The annual Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are coming up again for the 92nd time. Off course, as always, there is plenty of competition for each category. The category I will be discussing now is the best picture category, and the films that have been nominated for it.
First of all we have Ford v. Ferrari, a biopic about the men who worked to create a car that could stand up to Enzo Ferrari’s race cars. Auto designer Carroll Shelby and race car driver Ken Miles aimed to beat Ferrari with a high-performance race car for the Ford Motor Company at the 1966 Le Mans endurance Grand Prix.
Next on the list of nominees, we have The Irishman, which sees World War II vet Frank Sheeran reflecting on his life as a hustler and mob hitman. The movie also shows him working alongside many notorious figures, including Jimmy Hoffa, the subject of one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in American history.
Up next, we have the dramedy that it Jojo Rabbit, a Taika Waititi film. The movie shows us the life of a lonely German boy being turned upside down when he discovers his single mother is hiding a young Jewish girl in their attic. The movie is set to the backdrop of WWII and, aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend Adolf Hitler, Jojo must confront his blind nationalism.
One of the biggest contenders for this year has to be Joker. We see a young man longing to be a stand-up comic, but finds the joke is always on him. Set to the backdrop of Gotham’s fractured society, we see the comedian making one bad decision after another, bringing about a chain reaction of escalating events. Joaquin Phoenix was praised heavily for his part in the film, and it definitely makes Joker one of the top films.
Releasing at the tail end of 2019, the movie Little Women has made its way onto the nomination list. It is a historical period drama and it is the seventh film adaptation of the 1868 novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott. Little Women tells the story of burgeoning author Jo March looks back on her and her three sisters’ Massachusetts childhoods and the events and relationships that helped shape them as adults in the 1860’s.
Following that is, Marriage Story, a film that shows us a young creative couple and their son navigating the tricky waters of bicoastal separation and impending divorce. It is a film that blatantly shows us how difficult real life can be sometimes. This gives it its place on the list of nominees for best picture.
Another film which released at the end of the year that made its way onto the best picture list was 1917. 1917 depicts two British soldiers being sent on a dangerous mission to stop an attack by the British 7th Division that will result in a massacre by the Germans during WWI. Their assignment takes on extra urgency as one of the young soldiers’ brothers is fighting in that Division.
Also among the nominees is Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino’s 9th film. It tells the story of aging TV star Rick Dalton and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth. In Los Angeles in 1969, they struggle to make their way around an industry and a city they hardly recognize anymore.
The final nominee for best picture for the 92nd Academy Awards is Parasite. Parasite shows the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan being threatened by greed, class discrimination and a mysterious interloper.
All of these films were nominated to receive the award for best picture of the year. My pick for which one it should be is definitely Joker, but I don’t make the decisions. We’ll just have to wait and find out exactly which one has managed to make the cut on Sunday, February 9, 2020.
Bloodshot, as stated by the title of this post, is a comic book series centered on the titular hero Bloodshot. After he and his wife are murdered, marine Ray Garrison is resurrected by a team of scientists. The RST Corporation brings him back with an army of nanotechnology in his veins, and he becomes an unstoppable force –stronger than ever and able to heal instantly. The only problem is that the corporation has complete control of his mind and memories, and they have ulterior motives.
As Ray first trains with fellow super-soldiers, he cannot recall anything from his former life. But when his memories flood back and he remembers the man that killed both him and his wife, he breaks out of the facility to get revenge, only to discover that there’s more to the conspiracy than he thought. Now, Ray doesn’t know what is real and what isn’t, but he intends to find out.
The movie is directed by David S. F. Wilson and the screenplay is written by Jeff Wadlow and Eric Heisserer. The story was written by Jeff Wadlow as well. Bloodshot is based entirely off of The Valiant Comic Book of the same name. The film is produced by Neal H. Moritz, Toby Jaffe, Dinesh Shamdasani, and Vin Diesel. The cast of the film is Vin Diesel, Eiza Gonzalez, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell, and Guy Pearce. The movie will release to theaters on February 21, 2020.
No Time To Die is the 25th film that will be released domestically in the James Bond Franchise of films. The film is directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and stars Daniel Craig, who returns for his fifth film as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007. Director, Cary Joji Fukunaga confirmed the returning cast, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear, Léa Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, and Jeffrey Wright. He also introduced Ana de Armas, Dali Benssalah, David Dencik, Lashana Lynch, Billy Magnussen and Rami Malek as new cast members. Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli return yet again as the producers for the newest film in the franchise.
This film sees Bond having left active service and enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology. Wilson and Broccoli have said, “We’re thrilled to return to Jamaica with Bond 25, Daniel Craig’s fifth installment in the 007 series, where Ian Fleming created the iconic James Bond character and Dr No and Live And Let Die were filmed.”
No Time To Die was written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade, Scott Z. Burns with Cary Joji Fukunaga and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Spectre, the 24th James Bond film, was a global box office hit, opening #1 in 81 territories around the world, including the U.S., and earning $880 million at the global box office. The film broke a new all-time box office record in the UK with the biggest seven-day opening of all time at $63.8 million. Skyfall, the 23rd film in the series, earned $1.1 billion worldwide. James Bond is the longest running, and one of the most successful franchises of all time, and it will release to theaters on 2 April 2020 in the United Kingdom and on 10 April 2020 in the United States.
The 2019 movie Midway is soon set to release everywhere on Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital formats. Midway centers mainly on the Battle of Midway, a major clash between the American Fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy. This battle marked a pivotal turning point in the Pacific Theater of War during WWII. The film, based on the real-life events of this heroic feat, tells the story of the leaders and soldiers who used their instincts, fortitude, and bravery to overcome the odds. Directed by German director Roland Emmerich, the movie will be released officially on February 18, 2020.
Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway sees the return of the lovable, yet mischievous rabbit. Bea, Thomas, and the rabbits have created a makeshift family, but despite his best efforts, Peter can’t seem to shake his mischievous reputation. Peter decides to venture out of the garden, into a world where his mischief is appreciated. His family decides to risk everything in order to go out into the world and look for him. Peter must then decide what kind of rabbit that he wants to be.
Writer/director/producer Will Gluck returns to write, direct, and produce Peter Rabbit 2. Also writing for the film is Patrick Burleigh who worked as an uncredited story consultant for Ant-Man and the Wasp. The movie is also being produced by Zareh Nalbandian who produced the first film as well. The characters of Peter Rabbit are based on the characters and tales of “Peter Rabbit” created by Beatrix Potter. Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway will release to theaters on April 3rd, 2020.
Troop Zero is an Amazon Original film that sees a young girl trying to get her way onto NASA’s landmark Golden Record. In order to do so, she must win the Birdie Scout Jamboree talent contest, as the winners will be included on the record. The only problem is that, because she is an outcast, the local Birdie Scout troop and their uptight leader have blackballed her. So in order to participate in the Jamboree, she’ll have to make a troop of her own. What results is that she manages to form friendships that will change her life forever.
Christmas Flint, played by Mckenna Grace, is a young motherless girl who always look up to the stars for visitors who will never come. Her quest to immortalize herself in the stars leads her to form a Birdie Scout troop of her own. She pulls her dad’s reluctant office manager, Miss Rayleen, played by Viola Davis, into her plan. Troop Zero is an endearing and magical tale set against a backdrop of beloved hits of the ’70s. Along the way, perhaps she’ll find the family she has been really looking for.
Troop Zero stars Viola Davis, Mckenna Grace, Jim Gaffigan, Mike Epps and Allison Janney. The movie is directed by Bert & Bertie a female writing-directing duo from London. The film was first premiered at Sundance Film Festival in February of 2019. It will have its official release to the rest of the world when it comes out as an Amazon Original movie. Troop Zero will premiere for the world on January 17, 2020.
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