2018 Nominee Watch – August 3rd

We have a sizable list of wide openings this weekend with a good deal of variety so there should be something for everyone.

We have Christopher Robin for the kids, The Darkest Minds for those looking for another apocalypse where kids must save the day, political documentary Death of a Nation which analogizes Trump and Lincoln, and Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon bring us the comedy The Spy Who Dumped Me.

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Christopher Robin
To say that I'm more excited for this "kids" film than any in a long time would be a bit of an understatement. Ever since hearing about Ewan McGregor taking on the role of a grown up Christopher Robin, I have been anxiously awaiting this film and thankfully I don't have to wait any longer.

For anyone who grew up on the original stories of Winnie the Pooh and his friends by A. A. Milne, or enjoyed the Disney shorts of the 1960s and 1970s, this looks to hit right in the sweet spot of nostalgia for the "good old days" and lessons for the modern world about the importance of family. I may have teared up a bit watching the trailer recently simply because these characters have been a part of my popular culture for as long as I can remember.

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This film follows in a line of several classic children's book franchises taking to the screen recently, from Paddington to Peter Rabbit. It also follows Disney's trend of creating live action/CGI versions of many (if not all) of their animated classics. I know there are live action versions of Aladdin and The Lion King coming soon (just to name a few) and we have seen Cinderella, Maleficent, The Jungle Book, and Beauty and the Beast in recent years. It's great to see Pooh and friends added to the roster this summer.

Now, am I expecting this film to make any hay at the Oscars next year? Probably not. Best Visual Effects may be the only landing place for it since The Jungle Book was similarly nominated a few years ago. One long shot for the Academy would be a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination, though I doubt something intended for kids and families would receive the award should it be nominated.

That said, it look like a fun film and I will definitely be taking my kids (hopefully this weekend).

The Darkest Minds
When you throw the "producers of Stranger Things" up during the trailer, you're definitely trying to piggy back on previous success, and this film is somewhat intriguing to me. It also feels like a piggy back on previous adaptations of post-apocalyptic teen novels like The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner with a dash of Marvel superheroes thrown in for good measure.

The most telling line from the trailer is "for your safety and theirs, please turn over your children." Not something that any parents wants to hear, yet by the looks of things, many have done just that in this film and it's up to the kids to figure out a way to fix things on their own, using their psycho-kinetic powers to protect themselves.

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I continue to wonder why these stories are so appealing to younger audiences, but then realize that kids often feel like they don't have much control over their lives. Parents often tell them what to do in every moment of every day, now allowing their kids to "just be kids." It is also illuminating that many of these films try to show the impact that our choices have, not just on ourselves, but on families, friends and the world at large.

The Darkest Minds looks like it could be a visual effects bonanza with flying trees and giant explosions, but I don't see any other nomination potential here. As with Christopher Robin, I suppose Best Adapted Screenplay is a slight possibility, but I think even less so.

Death of a Nation: Can We Save America a Second Time?
With a title that very obviously refers to the D. W. Griffith's classic silent film The Birth of a Nation, it's hard to figure out where to put this in the context of commentary films.

To say that things are divided in this country right now is an understatement. There is news every day about something that one side or the other has done that their opponents disagree with, fear, or outright hate. We are inundated with accusations of "fake news" and people from both parties refuting claims of events that did or did not take place. So where are we to turn to the remedy to these problems facing our nation today?

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Director Dinesh D'Souza posits in the closing of the trailer that it's up to us, the people of the United States to save it once again. I think he's right, regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum.

It's an interesting thought experiment to consider what social media would have looked like had it been around during the Civil War in America. I imagine it would look something like it does today with friends breaking long friendships over political disagreements and families arguing over the merits of the war.

I think D'Souza is right, it's up to us to change and try to see the possibility in those around us, rather than the differences. It's been 102 years since The Birth of a Nation, and yet we're still having some of the same issues in this country.

Of course this film may be up for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, but with so many other great documentaries out there already this year, I think it may get lost in the shuffle. But it sure would be interesting to have D'Souza giving a speech at the Oscars ceremony next spring.

The Spy Who Dumped Me
I love Mila Kunis, and I'm beginning to take a liking to Kate McKinnon as well. This film takes a very interesting premise and appears to treat it in a very serious way.

Oh, who am I kidding? This is entirely played up for laughs and the peril that the leading ladies appear to be in throughout is likely just that, appearance.

Ultimately this looks like it's trying to come off as a spy movie, buddy copy movie, and maybe even a bit of a romantic comedy, but I fear that trying to do all of these well is destined for poor results.

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I'm certain that this film will not receive any Academy Award nominations. Ultimately it's going to be a fun summer popcorn movie if you're looking for a diversion or to get in from the heat for a few hours.

Limited Releases

• ​40 Years in the Making: The Magic Music Movie – Documentary about a fan trying to bring the band Magic Music back together after 40 years apart.

• ​The Family – Venezuelan drama about a boy and his father forced to leave home and attempt to make a new life.
• ​The Forest of Lost Souls – Portuguese film about an infamous forest known as a popular place for committing suicide and two strangers who meet there.
• Like Father – Netflix original comedy starring Kristen Bell (Frozen, Bad Moms) as a woman left at the altar and Kelsey Grammar (Frasier, Anastasia) as her estranged father who joins her on the cruise meant to be her honeymoon. (Netflix)
• Milla – Horror film that looks like a "modern" remake of The Blair Witch Project.
• The Miseducation of Cameron Post – Chloë Grace Moretz (Carrie, The Equalizer) stars as a girl sent to a "treatment program" where she undergoes gay conversion therapies but bonds with other attendees.
• Never Goin’ Back – Two roommates want to go to the beach, but they have lots of other problems to deal with first.
• Night Comes On – A young teen just released from juvenile detention struggles to help her younger sister while looking for her father. Oscar potential in the vein of 2016's Moonlight.
• Euthanizer – A man who euthanizes animals for free, but has other secrets. (August 7th)​

• Fox Trap – Horror film about a group coming together for a reunion but end up being targeted by a killer bent on revenge. (August 8th)