Best Picture 2017- Winner

When 2017 began, I thought this list was going to be littered with superhero movies and The Last Jedi duking it out for supremacy.  As the old sports cliché goes, "That's why they play the game."  Never in my wildest dreams did I think this list would look the way it does.  And, I actually thought one of the year's critical darlings was deserving of its praise!  There's even a made-for-Netflix film in the group.  And, bite me, I liked Alien:  Covenant.  But, after some deliberation, my vote still had to go to Disney's live action adaptation of one of their best animated features.  Delightful, whimsical, and just a little more adult-friendly than its predecessor, Belle and company got the nod as the best of the best for 2017.

Split

Logan

War for the Planet of the Apes

Beauty and the Beast

John Wick:  Chapter 2

1922

It

Alien:  Covenant

Coco

Jumanji:  Welcome to the Jungle

The Shape of Water

Best Actor 2017- Winner

While we don't see all 24 of Kevin Wendell Crumb's personalities, we do see a good number of them in Split.  And the ones we do see are unique and unhinged with the exception of the original core persona which is desperate and confused.  But, the true danger, the Beast, is chilling.  And it was all brought to life by McAvoy who really flexed some muscles here.  I can't wait to see him go up against Unbreakable's David Dunn in 2019.

James McAvoy (Kevin Wendell Crumb)- Split

Hugh Jackman (Logan)- Logan

Hugh Jackman (P.T. Barnum)- The Greatest Showman

Michael Shannon (Richard Strikland)- The Shape of Water

Keanu Reeves (John Wick)- John Wick:  Chapter 2

Bill Skarsgard (Pennywise)- It

Thomas Jane (Wilfred James)- 1922

Denzel Washington (Roman J. Israel)- Roman J. Israel, Esq

Woody Harrelson (Lyndon B. Johnson)- LBJ

Gary Oldman (Winston Churchill)- Darkest Hour

James Franco (Tommy Wiseau)- The Disaster Artist

Best Actress 2017- Winner

I'm not always a big fan of children/teenagers in film.  Or child/teenage characters in general.  They either make the feature so sugary sweet that I get a toothache or they are such annoying smart asses that you wonder why an adult hasn't ended them.  So, when I do come across a nuanced, sophisticated performance from an actor under 20, it truly stands out for me.  McKenna Grace held her own with every adult she interacted with.  She was interesting and a little devilishly wicked.  She and my supporting actress winner, Dafne Keen, also prove that children can handle feature roles.  Age shouldn't be an excuse for a bad performance.

Gal Gadot (Diana/Wonder Woman)- Wonder Woman

Margot Robbie (Tonya Harding)- I, Tonya

Sally Hawkins (Elisa Esposito)- The Shape of Water

McKenna Grace (Mary Adler)- Gifted

Aubrey Plaza (Ingrid Thorburn)- Ingrid Goes West

Jessica Chastain (Molly Bloom)- Molly's Game

Best Supporting Actor 2017- Winner

When I saw Beauty and the Beast in early 2017, I knew immediately Evans would be a frontrunner for this award.  And, while I saw several good performances, no one could quite turn me away from him (although Rooker was close).  Anyone who loved Disney's animated version of Gaston, should have had no issues with Evans' performance.  Comically arrogant?  Check.  Narcissistic?  Check.  Slyly vicious?  Check.  Cowardly bully?  Check.  For being a human cartoon and loving every minute of it, he gets my vote.

Luke Evans (Gaston)- Beauty and the Beast

Arnold Schwarzenegger (Gunther)- Killing Gunther

Jonathan Banks (Pappy McAllan)- Mudbound

Michael Keaton (Adrian Toomes/The Vulture)- Spider-Man:  Homecoming

Dave Bautista (Drax)- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Michael Rooker (Yondu)- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Best Supporting Actress 2017- Winner

Allison Janney was tremendous as the acerbic, less than nurturing mother of Tonya Harding.  Keala Settle was a true find as the ridiculed bearded lady who was both empowered and exploited by P.T. Barnum.  And man, she can blow something fierce.  But, no one stole scenes in 2017 like Dafne Keen.  You couldn't take your eyes off the fierce "Little Wolverine."  She was as responsible for Logan's success as the title character.  Sometimes even more so.  And that's why she's the winner.  

Dafne Keen (Laura/X-23)- Logan

Allison Janney (LaVona Golden)- I, Tonya

Keala Settle (Lettie Lutz)- The Greatest Showman