By Linda Shortman
Not every film you like gets an awards nomination. Some people call this a snub, I like to think that they just missed. There are only so many slots in nominated categories, and sometimes it just comes down to math.
This year, there were films and performances I enjoyed that missed out on awards nominations. Were I a voting member of any academy, these would have been on my ballot.
I loved what Patty Jenkins did with her directing in Wonder Woman to guide us through the different worlds. I also appreciated the art direction from the island, to war scenes, to the streets of London. The costumes in all of those settings also placed the characters firmly in those worlds.
Colossal was a creative story that I would nominate for writing. The details of the story unfold gradually to the ultimate reveal. The editing also brought the story to life as the story develops between two settings.
The art design in the movie IT brought a supernatural world to life. The colors and images were creepy and threatening.
Holly Hunter showed a huge heart in The Big Sick with a range of maternal emotions. From joy to sheer exasperation, it was an intense performance.
Jennifer Lawrence showed her acting range in mother! and was in almost every scene. Frustration and longing were expressed well in her performance. Plus, the sound mixing in mother! made me feel like I was actually in the house. The bumps and creaks were well placed.
The screenplay of Wind River unravels a mystery that benefits from skillful editing. This crime procedural is solved bit by bit.
The editing in Wonderstruck enhanced a story with beautiful art design and cinematography. Differing visual styles identified the two time periods that play out 50 years apart, and made me want to live in those worlds myself.
If the Academy Awards had thrown in a 10th film on the list for Best Picture, it would have been nice to see Mudbound, I, Tonya, The Big Sick, or Baby Driver in that slot.
I thought there were a lot of good, original films this year, and most were recognized with awards and award nominations. Others, like the ones I mentioned, missed out. Which films do you think should have been nominated? Tweet your picks to @momlovesfilm and @dvdnetflix!
From the multiplex to the couch, Linda loves movies! Read her thoughts on old movies, new movies, film, film events, and the wonderful people who make them at lindashortman.com and follow her on Twitter at @momlovesfilm.