SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
 | Spider-Man crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the Spider-Men of those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality. "This movie is more than the sum of every Spider-person, easter egg, clever nod or surprise cameo in it. Its charm is in the confident balance it strikes between all those things and the story that drives it, the technical genius of the animation, that bangin’ soundtrack, and the message it leaves you with." (Pajiba) |
Academy Award nomination for Animated Feature Film.
GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER for Best Motion Picture - Animated.
GREEN BOOK
 | A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver of an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South. "You may actually find yourself getting a bit choked up by the end, even though you’ve been on this journey countless times before." (RogerEbert.com) |
Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role (Viggo Mortensen), Actor in a Supporting Role (Mahershala Ali), Film Editing, and Writing (Original Screenplay).
GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Mahershala Ali), and Best Screenplay.
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARD WINNER for Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Mahershala Ali).
Additional Golde Globe nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy (Viggo Mortenson), and Best Director (Peter Farrelly).
Additional Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Male Actor in a Leading Role (Viggo Mortensen).
MARY POPPINS RETURNS
 | A practically perfect nanny knows that her job is never done, which is why Mary Poppins Returnsfinds the magical caregiver (Emily Blunt) reuniting with her grown-up former charges, Michael and Jane Banks (Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer) in Depression-era London. In addition to meeting a whole new generation of Banks kids (played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and newcomer Joel Dawson), Mary’s latest adventure will introduce a bright lamplighter named Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Mary’s cousin Topsy (Meryl Streep), and even the Balloon Lady (Angela Landsbury). Directed by Rob Marshall (Into The Woods), the film also stars Colin Firth, Julie Walters, and David Warner – as well as Dick Van Dyke himself, in a new role. "Mary Poppins Returns will leave a big old smile on your face. The story and themes will be familiar, but that can be ignored when everything else is so pleasurable. Mary Poppins Returns is a spectacular adventure for the whole family." (Film School Rejects) |
Academy Award nominations for Costume Design, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song) ("The Place Where Lost Things Go"), and Production Design.
Golde Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy (Emily Blunt), and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy (Lin-Manuel Miranda).
Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Female Actor in a Leading Role (Emily Blunt).
VICE
 | The story of Dick Cheney, the most powerful Vice President in history, and how his policies changed the world as we know it. "“Vice” offers more than Yuletide rage-bait for liberal moviegoers, who already have plenty to be mad about. Revulsion and admiration lie as close together as the red and white stripes on the American flag, and if this is in some respects a real-life monster movie, it’s one that takes a lively and at times surprisingly sympathetic interest in its chosen demon." (The New York Times) |
Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Directing (Adam McKay), Actor in a Leading Role (Christian Bale), Actor in a Supporting Role (Sam Rockwell), Actress in a Supporting Role (Vice), Film Editing, Makup and Hairstyling, and Writing (Original Screenplay).
GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy (Christian Bale).
Additional Golde Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Amy Adams), Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Sam Rockwell), and Best Director (Adam McKay), Best Screenplay.
Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Male Actor in a Leading Role (Christian Bale) and Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Amy Adams).
THE FAVOURITE
 | Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing and Abigail sees a chance at a return to her aristocratic roots. As the politics of war become quite time consuming for Sarah, Abigail steps into the breach to fill in as the Queen’s companion. Their burgeoning friendship gives her a chance to fulfil her ambitions and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way. "The Favourite is wonderful, nasty fun, a period drama (wigs, breeches, beauty spots) that holds the screen with gnashing teeth and slashing nails." (Vulture) |
Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Actress in a Leading Role (Olivia Colman), Actress in a Supporting Role (Emma Stone), Actress in a Supporting Role (Rachel Weisz), Directing (Yorgo Lanthimos), Writing (Original Screenplay), Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, and Production Design.
GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy (Olivia Colman).
Additional Golde Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Emma Stone), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Rachel Weisz), and Best Screenplay.
Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Female Actor in a Leading Role (Olivia Colman), Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Emma Stone), and Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Rachel Weisz).
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
 | Their songs are timeless; their story is the stuff of legends. Rami Malek transforms into Freddie Mercury, the iconic frontman of Queen, in this toe-tapping celebration of Mercury’s career and the band’s fascinating trajectory. Their revolutionary sound, and Mercury’s singular talent, took Queen to the top of the charts – and eventually to a show-stopping performance at Live Aid in 1985. A virtuoso on the stadium stage and in the studio, Mercury nevertheless faced the effects of fame, illness, and his own creative desires behind the scenes. Bohemian Rhapsody also stars Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aiden Gillen, Tom Hollander, Allen Leech and Mike Myers. "The last sequence at Wembley is absolutely spectacular: “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Radio Ga Ga,” “Ay-Oh,” “Hammer to Fall,” and “We Are the Champions.” We have seen Malek’s Freddie laid low by his own freedom, but now we see that freedom’s most magnificent legacy. He’s part Bette Davis, part Montserrat Caballé (his favorite soprano). He’s the cock of the walk. Malek does justice to Mercury’s statement about when he could die happy: “When I know I’m exactly the person I’ve always meant to be.”" (Vulture) |
Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role (Rami Malek), Film Editing, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing.
GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER for Best Motion Picture - Drama, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama (Rami Malek).
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARD WINNER for Male Actor in a Leading Role (Rami Malek).
Additional Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Cast in a Motion Picture.
A STAR IS BORN
 | Bradley Cooper takes over the director’s chair for the first time with this fresh take on the iconic tale of eclipsing fame and fortunes. A seasoned musician named Jackson Maine (Cooper) falls in love with a struggling singer named Ally (Lady Gaga) and ushers her into the spotlight. But as her dreams of stardom finally start to come true and her popularity rises, their relationship begins to buckle under the strain of Jack’s own demons. The film also stars Sam Elliot, Dave Chappelle, and Andrew Dice Clay. This is the fourth version of A Star Is Born to be released since in 1937. All the music in the film is original and was recorded live. For this, her first leading role in a movie, Lady Gaga performs songs she wrote with Bradley Cooper and artists including Lukas Nelson, Jason Isbell and Mark Ronson. "A lot of ticket buyers go to the movies for the characters, people they can feel like they know and maybe even care about, and “A Star is Born” delivers two of the most memorable of the year." (RogerEbert.com) |
Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor (Bradley Cooper), Best Actress (Lady Gaga), Best Supporting Actor (Sam Elliott), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound Mixing.
GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER for Best Original Song - Motion Picture (Shallow).
Additional Golde Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (Lady Gaga), Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama (Bradley Cooper), and Best Director (Bradley Cooper).
Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Cast in a Motion Picture, Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Sam Elliott), Male Actor in a Leading Role (Bradley Cooper), and Female Actor in a Leading Role (Lady Gaga).
RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2
 | This sequel finds Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope Von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) in need of a replacement part to save Vanellope’s game, Sugar Rush. So they venture out of their cozy arcade and find themselves in a whole new world. Specifically: the World Wide Web! In this vast new internet landscape, the pair will have to rely on the local netizens to find their way – including one buzzy trendsetter named Yesss (Taraji P. Henson). Oh, and they might also encounter a whole bunch of familiar faces as well. For example: it turns out that Vanellope fits right in with the Disney Princesses (who are voiced by their original actors, including Mandy Moore, Kristen Bell, and Ming-Na Wen). "Ralph Breaks the Internet provides a fun, family-friendly time at the movies. It may lack the nostalgia-fueled power of the original, but it has a potent power source of its own in the messages it conveys." (Paste) |
Academy Award nomination for Animated Feature Film.
Golde Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture - Animated.
BLACKKKLANSMAN
 | This stylish, outrageous, and incredible true story comes to the big screen, courtesy of director Spike Lee. Picture a time of social upheaval, when the struggle for civil rights and social equality is alive and well. No, not now – the 1970s! When rookie Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) joins the Colorado Springs police department, he’s the first African-American detective on their force – and he’s got big plans. Namely, he’s going to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan by posing as a white supremacist himself. Which is fine when he’s just on the phone, but he recruits a more seasoned, and whiter, colleague by the name of Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver) to be the face of his undercover operation and gain in-person insight into the group’s plans. Stallworth’s crusade may be just another day on the job to Zimmerman, but together they work to expose the hate group as it’s trying to go mainstream. Oh, and did we mention Topher Grace plays Grand Wizard David Duke? "BlacKkKlansman is not only one of Lee’s greatest films, but it is an important and necessary piece of work. The film’s motives are taut, yet Lee never allows his anger to detract or act as a form of distanciation. A remarkable blend of rage and humor makes BlacKkKlansman at once both a necessary and timeless experience." (Film School Rejects) |
Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Directing (Spike Lee), Actor in a Supporting Role (Adam Driver), Writing (Adapted Screenplay), Film Editing, Music (Original Score), .
Golde Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama (John David Washington), Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Adam Driver), and Best Director (Spike Lee).
Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Cast in a Motion Picture, Male Actor in a Leading Role (J.D. Washington), and Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Adam Driver).
IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK
 | A woman in Harlem desperately scrambles to prove her fianc? innocent of a crime while carrying their first child. "It’s impossible to understate the pure artistry of what Jenkins and his crew have created." (Pajiba) |
Academy Award nominations for Actress in a Supporting Role (Regina King), Music (Original Score) and Writing (Adapated Screenplay).
GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Regina King).
Additional Golde Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Screenplay.
BLACK PANTHER
 | Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life. "[T]his film is in its own way a deeply intimate picture, taking place almost entirely within Wakanda, even as it becomes a battle for the very world. Its finale is a heartstopper, and its conclusion a heartbreaker. Its cultural impact cannot be denied." (Pajiba) |
Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Costume Design, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song) ("All the Stars"), Production Design, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing.
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARD WINNER for Cast in a Motion Picture and Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture.
Golde Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Original Song - Motion Picture ("All the Stars").
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
 | When Lee Israel falls out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception. An adaptation of the memoir Can You Ever Forgive Me?, the true story of best-selling celebrity biographer Lee Israel. "Melissa McCarthy is truly excellent in this film. By Israel’s very nature, her character is witty and sarcastic, making hilarious comments from time to time, but McCarthy plays those beats so perfectly in a way that balances well with the sincerity of the situation." (Film School Rejects) |
Academy Award nominations for Actress in a Leading Role (Melissa McCarthy), Actor in a Supporting Role (Richard E. Grant), and Writing (Adapted Screenplay).
Golde Globe nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (Melissa McCarthy), and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Richard E. Grant).
Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Female Actor in a Leading Role (Melissa McCarthy) and Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Richard E. Grant).
FIRST MAN
 | Neil Armstrong’s one small step on the moon’s surface in 1969 is a moment frozen in our collective memory, but the journey to get him there was actually the culmination of years of research and sacrifice. In fact, NASA’s Apollo 11 mission to land a man on the moon proved to be one of the most costly and dangerous in history. First Man brings that long journey to life, focusing on Armstrong himself during the years from 1961 to 1969 as he fought to make that small step. Ryan Gosling portrays the legendary astronaut in a film that finds him re-teamed with his Oscar®-winning La La Land director, Damien Chazelle. First Man is inspired by Armstrong’s authorized biography of the same name, written by James R. Hansen. The film also stars Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Pablo Schreiber, Kyle Chandler, Ciarán Hinds, Ethan Embry, and Corey Stoll. "Chazelle is an adept flight commander, guiding the action with the elegance of a space dance in one scene and the intensity of a rocket launch in the next. Those two modes combine for a powerful experience that will inspire renewed awe of what Armstrong and his ilk did. It may not be a giant leap for filmmaking, but it’s another small step for this filmmaker." (IndieWire) |
Academy Award nominations for Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Visual Effects.
Golde Globe nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture (Claire Foy).
THE WIFE
 | Based on the novel of the same name by Meg Wolitzer, The Wife tells the story of Joan Castleman (Glenn Close), a brilliant woman who has spent decades forfeiting her own talent and dreams to support the successful literary career of her husband, Joe (Jonathan Pryce). As they travel to Stockholm in 1992 (allowing a reference to the Clintons that does not go unnoticed) to accept Joe’s Nobel Prize for Literature, Joan encounters journalist Nathaniel Boone (Christian Slater). Nathaniel, it seems, is researching a biography of Joe. When Boone begins to dig and asks Joan about a “beautifully written” story she penned in college and what encouragement Joe provided, Joan’s façade begins to crack. Later, when Joan witnesses the sexism inherent in the Nobel Prize process – and we flash back to her years as a student and learn how she took on the role she’s been playing for years – the façade crumbles and there is no turning back. Directed by Bjorne Runge and adapted for the screen by Jane Anderson. Also starring Max Irons, Harry Lloyd, Annie Starke, and Alix Wilton Regan. "If you’re looking for an aspirational backdrop against which to set a domestic drama, you can do worse than the Nobel Prize ceremony. It has it all: highbrow glamour, an exotic locale, swanky banquets, and obscure enough proceedings that few viewers will be able to determine if you “got it right” or not. The Wife makes good use of all these assets." (Vulture) |
Academy Award nomination for Actress in a Leading Role (Glenn Close).
GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (Glenn Close).
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARD WINNER for Female Actor in a Leading Role (Glenn Close).
COLD WAR
 | In the 1950s, a music director falls in love with a singer and tries to persuade her to flee communist Poland for France. "An aching film on such exquisite pains of impossible love, Paweł Pawlikowski’s “Cold War” concurrently swells your heart and breaks it, just like the sore memory of a lover that drifted away from your life, or an intensely craved kiss that never was." (RogerEbert.com) |
Academy Award nominations for Directing (Pawel Pawlikowski), Foreign Language Film (Poland) and Cinematography.
ROMA
 | A story that chronicles a year in the life of a middle-class family in Mexico City in the early 1970s. "By virtue of being blessed to work here, I’m often asked what I think Roger Ebert would have thought about some of the films that have been released since he passed... I felt that absence perhaps most greatly while watching “Roma.” When it ended, I thought more than ever about how he would have written about it. I think that’s because it so completely embodies what he considered the role of great cinema as an empathy machine. We should be thankful there are films like “Roma” keeping that machine humming." (RogerEbert.com) |
Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Directing (Alfonso Cuarón), Actress in a Leading Role (Yalitza Aparicio), Actress in a Supporting Role (Marina de Tavira), Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Writing (Original Screenplay), Cinematography, Production Design, and Foreign Language Film (Mexico).
GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER for Best Director (Alfonso Cuarón).
Additional Golde Globe nominations for Best Screenplay and Best Motion Picture - Foreign Language.