode of Movie Talk, I will be showcasing my predictions on who will win in each of the 27 categories based on my feelings.  According to the Critics’ Choice Awards official website, Damien Chazelle’s latest film, “La La Land”, leads with 12 nominations, followed by “Arrival” and “Moonlight” with ten nominations each.  Just a quick reminder before I begin, there will be some films that I haven’t seen yet, so if there’s one that you want me to check out the most, let me know.


Best Picture:
-Arrival
-Fences
-Hacksaw Ridge
-Hell or High Water
-La La Land
-Lion
-Loving
-Manchester by the Sea
-Moonlight
-Sully


Out of the ten Best Picture nominees, I only saw five of them as of this writing.  If I have to choose only one film, I would probably have to go with Moonlight.  Moonlight is the type of film that fully explores life in the African-American community while also telling a story of one man’s journey into adulthood.  Since last year’s Critics‘ Choice Awards didn’t have a lot of diversity, I think now is the perfect time that they should.    


Best Director:
-Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
-Mel Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge)
-Barry Jenkins (Moonlight)
-Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea)
-David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water)
-Denis Villeneuve (Arrival)
-Denzel Washington (Fences)


Each director has a unique vision that helps to create not just breathtaking stories, but also engaging cinematic experiences.  For this category, I’m tossed between Mel Gibson, Barry Jenkins, and Denis Villeneuve.  I thought Gibson did a terrific job at telling the courageous story of Desmond Doss and his heroic deed during the battle on Hacksaw Ridge while also creating one of the most realistic, most violent war sequences ever to be put onto film.  Jenkins, in my opinion, certainly knows what it’s like to grow up in the African-American community in Moonlight, and Villeneuve delivered a realistic and important vision of humans communicating with visitors from another planet in terms of the cinematography and the performances.  After giving it some thought, I would choose Villeneuve as a possible winner for Best Direction.    


Best Actor:
-Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea)
-Joel Edgerton (Loving)
-Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge)
-Ryan Gosling (La La Land)
-Tom Hanks (Sully)
-Denzel Washington (Fences)


For this category, I would go with either Garfield or Washington.  Garfield brilliantly captures the essence of Desmond Doss.  As for Washington, well, he’s Denzel Washington.  He has the ability to make every film he’s been in watchable.  After watching the trailer for Fences a few times, it’s possible that he could win over Garfield based on his performance alone.  If I have to choose one, I would go with...Denzel Washington.


Best Actress:
-Amy Adams (Arrival)
-Annette Bening (20th Century Women)
-Isabelle Huppert (Elle)
-Ruth Negga (Loving)
-Natalie Portman (Jackie)
-Emma Stone (La La Land)


Since I haven’t seen any of the movies from this category besides Arrival, I’m going to have to bet on Amy Adams.


Best Supporting Actor:
-Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)
-Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water)
-Ben Foster (Hell or High Water)
-Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea)
-Dev Patel (Lion)
-Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals)


For this category, I only saw two movies: Moonlight and Hell or High Water.  While Jeff Bridges did a great job with his performance in Hell or High Water, I would say that Ali might win.


Best Supporting Actress:
-Viola Davis (Fences)
-Greta Gerwig (20th Century Women)
-Naomie Harris (Moonlight)
-Nicole Kidman (Lion)
-Janelle Monae (Hidden Figures)
-Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea)


Even though I haven’t seen Fences yet, I believe that Viola Davis might win in this category.


Best Young Actor/Actress:
-Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea)
-Alex R. Hibbert (Moonlight)
-Lewis MacDougall (A Monster Calls)
-Madina Nalwanga (Queen of Katwe)
-Sunny Pawar (Lion)
-Hailee Steinfeld (The Edge of Seventeen)


This is one of the few categories that is hard for me to predict.  So far, I’m leaning towards Alex R. Hibbert from Moonlight, but the other half of me is leaning towards Steinfeld.  I’m starting to feel very conflicted right about now.  I’m going with Hibbert. 


Best Acting Ensemble:
-20th Century Women
-Fences
-Hell or High Water
-Hidden Figures
-Manchester by the Sea
-Moonlight


Which cast delivered the best on-screen chemistry?  I would say Moonlight.


Best Original Screenplay:
-La La Land
-Moonlight
-The Lobster
-Manchester by the Sea
-Loving
-Hell or High Water


Another tough category for me to predict.  Out of the two movies that I already saw (Moonlight and Hell or High Water),  I’m leaning towards Moonlight.


Best Adapted Screenplay:
-Lion
-Nocturnal Animals
-Arrival
-Sully
-Hidden Figures
-Fences


I would say that Arrival has a better shot at winning in this category.


Best Cinematography:
-Jackie
-Moonlight
-Nocturnal Animals
-La La Land
-Arrival


In my opinion, Arrival has a lot of great shots that are destined to win this award.  So, I’m going with that.


Best Production Design:
-Arrival
-Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
-Jackie
-La La Land
-Live by Night


I’m just going to go all out with this one.  La La Land, just because of how beautiful it looks from the trailers.


Best Editing:
-La La Land
-Hacksaw Ridge
-Sully
-Moonlight
-Arrival


Not a fan of predicting this one.  So, I’m going to ask my gut what it thinks.  (Few moments later...)  My gut says...Moonlight.


Best Costume Design:
-Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
-Florence Foster Jenkins
-Jackie
-Allied
-Love & Friendship
-La La Land


These types of categories are going to be the death of me.  I would pick Florence Foster Jenkins as a possible winner.


Best Hair and Makeup:
-Doctor Strange
-Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
-Hacksaw Ridge
-Jackie
-Star Trek Beyond


Truth be told, I haven’t been paying that much attention to the makeup.  So...Hacksaw Ridge.


Best Visual Effects:
-A Monster Calls
-Arrival
-Doctor Strange
-Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
-The Jungle Book (2016)


These nominees delivered the best visuals, but which one trumps the others?  I would say Arrival because of how almost real the space crafts looked.


Best Animated Feature:
-Finding Dory
-Kubo and the Two Strings
-Moana
-The Red Turtle
-Trolls
-Zootopia


Yay, my favorite category!  Zootopia, hands down!


Best Action Movie:
-Captain America: Civil War
-Deadpool
-Doctor Strange
-Hacksaw Ridge
-Jason Bourne


I enjoyed these nominees for different reasons (except Jason Bourne), which makes it harder for me to choose which one that I want to win.  My best guess would have to be Captain America: Civil War.  


Best Actor in an Action Movie:
-Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange)
-Matt Damon (Jason Bourne)
-Chris Evans (Captain America: Civil War)
-Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge)
-Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool)


I would definitely go with Chris Evans as Captain America.


Best Actress in an Action Movie:
-Gal Gadot (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice)
-Scarlett Johansson (Captain America: Civil War)
-Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad)
-Tilda Swinton (Doctor Strange)


These actresses kicked so much butt in these superhero movies, but I’m rooting for Scarlett Johansson.  Sorry, DC fans...


Best Comedy:
-Central Intelligence
-Deadpool
-Don’t Think Twice
-The Edge of Seventeen
-Hail, Caesar!
-The Nice Guys


Which of these films cracked me up the most?  That’s a tough question since my sense of humor is entirely different compared to others.  I haven’t seen Don’t Think Twice and Hail, Caesar! made me laugh the least, so I’m going with one of my biggest surprises of the year, The Nice Guys.


Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie:
-10 Cloverfield Lane
-Arrival
-Doctor Strange
-Don’t Breathe
-Star Trek Beyond
-The Witch


I should have no problem predicting this one.  Betting on Arrival.


Best Actor in a Comedy Movie:
-Ryan Gosling (The Nice Guys)
-Hugh Grant (Florence Foster Jenkins)
-Dwayne Johnson (Central Intelligence)
-Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic)
-Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool)


Oh, boy, what to choose...what to choose...  I’m going with Ryan Reynolds for his hilarious portrayal as the Merc with the Mouth.


Best Actress in a Comedy Movie:
-Kate Beckinsale (Love & Friendship)
-Sally Field (Hello, My Name is Doris)
-Kate McKinnon (Ghostbusters)
-Hailee Steinfeld (The Edge of Seventeen)
-Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins)


Yes, women are just as funny as men, but which of these talented actresses made me laugh the hardest?  To be honest, I’m hoping that Kate McKinnon can pull off a surprise win unless Hailee Steinfeld has enough power left in her to take the award away from her. 


Best Score:
-Moonlight
-Arrival
-La La Land
-Jackie
-Lion


I like listening to music.  Music creates the mood of a certain film.  If I were to choose, I would go with Moonlight.


Best Song:
-Audition (The Fools Who Dream) (La La Land)
-Can’t Stop the Feeling! (Trolls)
-City of Stars (La La Land)
-Drive It Like You Stole It (Sing Street)
-How Far I’ll Go (Moana)
-The Rules Don’t Apply (Rules Don’t Apply)


Definitely going with a Disney film for this category.  “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana.


Best Foreign Language Film:
-Elle
-The Handmaiden
-Julieta
-Neruda
-The Salesman
-Toni Erdmann


I usually get this category wrong because I haven’t watch a lot of foreign language films.  Guess I’m going with Elle.


This year’s CCA is scheduled to take place on December 11, 2016, and will be hosted once again by T.J. Miller, who’s starring in the upcoming comedy, “Office Christmas Party”.  This will mark the first time in awards history that the ceremony will be in the December slot rather than its usual January slot.  Don’t forget to leave a comment in the comments section if you agree with my predictions or not.