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How do Oscars choose their winners?
Six industry insiders share their unfiltered, expert opinions on this year’s nominees.
Dale Robinette
How do the Oscars choose their winners?
I grew up on Fred Astaire and Ginger rogers and this made me feel terrifically nostalgic watching it.
Im a big fan of movie musicals, and this had a lovely twist on it.
Dale Robinette
THE DIRECTOR:Moonlightsstorytelling was truly extraordinary.
The subject matter was out of the box and as daring as any this cycle.
To know that [director] Barry Jenkins made it on such a small budget is out of control.
Dale Robinette
Its something that feels enduring.
THE SCREENWRITER:La La Landis just so incredibly innovative.
The music is incredible and the direction is fantastic.
Dale Robinette/Lionsgate
THE PRODUCER:La La Landdelivered something I never expected to love as much as I did.
The movie was so much more fun compared with the other films.
I loved the soundtrack.
David Bornfriend
I bought the whole thing.
People disregard that because its a feel-good movie.
But the storytelling is masterful.
David Lee/Paramount
THE MARKETING EXEC:Moonlightis exquisitely made, beautifully acted, and something you rarely get to see.
Its a gem complicated, human, tender.
Its also a miracle it got made and so gratifying that it has found an audience.
THE DIRECTOR:WhatBarry Jenkinsdid impressed me in a way I found surprising and really worthy.
Barry made a masterpiece out of a bare-bones cupboard.
THE SCREENWRITER: Damien Chazelleis the future of cinema.
He had a $30 million movie, and it looks enormous.
Imagine what hell do with $100 million.
So well directed, and he stuck to his guns on the ending.
Any other studio would have made him end it differently.
THE DOCUMENTARIAN:Damien Chazelle.
As much as [La La Landis] a feel-good film, the end is a tour de force.
To reimagine what a musical is, is incredible.
Ive seen it four times, and each time Im more taken by the craft of the movie.
Hes the real deal, and Id love to see him acknowledged.
Best Actor
THE ACTRESS: Denzel Washingtongives a tour de force performance.
Hes been a movie star for such a long time, but inFenceshes back to just acting.
It was one of the most restrained performances Ive seen in a long time.
To maintain that and not dive into melodrama was mind-blowing.
THE SCREENWRITER:Denzel Washington is always amazing.
Casey Affleck was lovely and searing.
ButRyan Goslings performance is the underappreciated one.
Hes so incredibly good while being understated.
I wish I got a little more inside Caseys character.
With Ryan, I knew what made him tick.
THE PRODUCER:The choice is between Denzel, Casey, andRyan Gosling.
The ick factorwith Casey, plusManchesterbeing such a downer, pushes me over the edge with Ryan.
The chemistry between him and Emma was perfect.
Whats great is he was able to capture both sides of the righteous fanatic.
THE MARKETING EXEC:Im at a loss here.
I really wanted to vote for Casey given the size of the role and his understated performance.
But I cant help this nagging feeling that to vote for him is to condone and reward bad behavior.
To me, its not okay.
Ill vote forViggo Mortensen.
She captured Jackie [Kennedy] and showed me a different side.
There is an availability to her, and that piece was so poignantly played.
Shes so good at both the subtle and the big moments.
To have that range, its the whole enchilada.
THE PRODUCER: Emma Stoneis just so charming in the movie.
I cant picture anyone else doing that role.
The others are all fine performances, but Isabelles is the standout.
He really carries the story line.
I loved him inLion.
THE DIRECTOR:In a very confined period of time,Mahershala Aliconveyed a very profound cultural experience.
I gathered extraordinary insight from him and found it quite beautiful.
THE SCREENWRITER:Moonlightwas my second-favorite movie of the year, andMahershala Alis performance was the rock.
Jeff Bridges is wonderful.
Dev Patel did a nice job, but Mahershalas lovely multifaceted portrait provides the anchor for that film.
Its just beautiful work.
THE PRODUCER: Mahershala Aliwas such a striking figure, and I had never seen him before.
Lucas Hedges did a great job, but I just didnt love that movie.
Mahershala gave such a smooth performance.
To me, he came out of nowhere.
I was blown away.
THE DOCUMENTARIAN: Mahershala Aliwas wonderful.
He captured both tenderness and menace at the same time.
THE MARKETING EXEC:What a nuanced and wonderful performance!
I could watch him in everything.
Best Supporting Actress
THE ACTRESS: Viola Daviswas the most vulnerable shes ever been.
She stepped into an aspect of herself that we havent seen before.
There was a softness to her performance that Ive been waiting for her to get to on screen.
THE DIRECTOR: Viola Davisdemands to not only be noticed but to be respected and understood.
I think its Nicole Kidmans best thing in years and years, but Violas performance is otherworldly.
Its a bar-raising performance.
THE SCREENWRITER: Michelle Williamsknocked me out.
She was like a different human.
Her emotion really allowed Casey to walk the narrow line of his performance.
She helps illustrate whats going on beneath the surface.
THE PRODUCER: Viola Daviswas great.
You felt so much for that character.
I didnt even see her acting but actually being that person.
THE DOCUMENTARIAN:Every performance in every movieViola Davisis in deserves an Oscar.
This year, its her turn.
THE MARKETING EXEC:The wayNaomie Harris character deteriorates in front of your eyes, it is just devastating.
