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Oscars 2018: Handicapping the 9 nominees for best picture

By Cynthia Dickison

January 24, 2018 at 2:48PM
Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams in the film, "Get Out."
Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams in the film, “Get Out.” (Justin Lubin) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Call Me by Your Name
The story: A teenager falls for his father's graduate assistant in 1980s Italy.
In its favor: It's both halting and exhilarating in its exploration of fresh love. The dewy-eyed Timothée Chalamet is a revelation.
Then again: Languid to the point of narcolepsy, it will test the patience of non-art-house viewers.
Our review: ⋆⋆⋆½

Darkest Hour
The story: Winston Churchill faces his country's titular crisis in the early days of World War II.
In its favor: A towering performance by Gary Oldman; lush cinematography that puts you right in Piccadilly Circus.
Then again: This is really a one-man show. And come on, did the great leader really descend into the Tube?
Our review: ⋆⋆⋆½

Dunkirk
The story: Christopher Nolan's retelling of a daring and pivotal World War II rescue mission.
In its favor: A you-are-there realism, with Hans Zimmer's thrumming score ratcheting the tension to 11.
Then again: The minimal exposition and pliable timeline mean short attention spans need not apply.
Our review: ⋆⋆⋆½

Get Out
The story: A young man meets his girlfriend's wealthy, oddly welcoming family.
In its favor: Deft skewering of white liberalism, and the most crowd-pleasing moment of the year.
Then again: Call it a comedy, call it a horror film — the Academy doesn't much like either genre.
Our review: ⋆⋆⋆½

Lady Bird
The story: A year in the life of a disaffected Sacramento teenager (the luminous Saoirse Ronan).
In its favor: A tenderly realistic portrayal of the mother-daughter bond, and a fresh take on a universal subject.
Then again: Cue the eye roll — some quirks are just for quirkiness' sake. And does anything really happen?
Our review: ⋆⋆⋆⋆

Phantom Thread
The story: A couturier in postwar London takes on a headstrong muse who disrupts his fastidious world.
In its favor: It's as luxuriously elegant as a ballgown. Spoiler alert: Daniel Day-Lewis is riveting. But so is newcomer Vicky Krieps.
Then again: No one is particularly likable, and the film's vaguely Hitchcockian pretensions fall short.
Our review: ⋆⋆⋆

The Post
The story: A newspaper publisher risks everything in a battle against the government.
In its favor: A rousing counterargument in the era of "fake news," it's got Streep and Hanks and Spielberg.
Then again: You could call it "All the President's Men" lite. That's a mighty high bar to transcend.
Our review: ⋆⋆⋆

The Shape of Water
The story: A Cold War-era mashup of "Beauty and the Beast" and "Creature From the Black Lagoon."
In its favor: Gorgeously filmed; a standout cast with a mute Sally Hawkins at its poignant center.
Then again: Does it want to be a romance? A sci-fi flick? A buddy picture? A spy movie?
Our review: ⋆⋆⋆⋆

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
The story: A bitter, grieving mother takes in-your-face action.
In its favor: A blistering turn by Frances McDormand, tart dialogue and surprising zigzags. With Golden Globes and SAG wins, it's got the hot hand.
Then again: Our heroine's bad-assery is a shade over the top. Can you say Molotov cocktail?
Our review: ⋆⋆⋆⋆

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about the writer

about the writer

Cynthia Dickison

Designer-Features

Cynthia Dickison is a features designer. She is a St. Paul native and graduate of the University of Minnesota. She has worked at the Star Tribune since 1978, starting on the copy desk. Dickison has worked in every department — news, sports, features, even a short stint on the business cover.

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