The 2019 Next Level Blockbuster Award Winners

Best Picture

Avengers: Infinity War (Winner)

Aquaman

Black Panther

Bohemian Rhapsody

Creed II

Green Book

Isle of Dogs

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

A Star Is Born

Best Comedy Picture

Crazy Rich Asians (Winner)

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Blockers

Deadpool 2

A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Best Action Picture

Mission: Impossible- Fallout (Winner)

Aquaman

Black Panther

Bumblebee

Venom

Best Horror Picture

Halloween (Winner)

The First Purge

The Nun

A Quiet Place

The Strangers: Prey At Night

Best Inspirational Picture

I Can Only Imagine (Winner)

God Bless the Broken Road

March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step

Pick of the Litter

Unbroken: Path to Redemption

Best Drama Picture

Bohemian Rhapsody (Winner)

Creed II

First Man

Green Book

A Star Is Born

Best Science Fiction Picture

Avengers: Infinity War (Winner)

The Cloverfield Paradox

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Ready Player One

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Live Action Family Picture

Paddington 2 (Winner)

Benji

Christopher Robin

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

The House with a Clock in Its Walls

Best Animated Family Picture

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Winner)

The Grinch

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

Incredibles 2

Teen Titans Go! To the Movies

Best Digital or Direct to Video Picture

Bird Box (Winner)

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

The Cloverfield Paradox

A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Roma

Best Actor

Rami Malek/Bohemian Rhapsody (Winner)

Christian Bale/Vice

Chadwick Boseman/Black Panther

Bradley Cooper/A Star Is Born

Robert Downey Jr./Avengers: Infinity War

Ryan Gosling/First Man

Michael B. Jordan/Creed II

Viggo Mortensen/Green Book

Ryan Reynolds/Deadpool 2

John David Washington/BlacKkKlansman

Best Actress

Lady Gaga/A Star Is Born (Winner)

Yalitza Aparicio/Roma

Emily Blunt/A Quiet Place

Sandra Bullock/Bird Box

Jamie Lee Curtis/Halloween

Jennifer Lawrence/Red Sparrow

Evangeline Lilly/Ant-Man and the Wasp

Danielle Macdonald/Dumplin‘

Tessa Thompson/Creed II

Constance Wu/Crazy Rich Asians

Best Supporting Actress

Michelle Yeoh/Crazy Rich Asians (Winner)

Jennifer Aniston/Dumplin‘

Awkwafina/Crazy Rich Asians

Marina de Tavira/Roma

Cynthia Erivo/Bad Times at the El Royale

Claire Foy/First Man

Danai Gurira/Black Panther

Zoe Kazan/The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Regina King/If Beale Street Could Talk

Lupita Nyong’o/Black Panther

Best Supporting Actor

Mahershala Ali/Green Book (Winner)

Josh Brolin/Avengers: Infinity War

Adam Driver/BlacKkKlansman

Donald Glover/Solo: A Star Wars Story

Woody Harrelson/Solo: A Star Wars Story

Tom Holland/Avengers: Infinity War

Michael B. Jordan/Black Panther

Tim Blake Nelson/The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Sylvester Stallone/Creed II

Patrick Wilson/Aquaman

Best Ensemble

Avengers: Infinity War (Winner)

Aquaman

Black Panther

Crazy Rich Asians

Mission: Impossible- Fallout

Best Director

Bradley Cooper/A Star Is Born (Winner)

Wes Anderson/Isle of Dogs

Steven Caple Jr./Creed II

Damien Chazelle/First Man

Ryan Coogler/Black Panther

Peter Farrelly/Green Book

Ron Howard/Solo: A Star Wars Story

Anthony and Joe Russo/Avengers: Infinity War

Bryan Singer/Bohemian Rhapsody

James Wan/Aquaman

Best Adapted Screenplay

Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely/Avengers: Infinity War (Winner)

Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole/Black Panther

Jonathan Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan/Solo: A Star Wars Story

Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman/Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, and Will Fetters/A Star Is Born

Best Original Screenplay

Anthony McCarten/Bohemian Rhapsody (Winner)

Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, and Peter Farrelly/Green Book

Wes Anderson/Isle of Dogs

Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, and John Krasinski/A Quiet Place

Aneesh Chaganty and Sev Ohanian/Searching

Best Original Music

Ludwig Göransson/Black Panther (Winner)

Alan Silvestri/Avengers: Infinity War

Justin Hurwitz/First Man

Alexandre Desplat/Isle of Dogs

John Powell/Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Original Song

“Shallow” performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

from the motion picture “A Star Is Born” (Winner)

“All the Stars” performed by Kendrick Lamar and SZA

from the motion picture “Black Panther”

“Pray for Me” performed by The Weekend and Kendrick Lamar

from the motion picture “Black Panther”

“Sunflower” performed by Post Malone and Swae Lee

from the motion picture “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

“Venom” performed by Eminem

from the motion picture “Venom”

Best Production Design

Black Panther (Winner)

Aquaman

First Man

Mute

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Cinematography

First Man (Winner)

Avengers: Infinity War

Black Panther

Roma

A Star Is Born

Best Costume Design

Solo: A Star Wars Story (Winner)

Aquaman

Avengers: Infinity War

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Bohemian Rhapsody

Best 3D Presentation

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (Winner)

Aquaman

Avengers: Infinity War

Skyscraper

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Film Editing

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (Winner)

Avengers: Infinity War

Bad Times at the El Royale

Black Panther

Bohemian Rhapsody

Best Sound Editing

Bohemian Rhapsody (Winner)

Avengers: Infinity War

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

Solo: A Star Wars Story

A Star Is Born

Best Sound Mixing

Bohemian Rhapsody (Winner)

Avengers: Infinity War

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

Solo: A Star Wars Story

A Star Is Born

Best Special Effects

Aquaman (Winner)

Avengers: Infinity War

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Ready Player One

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Makeup Effects

Vice (Winner)

Avengers: Infinity War

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Deadpool 2

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Stunt Work

Mission: Impossible- Fallout (Winner)

Black Panther

Deadpool 2

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Skyscraper

Best Home Video Release

Batman: The Complete Animated Series Deluxe Limited Edition Blu-ray Set (Winner)

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes MVD Rewind Collection Blu-ray

Avengers: Infinity War 4K Blu-ray

Deadpool 2 Super Duper $@%!#& Cut 4K Blu-ray

Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series Blu-ray Set

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom 3D Blu-ray

Justice League 4K Blu-ray

Night of the Living Dead The Criterion Collection Blu-ray

Stranger Things Season 2 4K Blu-ray Set

Supergirl Warner Bros. Archieve Collection Blu-ray

Next Level Blockbuster Icon Award

Marlon Brando

Heath Ledger

Christopher Reeve

Gene Roddenberry

Orson Welles

Next Level Blockbuster Legacy Award

Ghostbusters

The Godfather

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Superman: The Movie

“Green Book” Movie Review

    I had wanted to see “Green Book” ever since I saw the trailer for it last year.  The film, which was said to be inspired by a true story, looked inspiring and thought provoking.  Unfortunately, I only have so many hours in the day to catch up on movies.  There are movies I want to see at the theater, some on video, some I have watch because I was kind enough to be given review copies, and I also have to juggle work full time, my eBay business, and spending time with my beautiful girlfriend.  Twenty four hours a day just doesn’t seem long enough these days.  Still, I was determined to see “Green Book” by the time it hit store rental shelves.  Last night, I finally squeezed in enough time to watch it.

    The film depicts the span of around two months when club bouncer Frank Vallelonga Sr. got a job as the driver of pianist Don Shirley.  During those two months, the pair formed an unlikely bond as Shirley toured down south.  In 1962, the African American Shirley wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms down south and it was up to Vallelonga to protect him from trouble.

    Inspired by the true story of Don Shirley and Frank Vallelonga Sr., “Green Book” may take some creative liberties with history but it was done to showcase the growth of both characters.  Shirley helped teach Vallelonga to be more refined and dignified while Vallelonga taught Shirley how to be more comfortable in his own skin so to speak and to stand up for himself.  Don Shirley was a famous pianist and the namesake member of the Don Shirley Trio in real life.  Vallelonga was a real life bouncer who later became an actor, going under the stage name Tony Lip.  Tony Lip appeared in such classics as “The Godfather”, “Goodfellas”, and “The Sopranos”.

    The cast was stellar with a performance led by Viggo Mortensen as Frank Vallelonga Sr.  I don’t think Mortensen has delivered a bad performance in a film and “Green Book” is among his best work to date.  Mortensen manages to make Vallelonga slightly slimy but still likable.  Mahershala Ali portrays Don Shirley with excellent gusto.  Ali delivers a performance which is calm on the outside but internally a storm is brewing.  As Shirley, Ali channels the inner rage through his concert performances.  The film was surprisingly directed by Peter Farrelly, one half of the famous Farrelly Brother directing duo famous for films like “Dumb and Dumber”.

    “Green Book” is, without a doubt, a story about race and class and how we are effected by our place in the world.  The film does a good job at depicting how ridiculous African Americans (and even Italians to a lesser degree) were treated not that long ago.  Even the title of the movie refers to the culturally insensitive road guide entitled “The Negro Motorist Green Book”.  The guide let African American tourists know places they were allowed stay down south.  It is a bit sickening to think about to be honest and that is the point of the movie.

    The film did have some controversy surrounding it.  Firstly, some critics disliked the fact that the film had what they considered to be a ‘white savior narrative’.  I personally disagree with this because after viewing the film, I felt Shirley’s character was depicted as the stronger and most impactful of the characters.  In the film, Shirley took a pay cut to tour the south knowing how he would get treated in the hopes of inspiring change.  Vallelonga was just more or less his driver and muscle.  Everyone sees art differently however but I personally disagree with this particular controversy.  Lastly, Don Shirley’s family was hurt by their depiction in the movie (or lack there of) and unhappy with the fact that the filmmakers didn’t consult with them.  The Shirley family stated that the relationship between Vallelonga and Shirley was one of an employee and employer and not that of friends as depicted in the film.

    Regardless of how real the friendship between Shirley and Vallelonga was, the pair did make a historic journey touring down south and that is something that I hope isn’t lost in the controversy.  Sadly both men died in 2013 so we may never hear a definitive answer but it is also important to remember that “Green Book” is only just a movie.

Grade: B+

The 2019 Next Level Blockbuster Award Nominees

Best Picture

Aquaman

Avengers: Infinity War

Black Panther

Bohemian Rhapsody

Creed II

Green Book

Isle of Dogs

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

A Star Is Born

Best Comedy Picture

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Blockers

Crazy Rich Asians

Deadpool 2

A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Best Action Picture

Aquaman

Black Panther

Bumblebee

Mission: Impossible- Fallout

Venom

Best Horror Picture

The First Purge

Halloween

The Nun

A Quiet Place

The Strangers: Prey At Night

Best Inspirational Picture

God Bless the Broken Road

I Can Only Imagine

March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step

Pick of the Litter

Unbroken: Path to Redemption

Best Drama Picture

Bohemian Rhapsody

Creed II

First Man

Green Book

A Star Is Born

Best Science Fiction Picture

Avengers: Infinity War

The Cloverfield Paradox

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Ready Player One

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Live Action Family Picture

Benji

Christopher Robin

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

The House with a Clock in Its Walls

Paddington 2

Best Animated Family Picture

The Grinch

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

Incredibles 2

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Teen Titans Go! To the Movies

Best Digital or Direct to Video Picture

Bird Box

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

The Cloverfield Paradox

A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Roma

Best Actor

Christian Bale
Vice

Chadwick Boseman
Black Panther

Bradley Cooper
A Star Is Born

Robert Downey Jr.
Avengers: Infinity War

Ryan Gosling
First Man

Michael B. Jordan
Creed II

Rami Malek
Bohemian Rhapsody

Viggo Mortensen
Green Book

Ryan Reynolds
Deadpool 2

John David Washington
BlacKkKlansman

Best Actress

Yalitza Aparicio
Roma

Emily Blunt
A Quiet Place

Sandra Bullock
Bird Box

Jamie Lee Curtis
Halloween

Lady Gaga
A Star Is Born

Jennifer Lawrence
Red Sparrow

Evangeline Lilly
Ant-Man and the Wasp

Danielle Macdonald
Dumplin’

Tessa Thompson
Creed II

Constance Wu
Crazy Rich Asians

Best Supporting Actress

Jennifer Aniston
Dumplin’

Awkwafina
Crazy Rich Asians

Marina de Tavira
Roma

Cynthia Erivo
Bad Times at the El Royale

Claire Foy
First Man

Danai Gurira
Black Panther

Zoe Kazan
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Regina King
If Beale Street Could Talk

Lupita Nyong’o
Black Panther

Michelle Yeoh
Crazy Rich Asians

Best Supporting Actor

Mahershala Ali
Green Book

Josh Brolin
Avengers: Infinity War

Adam Driver
BlacKkKlansman

Donald Glover
Solo: A Star Wars Story

Woody Harrelson
Solo: A Star Wars Story

Tom Holland
Avengers: Infinity War

Michael B. Jordan
Black Panther

Tim Blake Nelson
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Sylvester Stallone
Creed II

Patrick Wilson
Aquaman

Best Ensemble

Aquaman

Avengers: Infinity War

Black Panther

Crazy Rich Asians

Mission: Impossible- Fallout

Best Director

Wes Anderson
Isle of Dogs

Steven Caple Jr.
Creed II

Damien Chazelle
First Man

Ryan Coogler
Black Panther

Bradley Cooper
A Star Is Born

Peter Farrelly
Green Book

Ron Howard
Solo: A Star Wars Story

Anthony and Joe Russo
Avengers: Infinity War

Bryan Singer
Bohemian Rhapsody

James Wan
Aquaman

Best Adapted Screenplay

Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
Avengers: Infinity War

Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole
Black Panther

Jonathan Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan
Solo: A Star Wars Story

Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, and Will Fetters
A Star Is Born

Best Original Screenplay

Anthony McCarten
Bohemian Rhapsody

Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, and Peter Farrelly
Green Book

Wes Anderson
Isle of Dogs

Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, and John Krasinski
A Quiet Place

Aneesh Chaganty and Sev Ohanian
Searching

Best Original Music

Alan Silvestri
Avengers: Infinity War

Ludwig Göransson
Black Panther

Justin Hurwitz
First Man

Alexandre Desplat
Isle of Dogs

John Powell
Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Original Song

“All the Stars” performed by Kendrick Lamar and SZA
from the motion picture “Black Panther”

“Pray for Me” performed by The Weekend and Kendrick Lamar
from the motion picture “Black Panther”

“Shallow” performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
from the motion picture “A Star Is Born”

“Sunflower” performed by Post Malone and Swae Lee
from the motion picture “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

“Venom” performed by Eminem
from the motion picture “Venom”

Best Production Design

Aquaman

Black Panther

First Man

Mute

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Cinematography

Avengers: Infinity War

Black Panther

First Man

Roma

A Star Is Born

Best Costume Design

Aquaman

Avengers: Infinity War

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Bohemian Rhapsody

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best 3D Presentation

Aquaman

Avengers: Infinity War

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Skyscraper

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Film Editing

Avengers: Infinity War

Bad Times at the El Royale

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

Black Panther

Bohemian Rhapsody

Best Sound Editing

Avengers: Infinity War

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

Bohemian Rhapsody

Solo: A Star Wars Story

A Star Is Born

Best Sound Mixing

Avengers: Infinity War

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

Bohemian Rhapsody

Solo: A Star Wars Story

A Star Is Born

Best Special Effects

Aquaman

Avengers: Infinity War

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Ready Player One

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Best Makeup Effects

Avengers: Infinity War

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Deadpool 2

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Vice

Best Stunt Work

Black Panther

Deadpool 2

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Mission: Impossible- Fallout

Skyscraper

 Best Home Video Release

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes MVD Rewind Collection Blu-ray
Avengers: Infinity War 4K Blu-ray
Batman: The Complete Animated Series Deluxe Limited Edition Blu-ray Set
Deadpool 2 Super Duper $@%!#& Cut 4K Blu-ray
Fraggle Rock: The Complete Series Blu-ray Set
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom 3D Blu-ray
Justice League 4K Blu-ray
Night of the Living Dead The Criterion Collection Blu-ray
Stranger Things Season 2 4K Blu-ray Set
Supergirl Warner Bros. Archieve Collection Blu-ray

Next Level Blockbuster Icon Award

Marlon Brando
Heath Ledger
Christopher Reeve
Gene Roddenberry
Orson Welles

Next Level Blockbuster Legacy Award
Ghostbusters
The Godfather
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Superman: The Movie