SLAM!

Don't count out The Accountant! That trailer for Ben Affleck's new movie seems like it'll be great. I don't know if action movies are really the Academy's thing, but you never know.

The Jungle Book Rogue One A Monster Calls Passengers Warcraft

Neel Sethi did one of the best Mowgli interpretations ever in the Jungle Book. I think he might be in the running for a nomination. Serious. Neel Sethi was basically acting by himself in the movie, but not only did he be himself and allow his personality to be displayed, but he also demonstrates very good emotional acting. It's not a normal suggestion by any means, but I think he deserves it.

I agree. Horror movies haven't been Oscar fodder in a very long time, and Inside Out's snub just raised the acceptance bar crazy high for animation. And I really don't want the W-word-movie anywhere near any award ceremonies whatsoever. But that's just me.

The recently-released trailer for Deepwater Horizon makes it look like it could go a little far. Do you think it has a shot, or do you think it's this year's Everest/The Walk?

So, Gkids recently released the well-received April and the Extraordinary World. Could that be our indie?

I don't feel like the country of production is a viable factor nowadays. These days, an animated movie from anywhere in the world can edge it's way in the nomination slot if it's good enough. Just last year, an average-for-the-company Studio Ghibli film, When Marnie Was There, and the Brazilian Boy and the World double-teamed out of nowhere to edge out The Good Dinosaur, an american Pixar film. Also, I could use the argument that in 2010, when Toy Story 3 and How To Train Your Dragon were already locks, but you had other American hits like Tangled and Despicable Me in contention, the academy went for The Illusionist, a French/British film, instead to fill the 3rd spot in what was a three-movie year. By the Hollywood-Disney logic, Tangled would've won that 3rd nomination in an absolute landslide. However, I agree that relations with the Hollywood people wouldn't hurt a film's chance. (Unrelated side note: the guy that made The Illusionist and The Triplets of Belleville has his next movie in 2017. It'll be interesting to see what happens with that one!)

I don't feel like the country of production is a viable factor nowadays. These days, an animated movie from anywhere in the world can edge it's way in the nomination slot if it's good enough. Just last year, an average-for-the-company Studio Ghibli film, When Marnie Was There, and the Brazilian Boy and the World double-teamed out of nowhere to edge out The Good Dinosaur, an american Pixar film. Also, I could use the argument that in 2010, when Toy Story 3 and How To Train Your Dragon were already locks, but you had other American hits like Tangled and Despicable Me in contention, the academy went for The Illusionist, a French/British film, instead to fill the 3rd spot in what was a three-movie year. By the Hollywood-Disney logic, Tangled would've won that 3rd nomination in an absolute landslide. However, I agree that relations with the Hollywood people wouldn't hurt a film's chance. (Unrelated side note: the guy that made The Illusionist and The Triplets of Belleville has his next movie in 2017. It'll be interesting to see what happens with that one!)

I think Zootopia is the best CGI animated movie by Walt Disney Animation Studios by far in my opinion, which is quite an accolade in its own right. It think it absolutely deserves a nomination. But after what I saw happen with The Lego Movie, and after seeing all of the competition laid out for this year, I'm extremely nervous. Maybe I'm being an idiot, but I believe the chance is there that Moana's a classic, Kubo's a classic, Finding Dory's a classic, and 2016 animated movie after 2016 animated movie end up being classic enough to stand next to the classic that is Zootopia. If there's like 7 or 8 critically-acclaimed 'classics' this year, something's going to have to give. I believe the chance is there for a shocking snub, but I think Zootopia's probably fine in reality. I'm going to laugh really hard at myself in 10 months, aren't I?

It has an honest shot. It's such a surprisingly cinematic, crowd-pleasing allegory on modern culture itself, that I think it has an honest shot. It'll just have to make the nomination hump. This is a very competitive year in animation with many big names, so something's going to have to give, but if Zootopia is one of the chosen five, it can surely contend for the win.

I disagree. I have this feeling that Jared Leto will do a very phenomenal job, enough of a job to be in discussion. While it might be admittedly difficult for him to edge his way into the five, I don't think all the remarks regarding his method acting were overstating anything.

Ang Lee (Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk) Martin Scorsese (Silence) Denis Villeneuve (Story of Your Life) Morten Tyldum (Passengers) Jeff Nichols (Loving)

Rachel Weiz (Light Between Oceans) Kristen Stewart (Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk) Lupita N'Yongo (Queen of Katwe) Rooney Mara (Lion) Emma Stone (La La Land)

Jared Leto (Suicide Squad) Liam Neeson (Silence) Daniel Brühl (The Zookeeper's Wife) Jack Huston (The Yellow Birds) Kyle Chandler (Manchester By the Sea)

Emily Blunt (The Girl on the Train) Natalie Portman (Jackie) Ruth Negga (Loving) Jessica Chastain (The Zookeeper's Wife) Rebecca Hall (Christine)

I think Ryan Reynolds will have a real shot at Best Actor in a Comedy at the next Golden Globes for Deadpool. Anyways, my picks for the Oscars thus far: Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea) Tom Thanks (Sully) Michael Keaton (The Founder) David Oyelowo (A United Kingdom) Michael Fassbender (Light Between Oceans)

Early Predictions Moana Kubo and the Two Strings Finding Dory Storks Phantom Boy (Correct me if Phantom Boy has already been eligible for a previous year; Phantom Boy is from the same team behind A Cat in Paris)

...Now I really want to see that movie! Unexpected. Disney has done it again.

So Hail Ceasar! is out in theaters now. Do you think it's best picture material? I haven't seen it yet.

What happens to movies that nobody acquired? Nobody bought movies like The Lure and Captain Fantastic.

I just noticed that A24 also bought Morris From America as well. The question is, though: is the movie another End of the Tour, or will the performances (namely Craig Robinson and Markers Christmas) actually be represented at awards shows like the Oscars?

Wow, I didn't think anyone would buy it, honestly. Though I guess it'll probably become a cult hit now that I think about it.

http://www.cinemablend.com/m/new/Why-Daniel-Radcliffe-Movie-Has-People-Walking-Out-Theaters-107857.html Breaking news: Swiss Army Man isn't good. Time to edit my early Best Picture prediction.

Netflix has already bought the streaming rights to the U.S Dramatic competitor Tallulah, which was written by an Orange Is The New Black writer. It'll be interesting to see how it fares.

I think Mad Max will win the biggest number of Oscars, but I don't think it will win the biggest competitions like best picture. I really want it to, though.