By Tom O'Brien
With "Parasite," this year's Cannes winner of the Palme d'Or, now opening in American theaters, a significant number of U.S. moviegoers will be introduced for the first time to the great South Korean director Bong Joon Ho. Next Best Picture readers are, of course, familiar with Bong, but how many of his films have they actually seen? And what would be the best way to get up to speed? Luckily, I'm here to offer you Bong-101.
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By Josh Williams
When you watch a film, what is it exactly you are hoping to discover while watching? A new actor or actress? A new piece of the director, writer, cinematographer or editor's work? A mentally and psychologically challenging piece of art? Or perhaps you just would like to escape reality for a few hours and be entertained. Obviously, there's no wrong answer to this rhetorical question I've just asked but it certainly makes you wonder. Regardless of what your answer might be, we all become occupied with this when watching a movie. We allow a filmmaker to take complete and total control of our psyche through whatever it is they are showing us and they make us hear what it is they want to say. Filmmakers want to manipulate us. Some want to point out the truth or expose a lie. Some simply want to ask a question and ask us to come up with an answer or maybe even more questions. However, there are some filmmakers who don't want to give us any answers. They present so many different images on the surface that they give off the feeling that there is something much deeper going on, only for us to never fully decipher the puzzle they have put forth. Certain filmmakers want to entice us, subject us to their deepest and darkest thoughts that not only raise questions but make us contemplate everything we have ever known. These filmmakers force us to delve into the scariest corners of our minds and explore reasoning we never even thought of prior to watching any film before. And no filmmaker challenges their audience more than David Lynch. 
By Daniel Howat
A few weeks ago, a debate started among the writers of Next Best Picture: Who is the best actress of the decade? As we near the end of the 2010s, there are dozens of valid choices. We could we choose Nicole Kidman, who has had an amazing resurgence both in film and TV. Or Amy Adams, no doubt of the best actresses working today, and one of the most overdue for an Oscar. Or Viola Davis, winning an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony in this decade. All incredible women to be sure, but after much deliberation and with the release of "Dark Phoenix" coming up, I’m here to submit my choice for the Actress of the Decade: Jennifer Lawrence. 
By Dan Bayer
On Monday, September 13, the world lost one of the last remaining legends of Hollywood’s Golden Age: Doris Day. The former Doris Mary Kappelhoff was America’s reigning sweetheart throughout the twenty years she spent in the movies, her apple-cheeked beauty and appealing screen presence making her one of the top box office earners of all time. She was a multiple Golden Globe nominee and was honored by the HFPA with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1989, but received only one Oscar nomination, for 1959’s romantic comedy “Pillow Talk”. 
By Danilo Castro
Keanu Reeves is a Hollywood anomaly. He doesn’t have much range as an actor. He never really transforms to play a character, and as anyone who’s seen “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” can tell you, he’s not exactly a pro when it comes to accents. He has cons that would derail most of his peers, and yet, they only serve to strengthen his universal appeal. That’s because Reeves is one of the cinema’s true underdogs. Over the course of his career, few actors have proven more adept at playing ordinary men who rise to face extraordinary circumstances. 
By Josh Parham
When “Twilight” burst onto screens in the fall of 2008, I admit to not being part of that fervent fandom. Mind you, I had no ill will toward those that sought enjoyment out of the film, but an eighteen-year-old film snob just wasn’t interested. As the films increased and the popularity grew, I stayed mostly on the sidelines of the franchise and resigned myself to simply not engage. Years later, when I finally watched the films, I was not terribly impressed but did feel they improved upon each new entry. Even still, the acting was never something I considered praiseworthy, particularly from the central leads. 
By Nicole Ackman
With "The Aftermath" coming out this month, it’s a good time to look back over Keira Knightley’s best performances. Her latest film falls into a pattern of her movies that could almost be its own genre: period dramas in which Keira Knightley’s character has an affair. There certainly was a wide variety of choices for this list because even though Knightley is frequently in period films, her roles show substantial range from the hysteria-riddled Sabina in "A Dangerous Method" to the fiery Elizabeth Swan in "The Pirates of the Caribbean" films. These are my personal five picks for Keira Knightley’s best performances in a period drama. 
By Danilo Castro
Ryan Gosling is one of Hollywood’s quietest superstars. His films have garnered box office success, cultural staying power, and a pair of Oscar nominations to boot. As a collection of stories, however, his films represent something altogether unique. They document a career-long character arc, a maturation of Gosling’s screen persona from heartthrob and rebel to thoughtful adult; from lovesick kid hanging atop a ferris wheel to a family man walking atop the moon. It’s rare that an actor undergoes such a lengthy metamorphosis, and rarer still that they maintain their favor with audiences along the way, but such has been the case with the Ontario native. 
By Jessica Peña
She’s an Academy Award-winning actress, a global humanitarian worker, and one of the most role encompassing performers working today. Charlize Theron has made an exquisite career for herself and it doesn’t look like she’s putting a stop to it anytime soon. With an Oscar win under her belt for the daringly brilliant “Monster" (2003), it becomes quite clear that Theron takes her roles very seriously and sometimes they turn out to be engagingly exuberant. She’s a badass woman who rarely stumbles, and we can always expect to see great work from her, whether it be harrowing portrayals of a hope once robbed or the more lighthearted offerings and action-packed escapism. We can find yet another one of her best performances in Jason Reitman’s latest, “Tully,” which releases in theaters this weekend. While it takes a hard look at motherhood in a naturally candid light, it more than excels Theron’s acting as one of high caliber realness and pedigree. In 2007, she founded the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) in an effort to help the youth of Africa going through HIV/AIDS. She is an exemplary citizen in ventures as diverse as her acting career and this weekend, we celebrate her as she delivers another performance for the books. 
By Jessica Peña
As “Annihilation” pushes its way across half its production budget at the US box office and expands to Netflix internationally, there’s still time left to marvel at how a piece of science fiction film can deliver and ask a greater question about ourselves: What is it about “Annihilation” that keeps us talking? Why has it become this engrossing topic of discussion among moviegoers? Alex Garland’s second feature film is an intrepid voyage of the unknown, ultimately challenging the audience to not look away from its cerebral mastery. One could say the film is straight up psychological acid. It has a tantalizing effect that begs to ask us about ourselves. Films like this are one in a million and it makes an even bigger impact when it is resourceful of metaphysical ambiguity. 
By Josh Williams
Guillermo del Toro is one of the few filmmakers with the ability to bring the world of fantasy to life. With his brilliantly accurate creature design and painstaking attention to detail in his sets, the fantasy world that del Toro has written on paper magically comes to life before our eyes. Whether it be with his large budget films like "Hellboy" or "Pacific Rim", del Toro perfectly balances style and substance. Never choosing to compromise one for the other, he is constantly focused on telling an intriguing and moving story while also setting out to dazzle us with his spectacle. And with the release of his latest film "The Shape of Water," we here at Next Best Picture have decided to take a trip into the filmography of Guillermo del Toro. So without further ado here is our ranking of Guillermo del Toro's films! You can read Matt's review of "The Shape of Water" here! 
By Josh Williams & Matt Neglia
Jake Gyllenhaal is one of the most prolific actors working. He has stunned us with countless unforgettable characters time and time again. Ever since his career began in the early 90's, Gyllenhaal has been on a course with greatness. Utilizing the control he has over his vocal tones, the messages he can deliver with his face and his brute sometimes fragile physicality, he has easily become one of the greatest actors to ever step in front of a camera. 
By Josh Williams
Andy Serkis has been a beloved actor for quite some time yet he has never received the attention he deserves. Serkis is a hard working, well-rounded actor that has been in the spotlight a few times but has never truly received the praise he is due. As he continues to shock the world with his motion capture performances we here at Next Best Picture decided to take a glimpse into Serkis’ approach via our most recent podcast and now here, as he mixes classic character acting with the new technology, which contrary to popular belief does not hinder the performance in any way. 
By Josh Williams
Sofia Coppola is a director who has remained seemingly hidden throughout her career, yet her work has always held its head a little higher than the rest. With only six feature films under her belt, Coppola has definitely established an incredibly significant style that is purely her own. Simply making films that she wants to make and channeling something completely different than any other director working, Coppola has always managed to shine a little brighter than the rest. Since her most recent film, "The Beguiled," releases this week, we decided to take a brief stroll through the career of Sofia Coppola. 
By Josh Williams
Judd Apatow is a name that carries quite a bit of weight in the world of cinema. Whether you love him or you hate him, when you hear his name, a reaction is almost instantly sparked. He has remained on top of the romantic comedy genre ever since "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" in 2005. Though it seems clear that Apatow has mastered the romantic comedy, he hasn’t necessarily received a good amount of awards attention. Some of his films get some screenplay attention here and there but that is about as far as it goes. Apatow has never really garnered any large scale awards attention but with "The Big Sick" releasing very soon, that could all change.  Ever since Scarlett Johansson first appeared on screen, moviegoers and cinephiles alike fell deeply in love with her. Not only for her strikingly good looks but also her overwhelming talented acting abilities. Johansson has proved since the beginning of her career that she is a force to be reckoned with. She started out in independent films and has continued working on the occasional indie film, but now she’s been eyed for some bigger blockbusters including the Marvel films and the most recent "Ghost in the Shell" film. Becoming one of the most popular actresses working in film today, it is no doubt that Scarlett Johansson will go down as one of the best actresses to hit the screen.
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BEST PICTURE Parasite (27) - AACTA, AFCA, AFCC, AWFJ, BOFCA, CFCA, CIC, COFCA, DFCS, GALECA, GFCA, HFCS, LAFCA, LEJA, NCFCA, NSFC, NYFCO, OAFFC, OFCS, PCC, SAG, SEFCA, SFCS, TFCA, UFCA, VFCC, WAFCA Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (10) - CCA, GG, HFCS, IFCA, IPA, LVFCS, NDFS, OFCC, SFBAFCC, StLFCA 1917 (7) - DFCS, DFWFCA, GG, HCA, KCFCC, MCFCA, PGA The Irishman (5) - AARP, NBR, NTFCA, NYFCC, SDFCS Marriage Story (5) - DFCC, GWNYFCA, IFJA, IFP, NFCS Knives Out (2) - CIC, PFCC Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (2) - FFCC, WFCC Dolemite Is My Name - BFCC Ford v Ferrari - IPA For Sama - BIFA Harriet - WFCC Joker - PFCS Little Women - BSFC Us - AAFCA BEST DIRECTOR Bong Joon-ho (27) - AFCA, AFCC, AWFJ, BOFCA, BSFC, CCA, CFCA, CIC, COFCA, GALECA, GFCA, GWNYFCA, HFCS, IFJA, LAFCA, LEJA, NCFCA, NDFS, NYFCO, OAFFC, OFCS, PCC, SFBAFCC, SFCS, TFCA, VFCC, WAFCA Sam Mendes (10) - CCA, DFCS, DFWFCA, DGA, GG, KCFCC, MCFCA, NTFCA, PFCS, UFCA Martin Scorsese (7) - AARP, BFCC, DFCC, DFCS, OFCC, PFCC, SEFCA Quentin Tarantino (6) - AACTA, HFCS, IFCA, LVFCS, NBR, StLFCA Noah Baumbach (2) - HCA, NFCS Greta Gerwig (2) - CIC, NSFC Josh & Benny Safdie (2) - NYFCC, SDFCS Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre - IFP Kassi Lemmons - BFCC James Mangold - IPA Jordan Peele - AAFCA Celine Sciamma - FFCC Olivia Wilde - HCA Waad al-Kateab & Edward Watts - BIFA BEST ACTOR Adam Driver (30) - AACTA, AFCC, AWFJ, CFCA, CIC, COFCA, DFCC, DFCS, DFWFCA, FFCC, GFCA, GWNYFCA, HFCS, IFJA, IFP, KCFCC, NCFCA, NFCS, OAFFC, OFCS, PCC, PFCC, SDFCS, SEFCA, SFCS, TFCA, UFCA, VFCC, WAFCA, WFCC Joaquin Phoenix (14) - CCA, DFCS, GG, HCA, HFCS, IFCA, LEJA, MCFCA, NDFS, NTFCA, NYFCO, PFCS, SAG, SDFCS Adam Sandler (8) - AARP, AFCA, BOFCA, BSFC, LVFCS, NBR, OFCC, StLFCA Antonio Banderas (6) - EFA, GALECA, LAFCA, NSFC, NYFCC, SFBAFCC Taron Egerton (2) - GG, IPA Eddie Murphy (2) - AAFCA, BFCC Christian Bale - IPA Josh O'Connor - BIFA BEST ACTRESS Lupita Nyong'o (27) - AFCA, AAFCA, AWFJ, BFCC, BOFCA, CFCA, CIC, COFCA, FFCC, GFCA, HCA, IFJA, KCFCC, LAFCA, MCFCA, NCFCA, NYFCC, NYFCO, OFCC, OFCS, PCC, SDFCS, SFBAFCC, SFCS, TFCA, WAFCA, WFCC Renée Zellweger (13) - AARP, AFCC, BIFA, CCA, GALECA, GG, HFCS, IFCA, LVFCS, NBR, PFCS, SAG, SEFCA Scarlett Johansson (12) - DFCC, DFCS, DFCS, DFWFCA, FFCC, GWNYFCA, IPA, NFCS, OAFCC, StLFCA, UFCA, VFCC Awkwafina (5) - GG, HFCS, IFP, IPA, LEJA Mary Kay Place (2) - LAFCA, NSFC Saoirse Ronan (2) - AACTA, BSFC Charlize Theron (2) - NFCS, NTFCA Cynthia Erivo - WFCC Florence Pugh - NDFS BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Brad Pitt (33) - AACTA, AFCA, AFCC, AWFJ, BFCC, BOFCA, BSFC, CCA, CFCA, DFCS, DFWFCA, GG, HFCS, HFCS, IFCA, LEJA, MCFCA, NBR, NCFCA, NSFC, OFCC, OFCS, PFCC, PFCS, SAG, SDFCS, SEFCA, SFBAFCC, StLFCA, TFCA, VFCC, WAFCA Joe Pesci (12) - DFCS, FFCC, GFCA, GWNYFCA, HCA, KCFCC, NFCS, NYFCC, NYFCO, PFCC, SDFCS, UFCA Willem Dafoe (6) - COFCA, IFJA, IPA, LVFCS, NDFS, SFCS Song Kang-ho (4) - CIC, GALECA, LAFCA, PCC Tom Hanks (2) - AARP, NTFCA Jamie Foxx - AAFCA Shia LaBeouf - OAFCC Hugh Laurie - BIFA BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Laura Dern (20) - AARP, AFCC, BSFC, CCA, DFCS, DFCS, DFWFCA, FFCC, GG, HFCS, IFCA, NDFS, NSFC, NYFCC, NYFCO, PFCS, SAG, SEFCA, TFCA, VFCC Jennifer Lopez (14) - AFCA, GALECA, HCA, IFJA, IPA, LAFCA, LEJA, NFCS, OAFFC, OFCC, OFCS, SFBAFCC, SFCS, WAFCA Florence Pugh (11) - AWFJ, BOFCA, CFCA, COFCA, DFCS, GFCA, GWNYFCA, LAFCA, MCFCA, NCFCA, UFCA Zhao Shuzhen (4) - CIC, HFCS, NTFCA, SDFCS Da'Vine Joy Randolph (3) - AAFCA, BFCC, KCFCC Margot Robbie (3) - AACTA, LVFCS, StLFCA Kathy Bates - NBR Ruthxjiah Bellenea - BIFA Thomasin McKenzie - PCC BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Little Women (16) - AFCA, AWFJ, BOFCA, CCA, CIC, COFCA, DFCS, FFCC, IFJA, KCFCC, LEJA, NCFCA, UFCA, USC, WAFCA, WFCC The Irishman (10) - BFCC, GFCA, GWNYFCA, HFCS, NBR, OFCC, OFCS, SEFCA, StLFCA, TFCA Jojo Rabbit (6) - AACTA, HCA, NFCS, OAFFC, PFCS, SFBAFCC Joker - IPA Luce - SDFCS The Personal History Of David Copperfield - BIFA The Two Popes - LVFCS BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Parasite (19) - AFCA, AAFCA, AFCC, AWFJ, CFCA, COFCA, GALECA, GFCA, HCA, LEJA, MCFCA, NCFCA, NSFC, NYFCO, OFCS, SEFCA, SFBAFCC, SFCS, UFCA Marriage Story (14) - AARP, DFCC, DFCS, DFWFCA, GWNYFCA, IFJA, IFP, IPA, LAFCA, OAFFC, SDFCS, StLFCA, VFCC, WAFCA Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (10) - BOFCA, BSFC, CCA, GG, HFCS, LVFCS, NDFS, NFCS, NYFCC, StLFCA Knives Out (8) - CIC, DFCS, HFCS, KCFCC, OFCC, PCC, PFCC, PFCS Uncut Gems (2) - FFCC, NBR Portrait Of A Lady On Fire - EFA Queen & Slim - BFCC BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 1917 (34) - AFCA, AFCC, ASC, AWFJ, BFCC, CCA, CFCA, CIC, COFCA, DFWFCA, FFCC, GFCA, HCA, HFCS, HFCS, IPA, KCFCC, LEJA, LVFCS, MCFCA, NCFCA, NFCS, NTFCA, NYFCO, OAFFC, OFCS, PCC, PFCS, SEFCA, SFBAFCC, SFCS, StLFCA, UFCA, WAFCA Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (5) - BSFC, GWNYFCA, LAFCA, NSFC, NYFCC The Lighthouse (3) - NDFS, PFCC, SDFCS Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2) - BOFCA, OFCC Ad Astra - DFCC Beats - BIFA BEST COSTUME DESIGN Dolemite Is My Name (7) - CCA, CIC, IPA, LEJA, LVFCS, SDFCS, SFCS Rocketman (3) - HCA, HFCS, PFCS Little Women - CFCA The Personal History Of David Copperfield - BIFA BEST FILM EDITING 1917 (5) - CCA, CIC, HCA, MCFCA, PFCS Ford v Ferrari (5) - IPA, LVFCS, SDFCS, SFBAFCC, WAFCA The Irishman (4) - AWFJ, BOFCA, BSFC, CFCA Apollo 11 (3) - ACE, LAFCA, UFCA Parasite (3) - ACE, LEJA, OFCS Uncut Gems (3) - AFCA, GWNYFCA, SFCS Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2) - HFCS, StLFCA For Sama - BIFA Jojo Rabbit - ACE Knives Out - COFCA The Lighthouse - NDFS Toy Story 4 - ACE BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING Bombshell (5) - CCA, CIC, HCA, LEJA, MUAHS Joker (2) - HFCS, MUAHS Downton Abbey - MUAHS The Personal History Of David Copperfield - BIFA BEST ORIGINAL SCORE Joker (10) - CCA, DFCS, GFCA, GG, HCA, HFCS, IPA, LVFCS, NDFS, PCC 1917 (9) - AFCA, AFCC, DFWFCA, HFCS, IFCA, LEJA, MCFCA, PFCS, StLFCA Us (5) - CIC, COFCA, IFJA, OFCS, WAFCA Uncut Gems (4) - BOFCA, FFCC, OFCC, SFCS Little Women (2) - BSFC, CFCA Apollo 11 - UFCA I Lost My Body - LAFCA The Last Black Man In San Francisco - SFBAFCC Marriage Story - GWNYFCA BEST ORIGINAL SONG Wild Rose (7) - BIFA, CCA, DFCS, GFCA, HCA, HFCS, NDFS Rocketman (6) - CCA, GG, HFCS, IPA, LEJA, MCFCA Always Be My Maybe - CIC Frozen II - PFCS Harriet - LVFCS Toy Story 4 - IFCA BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (12) - CCA, CFCA, FFCC, LAFCA, LVFCS, MCFCA, NDFS, NFCS, SFBAFCC, SFCS, StLFCA, WAFCA 1917 (4) - GFCA, LEJA, PFCS, SDFCS Knives Out - CIC Motherless Brooklyn - IPA Parasite - HFCS The Personal History Of David Copperfield - BIFA BEST SOUND EDITING 1917 (3) - LEJA, MCFCA, MPSE Ford v Ferrari (3) - HFCS, IPA, MPSE BEST SOUND MIXING Ford v Ferrari (3) - CAS, HFCS, IPA 1917 (2) - LEJA, MCFCA Beats - BIFA Toy Story 4 - CAS BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Avengers: Endgame (8) - CCA, HCA, LEJA, LVFCS, NCFCA, NFCS, PFCS, StLFCA 1917 (3) - CIC, DFCS, HFCS Ad Astra (3) - CFCA, SDFCS, SFCS Alita: Battle Angel (3) - FFCC, HFCS, IPA BEST ANIMATED FEATURE Toy Story 4 (30) - AFCC, BOFCA, CCA, CFCA, COFCA, DFCS, DFCS, DFWFCA, GFCA, GWNYFCA, HCA, HFCS, HFCS, IFCA, KCFCC, LEJA, MCFCA, NCFCA, NFCS, NTFCA, OAFFC, OFCC, OFCS, PCC, PFCC, PFCS, SEFCA, SFCS, StLFCA, WAFCA I Lost My Body (13) - AFCA, AWFJ, BFCC, BSFC, CIC, FFCC, LAFCA, NDFS, NYFCC, NYFCO, SDFCS, SFBAFCC, UFCA Missing Link (3) - GG, LVFCS, TFCA How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2) - IFJA, NBR Abominable - AAFCA Klaus - ANNIE The Lion King - IPA BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM Parasite (45) - AFCA, AAFCA, AFCC, AWFJ, BFCC, BIFA, BOFCA, BSFC, CCA, CFCA, CIC, COFCA, DFCS, DFWFCA, GALECA, GFCA, GG, GWNYFCA, HCA, HFCS, HFCS, IFJA, KCFCC, LEJA, LVFCS, MCFCA, NBR, NCFCA, NDFS, NTFCA, NYFCC, OFCC, OFCS, PCC, PFCC, PFCS, SDFCS, SEFCA, SFBAFCC, SFCS, StLFCA, TFCA, UFCA, VFCC, WAFCA Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (3) - FFCC, NYFCO, WFCC Pain and Glory (2) - AARP, LAFCA Truth and Justice - IPA BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Apollo 11 (35) - AFCA, AFCC, AWFJ, BOFCA, CCA, CFCA, CIC, COFCA, DFCC, DFCS, DFWFCA, FFCC, GFCA, GWNYFCA, HCA, HFCS, HFCS, IFCA, KCFCC, LVFCS, MCFCA, NCFCA, NFCS, NTFCA, NYFCO, OAFFC, OFCS, PCC, PFCC, SEFCA, SFBAFCC, SFCS, StLFCA, UFCA, WAFCA Honeyland (7) - BSFC, DFCS, GALECA, NDFS, NSFC, NYFCC, VFCC American Factory (4) - IFP, LAFCA, OFCC, TFCA For Sama (4) - BIFA, EFA, IDA, IFJA One Child Nation (2) - PFCS, SDFCS 63 Up - IPA Amazing Grace - KCFCC The Black Godfather - AAFCA Knock Down The House - LEJA Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice - AARP Maiden - NBR Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am - BFCC AuthorsNicole Ackman Archives
January 2020
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