The Golden Lightsaber Awards: 2017

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Best Picture 2016- Winner

I could lie to you and say I agonized over this decision. However, as hard as the Best Actress winner was for me to pick, Best Picture was just as easy. All the nominees were fabulous in their own right, but, there was only one Civil War. There are usually only a few times in your life when a ridiculously hyped movie lives up to every expectation you have. Mad credit goes to the cast, the Russos who directed, and Marvel/Disney itself. This is about the most perfect movie in every aspect possible and easily one of my favorites of all time.

And, yes, that's even without an appearance from Thor.

Captain America: Civil War

Deadpool

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Sausage Party

Zootopia

Don't Breathe

Hell or High Water

The Infiltrator

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Best Actor 2016- Winner

Well there certainly wasn't a crazier performance than Reynolds' Deadpool. Any doubt that he was the quintessential Merc with a Mouth was erased within the first couple minutes of the film. Mixing 4th wall self awareness with road lizard crazy action, Reynolds poured his heart and soul into the role. Maybe there are better actors in Hollywood who could have pulled this off as well, but, they didn't. He did. And, he did it magnificently.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange)- Stephen Strange

Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool)- Wade Wilson/Deadpool

Ben Affleck (The Accountant)- Christian Wolff

Robert Downey, Jr (Captain America: Civil War)- Tony Stark/Iron Man

Bryan Cranston (The Infiltrator)- Robert Mazur

Dwayne Johnson (Central Intelligence)- Robbie Wierdicht/Bob Stone

Michael Keaton (The Founder)- Ray Kroc

Denzel Washington (Fences)- Troy Maxson

Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge)- Desmond Doss

Chris Pine (Hell or High Water)- Toby Howard

Best Actress 2016- Winner

I have to be honest about this to all of you. This was by far the hardest category to pick in 2016. Each nominee's performance was unique in its own way. I just didn't have a strong leaning toward any one of them over the others. What pushed the meter slightly in Rauch's favor is that she's probably in the least known film of the group. Her performance as an acerbic spoiled brat ex-Olympian tasked with training the next great gymnast is a performance worth viewing if you haven't already.

Melissa McCarthy (The Boss)- Michelle Darnell

Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures)- Katherine Johnson

Jessica Chastain (Miss Sloane)- Elizabeth Sloane

Morena Baccarin (Deadpool)- Vanessa

Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad)- Harley Quinn

Melissa Rauch (The Bronze)- Hope Ann Greggory

Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins)- Florence Foster Jenkins

Viola Davis (Fences)- Rose Maxson

Monday, May 29, 2017

Best Supporting Actor 2016-Winner

Out of many standouts in Captain America: Civil War, Boseman's Black Panther stole the show in and out of costume. Equal parts elegant prince and fierce warrior, Boseman was every bit the Panther from the comic book and has my vote as the best performance of the year.

Daniel Bruhl (Captain America: Civil War)- Zemo

Chadwick Boseman (Captain America: Civil War)- T'Challa/Black Panther

Keegan-Michael Key (Why Him?)- Gustav

Woody Harrelson (The Edge of Seventeen)- Mr. Bruner

Liam Neeson (A Monster Calls)- voice of The Monster

Benjamin Bratt (The Infiltrator)- Roberto Alcaino

Chris Hemsworth (Kevin Beckman)- Ghostbusters

Peter Dinklage (Renault)- The Boss

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Best Supporting Actress 2016- Winner

The winner comes from one of the most polarizing movies in quite some time. It's rare that you find a would-be Summer blockbuster well liked by critics and despised by much of the public. But, that was the Ghostbusters remake in a nutshell. Whether you loved or hated it, many were in agreement that McKinnon was the best thing going in the film. Hard to describe her performance beyond "odd." But, it's odd in the best way possible. The ultimate wacko mad scientist, some might be put off because her character was constantly on 11 with her goofiness. For me, she was the right kind of crazy.

Kate McKinnon (Ghostbusters)- Jillian Holtzman