The Roundup with Jeff Stockton (Season 24 Golden Reel Awards Edition)

 

For the upcoming 24th Golden Reel Awards, Natural Selection is probably the favorite in most of the major categories with its 10 nominations, but the rest of the field is pretty much wide open in most categories. For this awards-centric edition of The Roundup, I will go through each category and tell you who I think should win the award, who I think actually will win the award, and who I think has no chance to win - followed by a brief thought on the category this season. 

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Who Should Win: The Flash #2
Who Will Win: Natural Selection
No Chance: Undefeated Abe

Thought(s): The design in The Flash #2 resulted in one of the studio's best superhero posters, and that's saying something. Natural Selection will probably win though with its dark and sexy look.

BEST SOUNDTRACK
Who Should Win: Luke Cage: Power Man
Who Will Win: Everything Will Be Alright
No Chance: The Big One

Thought(s):This one is pretty wide open, to be honest, but I don't get paid unless I make some guesses. I really only don't see The Big One winning, although stranger things have happened.

MOST WANTED SEQUEL
Who Should Win: Luke Cage: Power Man
Who Will Win: X-Men: Sinister
No Chance: Friday the 13th

Thought(s): I want to see Luke Cage 2 more than other potential sequels, so that's why I have it as Who Should Win, but X-Men seems like a safer bet.

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
Who Should Win: Monaco
Who Will Win: Monaco
No Chance: Everyone Else

Thought(s): I can't picture Monaco not winning this award. I'd bet my house on it.

BEST STARRING COUPLE
Who Should Win: Wyatt Russell & Tang Wei - Everything Will Be Alright
Who Will Win: Warren Beatty & Angelina Jolie - Natural Selection
No Chance: Ben Barnes & Jenna Ortega - Her Dying Wish

Thought(s): This is a pretty interesting category this season. I'd bet Beatty and Jolie win due to their chemistry and star power, but Russell and Wei were great together. Barnes and Ortega was the most surprising nomination, so I feel like they have the lowest chance of winning.

BEST VILLAIN
Who Should Win: Angelina Jolie - Natural Selection
Who Will Win: Angelina Jolie - Natural Selection
No Chance: Alfred Molina - Pocahontas

Thought(s): Jolie could pull a Sydney Sweeney this season and take home this award along with Best Actress. Molina is another surprise nomination to me, so I don't like his chances.

BEST ADAPTATION
Who Should Win: Luke Cage: Power Man
Who Will Win: Queen Margot or Shoe Dog
No Chance: X-Men: Sinister

Thought(s): Queen Margot and Shoe Dog seem more like the type of film that wins an award like this, but Luke Cage deserves it more in my opinion.

BEST ORIGINAL STORY
Who Should Win: Natural Selection
Who Will Win: Monaco
No Chance: The Big One & Everything Will Be Alright

Thought(s): Natural Selection is the better film, but Monaco is a more crowd pleasing film, so I could see it go in for the upset.
 
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Who Should Win: Amy Adams - The Big One
Who Will Win: Amy Adams - The Big One
No Chance: Everyone Else

Thought(s): I think Adams should and will win this one, even if it may just end up being a booby-prize for not winning any other trophies.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Who Should Win: Jared Leto - Natural Selection
Who Will Win: Woody Harrelson - Everything Will Be Alright
No Chance: Michael Fassbender - Monaco

Thought(s): Jared Leto gave the best performance, but Harrelson wowed people at a better time of season to stay fresh in the minds of voters.

BEST ACTRESS
Who Should Win: Angelina Jolie - Natural Selection
Who Will Win: Angelina Jolie - Natural Selection
No Chance: Jenna Ortega - Her Dying Wish

Thought(s): I was shocked when Ortega was announced as a nominee in this category over the likes of Amber Midthunder and Rachel Weisz.

BEST ACTOR
Who Should Win: Warren Beatty - Natural Selection
Who Will Win: Warren Beatty - Natural Selection
No Chance: Oscar Isaac - Monaco

Thought(s): I like Beatty's odds. He not only gave a great performance, but he's also one of those legendary actors who has yet to be given any trophies for a form of lifetime achievement as often happens with older stars.

BEST DIRECTOR
Who Should Win: Paul Verhoeven - Natural Selection
Who Will Win: Martin Scorsese - Monaco
No Chance: Sofia Coppola - E.P.

Thought(s): This one is clearly Verhoeven vs. Scorsese. It's basically a coin-toss between the two.

BEST PICTURE
Who Should Win: Natural Selection
Who Will Win: Natural Selection
No Chance: Shoe Dog

Thought(s): Once again, this one is Natural Selection vs. Monaco. Horne's Poison Ivy films helped set up Natural Selection for success as a higher-brow version of an erotic thriller. Monaco is a safer film, but I have my money on the voters picking the more risque film for once.