Monday, September 17, 2018

Speculative fiction movie and television first-round nominees at the 2018 People's Choice Awards


I told my readers to "stay tuned for an entry about the People's Choice Awards nominees" to conclude Diversity and speculative fiction in dramas at the 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards.  Here are the categories that include speculative fiction first-round nominees for movies and television from Wikipedia along with my choices.
The Movie of 2018

Avengers: Infinity War
Black Panther
Deadpool 2
Fifty Shades Freed
Incredibles 2
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Ocean's 8
A Quiet Place
Ready Player One
Solo: A Star Wars Story
A Wrinkle in Time
It's easier to pick out the non-speculative fiction movies from this field than to list the speculative fiction ones — "Fifty Shades Freed," "Mission: Impossible – Fallout," and "Ocean's 8."  Even the last two are genre films nominated under action, which means I'm likely to see both on the Saturn Awards ballot next May.  This shows how strong speculative fiction movies are, at least for the first nine months of the year, before movies meant for the Oscars show up in theaters.  Speaking of which, I'm voting for the current box office leader, "Black Panther."  I also think it has a good chance of winning with its main competition being "Avengers: Infinity War."

There are no speculative fiction nominees for The Comedy Movie of 2018, but three stand out, "Book Club," "Crazy Rich Asians," and "Game Night."  That last might be nominated for Best Action Movie along with "Mission: Impossible – Fallout" and "Ocean's 8" at the Saturn Awards.  On the other hand, my favorite of the three is "Book Club," so I'm voting for it but I think "Crazy Rich Asians" will win.  Speaking of which, I plan on voting for Awkwafina for The Comedy Movie Star of 2018 even though I think Constance Wu or Tiffany Haddish will likely win.
The Action Movie of 2018

Ant-Man and the Wasp
Avengers: Infinity War
Black Panther
Deadpool 2
The Equalizer 2
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
The Meg
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Ocean's 8
Rampage
Ready Player One
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Again, it's easier to pick out the non-speculative fiction movies from this field than to list the speculative fiction ones — "The Equalizer 2," "Mission: Impossible – Fallout" and "Ocean's 8."  The rest are superhero and science fiction movies, although I suspect "Rampage," a video game movie, might be classified as fantasy at next year's Saturn Awards.  Again, my choice for this award is the same as for The Movie of 2018, "Black Panther."
The Drama Movie of 2018

12 Strong
The 15:17 to Paris
Acrimony
Adrift
Annihilation
BlacKkKlansman
Breaking In
Fifty Shades Freed
The First Purge
Midnight Sun
A Quiet Place
Red Sparrow
Despite this being the most mainstream and "serious" of the categories, three of these movies are still speculative fiction, "Annihilation," "The First Purge," and "A Quiet Place," the latter two of which are horror movies and the first is a science fiction film that plays like a horror film.  My favorite is "A Quiet Place," so I'm voting for it.  I also plan on voting for it next year for Best Horror Film at the Saturn Awards.
The Family Movie of 2018

A.X.L.
A Wrinkle in Time
Christopher Robin
Early Man
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
I Can Only Imagine
Incredibles 2
Paddington 2
Peter Rabbit
Sherlock Gnomes
Show Dogs
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
Other than "I Can Only Imagine," all of these movies are speculative fiction, mostly fantasy or animation with the exception of the science fiction film "A.X.L."  Out of all of them, the box office leader and personal favorite is "Incredibles 2," which I think will repeat the accomplishments of "Coco" by winning every award for which it is nominated, including Best Animated Film at the Saturn Awards.  I'm voting for it now and I'll vote for it then.
The Drama Movie Star of 2018

Emily Blunt – A Quiet Place
Jamie Dornan – Fifty Shades Freed
Chris Hemsworth – 12 Strong
John Krasinski – A Quiet Place
Jennifer Lawrence – Red Sparrow
Ewan McGregor – Christopher Robin
Natalie Portman – Annihilation
Gina Rodriguez – Annihilation
John David Washington – BlacKkKlansman
Oprah Winfrey – A Wrinkle in Time
Reese Witherspoon – A Wrinkle in Time
Shailene Woodley – Adrift
Since my favorite "drama" film is "A Quiet Place," I'm voting for my favorite star from the move, which is Emily Blunt.  Sorry, John Krasinski, I liked your wife's performance better.
The Male Movie Star of 2018

Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther
John Boyega – Pacific Rim Uprising
Pierce Brosnan – Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Tom Cruise – Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Robert Downey Jr. – Avengers: Infinity War
Chris Hemsworth – Avengers: Infinity War
Dwayne Johnson – Skyscraper
Michael B. Jordan – Black Panther
Chris Pratt – Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool 2
Nick Robinson – Love, Simon
Paul Rudd – Ant-Man and the Wasp
By the logic above that drove me to vote for Emily Blunt, I should vote for Chadwick Boseman.  I'm not.  He will probably still win, but I enjoyed Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool far more, so I'm voting for him.
The Female Movie Star of 2018

Emily Blunt – A Quiet Place
Sandra Bullock – Ocean's 8
Anne Hathaway – Ocean's 8
Bryce Dallas Howard – Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Lily James – Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Scarlett Johansson – Avengers: Infinity War
Jennifer Lawrence – Red Sparrow
Evangeline Lilly – Ant-Man and the Wasp
Leslie Mann – Blockers
Melissa McCarthy – Life of the Party
Oprah Winfrey – A Wrinkle in Time
Reese Witherspoon – A Wrinkle in Time
Oprah Winfrey has the biggest name, Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Lawrence have both won Oscars, and Scarlett Johansson has the only nomination from the highest grossing movie with a nominee in this category, but I'm not voting for any of them.  Instead, its Emily Blunt.  I hope to see her on the list of nominees for Best Actress in a Film at next year's Saturn Awards, where she's the front runner for my vote so far.
The Action Movie Star of 2018

Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther
Tom Cruise – Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Donald Glover – Solo: A Star Wars Story
Danai Gurira – Black Panther
Chris Hemsworth – Avengers: Infinity War
Scarlett Johansson – Avengers: Infinity War
Dwayne Johnson – Rampage
Michael B. Jordan – Black Panther
Evangeline Lilly – Ant-Man and the Wasp
Chris Pratt – Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool 2
Alicia Vikander – Tomb Raider
I'm voting for Ryan Reynolds again here, although I think either Chadwick Boseman or Chris Hemsworth will win.

Follow over the jump for the television nominees.

The Show of 2018

13 Reasons Why
9-1-1
America's Got Talent
The Big Bang Theory
The Good Doctor
Grey's Anatomy
Modern Family
Saturday Night Live
This Is Us
WWE Raw
The Walking Dead
Will & Grace
There is only one speculative fiction show here, "The Walking Dead," so of course I'm voting for it.  Zombies!
The Drama Show of 2018

13 Reasons Why
9-1-1
Castle Rock
The Good Doctor
Grey's Anatomy
The Handmaid's Tale
Lost in Space
Riverdale
Scandal
This Is Us
The Walking Dead
Westworld
However, I'm not voting for "The Walking Dead" in this category.  Instead, it's "Westworld."
The Comedy Show of 2018

Atlanta
The Big Bang Theory
Black-ish
The Good Place
Insecure
Modern Family
Mom
Orange Is the New Black
Santa Clarita Diet
Saturday Night Live
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Will & Grace
"Atlanta" or "Saturday Night Live" would be the critical and professional choices, but I'm not really the first and I'm definitely not the second.  Instead, I'm voting for the sole speculative fiction nominee, "The Good Place."
The Revival Show of 2018

American Idol
Arrested Development
Dynasty
Fear Factor
Jersey Shore: Family Vacation
Lost in Space
Love Connection
One Day at a Time
Queer Eye
Trading Spaces
Will & Grace
The X-Files
The speculative fiction shows here are "Lost in Space" and "The X-Files."  My wife and I quit watching the second revival season of "The X-Files" after a few episodes, but we eagerly watched all of "Lost in Space," so that's my choice.
The Male TV Star of 2018

Iain Armitage – Young Sheldon
Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us
Justin Chambers – Grey's Anatomy
Scott Foley – Scandal
Tony Goldwyn – Scandal
Freddie Highmore – The Good Doctor
Andrew Lincoln – The Walking Dead
Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory
Norman Reedus – The Walking Dead
Cole Sprouse – Riverdale
Milo Ventimiglia – This Is Us
Jesse Williams – Grey's Anatomy
The professional choices would be Sterling K. Brown and Milo Venitmiglia, but they're not mine.  I'm picking between Andrew Lincoln and Norman Reedus, the two speculative fiction first-rounders.  I'll vote for Reedus.  Team Daryl!
The Female TV Star of 2018

Kristen Bell – The Good Place
Lauren Cohan – The Walking Dead
Kaley Cuoco – The Big Bang Theory
Viola Davis – How to Get Away With Murder
Danai Gurira – The Walking Dead
Kate McKinnon – Saturday Night Live
Camila Mendes – Riverdale
Mandy Moore – This Is Us
Elisabeth Moss – The Handmaid's Tale
Ellen Pompeo – Grey's Anatomy
Issa Rae – Insecure
Kerry Washington – Scandal
The speculative fiction choices are Kristen Bell, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, and Elisabeth Moss.  I'm voting for Kristen.
The Drama TV Star of 2018

KJ Apa – Riverdale
Jason Bateman – Ozark
Darren Criss – The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Justin Hartley – This Is Us
Freddie Highmore – The Good Doctor
Katherine Langford – 13 Reasons Why
Andrew Lincoln – The Walking Dead
Chrissy Metz – This Is Us
Elisabeth Moss – The Handmaid's Tale
Ellen Pompeo – Grey's Anatomy
Kerry Washington – Scandal
Sorry, I'm not going with the speculative fiction nominees, Andrew Lincoln or Elisabeth Moss.  Instead, I'm voting for Jason Bateman.
The Comedy TV Star of 2018

Drew Barrymore – Santa Clarita Diet
Kristen Bell – The Good Place
Ted Danson – The Good Place
Donald Glover – Atlanta
Tiffany Haddish – The Last O.G.
Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory
Ellie Kemper – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Kate McKinnon – Saturday Night Live
Megan Mullally – Will & Grace
Tracee Ellis Ross – Black-ish
Yara Shahidi – Grown-ish
Sofia Vergara – Modern Family
Between Ted Danson and Kristen Bell, I'm voting for Kristen Bell.  After all, her character is the protagonist.
The Bingeworthy Show of 2018

13 Reasons Why
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
GLOW
Killing Eve
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Ozark
Queer Eye
Shameless
The Sinner
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
The Walking Dead
Younger
I have four choices, "GLOW," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Ozark," and "The Sinner."  I'm voting for "Ozark."  Sorry, zombies, you didn't make this cut even if you are in the only listed speculative fiction show.
The Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show of 2018

Arrow
Black Lightning
Cloak & Dagger
Doctor Who
The Expanse
Jessica Jones
Luke Cage
Once Upon a Time
The Originals
Shadowhunters
Supergirl
Supernatural
Normally, I'd move this up to the top, but every single scripted television category had at least one speculative fiction nominee, so I decided to leave it down here for a conclusion.  Out of all these, I think I will vote for "Once Upon a Time" just to give the series a good send-off.

That's it for this round.  The second round with six finalists in each category will be announced September 24.  Stay tuned.

10 comments:

  1. I don't see a lot of movies. I go to many of the Marvel ones, tho. I gotta say Avengers:Infinity Wars and Antman and Wasp didn't exactly have happy, uplifting endings. I'm assuming you've seen them otherwise apologize for the spoilers. If you have any pull with Stan Lee I wish you'd demand that he fix what he's broken.

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    Replies
    1. Sorry, I have no pull with Stan Lee or any one else with Marvel. The best I can do is someone who gets in Twitter fights with one of the guys who writes the Spider-Man comics and that would be worse than useless, as he has nothing to do with the MCU movies and would do the opposite of what I asked anyway.

      Delete
    2. It was. Unfortunately, it ran directly into one of the reasons I moved 2,000 miles away from Los Angeles, the desire to get away from dealing with southern California's entertainment culture and the people who create it on a daily basis. I decided that was unhealthy for me.

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  2. Glad to hear that you took that positive, life-affirming step. LA has to be a weird place. No interest in it.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. I grew up knowing it was different. I had no idea how different until I lived somewhere else.

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