2019 Nominee Watch – April 26th

It's finally here, the end of the MCU's Infinity Saga that started 11 years ago with the first Iron Man film. Undoubtedly, Avengers: Endgame will be the one film that just about anyone going to the movies this weekend is planning on seeing. There are other films coming out this weekend that you may want to check out, especially if Endgame is sold out when you get to the theater.

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Avengers: Endgame
It all comes down to this. After 21 films released over the course of 11 years, the grand arc of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally reached the end...until the next one starts.

If you're a fan of comics and comic book movies, you know that no character is every truly dead and while there are various short story arcs telling the tales of individual characters, the grand story requires much more dedication in terms of reading or viewing time. By now you know that a number of key characters in the series were "killed" when Thanos snapped his fingers at the end of Avengers: Infinity War. So far, we haven't seen any of the actors playing those characters on talk shows, with the studio sending out the actors whose characters were still alive at the end of Infinity War.

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No doubt there will be an emotional ending to this film as it caps 10 years of films and over 45 hours of run time to watch the entire 21 films to date. With the premiere earlier this week in Hollywood, the fans turned out and Twitter was abuzz with people giving their initial thoughts about the film. Directors Anthony and Joe Russo penned an open letter to fans last week thanking fans for their commitment to the films and asking for help in not spoiling anything from the film so that all fans can enjoy it in their own time.

I am personally looking forward to the film after having seen every second of the series. It is groundbreaking in so many ways, and I am amazed at how well the vast array of filmmakers have been able to tell unique stories about so many different characters, even while they all contribute to a much grander story. Yes, some of the films have been better than others, but that's true of any vast saga (see Star Wars prequels, Batman and Robin, Star Trek: The Motion Picture...). The point is, these are films you can invest your time and emotions in. They make you laugh, they make you cry, and at least a little bit, they make you think. (What is Thanos was right after all?)

Finally, this site is about the Oscars, so I have to bring up my feelings on where Endgame will land with the Academy voters. I think it's a sure nominee for Best Visual Effects, just as Infinity War was last year. Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Film Editing are strong contenders as well, but what about the bigger awards? I refer back to Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, that got an array of nominations and wins, some of which I think were more an acknowledgement of the achievement for the entire trilogy than specific to that film. There is a possibility that the same holds true here, with a potential Best Picture nomination. With such an enormous ensemble cast, I find it hard to see any one actor getting a nomination for their acting, but rest assured, the crew will be back together at other awards ceremonies where ensemble cast is a category.
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Black Panther made history as the first superhero film to win an Oscar back in February and I think there is a strong possibility that Endgame wins at least one award when the time comes next winter.

Little Woods
I bet you didn't know Tessa Thompson will show up in two films releasing wide to theaters this weekend. Thompson plays Valkyrie in Avengers: Endgame, reprising the role from Thor: Ragnarok but she also starts here opposite Lily James.

The pair play sisters trying to stay on the straight and narrow, but forced into dealing drugs as a means to staying afloat in their lives. They look to depend on each other when it becomes clear that they cannot truly depend on anyone else around them.

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This film is expanding from a previous limited release and looks intense. There is some potential for Oscar nominations here, mostly in acting categories and possibly in cinematography.

Limited Releases

• Body at Brighton Rock – A young guide at a remote park finds a dead body while out on her own and must fight to stay alive herself.
• Demon Eye – Horror film about two friends searching for a fabled burning girl.
• I Trapped the Devil – A man who believes he has trapped the devil in his basement becomes increasingly paranoid when his family arrives for Christmas.
• If the Dancer Dances – Documentary about a choreographer staging a production of iconic dance originally created by Merce Cunningham
• JT LeRoy – Laura Dern and Kristen Stewart star in a film about a woman who bring her sister-in-law to portray the main character in a book she wrote.
• Marilyn – A young teen in Argentina struggles with his sexuality.
• Ploey – An animated import from Iceland about a young bird who can't fly who must survive on his own through a harsh winter.
• Queen of Diamonds – A young blackjack dealer ponders the fate of her missing husband in this restoration of the 1991 film.
• The White Crow – Ralph Fiennes directs and stars in this film about a group of Russian ballet dancers touring the West at the height of the Cold War.
• Stray Dolls – A young girl exhibits supernatural powers following the death of her mother. (April 27th)
• Kingdom Men Rising – Documentary looking at the concept of masculinity in our society and challenging men to rise above traditional stereotypes. (April 29th Special Engagement)