Review: "Justice League Dark" Surprises

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 8 (of 2018) by Leroy Douresseaux

Justice League Dark (2017)
Running time:  75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes)
MPAA – R for some disturbing violence
DIRECTOR:  Jay Oliva
WRITERS:  Ernie Altbacker; from a story by Ernie Altbacker and J.M. DeMatteis
EDITOR:  Christopher D. Lozinsk
COMPOSER:  Robert J. Kral
ANIMATION STUDIO:  DR Movie

ANIMATION/SUPERHERO/ACTION/FANTASY

Starring:  (voices) Matt Ryan, Jason O'Mara, Camilla Luddington, Nicholas Turturro, Ray Chase, Roger Cross,  Alfred Molina, Enrico Colantoni, Jeremy Davies, Rosario Dawson, Jerry O'Connell, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, and Fred Tatasciore

Justice League Dark is a 2017 straight-to-video animated superhero film from Warner Bros. Animation.  It is the 27th film in Warner's line of “DC Universe Animated Original Movies.”  This film features a supernatural-leaning version of DC Comics' Justice League.  Called “Justice League Dark,” this team was introduced in the 2011 comic book created by writer Peter Milligan and artist Mikel Janin.  Justice League Dark the film focuses on a group of beings with supernatural powers that join together to fight against supernatural villains.

Justice League Dark opens with a series of violent murders in the cities of Metropolis, Gotham, and Washington, D.C.  These murders are committed by people who believe that they are being attacked by demonic creatures, or so they say after being stopped by members of the Justice League.  The truth is that they are hallucinating, and these hallucinations cause them to see the people around them, including their family and friends, as demonic creatures.

The Justice League, which includes such as heroes as Superman (Jerry O'Connell), Wonder Woman (Rosario Dawson), and Green Lantern (Roger Cross), conclude that magic is behind these visions of demonic creatures, but Batman (Jason O'Mara) is skeptical.  However, an encounter with Deadman/Boston Brand at Wayne Manor, convinces Batman to join Deadman and Zatanna (Camilla Luddington), the powerful magician, to find Zatanna's ex-boyfriend, John Constantine (Matt Ryan).

A con man, Constantine is a powerful exorcist and magic user and is also the custodian of the “House of Mystery.”  Constantine may be the key to finding the source behind the demonic visions.  Joined by Jason Blood (Ray Chase) and Etrigan the Demon (Ray Chase), this odd group forms a dark version of the Justice League in order to battle a centuries-old sorcery named Destiny (Alfred Molina).

In Justice League Dark, several characters fling explosive magical energy blasts about.  There are several battles that look like mini versions of the epic battle between Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort in the film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007).  My experience with such DC Comics characters as Constantine and Zatanna is different from what this film offers, which is that they are not wielders of combat magic, but maybe they have on occasions that I missed.

Still, this is an entertaining movie.  Although I found myself wanting to dislike it, it is strangely entertaining, surprising me that I enjoyed it a lot.  Perhaps, Justice League Dark is capable of casting a spell.  It is weird and has an eclectic cast and some nice plot twists.  There is no need to say any more.  Fans of the DC Animated Movie Universe will want to see this.

7 of 10
B+

Thursday, October 18, 2018


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: "Spilt" is Shyamalan's Best Film in at Least a Decade

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 5 (of 2018) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Split (2016 / 2017)
Running time:  117 minutes (1 hour, 57 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for disturbing thematic content and behavior, violence and some language
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  M. Night Shyamalan
PRODUCERS: Marc Bienstock, Jason Blum, and M. Night Shyamalan
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Michael Gioulakis (D.o.P)
EDITOR:  Luke Ciarrocchi
COMPOSER:  West Dylan Thordson

HORROR/THRILLER

Starring:  James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy, Betty Buckley, Haley Lu Richardson, Jessica Sula, Izzie Coffey, Brad William Henke, Sebastian Arcelus, and Rosemary Howard (with Bruce Willis)

Split is a 2016 horror-thriller from writer-director M. Night Shyamalan.  The film is a standalone sequel to Shyamalan's 2000 film, Unbreakable.  The film received a film festival release in 2016, but was released to theaters in January 2017.  Split focuses on three kidnapped girls who desperately search for a way to escape their captor, a man diagnosed with 23 distinct personalities.

As Split opens, Casey Cooke (Anya Taylor-Joy), a seemingly emotionally withdrawn teenager, is hanging out with her classmates, Claire Benoit (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia (Jessica Sula).  The three teens are kidnapped by a mysterious man who has DID – dissociative identity disorder (also and formerly known as “multiple personality disorder”).  The girls' abductor, “Dennis” (James McAvoy), is one of several personalities, as many as 23 according to Dennis' psychologist, Dr. Karen Fletcher (Betty Buckley).

The girls are imprisoned in an underground bunker and held in a cell.  Casey tries to befriend a young boy personality named “Hedwig.”  From him, Casey learns that time is running out, as “The Beast” (a 24th personality) is coming, and the teens are to be sacrificed to him.

Although Split has been out in the public for almost a year and a half, a little more including its film festival release, I still want to be careful about spoilers in this review.  I can say that James McAvoy gives a dramatic tour de force performance in multiple roles.

Honestly, I have thought of him as a good actor since I first saw him in two Academy Award-winning film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and The Last King of Scotland (2006).  It is this performance, however, in which McAvoy reveals that he has the techniques and skills of a top-form actor and the qualities of a movie star.  Goodness gracious!  The camera made love to this dude, and I could not get enough of him.  McAvoy took each personality that director M. Night Shyamalan revealed and gave us a unique and alluring individual.

Speaking of Shyamalan, he proves with this film that he has always been a exceptional filmmaker, even when he was making mediocre films (The Last Airbender) and box office bombs (The Lady in the Water – which I love, by the way).  I have thoroughly enjoyed his movies (Unbreakable, Signs, and The Village) even when I hate the “twists” and “shock reveals” in the last acts of those films.  Split is good, beginning to end.  Shyamalan has unleashed his inner Hitchcock to create a film that is difficult to ignore once you start watching its astonishing twists and turns.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Anya Taylor-Joy as Casey Cooke.  I think that she is as much the star of this film as James McAvoy is.  In a way, she embodies the heroic journey, and she spins the familiar teen female victim of horror movies and thrillers and turns her into a stalwart figure, the unbreakable, unsinkable heroine.

Obviously, I love Split.  I wish I had seen it in a movie theater, and I am not reluctant to recommend it to fans of thrillers.  It is not just a good movie; it is also one of the best films of 2017.

9 of 10
A+

Thursday, April 26, 2018


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Earns Love, Draws Ire

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 3 (of 2018) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Running time:  152 minutes (2 hours, 32 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for extended sequences of sci-fi action and violence
DIRECTOR:  Rian Johnson
WRITER:  Rian Johnson (based on characters created by George Lucas)
PRODUCERS:  Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Steve Yedlin (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Bob Ducsay
COMPOSER:  John Williams
Academy Award nominee

SCI-FI/FANTASY/ACTION/ADVENTURE/DRAMA

Starring:  Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, Benicio del Toro, Frank Oz (voice), Billie Lourd, Joonas Suotamo, Amanda Lawrence, Jimmy Vee, and Justin Theroux

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a 2017 science fiction-fantasy action film written and directed by Rian Johnson.  It is the ninth movie in the Star Wars film franchise, which began with the 1977 Oscar-winning film, Star Wars, created by George Lucas.  The Last Jedi is also a direct sequel to Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and the eighth Star Wars “episode” film.  The Last Jedi focuses on a young woman who takes her first steps into the world of the Jedi and tries to unlock the mysteries of The Force and the secrets of the past.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi finds the wannabe galactic rulers, the First Order, and its Supreme Commander Snoke (Andy Serkis), ascendant.  The First Order moves to destroy the main base of its enemy, the Resistance.  General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) struggles to keep the Resistance one step ahead of the First Order.  Heroic Resistance pilot, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac),  leads the charge that gives the Resistance vessels the time they need to jump into hyperspace to escape the First Order.  However, escaping the First Order will not be so easy, and now stormtropper turned Resistance fighter, Finn (John Boyega), and mechanic, Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran), must execute a dangerous mission to allow the Resistance to really escape the First Order.

Meanwhile, budding Jedi, Rey (Daisy Ridley), is on the planet, Ahch-To, where she has found the long-missing Jedi Knight legend, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill).  However, Luke refuses to initiate Rey into the ways of the Force and also declares that the Jedi Order must end with him.  Frustrated, Rey also discovers that she has some kind of psychic connection to Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Luke's former student who turned to the Dark Side and now serves Snoke and the Resistance.

I found Star Wars: The Last Jedi to be as entertaining and as well-made as Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  It is quite thrilling at times and kept my on the proverbial edge of my seat hoping our heroes could survive the overwhelming First Order odds against them.  The Last Jedi is not exactly a “non-stop thrill machine,” but it is thrilling.  But neither The Last Jedi nor The Force Awakens are as good as 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars film.

I thought about why I feel that way.  I thought about it, and I think that The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi both suffer because Star Wars creator George Lucas did not have direct hand in making them.

For all the criticism leveled against Lucas by critics and fans over the decades, especially because of the Lucas directed “prequel” films, (Star Wars: Episodes I to III), Lucas is a wildly imaginative and inventive filmmaker and storyteller.  Each prequel film had enough subplots, characters, settings, worlds, ideas, and creatures to power its own film trilogy.  Lucas' weakness (relatively speaking) seems to be in the execution of telling a  film story via screenplay and directing (especially in directing actors).  Visually, Lucas' films seem almost too big for even the biggest movie screens, but that size and scale comes at the cost of the narrative.

The Force Awakens (Episode VII) and The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) are disciplined and narrow in focus, in terms of plot.  The Last Jedi focuses on (1) the struggle of the Resistance to escape destruction at the hands of the First Order and (2) Rey's quest to discover the secrets of the Jedi and the Force.  The Last Jedi is so focused that it looses the sense of wonder that permeates the original Star Wars films.  Instead, The Last Jedi references and remakes scenes from Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983).  Some people complained that The Force Awakens was a kind of remake and reboot of the original Star Wars film, but The Last Jedi does not do that as much.  [Strangely, I find that Rogue One, which is a side story connected to Star Wars 1977, comes across as a fresh, new take on Star Wars, while being true to the work of George Lucas.]

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a Star Wars movie, and I will likely always love all Star Wars movies, to one extent or another.  [Every time one is on TV, I try to watch at least some of it.]  So I love The Last Jedi and will give it a high grade.  However, this final trilogy (Episodes VII to IX) is starting to seem like fan fiction, created by writers and directors who cherry pick ideas from their childhood Star Wars favorite moments.  Maybe the current owner of Star Wars, The Walt Disney Company, and the filmmakers it hires to continue the “Star Wars saga” are really afraid of new ideas or too many new ideas.  Maybe, Disney got the message; the prequel trilogy looked too different from the original trilogy and audiences, at least the vocal part of it, were pissed.  Well, the Disney-produced Star Wars films will suffer for playing it safe.

Let me summarize my thoughts and feelings this way.  If Disney replaced the title, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, with something else, say Alien or Predator, I would give this film a rating of 5 or 6 out of 10 at most.  This 8 out of 10 is the kind of love you show family.

8 of 10
A

Sunday, December 17, 2017
Edited:  Thursday, March 15, 2018

NOTES:
2018 Academy Awards, USA:  4 nominations: “Best Achievement in Visual Effects” (Ben Morris, Michael Mulholland, Neal Scanlan, and Chris Corbould), “Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures-Original Score” (John Williams), “Best Achievement in Sound Editing” (Matthew Wood and Ren Klyce), and” Best Achievement in Sound Mixing” (Michael Semanick, David Parker, Stuart Wilson, and Ren Klyce)

2018 BAFTA Awards:  2 nominations: “Best Sound” (Ren Klyce, Michael Semanick, Matthew Wood, David Parker, and Stuart Wilson) and “Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects”


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site or blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Negromancer Watches 2017-2018 Movie Award Season - Update #32

Support Leroy on Patreon.

ACADEMY AWARDS - THE OSCARS - (Sunday, March 4, 2018)

From OscarsdotCom:  2018/ 90th Academy Award nominations announces Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

From Variety:  Winners at the 2018 / 90th Academy Awards were announced. "The Shape of Water" is named "Best Picture."

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THE BRITISH ACADEMY OF FILM AND TELEVISION ARTS - BAFTA - (February 18, 2018)

From Variety:  Winners at the 2018 / 71st British Academy Film Awards announced.  "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" wins both "Best Film" and "Outstanding British Film" of 2017

From Variety:  2018 / 71st British Academy Film Awards (the BAFTAs) announced Tuesday, January 9, 2018.

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AFRICAN-AMERICAN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION - (December 12, 2017)

From THR:   2018 AAFCA Awards announced; "Get Out" named "Best Picture."

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ANNIE AWARDS - 45th Annie Awards - presented by AISFA-Hollywood (Saturday, February 3, 2018)

From EW:  The winners of the 2018 / 45th Annie Awards were announced; "Coco" was named "Best Animated Feature"

From AnnieAwards: Nominations for 2018 / 45th Annie Awards.

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AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF CINEMA AND TELEVISION ARTS INTERNATIONAL ARTS - (Friday, January 5, 2018)

From Variety:  7th Annual AACTA International Awards announced; "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" named "Best Film"

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BLACK FILM CRITICS CIRCLE - (Monday, December 18, 2017)

From Deadline:  2017 Black Film Critics Circle Awards; "Mudbound" named "Best Film."

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BLACK REEL AWARDS - (Thursday, February 22, 2018)

From BlackReelAwards:  The 2018 / 18th Black Reel Award nominations were announced Wednesday, December 13, 2017.

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BOSTON ONLINE FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION -

From BOFCA:  Boston Online Film Critics Association - 2017 Awards announced.  "Get Out" named Best Picture.

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BOSTON SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS - (Monday, December 11, 2017)

From BSFC:  2017 Boston Society of Film Critics Award winners announced.  "Phantom Thread" is "Best Picture."

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BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM AWARD - 2017 BIFA (Sunday, December 10, 2017)

From BIFA: Winners of the 2017 British Independent Film Awards, including "God's Own Country" as "Best British Independent Film."

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CENTRAL OHIO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION - (Thursday, January 4, 2018)

From COFCA:  2017 COFCA Awards announced; "Lady Bird" named "Best Film"

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CHICAGO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION - (December 12, 2017)

From CFC:  2017 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards announced; "Lady Bird" named Best Picture.

From CFC:  2017 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards nominations announced December 10, 2017.

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CHICAGO INDEPENDENT FILM CRITICS CIRCLE - (Saturday, December 30, 2017)

From CIFCC:  2017 CIFFCC Award winners; "Lady Bird" named "Best Independent Film" and "Logan" named "Best Studio Film"

From AwardsWatch:  2017 / 2nd Annual CIFCC nominations.

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CRITICS CHOICE MOVIE & TELEVISION AWARDS - (Thursday, January 11, 2018)

From CriticsChoice:  23rd Critics Choice Awards announced; "The Shape of Water" named "Best Film o f2017."

From GoldDerby:  Critics Choice Awards 2018 nominees.

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DALLAS-FORT WORTH FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION - (December 13, 2017)

From DFWCritics:  The DFW Film Critics Awards announced; "The Shape of Water" named "Best Picture."

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DETROIT FILM CRITICS SOCIETY - (December 7, 2017)

From DFCS:  2017 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards announced; "The Florida Project" named "Best Film."

From DFCS:  2017 DFCS Award nominatons.

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DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA - (Saturday, February 3, 2018)

From DGA:  70th Annual DGA Awards announced; Guillermo del Toro wins "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film" for "The Shape of Water."

From DGA:  DGA Announces Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2017; Awards will be handed out Feb. 3rd, 2018.

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FLORIDA FILM CRITICS CIRCLE - (Saturday, December 23, 2017)

From FFCC:  Nominations for 2017 FFCC Awards.  Winners announced Dec. 23rd.

From AwardsWatch:  2017 FFCC Award winners.  "Dunkirk" is named "Best Picture."

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GOLDEN GLOBES - Presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (Sunday, January 7, 2018)

From TheWrap:  2018 / 75th Golden Globe Award winners; "Lady Bird" named "Best Picture-Comedy" and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" named "Best Picture-Drama"

From GoldenGlobes:  2018 / 75th Golden Globe Award nominations (Monday, December 11, 2017).

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GOTHAM AWARDS - 2017/ 27th Annual IFP Gotham Awards (Monday, November 27th, 2017)

WINNERS - From IndieWire:  27th Annual IFP Gotham Award winners including "Call Me By Your Name" as "Best Feature"

From IFP:  27th Annual IFP Gotham Awards nominations.

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HOUSTON FILM CRITICS SOCIETY - (January 6, 2018)

From TheChronicle:   The 2017 Houston Film Critics Society Awards were announced.  "Lady Bird" was named best picture of 2017

From TheChronicle:  The 2017 Houston Film Critics Society Award nominations announced Tuesday, December 12, 2017.

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INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS - (Saturday, March 3, 2018)

From Variety:  2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards ceremony was held.  "Get Out" wins "Best Feature of 2017.

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INDIANA FILM JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION - (December 18, 2017)

From IndyStar:  The 2017 IFJA Film Awards were announced.  "Lady Bird" was named best picture of 2017.

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KANSAS CITY FILM CRITICS CIRCLE - (December17, 2017)

From KCFCC:  The Kansas City Film Critics Circle announced the 52nd James Loutzenhiser Awards.  "Get Out" is named best picture of 2017.

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LAS VEGAS FILM CRITICS SOCIETY - (December 18, 2017)

From AwardsWatch:  2017 LVFCS Awards: "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" wins "Best Picture."

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LONDON FILM CRITICS' CIRCLE - (Sunday, January 28, 2018)

From Variety:  38th (2018) London Film Critics Awards were announced; "Three Billboard Outside Ebbing, Missouri" named "Film of the Year" for 2017.

From CriticsCircleUK:  The nominees for the 38th London Film Critics Awards were announced December 19, 2017.

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LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION - (Sunday, December 3rd, 2017)

From LAFCA: 2017 winners - "Call Me By Your Name" is the "Best Picture" winner.

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NAACP IMAGE AWARDS - (Sunday, January 14, 2018 and Monday, January 15, 2018)

From Deadline:  The 49th NAACP Image Awards wrapped up on Monday night, Jan. 15th.  Ava DuVernay was named "Entertainer of the Year."  "Girls Trip" was named Outstanding Motion Picture.

From TheWrap:  Winners in the non-televised categories of the 49th Image Awards were announced.  "Detroit" was named "Outstanding Independent Film."

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NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW - A group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals and academics (Tuesday, November 28, 2017)

From NBoR: 2017 winners including "The Post" as "Best Film."

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NATIONAL SOCIETY OF FILM CRITICS - (Saturday, January 6, 2018)

From IndieWire:   52nd NSFC Awards announced; "Lady Bird" named "Best Picture."

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NEW YORK FILM CRITICS CIRCLE - (Thursday, November 30, 2017)

From NYFCC:  2017 Award winners including "Lady Bird" as "Best Picture."

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NEW YORK FILM CRITICS ONLINE - an organization of the top online film critics in New York City (December 10, 2017)

From NYFCO:  The 2017 NYFCO Awards; "Mudbound" and "The Florida Project" tie for the "Best Picture" award.

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NORTH CAROLINA FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION - (Tuesday, January 2, 2017)

From AwardsWatch:  2017 North Carolina Film Critics Association Award nominations.

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OKLAHOMA FILM CRITICS CIRCLE - (January 3, 2018)

From Collider:  2018 Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Awards were announced. "Get Out" named Best Film of 2017.

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ONLINE FILM CRITICS SOCIETY - (Thursday, December 28, 2017)

From AwardsWatch:  2017 OFCS Awards; "Get Out" wins "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch:  2017 OFCS Award nominations.

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PHOENIX FILM CRITICS SOCIETY - (Tuesday, December 19, 2017)

From PFCS:  2017 PFCS Awards announced.  "The Shape of Water" named best picture of 2017.

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PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA - 29th/2018 Annual Producers Guild Awards (January 20, 2018):

From PGA:  Theatrical Motion Picture and Television winners announced for 2018 Producers Guild Awards.  "The Shape of Water" wins "The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures."

From PGA:  Theatrical Motion Picture and Television Nominees Announced for 2018 Producers Guild Awards announced Friday, January 5, 2018.

From PGA: Nominations for "The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures"

From PGA:  Date set for 2018 Producers Guild.

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ST. LOUIS FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION - (Sunday, December 17, 2017)

From AwardsWatch:  2017 St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards announced; "The Shape of Water" wins "Best Film."

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SAN DIEGO FILM CRITICS SOCIETY - (Monday, December 11, 2017)

From SDFCS: Winners of the 2017 SDFCS Awards; Jordan Peele's "Get Out" wins "Best Picture."

From AwardsWatch:  Nominees for 2017 SDFCS Awards; winners to be announced Dec. 11th.

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SCREEN ACTORS GUILD - Broadcast on TBS and TNT (January 21, 2018)

From THR:  2018 / 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards announced; "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" wins "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture," which is the SAG Awards' version of a best picture category.

From SAG: 2018 / 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Award nominations

From SAG:  Morgan Freeman to receive Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.

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SEATTLE FILM CRITICS SOCIETY - (Monday, December 18, 2017)

From AwardsWatch:  Nominees for the Seattle Film Critics Society Awards; winners announced Dec. 18th

From AwardsWatch:  2017 Seattle Film Critics Society Awards announced.  "Get Out" wins "Best Picture of the Year."

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USC LIBRARIES SCRIPTER AWARD - (Saturday, February 10, 2018)

From Negromancer:  30th annual USC Libraries Scripter Award nominations announced for film and television categories.

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UTAH FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION (Sunday, December 17, 2017))

From AwardsWatch:  Utah Film Critics Association announces its 2017 Award winners.  "A Ghost Story" is named "Best Picture."

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VISUAL EFFECTS SOCIETY - (February 13, 2018)

From Deadline:  Nominations for the 16th annual VES Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced on Feb. 13th.

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WOMEN FILM CRITICS CIRCLE - (Thursday, December 21, 2017)

From CriticalWomenBlogspot:  Women Film Critics Circle - winners and nominees.  "Lady Bird" wins two "Best Film" awards.

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WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA - (Sunday, February 11, 2018)

From TheWrap:  The winners at the 2018 Writers Guild Awards.  Jordan Peele wins best original screenplay for "Get Out."  James Ivory wins best adapted screenplay for "Call Me By Your Name."

From GoldDerby:  The winners and nominees at the 2018 Writers Guild Awards.

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BEST PICTURE/FILM/FEATURE winners count:

Call Me By Your Name - 2 wins from Gotham Awards, Los Angeles Film Critics Association

Dunkirk - 1 win from Florida Film Critics Circle

The Florida Project - 1 win from Detroit Film Critics Society; 1 tied win (with Mudbound) from the New York Film Critics Online

Get Out - 8 wins from African-American Film Critics Associaiton; Boston Online Film Critics Association; Film Independent Spirit Awards, Kansas City Film Critics Circle; Oklahoma Film Critics Circle; Online Film Critics Society; San Diego Film Critics Society; Seattle Film Critics Society

A Ghost Story - 1 win from Utah Film Critics Association

Girls Trip - 1 win from NAACP Image Awards

God's Own Country - 1 win from British Independent Film Awards 

Lady Bird - 9 wins from Central Ohio Film Critics Association; Chicago Film Critics Association; Chicago Independent Film Critics Cirlce; Golden Globes (Best Picture-Comedy); Houston Film Critics Society; Indiana Film Journalist Association; National Society of Film Critics; New York Film Critics Society, Women Film Critics Circle

Logan - 1 win Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle (as "Best Studio Film")

Mudbound - 1 win from Black Film Critics Circle; 1 tied win (with The Florida Project) from the New York Film Critics Online

Phantom Thread - 1 win from Boston Society of Film Critics

The Post - 1 win from National Board of Review

The Shape of Water - 6 wins from Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences; Critics Choice Awards; Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association; Phoenix Film Critics Society; Producers Guild of America; St. Louis Film Critics Association

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - 7 wins from Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts International Awards; BAFTAs (Best Film and Outstanding British Film) Golden Globes (Best Picture-Drama); Las Vegas Film Critics Society; London Film Critics Circle; Screen Actors Guild Awards


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2018 / 90th Academy Awards Announced - Complete Winners List

The Academy Awards is an American film accolade.  It is best known as the “Oscars,” and is an annual awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements primarily in the American film industry. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuette that is officially called the “Academy Award of Merit,” but has become commonly known by its nickname, the “Oscar.”   The awards were first presented in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.  The Academy Awards are overseen by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

The 90th Oscars nominations in 24 categories were announced on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.  Oscars for outstanding film achievements of 2017 were presented on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and was televised live on the ABC Television Network at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.  The Oscars ceremony was also televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.  Jimmy Kimmel acted as host for the ceremony.

2018 / 90th Academy Award winners (for film achievements in 2017):

Best Picture
The Shape of Water - Guillermo del Toro and J. Miles Dale, Producers

Directing
The Shape of Water - Guillermo del Toro

Actor in a Leading Role:
Gary Oldman - Darkest Hour

Actor in a Supporting Role
Sam Rockwell - Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

Actress in a Leading Role
Frances McDormand - Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

Actress in a Supporting Role
Allison Janney - I, Tonya

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Call Me by Your Name - Screenplay by James Ivory

Writing (Original Screenplay)
Get Out - Written by Jordan Peele

Animated Feature Film
Coco - Lee Unkrich and Darla K. Anderson

Cinematography
Blade Runner 2049 - Roger A. Deakins

Costume Design
Phantom Thread - Mark Bridges

Documentary (Feature)
Icarus - Bryan Fogel and Dan Cogan

Documentary (Short Subject)
Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405 - Frank Stiefel

Film Editing
Dunkirk - Lee Smith

Foreign Language Film
A Fantastic Woman - Chile

Makeup and Hairstyling:
Darkest Hour - Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Malinowski and Lucy Sibbick

Music (Original Score)
The Shape of Water - Alexandre Desplat

Music (Original Song)
Remember Me from Coco; Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez

Production Design
The Shape of Water - Production Design: Paul Denham Austerberry; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau and Jeffrey A. Melvin

Short Film (Animated)
Dear Basketball - Glen Keane and Kobe Bryant

Short Film (Live Action)
The Silent Child - Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton

Sound Editing
Dunkirk - Richard King and Alex Gibson

Sound Mixing
Dunkirk - Gregg Landaker, Gary A. Rizzo and Mark Weingarten

Visual Effects
Blade Runner 2049 - John Nelson, Gerd Nefzer, Paul Lambert and Richard R. Hoover

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2018 Oscars "Best Picture of the Year" - "The Shape of Water"

Best Picture

The Shape of Water - Guillermo del Toro and J. Miles Dale, Producers - WINNER

Nominees
Call Me by Your Name - Peter Spears, Luca Guadagnino, Emilie Georges and Marco Morabito, Producers

Darkest Hour - Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Lisa Bruce, Anthony McCarten and Douglas Urbanski, Producers

Dunkirk - Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers

Get Out - Sean McKittrick, Jason Blum, Edward H. Hamm Jr. and Jordan Peele, Producers

Lady Bird - Scott Rudin, Eli Bush and Evelyn O'Neill, Producers

Phantom Thread - JoAnne Sellar, Paul Thomas Anderson, Megan Ellison and Daniel Lupi, Producers

The Post - Amy Pascal, Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers

Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri - Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin and Martin McDonagh, Producers

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2018 Oscars "Best Actress" - Frances McDormand

Actress in a Leading Role

Frances McDormand - Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri - WINNER

Nominees
Sally Hawkins - The Shape of Water
Margot Robbie - I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan - Lady Bird
Meryl Streep - The Post

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2018 Oscars "Best Actor" - Gary Oldman

Actor in a Leading Role:

Gary Oldman - Darkest Hour - WINNER

Nominees:
Timothée Chalamet - Call Me by Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis - Phantom Thread
Daniel Kaluuya - Get Out
Denzel Washington - Roman J. Israel, Esq.

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2018 Oscars "Best Director" - Guillermo del Toro

Directing

The Shape of Water - Guillermo del Toro - WINNER

Nominees
Dunkirk - Christopher Nolan
Get Out - Jordan Peele
Lady Bird - Greta Gerwig
Phantom Thread - Paul Thomas Anderson

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2018 Oscars "Best Original Song" - "Remember Me"

Music (Original Song)

Remember Me from Coco; Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez - WINNER

Nominees
Mighty River from Mudbound; Music and Lyric by Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq and Taura Stinson

Mystery Of Love from Call Me by Your Name; Music and Lyric by Sufjan Stevens

Stand Up For Something from Marshall; Music by Diane Warren; Lyric by Lonnie R. Lynn and Diane Warren

This Is Me from The Greatest Showman; Music and Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

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2018 Oscars "Best Original Score" - "The Shape of Water"

Music (Original Score)

The Shape of Water - Alexandre Desplat

Nominees
Dunkirk - Hans Zimmer
Phantom Thread - Jonny Greenwood
Star Wars: The Last Jedi - John Williams
Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri - Carter Burwell

2018 Oscars "Best Cinematography" - "Blade Runner 2049"

Cinematography

Blade Runner 2049 - Roger A. Deakins - WINNER

Nominees
Darkest Hour - Bruno Delbonnel
Dunkirk - Hoyte van Hoytema
Mudbound - Rachel Morrison
The Shape of Water - Dan Laustsen

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2018 Oscars "Best Original Screenplay" - "Get Out"

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Get Out - Written by Jordan Peele - WINNER

Nominees
The Big Sick - Written by Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani
Lady Bird - Written by Greta Gerwig
The Shape of Water - Screenplay by Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor; Story by Guillermo del Toro
Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri - Written by Martin McDonagh

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2018 Oscars "Best Adapted Screenplay" - "Call Me by Your Name"

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

Call Me by Your Name - Screenplay by James Ivory - WINNER

Nominees
The Disaster Artist - Screenplay by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber
Logan - Screenplay by Scott Frank & James Mangold and Michael Green; Story by James Mangold
Molly's Game - Written for the screen by Aaron Sorkin
Mudbound - Screenplay by Virgil Williams and Dee Rees

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2018 Oscars "Best Live Action Short Film" - "The Silent Child"

Short Film (Live Action)

The Silent Child - Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton - WINNERS

Nominees
DeKalb Elementary - Reed Van Dyk
The Eleven O'Clock - Derin Seale and Josh Lawson
My Nephew Emmett - Kevin Wilson, Jr.
Watu Wote/All of Us - Katja Benrath and Tobias Rosen

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2018 Oscars "Best Documentary Short Film" - "Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405"

Documentary (Short Subject)
Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405 - Frank Stiefel - WINNER

Nominees
Edith+Eddie - Laura Checkoway and Thomas Lee Wright
Heroin(e) - Elaine McMillion Sheldon and Kerrin Sheldon
Knife Skills - Thomas Lennon
Traffic Stop - Kate Davis and David Heilbroner

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2018 Oscars "Best Film Editing" - "Dunkirk"

Film Editing

Dunkirk - Lee Smith - WINNER

Nominees
Baby Driver - Paul Machliss and Jonathan Amos
I, Tonya - Tatiana S. Riegel
The Shape of Water - Sidney Wolinsky
Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri - Jon Gregory

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2018 Oscars "Best Visual Effects" - "Blade Runner 2049"

Visual Effects

Blade Runner 2049 - John Nelson, Gerd Nefzer, Paul Lambert and Richard R. Hoover - WINNER

Nominees
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Jonathan Fawkner and Dan Sudick
Kong: Skull Island - Stephen Rosenbaum, Jeff White, Scott Benza and Mike Meinardus
Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Ben Morris, Mike Mulholland, Neal Scanlan and Chris Corbould
War for the Planet of the Apes - Joe Letteri, Daniel Barrett, Dan Lemmon and Joel Whist

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2018 Oscars "Best Animated Feature Film" - "Coco"

Animated Feature Film

Coco - Lee Unkrich and Darla K. Anderson - WINNERS

Nominees
The Boss Baby - Tom McGrath and Ramsey Naito
The Breadwinner - Nora Twomey and Anthony Leo
Ferdinand - Carlos Saldanha and Lori Forte
Loving Vincent - Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman and Ivan Mactaggart

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2018 Oscars "Best Animated Short Film" - "Dear Basketball"

Short Film (Animated)

Dear Basketball - Glen Keane and Kobe Bryant - WINNERS

Nominees
Garden Party - Victor Caire and Gabriel Grapperon
Lou - Dave Mullins and Dana Murray
Negative Space - Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata
Revolting Rhymes - Jakob Schuh and Jan Lachauer

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