A few thoughts on this year’s Oscar nominations, out earlier this week. To hear more from Gary, and enjoy a few perfectly paired wines, join us on March 1, 2018 (just a few days before the March 4 show) for a “Wine and Film, Perfect Pairing 90th Oscar Preview” at Studio Movie Grill, Royal Lane, including a fantastic live auction of movie memorabelia and Oscar swag benefiting The Dallas Film Society. Ticket and details here.
We hope you will join us!

The recent list of Oscar nominees is both impressive and inclusive with, “The Space Of Water,” leading all contenders with 13 nominations. It’s a magical, fairy tale of a film and deserves all of the attention while performing below par at the box office. That should change soon during it’s re-release.

Yes, I was hoping for a Supporting Actor nod for Armie Hammer who was perfect in “Call Me By Your Name,” but seeing Daniel Kaluuya receive a Best Actor nomination for “Get Out,” eases the pain.

I was hoping for Tom Hanks to reach the top five for his performance as legendary newspaper editor Ben Bradlee in, “The Post,” but the two time Oscar winner was passed over for another two time winner, Denzel Washington, for playing “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” That’s a wash for me, considering they are two of the finest actors on the planet.

My excitement for the upcoming broadcast on Sunday night March 4th on is clearly for “Lady Bird,” it’s stellar cast, and writer-director Greta Gerwig. She is only the fifth female to ever receive a nomination for directing and that is a major accomplishment in such a male dominated business. She deserves every bit of this nomination knocking Stephen Spielberg off the list for or directing, “The Post.”

I’m thrilled for Allison Janney, the front runner for playing Tonya Harding’s disturbing mother in “I, Tonya” along with Lady Bird’s overly anxious mom, Laurie Metcalf. It’s one or the other on Oscar night with Janney likely taking the statue.

The Best Feature Documentary category left out “Jane,” a film about wildlife expert Jane Goodall that has won every award leading up to the nominations. What does make me happy is seeing both Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell nominated for their fine work in, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” This is Rockwell’s year.

And, does anyone have a chance this year going up against Gary Oldman as a cigar smoking, scotch drinking, Winston Churchill in, “Darkest Hour?” Even multiple Oscar winner Daniel Day Lewis will have to take a back seat to the fiery politician.

This year the Academy nominated nine films for Best Picture, leaving out “Wonder Woman,’ “Baby Driver,” “Hostiles,” “Beauty And The Beast,” “The Big Sick,” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”

It’s an impressive list of nominated films, all of them legitimate contenders and all of them well worth the price of a ticket.

But when the dust settles, look for Guillermo Del Toro and his beautiful, provocative, “The Shape Of Water,” to rise to the surface. A wonderful, thoughtful, work of art where great acting stands toe to toe with great story telling, cinematography, music, writing, and directing. It’s a complete, unexpected package.

I loved “Creature From The Black Lagoon” as a child and I loved “Amelie” as an adult. I never imagined a combination of the two would be embraced as both art and entertainment.

• Gary Cogill