The Academy recently announced the nominations for its 91st awards ceremony, which will be held on February 25th. Below are some of the contenders battling it out for the coveted 2019 Best Picture award.
Black Panther
(Courtesy of Revolt TV)
You’ve definitely seen this one. Ryan Coogler’s superhero flick was not only a box office hit with a worldwide gross of over $1.3 billion, but the story of Black Panther T’Challa’s battle to save Wakanda and the world captivated critics and Marvel fans alike. A thrilling tale coupled with magnificent visuals, top-notch acting (by the likes of Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Lupita Nyong’o), and powerful themes of loyalty, perseverance, and pride, it’s no surprise that Black Panther is in the running for Best Picture.
A Star is Born
(Courtesy of Collider)
Another instant classic that defined 2018. A stripped-down Lady Gaga and a soulful Bradley Cooper (who also directed the film) star in this empowering yet heartbreaking musical drama about young singer Ally’s rise to superstardom while her lover, the musician Jackson Maine, descends from success into ruins. A Star is Born is an emotional rollercoaster, yet the real highlight may be the fantastic soundtrack, especially Gaga and Cooper’s powerful duet in “Shallow” (which is also nominated for Best Original Song).
Vice
(Courtesy of Huffpost)
Adam McKay set the bar high in 2015 with The Big Short, and his latest work may be his most talked-about yet. Vice is a dark comedy about the life of the former vice president and notorious political figure Dick Cheney, chronicling his rise from Yale dropout to George H.W. Bush’s powerful vice president. Christian Bale’s performance as Cheney is on point, vicious and human all at once, as is Amy Adams’s as his power-hungry wife, Lynne. McKay’s portrayal of Cheney’s actions and their political repercussions has polarized critics and viewers, yet his unorthodox directing style makes this film a wild ride worth watching.
BlacKkKlansman
(Courtesy of Charleston City Paper)
This film, set in the 1970s, tells the unbelievable yet true story of Ron Stallworth, a black police officer in Colorado Springs who works undercover, posing as a white man, to investigate the Ku Klux Klan. Stallworth’s interactions with local Klan members eventually put him in direct contact with David Duke, the Grand Wizard of the Klan. BlacKkKlansman is not only a triumph for its exciting plot full of unexpected twists and turns, but it also sends a shockingly relevant message about racism and black identity in America.
Lydia Ying
Lydia Ying
