Best Picture: I would be shocked if "Wicked," "A Complete Unknown," "Dune: Part Two," "The Substance," or "I'm Still Here," were announced as the winner of Best Picture this year. I'd be slightly less shocked, but still surprised, if it were to be "The Nickel Boys" or "Anora." So that leaves me with "Conclave," "The Brutalist," and "Emilia Perez." Early on the tides seemed to be turning in favor of "Emilia Perez," but I think its fervor has cooled considerably as of late. I think "The Brutalist" has a solid shot of taking it, but I've just got to go with my gut here: I think it's going to be "Conclave."
Best Director: I'm not betting against the Director's Guild on this one! My money's on Sean Baker.
Best Actor: It's been funny to watch this award jump to different recipients in this category all season long, which means this one is really up in the air. If it goes to Timothee Chalamet, he'll be the youngest winner ever. If it goes to Adrien Brody, it'll go to the CURRENT holder of the record. Either way, I think it'll be one of them, and in the end I'm leaning Brody.
Best Actress: Here we have another split category, this one between Demi Moore and Mikey Madison. However, I think the Academy will look to honor an older veteran of the industry, so I'm betting on Moore.
Best Supporting Actor: Here we have this year's LOCK: it's gonna be the charming Kieran Culkin for "A Real Pain."
Best Supporting Actress: There's a chance Isabella Rosellini sneaks in here and takes it, but Zoe Saldaña has been winning all season, and I don't see that stopping now! (Our baby ballerina's all grown up!)
Animated Feature: The tea is that I wouldn't be surprised to see basically any of these films win. It's hard to bet against Pixar or the "Wallace & Gromit" crew, and "Flow" certainly seems to be a favorite! However, "The Wild Robot" seems to have a lot of heat behind it coming into Sunday's ceremony, so I'm going with Lupita and co this time.
Production Design: I don't feel SUPER strongly one way or the other, but I really think this might be "Wicked's" to lose.
Cinematography: I'm torn between "The Brutalist" and "Dune: Part Two" here. While I think most are going with "The Brutalist," I've gotta give my vote to "Dune: Part Two." Typically the Academy goes for the MOST in these types of categories, and with Dune, I think they'll have those black and white scenes in mind and tick the box next to Greig Fraser's name.
Film Editing: I don't like to vote against my own Best Picture pick, so I'm going with "Conclave" here!
Costume Design: I said this a few years ago when Paul Tazewell was up for this award for "West Side Story" (which unfortunately he didn't win), BUT if he wins this year? He'll be the first Black man to take home the Oscar in this category! How cool is that? All that being said, I really do think this is another opportunity for "Wicked" to float straight to the stage in its bubble!
Makeup and Hairstyling: Sorry, Green Girl. Although "Wicked" technically, sorta, kinda has a shot to win this one, I really really think it's going to be "The Substance."
Original Score: It absolutely BLOWS MY MIND that "Challengers" isn't nominated in this category. It's absolutely bonkers that the movie that won this category at the Golden Globes was completely shut out for the Oscars! I just truly do not understand it. Anyway. To me there are no front runners here, as I haven't heard ANYTHING about the music in these movies. That being said, I listened to a few overtures and think that "The Brutalist" may be just striking enough to take home the prize.
Original Song: "El Mal" from "Emilia Perez" has been winning this category a lot, including the Globes and the Critic's Choice Awards, so I think they're likely to win here too.
Original Screenplay: I may end up being wrong picking "Conclave" over "Anora" for Best Picture, but I'm counting out the latter here. I'm checking the "Anora" box for Best Original Screenplay.
Adapted Screenplay: Okay but I AM picking "Conclave" for this one as well. Get on the pope train, y'all!
Sound: This one's for you, Dune-heads. Just like a few years ago with Part 1, "Dune: Part Two" is going to win Best Sound!
Visual Effects: Looking at these nominees (including "A Better Man," "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," and yes, even "Wicked"), you gotta think these voters must really be into CGI monkeys! However—and this might be bananas—but I think all those monkeys might split the vote. I'm going with "Dune: Part Two."
Documentary Feature: I just don't think there's any way it's not "No Other Land."
Documentary Short: Based almost entirely on the title alone, I am picking "I Am Ready, Warden."
International Feature Film: There's a chance "I'm Still Here," sneaks in and grabs this one, but "Emilia Perez" has been pretty unstoppable this awards season, so I'll go with that one.
Animated Short: "Wander to Wonder" looks adorable, and while I probably shouldn't pick it mostly because of that? I'm gonna.
Live Action Short: The gold is going home with "The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent."
*More like "The Girl Who Could Not Stop From Being Wrong!"
3. Dungeons and Drama, Kristy Boyce Kristy Boyce name-dropped the original Broadway cast recording of "Waitress" on page one of "Dungeons and Drama,"and at that moment I knew this book was For Me. Add in a tall, bespectacled brunette male main character, and I was double hooked! Featuring a fake-dating trope (swoon!), the sweetest romantic gesture involving a set of jewel-toned die you've ever seen, and more musical reference than could be counted, this joyful and creative YA romance had me zooming through the pages to see what would happen next. It's a nerdy, charming little gem of a book, and it would delight me to no end to lend it to you so you can see for yourself!
“I decided having something fake with you was better than having nothing at all. I would have faked it forever rather than give you up.”
2. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, Ally Carter Two rival authors (Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt) arrive at an English estate to spend Christmas with a world-famous Agatha Christie-esque mystery writer. Also present: the mystery writer's nephew, lawyer, assistant, and several other guests who all make for an eclectic and not-so-congenial house party. That crew is even less congenial when said mystery writer turns up missing, and Maggie is convinced it's all part of an elaborate game she must win. She reluctantly accepts Ethan's help, and we're off and running through a drafty old manor, dodging piles of clues, red herrings, and more than one heart eye-inducing moment. I love a mystery, and y'all KNOW I love a romance novel, so the combination of the two here? Spectacular, give me 14 of 'em right now.
“Of course, I’m not offended that you’d accuse me of murder. I’m offended you’d think I’d be bad at it.”
1. Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir I read a lot of books that hinge on meaningful relationships, powerful connections, and tangible chemistry. This book? Is not the book I'd expect to feature all of the above in spades—and not in the way you'd expect. I was on the edge of my seat for essentially the entire duration of "Project Hail Mary," constantly glued to every twist, turn, problem, and calculation (yes really) offered along the way. The ending was fantastic, and even now I want to tear up when I think about some of the interactions that occur at the novel's climax. Read it. Read it. Read it. Then get ready for Ryan Gosling to star in the film adaptation coming out in 2026!
“No, that's not creepy at all. Being in a spaceship twelve light-years from home and having someone knock on the door is totally normal.”
Honorable Mention
Play Along by Liz Tomforde (Y'all know I love the Windy City series. Tomforde's leads are the dreamiest of the dreamiest!*) Welcome to the O.C.
by Alan Sepinwall (Devoured this one in a matter of days!) In Your Wildest Dreams by Rebecca Jenshak
(The chemistry!!!) Finally Forever by Nadia Lee
(Possibly the kindest, dreamiest billionaire I've ever read about? (And yes... there are multiple.)) Magnolia Falls series
by Laura Pavlov (Laura, you QUEEN!) On the Line by Naomi Loud (Who knew a line cook could be so dang dreamy?) Luna and the Lie
by Mariana Zapata (Will always be a fool for a Mariana Zapata MMC.) Pumpkinheads
by Rainbow Rowell (This graphic novel will make you want to go to a fall festival and fall in love.) Fangirl Down
by Tessa Bailey (Tessa Bailey can be hit or miss with me. She HIT with this one!) If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia
(More autumn romance novels should aspire to be like this.) Sweetheart
by Cookie O'Gorman (Would this even be a Val list without a sweetie pie Cookie O'Gorman book on it?)
*“Mariah Carey’s “Obsessed” is blaring from all angles around me.
Kai barks a laugh from the bench, but other than him, no one questions
his brother’s song choice. Instead, the entire stadium is bursting,
singing along with the lyrics while Isaiah’s teammates are joining right
in with their own karaoke renditions. Our wedding song is on full blast
as Isaiah makes his way to the plate, but before he gets there, he
turns back in my direction. With the entire stadium singing the song I
walked down the aisle to, Isaiah extends his bat, points at me, and
winks.”
My official book goal this year was to read 70 books. My unofficial goal was 100. Final number? 90. Points for landing somewhere in between?
My Three Favorite Movies of 2024
Runner-Up: Hit Man What a well-crafted, entertaining BLAST of a film. Richard Linklater and Glen Powell teamed up to tell the insane story of Gary Johnson, a fake hit man working with the police to take down any bad eggs that might be looking to casually murder someone in their life. Gary (played by Powell) morphs into different types of hit men with ease, donning wigs, vests, and fake mustaches to be exactly the murderer-for-hire someone would want to employ. When Gary meets the gorgeous and vulnerable Madison, however, sparks fly and his original plans go out the window. What unfolds is an insanely entertaining thrill ride featuring too many high points to count—although "the notes app scene" certainly deserves special mention. If you haven't seen it yet, what are you even doing here? You unplug and you run—RUN—to Netflix.
3. Thelma There is so much to love about Thelma—both the film and the title character. June Squib plays a tough, hilarious, and big-hearted grandmother who unfortunately falls for a phone scam and finds herself out several thousand dollars. Not one to take this lying down, Thelma sets off to reclaim her money—and her pride—even if it means traversing Los Angeles on a scooter in search of the scammers who swindled her. Aside from the fact that this movie was hysterical to me personally because of the many characters who reminded me of family members (Thelma was, at times, all of my grandparents, and Parker Posey and Clark Gregg were my parents), "Thelma" was also gripping and sweet, and I loved every single minute of it.
2. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare With a cast of men that literally includes Superman, Jack Reacher, and the Dread Pirate Roberts, there was almost no way I was not going to love "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare." I've been a big fan of Guy Ritchie's last several projects, so I was pumped to see him direct his talents toward a rogue crew of misfits set during the early days of World War II. While light on character development and heavy on bloody mayhem, the overall product is a fresh and thrilling story that will you keep engaged from start to finish. Ritchie's stylish direction, that impressive cast, and some gorgeous locations make for a fun and original outing—one I'd happily revisit again and again.
1. Snack Shack Two teenage friends invest in the snack stand at their local pool, thinking it's their ticket to financial freedom. What follows is a hilarious and often heartfelt romp through the crazy summer days of life in suburban Nebraska in the early 90s. The friendship between Moose and A.J. feels established and lived in from minute one, and watching them wheel and deal and fight their way through the summer gives audiences a fully-formed relationship backdrop to pin this coming-of-age story on. From the buzzing cicadas to the sweaty, sunny pool days, "Snack Shop" will give you a zip of nostalgia, a healthy dose of humor, and some quiet heartbreak to round it all out.
Honorable Mention: Challengers, The Bikeriders, Wicked, Twisters
My Three Favorite TV Shows of 2024
Favorite shows I started watching this year:
3. School Spirits I honestly didn't really know what I was getting into when I pressed play on "School Spirits." I just saw Tori from "Cobra Kai," read that it was some sort of ghostly high school-set story, and decided to give it a try. But one episode in and I was HOOKED. In the opening minutes, we discover that Maddie Nears is a recently deceased teenager—one who doesn't really know how that whole "deceased" thing happened. What follows are seven additional episodes of twists and turns that include Maddie discovering how to talk to a few of her still-alive friends, investigating the circumstances of her death, and even a super cute school dance—attended by the living and the ghosts alike. The season finale had me on the very edge of my seat, and left me shocked and eagerly anticipating season two. Stream it on Netflix
2. Pop Culture Jeopardy "I'll take 'Shows Made Just For Val' for a thousand, Colin." Indeed, with categories like 'Pop! Go the Gilmore Girls,' 'Not Me, Not Hermione, You,' and Heartthrobs,' it sometimes does feel like "Pop Culture Jeopardy" is geared specifically for me—or at least me and all my fellow movie/TV/celebrity-loving pals! Colin Jost is a funny and charming host, and I love the new twists on the game, like the 'Triple Play' feature—three answers for three times the money. Come to flex your pop culture knowledge, stay even though you WILL end up yelling at the screen because OH MY GOSH YOU GUYS, THAT ONE WAS SO EASY! WHERE ARE YOUR HEADS? Stream it on Prime
1. Nobody Wants This I will watch almost anything Kristen Bell shows up in. I will watch almost anything that features Adam Brody. But now you're telling me that they are in the SAME SHOW? TOGETHER? AT THE SAME TIME? Give me a pen—I'm signing, you're signing, you're all signing. I mean—we've got Veronica Mars. We've got Seth Coen. We've got adorable and believable romcom charm. We've got relatable conflicts, hilarious shenanigans, and a truckload of talented supporting players. From Joanne and Noah's meet cute ("Say something rabbinical." "There's a fiddler on the roof.") to sharply written jokes (like the fact that Brody's rabbi character plays on a basketball team called the Matzah Ballers), "Nobody Wants This" is absolutely something that everybody wants. Stream it on Netflix
Honorable Mention: High Potential, Traitors, America's Sweethearts, Below Deck
My Three Favorite Things That Don't Fall Into Another Category of 2024
3. Jenny Nicholson's Galactic Star Cruiser Review YouTuber Jenny Nicholson's video review of Disney World's now-defunct Galactic Star Cruiser should not have been this fascinating or immersive. But her funny, well-researched, and super smart take-down of the ride/experience/hotel hybrid lit the internet on fire and sent thousands of us running to watch all four hours of it. Yes, you read that right—it's four. Hours. Long. BUT, it's also worth it. If this sounds up your alley at all, I can't encourage you enough to check it out.
2. Please Please Please by Sabrina Carpenter I. Love. This. Song. When I'm driving somewhere or cleaning my kitchen or whatever, I'm always more likely to be listening to a book or a podcast than music. But "Please Please Please?" I had that on REPEAT when it first came out, and it's still a song I go back to over and over. I don't relate to the lyrics or anything (except for maybe "If you wanna go and be stupid, don't do it in front of me..."), but I am obsessed with the melody, the beat, and the overall JAM that this song is. Now if you'll excuse me—I think it's about time I go play it again!
1. The Lonely Island & Seth Meyers Podcast I have not looked forward to new episodes of a podcast this much since... I don't know when. But joining Seth Meyers and the Lonely Island boys (Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer) each week to revisit their old SNL Digital Shorts has been a complete ray of sunshine each and every time. Listening to these pals rib each other, laugh at old memories, and recount their biggest (and not so biggest) hits is a total blast, and I hope it somehow keeps going on forever.
3. Beach + Christmas Family Time The thing I look forward to most every year? BEACH WEEK. That chunk of days spent with my parents, siblings, and nieces in Galveston are always memorable, and Summer 2024 was no exception!If I could dive back in time to re-experience our fancy dinner at Shearn's, the 4th of July parade, boat rides, sand castles, hermit crab-collecting, sparklers on the lawn, amazing food, family games, and sunny walks spent picking up shells on the beach, you know I would! It's a track I'd never take off of repeat.
The whole crew reassembled in Houston for Christmas, and that time was again filled with piles and piles of games, parades, food, and laughter. And you can take a peek at all that good, good holiday fun in my Christmas recap video!
2. New House, Who Dis? Y'all. I bought an actual house this year. Like, a house house house. I signed papers and watched it get built. I got a broker who helped me get a loan. I packed TWELVE YEARS of stuff and moved it across town. I signed my life away and got a set of keys in return. And it was incredible. I'm so happy, so proud, and so grateful to look back and know that I did this. It wasn't without help (shoutout to the best companies I used: "Dad's Financial Advice Co." and "Mom's Furniture Shopping Buddy Service," to name a few) or without heartache (it's actually really hard to leave a roommate you've lived with for over a decade?), but at the end of the day I can pull my single self into my two-car garage, walk in the back door, and know that everything the light touches is my kingdom. How did we get here, Skitch?
1. Birthday - AKA: I'm Feelin' Twenty-Times-Two! I know it might be strange to buy a house and then NOT put that monumental moment at the top of a list of favorite events. But when you look at the birthday I had this year? It's a no brainer! Let me explain: ...actually, no. There is too much. Let me sum up. 1) My parents threw me an incredible birthday party at my favorite restaurant with so many of my favorite people! Complete with balloons and cake and posters and all the best food and drinks in all the land. 2) My sister SURPRISED me by showing up for said birthday party! Like, from ARIZONA! I'll never be over it. 3) My brother came too! And my whole family stayed with me in my house—I could literally cry right now just thinking about it. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE. Because... (continued below)
The very next day, my mom and sister whisked me off on a trip to PARTS UNKNOWN (to me)! We arrived at the airport, and only then did I find out we were going to NEW MEXICO! Call me Jack Kelly, because I was singing "Santa Feeeee" in my heart—and IRL! We stayed in a gorgeous house, ate insanely good food, did so many incredible touristy things (Meow Wolf! Georgia O'Keefe Museum! La Traviata! Shopping!), and just got a ton of awesome time together. It was so. Much. Fun. And I will remember it always.
Honorable Mention: Seeing my nieces perform in "Matilda," Clay coaching me in fantasy football, Spring family campout, hitting 30,000 followers on Instagram at work, Galveston weekend with Ellie, SMG Movie Club, Ciminellos at Pine Cove, Harry Potter series on the big screen, Thanksgiving in Galveston, mini reunion with BFF Juliette, family time at my aunt and uncle's lake house, visits from Mom and Dad to help with the Val Palace, fun game/team time at the office, and reading 90 books!
Bonus Paragraph I Feel Compelled to Add: If you are looking at all my effusiveness and wonder and find yourself thinking, "Wow, she's so blessed!"... man. You're right. I am. And I just want to stop and acknowledge that all good things come from above. From sparklers to parades to operas to seashells to house keys. I know the ultimate Giver and He has given me all the things I have, all the experiences I've... experienced, and all the people I love. He's a good, good Father, and I'm so insanely unworthy to have good things happen to me. But they do, because I know He loves me, cares for me, sees me, and has not left me on my own. He's chasing after you too. He knows you, and He loves you. He's never left you on your own—and He's not going to. Glory be!
The last defining moment of 2024 was the passing of my dear Grandma Ann. She was the sweetest, most selfless person, and the world has been getting dimmer and dimmer ever since dementia encroached upon her life several years ago. I've always admired so much about her—her hospitality, her creativity, her love for family—and I already miss her so much. I can't believe I won't be visiting her the next time I'm in Houston—it's absolutely surreal! I'll always remember her hobbies (sewing, dancing, entertaining, painting), her charity work, her dedication to her church, and her impeccable fashion sense, and will be forever grateful for the 40 years I was blessed to have her in my life. Love you always and always, Grandma. <Benny Hill salute>
