There is a little academy you may have heard of who plan to announce the nominees for their film awards this week, I think they call them the Oscars. Before that we have the Seventh Annual Groovers Movie Awards. As ever all categories, eligibility and winners are decided by me:
Best Movie: Blade Runner 2049: Blade Runner (1982) didn’t need a sequel, not only is this movie a worthy sequel, but it continues the story that enhances rather than diminishes the original, continuing, even expanding on the themes. As you would expect from director Denis Villeneuve and cinematographer Roger Deakins, it looks amazing. A love it or hate it type film; like the original, it may have underperformed at the box-office, it will find its audience in time. 
Best Director: Chan-wook Park for The Handmaiden. A labyrinthine tale that never loses its focus and always holds the audience’s attention. Based on Sarah Waters novel Fingersmith, this adaptation sees the setting change from Victorian England to Japanese occupied Korea, making the most of the setting, the film looks amazing. Possibly Park’s best movie since Oldboy. 
Best Actor/Actress: Casey Affleck won the academy award for Manchester by the Sea, a result I certainly wouldn’t argue with. Jessica Chastain gave to fantastic performances in Miss Sloane and Molly’s Game. 
Best Dialogue: Aaron Sorkin (writer/director) Molly’s Game. In his directorial debut, Sorkin is helped by his actors: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner who makes his machine gun dialogue sound amazing. 
Best Editing: Jonathan Amos and Paul Machliss (editors) Edgar Wright (writer/director), Julian Slater (sound designer), for Baby Driver. I have always been an advocate of the idea that the best editing is invisible. Baby Drive breaks this rule with very conspicuous editing; there are long takes, single take tracking shots, quick cuts all done in time with the music. It could have been a disaster, it’s actually a masterpiece. 
Best Comedy: The Death of Stalin. Armando Iannucci made an interesting choice with his cast using a mix of British and American accents in this story of the power struggle in the days that followed the titular death of Stalin. Farce and satire in equal parts, with a really dark undercurrent, the risk pays off, it is brilliant and hilarious.
Special Award: Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. This special award is for making interesting movie choices. A decade ago Stewart and Pattinson became two of the biggest stars in the world thanks to the Twilight movies. Choosing to work with directors including: James Gray, David Cronenberg, Olivier Assayas, Kelly Reichardt and Woody Allen. They have continued making interesting and extremely good movie: Stewart worked with Olivier Assayas for a second time with Personal Shopper, while Pattinson made Good Time with The Safdie Brothers. 
Fandango Award: William Oldroyd, Alice Birch, and Florence Pugh – Fandango was writer/director Kevin Reynolds debut (and best) feature, and the first notable movie for star Kevin Costner. It gives its name to this award for the best breakout film-makers of the year: William Oldroyd, Alice Birch, and Florence Pugh are director, writer and star of Lady Macbeth respectively. The captivating movie is the first feature for Oldroyd and Birch, and the first starring role for Pugh.
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