The 2020 Next Level Blockbuster Award Nominees

Best Picture

Avengers: Endgame
Dolemite Is My Name
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Marriage Story
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Comedy Picture

Dolemite Is My Name
Fighting with My Family
Jojo Rabbit
Knives Out
Shazam!

Best Action Picture

Angel Has Fallen
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
John Wick: Chapter 3 -Parabellum
Rambo: Last Blood
Spider-Man: Far From Home

Best Horror Picture

Annabelle Comes Home
Doctor Sleep
It Chapter Two
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Us

Best Inspirational Picture

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Breakthrough
A Dog’s Journey
The Peanut Butter Falcon
The Upside

Best Drama Picture

Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Joker
1917
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Science Fiction Picture

Ad Astra
Avengers: Endgame
Captain Marvel
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
Terminator: Dark Fate

Best Live Action Family Picture

Aladdin
Dumbo
Jumanji: The Next Level
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Togo

Best Animated Family Picture

Abominable
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Klaus
The Lion King
Toy Story 4

Best Digital or Direct to Video Picture

Dolemite Is My Name
The Irishman
Marriage Story
Togo
The Two Popes

Best Sequel or Remake

Avengers: Endgame

John Wick: Chapter 3 -Parabellum

The Lion King

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Short Format Film
Battle at Big Rock
Hair Love
How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming
Kitbull
Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling

Best Actor

Daniel Craig
Knives Out

Matt Damon
Ford v Ferrari

Robert De Niro
The Irishman

Leonardo DiCaprio
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Robert Downey Jr.
Avengers: Endgame

Adam Driver
Marriage Story

Taron Egerton
Rocketman

Chris Evans
Avengers: Endgame

Eddie Murphy
Dolemite Is My Name

Joaquin Phoenix
Joker

Best Actress

Awkwafina
The Farewell

Ana de Armas
Knives Out

Cynthia Erivo
Harriet

Scarlett Johansson
Marriage Story

Brie Larson
Captain Marvel

Chrissy Metz
Breakthrough

Lupita Nyong’o
Us

Florence Pugh
Fighting with My Family

Daisy Ridley
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Renee Zellweger
Judy

Best Supporting Actress

Kathy Bates
The Highwaymen

Frances Conroy
Joker

Laura Dern
Marriage Story

Carrie Fisher
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Linda Hamilton
Terminator: Dark Fate

Lena Headey
Fighting with My Family

Scarlett Johansson
Jojo Rabbit

Dakota Johnson
The Peanut Butter Falcon

Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Dolemite Is My Name

Margot Robbie
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Supporting Actor

Christian Bale
Ford v Ferrari

Bryan Cranston
The Upside

Willem Dafoe
The Lighthouse

Tom Hanks
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Chris Hemsworth
Avengers: Endgame

Anthony Hopkins
The Two Popes

Al Pacino
The Irishman

Joe Pesci
The Irishman

Brad Pitt
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Wesley Snipes
Dolemite Is My Name

Best Voice Actor or Actress

Donald Glover
The Lion King

Tom Hanks
Toy Story 4

Hugh Jackman
Missing Link

Idina Menzel
Frozen II

Ryan Reynolds
Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Best Ensemble

Avengers: Endgame
The Irishman
It Chapter Two
Knives Out
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Director

J.J. Abrams
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Noah Baumbach
Marriage Story

James Mangold
Ford v Ferrari

Sam Mendes
1917

Jordan Peele
Us

Todd Phillips
Joker

Anthony and Joe Russo
Avengers: Endgame

Martin Scorsese
The Irishman

Quentin Tarantino
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Taika Waititi
Jojo Rabbit

Best Adapted Screenplay

Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
Avengers: Endgame

Steven Zaillian
The Irishman

Taika Waititi
Jojo Rabbit

Todd Phillips and Scott Silver
Joker

Stephany Folsom and Andrew Stanton
Toy Story 4

Best Original Screenplay

Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth
and Jason Keller
Ford v Ferrari

Rian Johnson
Knives Out

Noah Baumbach
Marriage Story

Quentin Tarantino
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Jordan Peele
Us

Best Original Music

Alan Silvestri

Avengers: Endgame

Hildur Guðnadótti

Joker

Randy Newman

Marriage Story

Daniel Pemberton

Motherless Brooklyn

John Williams

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Original Song

“Catchy Song” performed by T-Pain
and That Girl Lay Lay

from the motion picture “The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part”

“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” performed by Randy Newman

from the motion picture “Toy Story 4”

“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” performed by Elton John and Taron Egerton

from the motion picture “Rocketman”

“Into the Unknown” performed by Panic! At The Disco
from the motion picture “Frozen II”

“Speechless” performed by Naomi Scott
from the motion picture “Aladdin”

Best Casting

Fighting with My Family

It Chapter Two

Joker

1917

Shazam!

Best Production Design

Avengers: Endgame
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Knives Out
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Cinematography

Ford v Ferrari
Joker
Knives Out
The Lighthouse
1917

Best Costume Design

Avengers: Endgame
Joker
1917
Rocketman
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Best 3D Presentation

The Addams Family
Alita: Battle Angel
Avengers: Endgame
Shazam!
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Film Editing

Avengers: Endgame
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Ford v Ferrari
Joker
Knives Out

Best Sound Editing

Avengers: Endgame

Ford v Ferrari

1917

Rocketman
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Sound Mixing

Avengers: Endgame
Ford v Ferrari
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
1917
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Special Effects

Alita: Battle Angel
Avengers: Endgame
Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Makeup Effects

Hellboy
Joker
Judy
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Stunt Work

Angel Has Fallen
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
John Wick: Chapter 3 -Parabellum
Rambo: Last Blood
Terminator: Dark Fate

 Best Home Video Release

Alita: Battle Angel 4K/3D Blu-ray
Aquaman 3D Blu-ray
Avengers: Endgame 4K Blu-ray
Batman Beyond: The Complete Animated Series Deluxe Limited Edition Blu-ray Set
Godzilla: The Showa Era Films 1954-1975 The Criterion Collection Blu-ray Set
The House of Hitchcock Collection Blu-ray Set
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Gauntlet-Season 12 Blu-ray Set
Scarface Limited Gold Edition 4K Blu-ray
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!: The Complete Series Blu-ray Set
Ultraman: The Complete Series Blu-ray Set

Next Level Blockbuster Icon Award

Lucille Ball
Carrie Fisher
Cary Grant
Alfred Hitchcock
Howard Hughes
John Hughes
Stanley Kubrick
Stan Lee
Leonard Nimoy
Robin Williams

Next Level Blockbuster Legacy Award
Back to the Future
Batman
Platoon
Rocky
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shining
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
The Wizard of Oz

“Breakthrough” Movie Review

    I live in the state of Michigan, a state hit by the outbreak of the Coronavirus and under heavy restrictions not unlike most states and counties currently.  In an instant, life changed for many of us with some of us without a job for the foreseeable future and others working extra hard to keep people safe.  From our health care workers to our grocery store workers, everyone is either working extra hard or are without a job suffering from uncertainty.  We need escapism more than ever but sadly the shut down of almost all theaters is yet another casualty of the spreading Coronavirus.  On the bright side, we happen to live in a time of affordable digital and physical media options.  I suggest seeking films and shows with more positive messages and themes personally so I decided to watch “Breakthrough”.

    The film tells the true story of a young boy named John whose life forever changed when he fell through a sheet of ice and almost died while playing on a frozen lake.  Throughout everything and against all hope, his mother Joyce believed her son would recover.  Joyce’s faith in God never wavers and when John finally recovers, it’s a sign to anyone who believes in a higher power that miracles really do happen.

    So what are my first impressions of this film?  Well, while I believe in God, I am not the most religious person out there and I tend to not be the biggest fan of faith based films.  It’s not so much that I am against their messages or their religious tones, but most are sort of over the top and it pulls me out of the film.  While there are a few over the top moments in this film, the film finds a decent balance with it’s message and it’s depiction of the actual events.  This balance makes the religious based aspects of the movie feel more relatable and moving, to me personally at least.

    The film was directed by Roxann Dawson of “Star Trek: Voyager” fame and she does a great job with her transition from directing television to directing a feature film.  No doubt due to her time on “Star Trek: Voyager”, Dawson brings to the table the ability to focus on her ensemble without losing direction of the central story.

    The ensemble cast all delivered an earnest and honest performance which helped with the believability of the film overall.  The cast was led by Chrissy Metz of “This is Us” fame and Metz gives a strong performance as Joyce (in addition to singing “I’m Standing With You” during the end credits).  Topher Grace is also very good in his role as Pastor Jason Noble.

    In this time of uncertainty and fear, we all just need to sit back and have some faith in one another and refrain from panicking.  Our way of living has changed, perhaps forever, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be for the worst.  “Breakthrough” may not be perfect and it may be a bit cliche, but it also might just be what some people need to watch now.  Miracles are possible, you just have to keep the faith.

Grade: B-

“Impractical Jokers: The Movie” Movie Review

    Reality television has come a long way over the years so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a show like “Impractical Jokers” has managed to thrive based on the challenges four friends put each other through.  The show is humorous if you like crude comedy and there is certainly a market for that.  When I found out that there was going to be a movie based on the show, I knew I was going to have to check it out.  Since there hasn’t been a huge slew of movies hitting theaters, my girlfriend and I decided to check this film out in the theaters.

    The film breaks a bit from the format of the show by having a story thread that goes on through the film.  Years ago while the gang was still in high school, the boys snuck into a Paula Abdul concert disguised as security guards.  Sal, Q, and Joe dare Murr to get Paula’s phone number and when he proves successful, the group vows to complete every dare or challenge given to them by the other friends or face a punishment (the principal behind the tv show).  Years later, the group reconnect with Paula and she invites them to a party she is having.  The catch is, she only gives them three passes.  The four friends decide that challenges would be the fairest way to decide who gets left behind.

    The movie is inspired by the truTV hit show and it left me laughing out loud more than a few times.  The four friends, Sal Vulcano, Joseph Gatto, James Murray and Brian Quinn all have amazing chemistry together and it was fun getting to see them act a little.  Fans of the show will be pleased to hear there are even call backs to previous episodes with my favorite being a challenge involving Jaden Smith.  Other critics haven’t been so kind with this film, but it left me laughing quite a few times so I feel like it succeeded in it’s goal as a comedy.

    With all that being said, I feel like fans of the show might be put off a bit by it’s more traditional approach to storytelling.  I think it’s fair to compare “Impractical Jokers” to “Jackass” a bit and I think that the films “Jackass” ended up spawning did a better job pleasing their fans.  I understand the group may have felt like just stringing some challenges together might have felt like they were ripping off their fans, but all they would have needed to do is create challenges that were on a bigger scale.

    I would recommend this film overall but I would say that diehard fans of the show might be a little underwhelmed by the end product.  It’s a funny movie, I just would have personally loved to see more challenges and crazier ones at that.

Grade: B-