Final 2017 Oscar Predictions

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Final 2017 Oscar Predictions

At long last, the time has come! The 90th Annual Academy Awards will be held this evening, marking the conclusion of this lengthy movie awards season (made slightly longer this year by the Winter Olympics)! [...Except for the all-important 4th Annual CineMunchies which we will bestow next week.] Here at CineMunch we've ranked our favorite films of 2017 and we know who we're rooting for tonight, so it's time to double down on some final predictions.

We've seen some intense battles of late in Oscar's biggest category, Best Picture, but this year truly is the craziest I've ever seen. We thought Gravity vs. 12 Years a Slave (2013) was close; we can presume Birdman vs. Boyhood (2014) came down to the wire; Spotlight overtaking The Big Short and The Revenant (2015) was a welcome surprise; and then there was last year's shocker. At this time a year ago, I wrote about how the suspense of that Oscar night was not to be found inside the final envelope (boy was I wrong) as La La Land seemed to be an unstoppable behemoth...and I think we can recall how that played out -- congrats again, Moonlight! So while Best Director and all four acting awards look set in stone, the night's biggest prize is still so up in the air that there are realistically FIVE Best Picture nominees that stand a good chance of being named 2017's MVP.

So settle in, mix yourself a cocktail (we'll be starting with Kaluuya's Kahlúa in honor of Get Out from our Oscar Menu), and follow along with our predictions below! For more (snarky) commentary and up-to-the-minute analysis (provided our television cooperates this year), be sure to follow us on Twitter @CineMunch.

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2018 Golden Globe Awards Predictions

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2018 Golden Globe Awards Predictions

Though the Olympics are but a month away, the real athletic competition starts this weekend with the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards!

Hollywood's best and brightest (or in some cases just newest) stars of ALL the screens will gather Sunday night dressed in their second finest frocks for the second most important red carpet of the year. The awards will be handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, whose membership numbers fewer than 100, so their choices do make for the occasional head scratch, eyebrow raise, or spit take. Seth Meyers hosts and some lady named Oprah Winfrey will receive this year's Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award.

So grab a pitcher of your second favorite mixed drink, follow along with us on Twitter @CineMunch throughout the telecast (starting at 8pm ET on NBC), and read on for my foolhardy predictions!

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2017 Fall Movie Preview: Most Anticipated Films

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2017 Fall Movie Preview: Most Anticipated Films

The days of pumpkin spice and cinema for grown-ups are upon us! The year in film so far has been incredibly disappointing, but we've found some cautious optimism when looking ahead to the remainder of 2017. Below you'll find the twenty movies we're most eager to see - for better (Call Me By Your Name) or worse (Happy Death Day). Titles link to the film's trailer where available. To see what we were looking forward to in past years (as a basis for our judgment), click here, here, or here. The three most recent Best Picture winners were all featured on those lists, so perhaps one of the twenty below will join that esteemed group (looking at you, Geostorm!).

Now on with the lists, and happy movie-going!

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2016 Fall Movie Preview: Most Anticipated Films

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2016 Fall Movie Preview: Most Anticipated Films

It's October!

Keep your pumpkin spices and knitwear, give us great cinema for adults. Yes, these are exciting times. We're looking to add to our favorites of the first half of 2016, make up for a mediocre summer season, and crown new frontrunners in the all-important Oscar race. Below you'll find the twenty films we're most anticipating between now and the end of the year. Clicking on a film's title will take you to the trailer. To see what we were looking forward to last year or the year before (as a basis for our judgment), click here or here.

Now bring us prestige or bring us death.

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CineDrunk: Favorite Actors Without Oscar Nominations

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Credit: Elizabeth Perrin

Credit: Elizabeth Perrin

Another month, another random match-up to determine our favorite... something. This time, it's our favorite actors who have yet to receive an Oscar nomination.

Our criteria: actors must be alive and working, and have come close to an Oscar nomination in the past or at least been in the awards conversation at some point in their career. Many were considered, but to narrow the field we had to leave a great many talented folks off the list (sorry, Kevin Bacon, Lisa Kudrow, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw).

Our 32 finalists are listed below. Have a listen to discover who emerged victorious!

Modified Martinez
adapted from Saveur

2 oz gin
2 oz dry vermouth
3/4 oz Luxardo maraschino liqueur
a splash of Unicum

Measure all ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into a martini glass and enjoy.

Jamie Bell • Maria Bello • Gael Garcia Bernal • Paul Bettany • Emily Blunt • Jim Carrey •
Jeff Daniels • Julie Delpy • Cameron Diaz • Kirsten Dunst • Colin Farrell • Richard Gere •
Jeff Goldblum • John Goodman • Hugh Grant • Oscar Isaac • Allison Janney •
Scarlett Johansson • Michael B. Jordan • Steve Martin • James McAvoy • Ewan McGregor • Catherine O'Hara • David Oyelowo • Guy Pearce • Sam Rockwell • Meg Ryan • Andy Serkis • Martin Sheen • Donald Sutherland • Kristen Wiig • Shailene Woodley

2015 Emmy Awards Predictions

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2015 Emmy Awards Predictions

The "best" in television will be honored at the 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards this Sunday, September 20th at 8pm ET on FOX. I use quotes around "best," b/c it's the Emmys and they've proven to have some questionable judgment in the past. We talked predictions and preferences in our most recent podcast, but you'll find my full list of who I think will win below (in the probable order they'll be announced). Follow along with us on Twitter @CineMunch throughout the evening for more of our musings and reactions.

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CineDrunk Episode 5: Emmy Awards Special 2014

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In this special edition of the podcast, we dive into the 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards with our predictions and personal faves in the major categories. Yes, our love of pop culture and awards shows spills over into all realms of the biz. Let's call this one "TeleDrunk."

Our beverage of choice this round was a refreshing Watermelon Ginger Gin and Tonic that we recommend sipping while watching any television program (unless you watch any "Real Housewives..." series, in which case you likely need something stronger).
 

Cuddly little watermelon swimming in gin.

Watermelon Ginger Gin and Tonic
(makes 4 servings)

1 cup gin (cheapo is fine)
10-12 dime-size slices ginger root
2 dozen small watermelon cubes
2 cups tonic

Pour the gin into a martini shaker or other sturdy container. Add ginger slices and muddle. Add watermelon and let sit for at least 30 minutes. Pour over ice in four glasses and top with tonic.


The EMMYs will be broadcast Monday, August 25th on NBC. Tune in (and pour a drink or three) to see how (in)accurate we'll be!  Follow along with us during the ceremony @CineMunch as we live-tweet. 

Also listen and subscribe via iTunes.

Note: This was recorded before the Creative Arts Emmys ceremony took place on Saturday, August 16th, where both Allison Janney (Master of Sex) and Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black) (both mentioned in the podcast) deservedly won for their guest performances this past year.