Best Picture: Let's not fixate on this, but it's been a WHILE since I called this category correctly. Fortunately I think this is the year I turn it around: I'm going with "1917." The only possible upset that I can envision is "Parasite," but I'm still sticking with the heartfelt, technical wizardry of "1917."
Best Director: Tough category, but I think the serious contenders are Bong Joon Ho, Quentin Tarantino, and Sam Mendes. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see any of them win, which makes this an exciting category to watch! However, while I don't like being a slave to the math or history of predictions, it's been many, many years since the winner of the Directors Guild Award didn't go on to win to Oscar, so I'm going with Sam Mendes.
Best Actor: This is a year where it seems like each of the acting categories are prettttttty sewn up. Anything can happen, of course, but all of the awards have been going to the same people in each of the four categories. So let's do these quickly! Best Actor is definitely going to Joaquin Phoenix. (As much as I may be personally pulling for Adam Driver...)
Best Actress: Renee Zellwegger will win her second career Oscar for her portrayal of Judy Garland in the lovely, heartbreaking "Judy." Best Supporting Actor: The only thing better than Brad Pitt winning his first Oscar is the anticipation of what is sure to be another amazing, hilarious speech.
Best Supporting Actress: Scarlett Johansson was MAGIC in "Jojo Rabbit," and I'd love to see her win, but I believe this award belongs to our girl Laura Dern. And no one's mad about that. Not even Scarlett, I don't think.
Animated Feature: Remember when "The Missing Link" won the Golden Globe? Man. That was wild. And then "Klaus" won the Annie Award? I mean, it's cool to mix things up, but what is happening to the world? Don't they know Pixar is always supposed to win? (Kidding.) (But they will this year.) I think it'll be "Toy Story 4!"
Production Design: Man. Talk about a stacked category. It should come down to "1917" and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," with the award going to "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."
Cinematography: ROGER! clapclapclap DEAKINS! clapclapclap Hollywood's reigning King of Cinematography will take home his second career Oscar, this time for "1917." Costume Design: Let's be honest: "Jojo Rabbit" should win this one purely for Sam Rockwell's battle costume alone. Full stop. But I think this category is where "Little Women" will eke out its only win of the night.
Film Editing: Remember when "Bohemian Rhapsody" won this category last year? BON-KERS. I mean, LOOK AT THIS. Moving on. "Ford v Ferrari" and "Parasite" seem to be in a dead heat. But in the end, cutting between shots in racing scenes is a lot more flashy than the building tension of "Parasite," so I'm picking "Ford v Ferrari."
Makeup and Hairstyling: All of the love for the makeup in "Bombshell" has been going to Charlize Theron and her transformation into Megyn Kelly, and rightfully so. But let's not forget what they did to Nicole Kidman's face to make her resemble Gretchen Carlson. It was unreal! Anyway, if you couldn't tell, I'm picking "Bombshell" to win this category.
Original Score: Man. You know what's crazy? Thomas Newman has NEVER won an Oscar. We're talking about the composer of "Wall-e," 1994's "Little Women," "Finding Nemo," "The Shawshank Redemption," and so many more. This is his 14th nomination in this category, and it would be amazing to hear his name called. Unfortunately, I think Hildur Gudnadóttir will sneak in here with a win for "Joker."
Original Song: My personal favorite song on this list is "Stand Up." It's so, so good, and I frequently listen to it on repeat. Cynthia Erivo's voice is just OUT OF THIS WORLD. Plus if she wins here, she'll officially be the youngest EGOT winner in history. So let's just say I'm pulling for her here, despite that I'm predicting the award to go to Elton John for "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" from "Rocketman."
Original Screenplay: Conventional wisdom says that Bong Joon Ho will win this one for "Parasite," but for some reason I can't fathom Quentin Tarantino's name not being called in this category. I think it's going to be "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."
Adapted Screenplay: You know what's possible? Greta Gerwig winning for "Little Women." You know what's not going to happen? An Academy of 68% male members voting for "Little Women." Where's the lie? ANYWAY. I think Taika Waititi's going to win for "Jojo Rabbit," and Taika giving an acceptance speech at the Oscars is a win for us ALL.
Sound Mixing: Racing sounds verses war sounds. Is it 2018, and I'm being forced to decide between "Baby Driver" and "Dunkirk" again? With "Ford v Ferrari" and "1917" going head to head in this category, it certainly feels like it! Picking the war movie worked for me then, so let's try it again now: "1917."
Sound Editing: Honestly, for the same logic I just used, I'm going with "1917" here too.
Visual Effects: "1917" was made to look like it was shot in one continuous take. But it wasn't. That's what is going to win it the award for Visual Effects.
Documentary Feature: This one should be going to "American Factory," but if not, don't be surprised to see "Honeyland" zip away with the win.
Documentary Short: All signs are pointing to a big win by "Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)." Let's go, girls!
International Feature Film: Definitely, definitely, definitely "Parasite."
Animated Short: "Hair Love" dissolved my heart and made me weep. And with its cool story of how it got made, it would be amazing to see it win. And you know what? I think it will. I'm going with "Hair Love." Live Action Short: Let's... go... with... "Brotherhood." (?)
3. The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You, Lily Anderson
First things first: this is a great book title. Second: this is a great book. (At least for me. Surely you know by now that I'm a sucker for a sweet YA romance novel.) Set in a school for gifted students and populated with a surprisingly fascinating group of supporting characters, The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You delivered on everything I love about these young adult books. It had me grinning uncontrollably, covering my face in empathetic embarrassment, and turning pages faster and faster so I could find out what happened next. If a modern day adaptation of "Much Ado About Nothing" set in a high school sounds up your alley (and why wouldn't it be?), I can't recommend this book enough!
"I'd always assumed that I wasn't the kind of girl that anyone would stay up late thinking about. And here I was with a boy who was thinking about me. It just happened to be a boy whom I spent hours torturing."
2. Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens
The most popular books that everyone's reading don't always turn out to be a win. This book, however, lived up to the hype. The story of Kya, her abandonment, her relationship with the environment, and the people who weave their way in and out of her life were at once heartbreaking, hopeful, and riveting. Add to that a deep, perplexing central mystery and you have exactly why this book has been flying off the shelves. Delia Owens is a breathtakingly talented author, and the fact that this is her first foray into fiction is almost unbelievable. I wanted to copy down line after line of her gorgeous writing so I wouldn't forget it. Get on the waiting list at the library as soon as you can, because reading this book is a must. “She laughed for his sake, something she’d never done. Giving away another piece of herself just to have someone else.”
1. Eleanor & Park, Rainbow Rowell
Wow. My heart. This BOOK. It's so well-written, so sweet, so tender, and yet completely unrelenting and heartbreaking. Park is the kind of guy you wish you'd known in high school. Eleanor is the kind of girl you wish you could just protect and take care of. The way Rainbow writes about these people, and the feelings they have (my goodness, the FEELINGS), you can't help but relate to them so strongly that you all but fall headfirst into the pages themselves a la Harry Potter in The Chamber of Secrets. Throughout the novel, the point of view switches from Park to Eleanor and back again, keeping you on your feet, and also giving insight into what's going on in each of their minds. Get your hands on a copy of this book and read it immediately. It's that good.
“You can be Han Solo. And I'll be Boba Fett. I'll cross the sky for you.”
Honorable Mention Best. Movie. Year. Ever.: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen, Brian Raftery Since You've Been Gone, Morgan Matson We Were Liars, E. Lockhart The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, Stuart Turton Evvie Drake Starts Over, Linda Holmes Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered, Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Maurene Goo The Unexpected Everything, Morgan Matson Fall and Rise: The Story of 9/11, Mitchell Zuckoff God is Able, Priscilla Shirer Murder on the Ballarat Train, Kerry Greenwood
At the beginning of the year, I set a pretty big goal for myself: to read 50 books in a year. I finished reading my 52nd book on New Years Eve, surprising myself in the process for managing to pull it off. Reading a book a week involved many trips to the library, constant perusal of Goodreads, and always carrying a book in my purse. Thankfully I really enjoyed most of the books I read, and only hated two. (Curious? Check out my full list.)
My Three Favorite Movies of 2019
3. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Spoilers ahead!
The first three quarters of The Rise of Skywalker were a blast. I enjoyed watching the interplay between Finn, Poe, and Rey, meeting new characters, and just being along for the adventure. I laughed a ton, loved the music, and was just overall thrilled that this movie was more in line with The Force Awakens, which I loved, than The Last Jedi, which I... did not. And then (spoilers ahead) Ben ran into the cave. (The lair. Whatever it was.) And everything that happened for the next 15 minutes? Holy moly. I felt absolutely electrified. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and if you told me that I'd started levitating in my seat during these sequences, I WOULD BELIEVE YOU. Every time I thought it couldn't get better, IT DID. Man. I've seen this twice so far, and I can't wait to see it again. In summary, I leave you with just three words: Ben. Solo. Shrug.
2. Knives Out
From the moment the first trailer dropped, I was hooked. A whodunnit? With that cast? And Chris Evans wearing THAT sweater?? Sign. Me. Up. And this movie totally delivered! It had everything: twists. Turns. Jamie Lee Curtis in a pink power suit. I mean, what more could you want? There was no way to predict where this movie would go next, which made it all the more satisfying by the end. Also, I've just gotta say: this is a movie that rewards re-watches! I picked up several things the second time around that I'd missed the first. So go back and watch it again, and you'll see that the donut hole has a hole in its center, and it is not a donut hole
at all but a smaller donut with its own hole...
1. The Peanut Butter Falcon
A man with Down's Syndrome escapes his care facility and ends up traveling down the coast of North Carolina with Shia LaBeouf. I know—it's not the log line you expect for the movie that beat Star Wars and the Avengers for the top spot on my list. But there's more to it than that, of course. There's joy, and there's sorrow. There's life. And somewhere around the time Zach told Tyler, "I'm gonna give you all my wishes for my birthday," my heart completely shattered. In the absolute best way, if that's possible. And by the end of the movie, as tears streamed down my face, my heart was whole again.
When people talk about the power of cinema, about what movies can do, this is what they're talking about. A movie that can scoop out your insides and replace them with glowing stardust. And a movie that knows that rule number one? Is party.
Honorable Mention: Avengers: Endgame, 1917, Little Women, Marriage Story, Late Night
My Three Favorite TV Shows of 2019
Favorite shows I started watching this year:
3. Fosse/Verdon
I can tell you in two words why Fosse/Verdon was so good: Michelle Williams. How about two more: Sam Rockwell. Oh, I can have four additional words? The Hamilton creative team (producer Lin-Manuel Miranda, choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, director Tommy Kail). The wrenching story of lovers turned co-dependent, separated collaborators is so creatively, lovingly told, you just can't look away. Add in a cast of Broadway all stars (Norbert Leo Butz, Santino Fontana, Brandon Uranowitz, Laura Osnes) with a side of Michelle Williams' tears, and you've got a recipe for a truly outstanding TV show. Stream it on Hulu
2. Derry Girls Derry Girls is a gift. I'm so glad it exists in the world. Because the world absolutely needed a show about Catholic school girls navigating their lives in Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles in the 90's. And it is ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS. You'll be obsessed with these girls and their stories, and by the end of the second season you'll be right there with Cousin James, screaming, "I'M A DERRY GIRL!" It's on Netflix, so go look it up right now, because you're gonna love it. (Just be sure you watch it with subtitles—those Irish accents are no joke.) Sláinte! Stream it on Netflix
1. Schitt's Creek
When I saw the first handful of episodes a year or two ago, I dismissed the show as not for me. "I mean I get it," I would tell people. "It's just not that funny to me." This summer I decided to give the show another try, and this time something clicked. The more I watched, the more I could see pieces of myself in each of the characters. The more I genuinely laughed at the brilliant writing. And as the series progressed, I found that each season was better than the last. Now I'm ALL IN, can't wait for the next season, and find myself taking on more and more of Annie Murphy's mannerisms. What can I say? I'm just a little bit Alexis. Stream it on Netflix
Honorable Mention: In the Dark, The Other Two
My Three Favorite Events of 2019
3. Let's Go to the Movies I (obviously) love movies, and a huge part of that is seeing them in the theater. This year I got to see an amazing amount of new releases, and it just made my heart so happy! A big reason I made it to the theater so often is due to my movie buddy who's as committed to keeping up with the cinemaverse as I am: Ellie Bennett. Of the 37 movies I saw in theaters this year (and up through this weekend), 24 of them were with Ellie. And that's on God, for blessing me with a fellow entertainment-obsessed friend.
2. Double New York This past spring, Ellie moved to New York for a few months. And I got to visit her! We ate great food (especially at Valerie!), visited the Museum of Natural History, went rowing in Central Park, and of course saw some shows. In total I was able to take in five Broadway musicals (My Fair Lady, Tootsie, Be More Chill, Kiss Me Kate, and Mean Girls), placing me squarely atop cloud nine. It was an incredible trip, and I'm so grateful I got to go!
Then in July, Emily and I returned to the Big Apple together for our sixth time! Power outage aside, we had a fantastic time, saw some beautiful art, toured Ellis Island, and took hundreds of photos. And this trip's Broadway shows were all over-the-top exceptional: Frozen, Moulin Rouge!, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part 1 (we missed Part 2 thanks to the aforementioned power outage). But we're coming back for you, Harry! Stay tuned...
1. So Morby a. Morbyfest 2019 This year, two of my grandparents turn 90 (!). And if that weren't enough they also hit another big milestone: 70 years (!) of marriage. To celebrate, my entire extended family descended on Crawford, Texas for a weekend of toasts, games, and laughing at each other. Press play for a small taste of our celebration weekend:
b. Galveston The
whole Morby/Ciminello clan returned to Galveston for another amazing
family vacation this summer, and it was filled to the brim with golf
cart rides, water balloons, sand sculptures, chocolate malts,
crab-catching, and boat rides. There was a moment when David and I were
fishing, Ginger and Dad were reading, and Mom and Clay were watching
Norah and Lucia play in the pool, and I thought to myself, "This is how
life should always be."
c. Christmas I could tell you about our magical Christmas, but wouldn't you rather see for yourself? Check it out:
Listen. It's always hard to do this. THIS year? Predicting the winners seems almost impossible! Every single guild award has gone to a different movie.
Fortunately, that doesn't affect me, because I never end up picking the wrong winners! Ever!*
Best Picture: As stated above, this category is more difficult than ever to predict. "Green Book COULD pull off a win here. Maybe. But for no real reason other than following my gut, I've got to go with "Roma" this year.
Best Director: More often than not, this award goes to the winner of Best Picture. So keeping with that tradition, I've got to pick Alfonso Cuaron. The only upset I could foresee might be Spike Lee (for his first Oscar ever!), but I just don't think it's his year.
Best Actor: Christian or Rami? Rami or Christian? This year it'll be Rami Malek, in what could end up being "Bohemian Rhapsody's" only award of the night. But don't cry for Christian Bale! He'll always have Santa Fe.
Best Actress: I would honestly love to see Lady Gaga win this category (I've had a soft spot for her ever since I watch the stunning documentary about her: "Five Foot Two."), but I'm afraid it's not her year—at least in this category. (Spoiler alert. For... further down the page.) This year will FINALLY be the year Glenn Close ends her streak! She currently holds the record for most Oscar nominations without winning, and it's finally her turn to stand center stage. You go, Glenn Co... I mean, Glenn Close!
Best Supporting Actor: Man, this category is such a question mark to me. But Mahershala Ali has been winning a lot this awards season, so let's go with Mahershala Ali for "Green Book."
Best Supporting Actress: There seems to be a chance that Amy Adams could sneak in here and snag her first Oscar ever (which is insane, because this is her 6th nomination—Leo won on his fifth time out!), but I think she's going to have to wait a bit longer. This year the award is going to Regina King for "If Beale Street Could Talk."
Animated Feature: "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse." That's it, that's the prediction.
Production Design: Conventional wisdom tells me to pick "The Favourite" here. But I can't. I think the winner will be "Black Panther."
Cinematography: The award this year will go to Alfonso Cuaron for "Roma," and I'll tell you why that's interesting: because he'll be the FIRST director to ever win Best Cinematography for a film he also directed. Pretty crazy!
Costume Design: I'll say it again: Best Costume Design goes to the most over-the-top, historical costumes in the category. What makes it a little more interesting this year is that you have "The Favourite" up against "Mary Queen of Scots," two big movies with equally big dresses. My money's on "The Favourite," although it must be said that there's an alternate universe out there somewhere in which "Black Panther" sneaks in a win here.
Film Editing: Conventional wisdom dictates that the year's Best Picture winner will also take home the award for editing, but conventional wisdom is out the window this year. I think it's either going to "Bohemian Rhapsody" or "Vice," and "Bohemian Rhapsody" needs to chill, so I'm picking "Vice."
Makeup and Hairstyling: For the same reason I picked "The Darkest Hour" to win this one last year (making a famous actor UNRECOGNIZABLE), I'm going with "Vice." Maybe this is an indirect way for Christian Bale to get a little nod since he'll miss out on Best Actor!
Original Score: Remember in that one episode of "Sherlock" where he first met The Woman, and he just couldn't figure her out or read her at all, so all he saw when he looked at her were question marks? That's me looking at this field of nominees. "If Beale Street Could Talk" has gotten a lot of critical acclaim, but history teaches us that a Best Picture nominee has better odds in this category. In that case, a film like "BlacKkKlansman" or "Black Panther" (which won the Grammy) might have the edge. DOES ANYONE HAVE A FRIEND WHO'S A VOTING MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY THAT I CAN PLEASE SPEAK TO. Failing that, I suppose I'm leaning critical darling over historical data (which is SO unreliable this year) and picking "If Beale Street Could Talk."
Original Song: What if SNL's Melissa Villaseñor came out and sang "Shallow" instead of Lady Gaga? I. Would Die. She's hilarious. No, but really though, I think this is a well-deserved win for Gaga. She may not be taking home Best Actress, but she will be taking home her first Oscar: Best Original Song for "A Star is Born."
Original Screenplay: It would make sense here for the winner of the WGA award to have a pretty good shot at winning here. Mindbogglingly enough, their top winner, "Eighth Grade," isn't even nominated for an Oscar, so it's back to the drawing board. So unless "Green Book" pulls out a win here, I think "The Favourite" will win this Bo Burnham-less category.
Adapted Screenplay: "Can You Ever Forgive Me" won at the WGA's last week, so there's an outside chance they could repeat on Sunday. However, I think the Academy will find their chance to honor Spike Lee in this category, for his work on "BlacKkKlansman."
Sound Mixing: Okay fine. I guess "Bohemian Rhapsody" will win more than one award. And honestly, I have nothing against the sound in this movie. (Truthfully the sound was the best part!)
Sound Editing: SHHH! The sound editors are accepting their Oscar for "A Quiet Place!"
Visual Effects: "Ready Player One" was a crap movie, but its visual effects were pretty spectacular. Not enough, however, to get them in the running for this award, which seems to be between "Avengers: Infinity War" and "First Man." I kind of want to just play eenie meeny miney mo with this one, but you know what? I love the Avengers. So I'm going "Avengers: Infinity War."
Documentary Feature: First things first: "Three Identical Strangers" should be here. Full stop. That movie BLEW MY MIND. Just put my whole brain in a blender. Watch it as soon as you can, you will not regret it! But anyway. "Free Solo" was also very good and incredibly suspenseful, and I'd like to see it win. But "RBG" also has a lot of great momentum, so I don't know! Maybe 'the little justice that could' will help them pull off a win! "Free Solo," however, just won the BAFTA, so I think that may have given them the edge. "Free Solo" it is!
Documentary Short: It's these little categories that can make or break your ballot, and I always get so stressed out picking which depressing (sorry) documentary short will be crowned the winner. It's just difficult, period. End of sentence. Anyway, I'm going with "Period. End of Sentence."
Foreign Language Film: Unless voters don't want to pick the same film here that they did for the top prize of Best Picture, this one should be going to "Roma."
Animated Short: Have you SEEN how cute that little dumpling is? It's gotta be "Bao."
Live Action Short: If "Skin" is compelling enough to be turned into a full-length feature (which it has been), that should be good enough to win it this award!
*(Counts on fingers) Wait. Am I wrong... a lot? Like, really a lot of the time? Huh.
3. Triple Threat, Gwenda Bond
A book series that imagines Lois Lane as a high school student and junior investigative reporter chasing down mysterious leads and instant messaging someone known only as "SmallvilleGuy" on the side? This one was a no-brainer for me! The third and final book in the series, I loved reading the fast-paced story of a strong, fearless female lead investigating the fantastic and experiencing a sweet, budding romance along the way. Gwenda Bond's Lois is smart, sassy, and brave, and does a solid job filling that Veronica Mars-sized hole in my heart. If you enjoy inventive young adult mysteries, this whole series will be right up your alley!
"I didn't mind walking into danger on my own. Not the concept of it, anyway."
2. How To Find Love Love in a Bookshop, Veronica Henry How To Find Love in a Bookshop was the first book I read in 2018—and what a way to kick off my year of reading! I loved it, rated it five stars, and immediately started recommended it to everyone I could think of. (I even gave it to my sister for Christmas!) It's sweet and lovely (two of my favorite adjectives when it comes to books), interweaving stories from various townspeople in the small village of Peasbrooke, England into one delightful novel. I've not yet met anyone who didn't enjoy this book, so pick it up if you're craving sweet and lovely.
“The whole point of life was you couldn't ever be sure what would
happen next. Sometimes what happened was good, sometimes not, but there
were always surprises.”
1. To All The Boys I've Loved Before trilogy, Jenny Han
When Lara Jean Song-Covey finds out that her private letters to every boy she's ever had a crush on have actually been mailed out, she's ready for the earth to swallow her whole. Awkwardness, hilarity, and melt-in-a-puddle sweetness ensue. I love so much about this book series, but here are a few of my favorites. One, Peter Kavinsky. Two, everything. The story did not go at all in the direction I expected it to, and every unanticipated turn was a delightful surprise. Jenny Han is a gifted writer, and her ability to get into the mind of a high school "good girl" character is remarkable. I could not put any of these books down; they were all completely mesmerizing to me. Always and Forever, Valerie Mae. "My heartbeat is going quick-quick-quick. I’m giddy. Is this a dream? If so, let me never wake up." Honorable Mention
Nate Expectations by Tim Federle The City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller One, Two Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie I'll Be
Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution by Todd S. Purdum This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps The Secret Life of the American
Musical: How Broadway Shows Are Built by Jack Viertel The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My goal for 2018 was to read 40 books. Miracle of miracles, I was able to finish 44! If you're looking to set a reading goal for the year, I can't recommend Goodreads enough. It's a great way to track what you're reading, what you'd like to read next, and what your friends are reading! Plus, once you set your goal it tells you where you are in the journey to completion. Check it out, and then find me here!
My Three Favorite Movies of 2018
Runner-Up: Mary Poppins Returns
What a joy. What a soundtrack. I'm so, so glad this film lived up to my expectations! I laughed and cried and haven't stopped listening to the soundtrack since. It's pure sunshine.
3. (tie) Searching
Everything is fine. Then one day, a single dad's only daughter doesn't come home, and he partners with the police to try to piece together what happened. He goes on a journey to learn more about his daughter's life, and in the process, finds out exactly how much he DOESN'T know. As the mystery deepens, the story takes more than a few left turns, and just when you think the twists are over THERE'S STILL MORE TWISTS. (And if you know me, you know I love a good twist.) All of this would be enough on its own, but here's one more reason you might want to check it out: the entire movie takes place on a computer screen. And I know that sounds like a gimmick, but it all works. It really does! It serves the story, and adds a layer of relate-ability because everything Jon Cho's David does (search Facebook, look up Google Maps, etc.) is something I would do if I were trying to solve a real-life mystery. Don't miss this one!
3. (tie) Bad Times at the El Royale
Spin me a solid, creative tale with plenty of twists and turns and my heart is yours forever. I fell in love with the Bad Times trailer, but didn't fully know what I was getting into. I'm so glad I didn't, because not knowing who the main characters were or exactly what the movie was about made everything all the more deliciously enjoyable. I am obsessed with mysteries (see my love of Agatha Christie, Veronica Mars, etc.) and have a healthy appreciation for movies set in a single night. Add in a stellar cast, a slowly unfolding story, gorgeous, haunting music, and I'm hooked. It all culminates in bloody mayhem, but the reveals and surprises that come along the way make it all completely worth it.
2. Game Night
The moment Kyle Chandler's character gave the"Poor man's Johnny Depp" clue* in a game of "Celebrity," I knew this movie was for me. Starring some of my favorite performers (Rachel McAdams, Jesse Plemmons, Jason Bateman, the aforementioned Coach Taylor), Game Night is a nonstop thrill ride of laughs, clues, reveals, and money being slid across a table reeeeeeally slowly. It's so funny, it's such a blast, and I can't wait for you to see it, if you haven't already. *Skeet Ulrich
1. To All The Boys I've Loved Before
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did you really think I'd pick something else? I watched this movie for the first time with a big group of girls, and it was the ideal movie-watching environment. We all instantly turned 15 years old (it was crazy, I know!) and spent the movie laughing, blushing, swooning, and hiding behind blankets because OH THE EMBARRASSMENT. When it was over we restarted the movie from the beginning and watched all the highlights again. And I've watched it many, many (many) times since. It's turquoise and pink and perfect. I could write a book about how much I love this movie. I could write a whole musical (and I actually did—well, kinda) about how much I love this movie. It's such a beautiful adaptation of the book, with a delightful cast and a whole collection of tiny moments that are like little snow globes for me—pick each of them up and swirl the magic around and relive the perfection. The handshake under the cherry blossom tree. Moving the popcorn. The splash. Everybody wants to rule the world. The milkshake. "Progress." And of course (OF COURSE), the pocket twirl. I love this movie to death, and if you'll excuse me, I think it's time for me to go watch it again.
Honorable Mention: Avengers: Infinity War, Set It
Up, Crazy Rich Asians, Mission Impossible: Fallout, The Hate U
Give, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, A Star is Born
My Three Favorite TV Shows of 2018
Favorite shows I started watching this year:
3. Veep
Everything you've heard about "Veep" is true: it's that funny. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is that genius. (It's also that crass, unfortunately, so fair warning!) This show is just truly a joke machine, using one-liners, crazy situations, and every other available element in its comedy arsenal. It's a dream of a cast, led by the incomparable JLD, and I can't wait for Hulu to release more seasons so I can fully catch up! Stream it on Hulu and HBO
2. Queer Eye
Show me a more encouraging and uplifting show that came out this year. Because I can't think of one! "Queer Eye" matches compassion with entertainment and joy, and it makes for a truly winning combination. A lesson in empathy and kindness, QE utilizes its platform to demonstrate a healthy dose of generosity—and more than a few laughs along the way. It was a joy to watch, and I am more than ready for season 3! Stream it on Netflix
1. Cobra Kai
No, I'm not kidding. My favorite show of the year is the YouTube Premium series "Cobra Kai." Despite not being super familiar with The Karate Kid, I fully embraced the continuing story of "good guy" Daniel and "bully" Johnny. But when lines blur, motivations change, and empathy grows, an incredible opportunity for unexpected storytelling presents itself. Shockingly hilarious and extremely bingeable, "Cobra Kai" surprised me with its twists and turns, its phenomenal cast, and its "world turned upside down" sensibility. Forget that it's a YouTube show. Forget that it's based on a 30-year-old property. I encourage you to jump full into this incredibly well-made series and enjoy its unexpected storytelling, its deeply felt character moments, and its out-and-out hilarity. Stream it on YouTube Premium
My Three Favorite Other Things That Don't Fall Into Another Category of 2018 3. The Hamildrops
Lin-Manuel Miranda has released a lot of amazing new music based on or inspired by Hamilton. Two of my favorites were released this year: The Hamilton Polka and Found/Tonight. Weird Al's cover of a majority of the songs in Hamilton—in five minutes, no less—is a feat in itself. The fact that it's also a blast (not to mention hilarious) just pushes it over the top! Then with Found/Tonight, Lin found a way to marry one of the undersung Hamilton songs with the beautiful anthem You Will Be Found from last year's top event Dear Evan Hansen. Press play on that song and tell me you don't get chills from second one.
2. Bandstandfilmed live
During the summer of 2017, I saw an incredible Broadway show starring two megawatt stars (Corey Cott and Laura Osnes). It was called Bandstand. It was outstanding, and once it was over I was so sad thinking I'd never get to see it again. Fast-forward to this spring when my heart swelled with JOY finding out this Tony-winner for best choreography had been filmed during its all-too-short run, and would be coming to big screens across America! My friends and I loaded up the car on a Tuesday night in June and drove one city over (eye roll that it did not play here) to relive this exhilarating, beautiful, heart-stopping show one more time. It was extraordinary, and I am forever grateful that I had that opportunity.
1. Tesssa Virtue & Scott Moir
I know the Winter Olympics seem like FOREVER ago, but it really was this year! And the highlight of the Olympics, for me, was Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue's Moulin Rouge-inspired program. It's just so, so beautiful. I love it so much. And I absolutely cried watching it again just now. If you haven't seen it in a while, then it's time to treat. your. self.
3. Broadway 2018
For the fifth summer in a row, my roommate Emily and I took on the Big Apple, cramming in tons of sightseeing, walking (literally FIFTY BLOCKS FROM THE MUSEUM OF NEW YORK TO BLACK TAP), and of course, Broadway shows! The Band's Visit (2018's Tony winner for Best Musical) was breathtaking and originaland Anastasia was beautiful and classic. Carouselwas everything I hoped it would be, from the mind-blowing choreography ("Blow High, Blow Low" was a high point of MY LIFE) to that hall of fame-worthy score (tell me the overture doesn't make you cry!). But when Joshua Henry started singing the Act 1 closer, "Soliloquy," man. I have no words. Actually, yes I do: it was incredible. It was like witnessing something that only happens once in the history of the world. His voice filled the entire theatre and blew us back in our seats. I cried, I got chills, and I'll never, ever forget it.
The fourth show I saw was Mean Girls, and it has instantly vaulted itself into the list of my top favorite stage musicals of all time. The songs are phenomenal, the cast astonishing, and the entire thing is hilarious and heartfelt. It has so many of the things I love: quick changes, exceptional choreography, whip-smart dialogue (thanks, Tina Fey!), empathetic characters, and on and on. The cast recording was the album I listened to most this year (and "Stupid With Love" was my top song), I've been having a blast following the cast on social media, and I am so, so, so, so, so glad I got to see it.
2. Nashville Friend-cation
We drank tea and talked. We went out to eat delicious food (including the best burger OF MY LIFE) and talked. We shopped and talked. Walked and talked. And at the end of the day? We'd sit down and TALK. And it was the most life-giving, soul-soothing weekend I can recall. Together for the first time since 2009, my reunion with Annie, Julie, and Dani came at the perfect time for all of us to get a break from normal life and spend time breathing and talking deeply. We piled into boutique dressing rooms, trying on clothes and encouraging each other to treat ourselves to new coats or high-waisted pants. We sat on the floor of a brand-new art gallery, listening to music by artists like Moda Spira. We went to brunch to have a "blind date with a book," and each came home with a new read. The entire time was a breath of fresh air, a sigh of relief, and I'm so, so thankful we had this time together.
1. Family Vacations
a. Galveston
It was all sand and sunglasses, wind and laughter. Chalk on the breezeway, bubbles on the stairs, and a shuffleboard tournament with a side of guacamole. Sunset boat rides, giant sea creatures molded from sand, angry live crabs in buckets, and endless fishing on the bulkhead. We ate good food, strolled the Strand, and visited our favorite ice cream shop. Family time is always the best, and my nieces were a dream. If I could rewind my life and press play again at the start of this trip, I would. Plus, I caught a STING RAY. IN THE CANAL. TWICE. (They're boneless!)
b. Christmas
The whole family together in Houston. Be still my Christmas-loving heart!
The Lutheran school I attended from preschool through eighth grade
felt huge. In reality, the entire school probably had no more than 300 students during any given year. Like most schools, it was its own ecosystem,
with popular kids, school lore, and notorious teachers who you'd
somehow get for third grade, and then later for 7th grade science,
followed by 8th grade art.
Ginger and I
have frequently documented some of the stranger quirks of our school,
including the traffic light mounted on the wall of our cafeteria to
indicate our allowable conversation volume (green for talking, yellow
for whispering, and red for silence).
The light
must have been green the day Linda and a few friends and I were talking
and laughing at lunchtime. Linda was tall with a razor sharp ear-length
bob. She had a reputation for being a fast runner, and from what I
recall, everyone liked her. In fact, one year
while on the way to Linda's birthday party, the entire car
full of school girls erupted into repeated cheers of "L-I-N-D-A!" over
and over on our way to Penny Whistle Park.
That day the girls and I were eating our sack lunches, miniature
cartons of milk beside each of us. Linda extracted a single Cheeto from
a clear plastic baggie, but instead of eating it, she proceeded to
place it in an upright position between her middle and ring fingers.
"Look!" she said with mischievous excitement in her eyes.
I stared at her hand, and at the Cheeto standing in for a middle finger.
"Well,
that's not hard," I said, thinking she was unable to lift her middle
finger in such a way. Maybe holding up that finger was something akin to
being able to roll your tongue, or make one eye move independently from
the other (a skill my sister had mastered which I, sadly, had not).
I quickly held up my own hand, middle finger standing at attention. I was
eager to impress the girls at my table with my apparently unique
ability to single out this particular appendage.
"Valerie!" Linda exclaimed, looking gleeful at my digital faux pas. "You can't do that!"
"Why not?"
"Because! It means I hate God!"
I
don't know the circumstances in which this was explained to her, but I
like to imagine a pint-sized Linda spotting "the bird" out in the wild and
questioning her parents as to what that meant. Her mother and father
probably shared a look, telepathically agreed on their story, and gave Linda an elementary-appropriate explanation for what such an act meant: I hate God.
(The
parents of most of the children at my school undoubtedly fed their
children similar stories about the worst the world has to offer. They
also must have told them religious reasons for why we do certain things.
Why else would a boy in my class have told me that spelling the name of
our Heavenly Father with a lowercase g is a sin—"god" instead of "God?")
I
don't know how long I believed holding up your middle finger meant "I
hate God," but the message that it was inappropriate certainly embedded itself in my brain.
We never discussed middle fingers again. I don't recall that explanation being repeated, so it must have left with Linda when her family moved away the following year.
For the record, though, just in case it was true: I do not hate God.
It's a crazy world, where up is down, boy bands play instruments, and "Boss Baby" is an Academy Award-nominated movie. Fortunately, it stops there, and won't also become an Academy Award-winning movie. And I can guarantee that, because I know exactly who is going to win. And I've never, ever been wrong.*
Best Picture: I used to always get this category right. Now I always get it wrong. But this is the year I turn it around! I know it's down to "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" and "The Shape of Water." (Some are predicting an upset by "Get Out" or "Lady Bird," but I just don't see it). If I wasn't sure before, their big win at the BAFTA's convinced me: this year's top prize is going to "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri."
Best Director: This one, however, WILL go to "The Shape of Water," as the Academy has recently moved to awarding the director of the most technically advanced film of the year. Guillermo del Toro will win this one.
Best Actor: There's no doubt in my mind that Gary Oldman is taking home the gold in this category. His turn as Winston Churchill in "Darkest Hour" is absolutely breathtaking, and he's finally bringing home a long-deserved award. And while young Timothée Chalamet may not be winning this time, we'll always have this video, where his high school self raps about statistics.
Best Actress: There's an outside chance that Saoirse Ronan could sneak in a win here, but I really can't picture anyone winning over Frances McDormand and her riveting turn in "Three Billboards." She's such a pro, and watching her act is truly watching a master at work.
Best Supporting Actor: I really, really, really love Sam Rockwell (particularly for his hilarious and heartfelt turn in "The Way, Way Back.") He's such an incredible actor, and so much fun to watch. (Plus, have you seen him dance?) All that to say, it's going to be really fun to see him walk away with the gold come Sunday.
Best Supporting Actress: It's another two-woman race, this time between Allison Janney and Laurie Metcalf. And here's the thing: while I absolutely adore Allison Janney (I own six of her movies!), I think Laurie Metcalf's heartbreaking and nuanced performance in "Lady Bird" is miles ahead of Janney's portrayal of LaVona Harding in "I, Tonya." However, Allison Janney has been unstoppable this awards season, and I think she'll come out on top once again.
Animated Feature: Sorry, "Boss Baby!" The award for Best Animated Feature will be the sweet, beautiful, musically rich "Coco!" Pixar gets to add another golden statue to their pile when they take home the win for this wonderful trip through the Land of the Dead.
Production Design: Let's be honest: "Blade Runner 2049" really SHOULD win this. It really, really should. But the scales seem to be tipping in "The Shape of Water's" direction, so I think they'll end up swimming away with the big award in the end.
Cinematography: BUT. THIS is where "Blade Runner 2049" is almost a shoe-in to win. Roger Deakins, legendary cinematographer, will finally, FINALLY win an Academy Award this year, after 14 (FOURTEEN) nominations!
Costume Design: I can hardly imagine a movie about gorgeous clothes not winning the Oscar for Best Costume Design. It'll be "Phantom Thread."
Film Editing: "Dunkirk" and "Baby Driver," two of my favorite films of the year, are in a dead heat for this category. And as much as I would love (LOVE) to predict this one for "Baby," I think the Academy is more likely to award the time-jumping narrative of "Dunkirk." Makeup and Hairstyling: Awww, yes. Hair, done by one team of people, and makeup, done by another team. So sure, let's make them share a category! That is definitely a thing that makes sense. Anyway! While watching "Darkest Hour," I kept looking at Winston Churchill and thinking, "I am looking at a person that does not exist. Gary Oldman looks nothing like this guy on the screen, and there's simply not an actor that actually looks like that. For this astounding feat, "Darkest Hour" is the clear winner.
Original Score: I really loved the music in "Dunkirk," and I think they have a small chance of winning, as does "Phantom Thread." However, all of the momentum in this category seems to be for Alexandre Desplat's score for "The Shape of Water."
Original Song: Look out, 'cause here comes... a really tough category! Again, it comes down to two: "Remember Me" (the heartbreakingly beautiful earworm from "Coco," which appears in a remarkable three different forms in the film), and the power ballad "This is Me" from "The Greatest Showman." In the end though, the exceedingly talented Benj Pasek and Justin Paul will win their second Oscar in a row in this category, this time for "The Greatest Showman."
Original Screenplay: Talk about a STACKED category! The question of who will win comes down, though, to just two nominees: "Get Out" and "Three Billboards." Do you go with the really creative, original idea for a movie ("Get Out")? Or do you pick the one with the twisting story and razor sharp dialogue ("Three Billlboards")? I have a feeling most of the voters loved "Get Out" and will want to find a way to honor Jordan Peele, so he's got a shot here. However, I don't see it happening. I'm going with "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri."
Adapted Screenplay: Three things lead me to believe this award is going to James Ivory. 1) He's kind of old (89, actually) and that makes for a great Hollywood narrative. 2) He's been nominated three previous times and never won. 3) The voters seem to love "Call Me By Your Name," which likely won't pick up any other awards on Sunday. So there you have it: "Call Me By Your Name" will win Best Adapted Screenplay.
Sound Mixing: It's once again between "Dunkirk" and "Baby Driver." If it was a true RACE race, I would bet everything on "Baby Driver." But alas, Baby can't drive his Subaru through this one. The Academy historically loves war movies in this category, so I'm going "Dunkirk."
Sound Editing: I would love to be wrong in one of these sound categories, if only it meant that "Baby Driver" could pick up at least one Oscar. I don't think it's going to happen though; I think "Dunkirk" will win this one as well.
Visual Effects: I keep avoiding this category because I just! Don't! Want! To make! A decision! The effects in "Blade Runner 2049" were stunning. S T U N N I N G. They shouldn't be counted out in this category. On the other hand, though... you have those apes. This is the third in a trilogy of films that hasn't won yet in this category. I think it's very possible that the Academy will want to award the whole series by finally giving them a visual effects Oscar for "War for the Planet of the Apes."
Documentary Feature: Man, this one could go to any of these movies. I don't envy the voters on categories like this. In the end, I'll go with "Faces Places."
Documentary Short: The opioid crisis is about as topical as it gets, so I'm going to guess "Heroin(e)" will grab this award.
Foreign Language Film: The only movie I've heard of in this category is "A Fantastic Woman." (Something tells me that might be the case for a large percentage of the Academy voters as well.) Look for "A Fantastic Woman" to win here.
Animated Short: Guys, if "Dear Basketball" wins? Kobe Bryant will be an ACADEMY AWARD-WINNER. And I think that actually might happen on Sunday night! Pixar is usually not one to be bet against, and they still might pull out a win with "Lou." However, once I was reminded that Hollywood is a Laker town, I became convinced that this category is indeed going to "Dear Basketball."
Live Action Short: In this current climate, it's kind of hard to imagine that a short about a school shooting won't score a ton of votes. That's why I think the winner will be "DeKalb Elementary."
Just kidding. I'm wrong about this... (sigh)... a lot. An awful lot. *stares out into the distance*
Best Supporting Actress: Scarlett Johansson was MAGIC in "Jojo Rabbit," and I'd love to see her win, but I believe this award belongs to our girl Laura Dern. And no one's mad about that. Not even Scarlett, I don't think.
Sound Editing: Honestly, for the same logic I just used, I'm going with "1917" here too.
