Some Predictable, and Some Awesome, Choices for this Year's Oscars Nominations

The Oscar nominations came out this morning, and for the most part, it was status quo. Everyone that has been rumored got their nominations. "Three Billboards" got a ton of nominations. "The Post", along with Meryl Streep, got their nominations. Willem Defoe got his nomination. Frances McDormand was there. So was Gary Oldman and Daniel Day Lewis. Like I said, status quo. I was a bit upset that "The Disaster Artist" only got one nomination, but with the recent Franco allegations, I was not surprised.

What made me smile a bit when I read the nominations was all the new people that are getting consideration. Emily Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani got nominated for best original screenplay for the excellent "The Big Sick". That movie was amazing, and it was incredibly well written. It was very much deserved, and I'm happy that comedians are finally getting noticed by the academy. I love that "The Shape of Water" and Guillermo del Toro got nominated. Guillermo del Toro makes weird, but great movies, and "The Shape of Water" is no different. I'm stoked that Great Gerwig got nominated for what many consider to be the best movie of the year, "Lady Bird". Saoirse Ronan got a much deserved nomination too. Margot Robbie, playing Tonya Harding, will be at the ceremonies. Sally Hawkins, who rules, got nominated and she plays a mute in her movie. It's also pretty cool to see someone like Mary J Blige get nominated for acting and original song. I don't know that that has ever happened. Good for her. It's nice to see Woody Harrelson get some recognition.

What makes me happiest are three specific things from this morning. First off, "Coco" is getting the much deserved recognition that it needs. That movie is so innovative, great and moving. I will be very, very upset if it doesn't win best animated feature. It is leaps and bounds better than any other movie that is in that category. I'm also stoked that "Remember Me" is nominated for best original song. That too should win in a runaway. It is so sweet, but also is the running theme throughout that movie. It is not only a great song, it serves a purpose.

Next, I'm pumped for Daniel Kaluuya getting a best actor nod. He was amazing in "Get Out". He more than deserves this nomination. I only became aware of him last year when I first saw him in the "Black Mirror" episode "15 Million Credits", and I thought he was tremendous in that. Then I had the pleasure of watching "Get Out", and his performance blew me away. He was so good. He made me believe everything that was going on in the movie. He created a truly unique and dynamic character. I will be so happy if he somehow wins. But, the things that make me happiest are "Get Out" and Jordan Peele getting their due. "Get Out" was the most unique and interesting movie I saw all year. I know it wasn't my top movie of 2017, but it was the best movie I saw all year. The way they balanced horror, drama and a little comedy was stupendous. The people involved toed the line of each genre to perfection. "Get Out" is a one of a kind movie, and we need more movies like that in this remake and rehash age we live in now. It is a special movie. Which leads me to the thing that surprised me most, in a good way, this morning. Jordan Peele got a best director nod, he should win, a screen play nod, he should probably win and a best picture nomination, again, he should win. Jordan Peele created something truly different and wonderful and scary and honest and poignant and perfect. He outdid any other director that is up for the award. He did a masterful job with "Get Out". Everyone in that movie was made better by his direction. As far as screenplay, if I have said it once during this blog, I have said it a thousand times, there is no movie more unique than "Get Out". And not just this year, in quite sometime. He made something fresh and new and it speaks to the thousands upon thousands of people that saw "Get Out". No one knew what to expect, and everyone was talking about it after they saw it. This movie had more memes, GIF's and fan art than any other movie I have ever seen in my life. It is one of a kind.

As far as best picture, I think "Get Out" has only one, maybe 2 competitors. "Darkest Hour" is too boring and too historical. Same with "The Post". "Three Billboards" will get scrutinized too much to win. "Dunkirk" is a war movie, and those don't hold much weight anymore. And "Phantom Thread" is too weird. I think "Get Out" only real competition is "Lady Bird" and "Call Me By Your Name". "Call Me By Your Name" won't win because "Moonlight" is a better movie and it won last year. "Lady Bird", by all accounts, I have not seen it yet, is great, but I think the voters will only give it one award, and that will go to Ronan for acting. So, that leaves "Get Out" as the best movie left. I am hoping that it wins best picture. It would be so awesome, given the current state of our country, for a movie like "Get Out" to win best picture. That is my wish at least.

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the people that were getting recognized this morning, and that hasn't happened in awhile with the Oscars, Hopefully, times are changing for the better. At least this year's nominees makes me hopeful that is happening.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He forgot to mention the robbery where "Logan" gets one nomination, and the movie of the year gets zero nominations. Why did the Oscars forget "The Lego Batman Movie"?  Why?

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Let Me Tell You About this Awesome Movie "Coco"

I took my kids to see Coco this morning. That movie is incredible. It needs to be talked about more than it currently is being talked about. I know it just came out, and it’s currently sitting at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, but I mentioned to a few people that I took my kids to see Coco, and their response was, “what’s that?”. That’s a shame to me. This movie was vibrant, colorful, funny, moving, action packed and wonderfully written and perfectly voice acted. There was never a moment I felt bored or wanted the movie to pick up the pace. Did I mention that it is great.

"Coco" focuses on a young boy named Miguel who happens to be an excellent guitar player. The only problem, his entire extended family has forbade music since their great grandma’s dad walked out on them to pursue a career in music. Miguel yearns to play, but anytime he gets a chance in the town center, someone from his family finds him and stops him in his tracks. When Miguel does have a chance to play, it’s in secret. He has a secret room where he strums along with his hero, Ernesto. Ernesto is said to be the most famous musician this small town in Mexico has ever produced. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say, Ernesto may not be as great as he seems.

On Dia De Los Muertos, there is a big time talent competition. Miguel decides he is going to join, and he doesn’t care what his family says. His family catches him trying to get to the competition, and his grandma smashes his guitar. Miguel is so upset and runs away to do the show. He cannot join the competition because he doesn’t have a guitar. But, he decides he is going to go into Ernesto’s shrine and take his guitar. When he grabs it, he strums it, and the leaves laid out for the dead light up. Miguel feels odd, but proceeds to the show. Some townspeople see that Ernesto’s guitar is gone, and they come in to search. Miguel thinks he caught, but we come to realize he has crossed over to the land of the dead.

This is where the movie shifts from good to great. Pretty much from here on out we are with the dead. The animation is beautiful. The colors are amazing. The people we meet, including Miguel’s extended family members that have passed, are all great. They want Miguel to go back home, but he wants to know why they do not want him to play music.

All of the stuff with his deceased family was tremendous. I loved that family was the important, central theme of the movie. I am extremely close to my family, so this was easy to relate to for me. I also loved how this movie embraced its heritage.

This movie was also all about Spanish family and Spanish people. That’s pretty rare for a kids movie, but kudos to the people that made this for sticking to the heritage.

The music was excellent as well. I bought the soundtrack right after the movie.

"Coco" is a must see for everyone. Pixar once again hit it out of the park. This movie ranks right up there with Wall E for me. I like it more already than any Toy Story movie, and I love the Toy Story movies. Go see this movie if you can, and take your kids. Also, try to see it in the theaters. It is worth it for the colors alone. Coco is a beautiful movie with beautiful,  vibrant colors, and wonderful music. Check it out.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He loves guitar, and even has a favorite ax to shred on.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.