2018 Hugo picks: Other categories
Jul. 28th, 2018 10:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stormsewerWell, we've got some time, so let's take a look at a few other categories.
Long-Form Dramatic Presentation
There's an usually strong slate this year, and this was also the first year I had actually seen every single nominee before they were announced [1], which means I've had a long time to slow cook my impressions of them. I genuinely liked every single one, and it was rather difficult to rank them, but…
6. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The First Order strikes back.
Well… I found this a profoundly depressing film. I have to admit that I'm among those very disappointed with how Luke turned out. I won't go so far as to say that TLJ Luke is not Luke. I mean, I could totally see New Hope Luke or Empire Luke becoming this guy. But knowing that the guy who walked out of the end of RotJ turned into this pathetic lump is just… dark, man. Luke in the original trilogy has plenty of character flaws [2], but giving up on people is not one of them [3]. That it came to this for him… Well, pass the Wellbutrin.
5. Wonder Woman
The Wonder Woman origin story, in which she leaves the island of the Amazons and helps out in World War I.
I found this to be pretty much by the book, but it was also pretty much without misstep and was genuinely enjoyable. I think they struck the right balance of admirable and lovable with Diana.
4. The Shape of Water
A woman working as a janitor in a secret government facility gains a special relationship with a captured creature.
The more I think about this, the more I think it's overrated. Sure, it's great. But this plot has been done a million times, albeit usually targeted at a younger audience. This is basically a sexy adult version of E.T., where Elliot boinks the alien [4]. So, Oscar?
3. Blade Runner 2049
A replicant blade runner in 2049 starts pulling on a thread that unravels some important sweaters.
I'm a little hrm about much of the plot, but I love what it does with character, and I love it visually and sonically. I could watch it over and over.
2. Thor: Ragnarok
When Odin dies, Thor's evil sister is released, and big trouble ensues.
Man, I found the first two Thor movies tiresome, but this was such a joy. So much fun. Doesn't take itself too seriously. Do check out the anime opening if you haven't.
1. Get Out
A black man goes to visit his white girlfriend's family in rural America, and things get weird.
I was hesitant to rank this first, lest I feel like I'm trying too hard to seem woke, and since I'm less inclined to watch it again than the movies I ranked #2 and #3, but this is an important film that makes an important point cogently. There's a lot of little moments from this film that really stuck with me. In particular, I can't hear a sound resembling that of a metal spoon stirring a tea cup anymore without thinking of The Sunken Place, almost as if a hypnotic suggestion has been implanted in me, which is disturbingly impressive, or impressively disturbing, I'm not sure. The science is pshht, but my money says they'll be studying this in film school sooner and longer than any other movie on this list.
Professional Artist
Less my area of expertise, but I do appreciate the form. (I made my rankings exclusively based on what was in the Hugo voter packet, which may not match with what you'll find with the linked Google Image searches.)
6. Kathleen Jennings Solid, but too cartoony for me, and lacking a distinctive style.
5. Galen Dara Not quite a fan, personally, of the sharp transitions between colors, or the color selections themselves.
4. John Picacio Solid and enjoyable, but somewhat standard fare.
3. Victor Ngai Kinda Toulouse-Lautrecky? I like it, but it's not quite my icebox plum.
2. Bastien Lecouffe Deharme Kind of a gothy, baroque Frank Frazetta. I like the way he uses light.
1. Sana Takeda What can I say? I'm a sucker for intricate ukiyoesque Muchan stuff. And this is great.
Related Work
Reading the list of nominees, I knew there were only two I would consider for the top spot, so I read them.
2. No Time to Spare by Ursula K. Le Guin
A selection of Le Guin's blog posts from the last decade or so of her life.
Oh, Ursula. We didn't deserve you. Such a perfect mixture of tenderness and spit, the academy and the dirt patch. I wish I could have met you. I wish you were my grandma.
1. Crash Override by Zoë Quinn
A recounting of Gamergate and its aftermath by its primary target.
An important book and a topic that only seems to be getting more and more timely. Inspiring, a call to arms. Let's take the Internet back from the doxy trolls!
[1] Thanks, MoviePass!
[2] I've been known to say that Empire is my favorite Star Wars film because that's "the one where Luke gets what's coming to him."
[3] And in this film, even when he does finally get involved, he is still pretty literally just phoning it in.
[4] And, well, yes, where both Elliot and the alien are consenting adults. I think? I hope?
See also:
Short stories
Novelettes
Novellas
Novels
Long-Form Dramatic Presentation
There's an usually strong slate this year, and this was also the first year I had actually seen every single nominee before they were announced [1], which means I've had a long time to slow cook my impressions of them. I genuinely liked every single one, and it was rather difficult to rank them, but…
6. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The First Order strikes back.
Well… I found this a profoundly depressing film. I have to admit that I'm among those very disappointed with how Luke turned out. I won't go so far as to say that TLJ Luke is not Luke. I mean, I could totally see New Hope Luke or Empire Luke becoming this guy. But knowing that the guy who walked out of the end of RotJ turned into this pathetic lump is just… dark, man. Luke in the original trilogy has plenty of character flaws [2], but giving up on people is not one of them [3]. That it came to this for him… Well, pass the Wellbutrin.
5. Wonder Woman
The Wonder Woman origin story, in which she leaves the island of the Amazons and helps out in World War I.
I found this to be pretty much by the book, but it was also pretty much without misstep and was genuinely enjoyable. I think they struck the right balance of admirable and lovable with Diana.
4. The Shape of Water
A woman working as a janitor in a secret government facility gains a special relationship with a captured creature.
The more I think about this, the more I think it's overrated. Sure, it's great. But this plot has been done a million times, albeit usually targeted at a younger audience. This is basically a sexy adult version of E.T., where Elliot boinks the alien [4]. So, Oscar?
3. Blade Runner 2049
A replicant blade runner in 2049 starts pulling on a thread that unravels some important sweaters.
I'm a little hrm about much of the plot, but I love what it does with character, and I love it visually and sonically. I could watch it over and over.
2. Thor: Ragnarok
When Odin dies, Thor's evil sister is released, and big trouble ensues.
Man, I found the first two Thor movies tiresome, but this was such a joy. So much fun. Doesn't take itself too seriously. Do check out the anime opening if you haven't.
1. Get Out
A black man goes to visit his white girlfriend's family in rural America, and things get weird.
I was hesitant to rank this first, lest I feel like I'm trying too hard to seem woke, and since I'm less inclined to watch it again than the movies I ranked #2 and #3, but this is an important film that makes an important point cogently. There's a lot of little moments from this film that really stuck with me. In particular, I can't hear a sound resembling that of a metal spoon stirring a tea cup anymore without thinking of The Sunken Place, almost as if a hypnotic suggestion has been implanted in me, which is disturbingly impressive, or impressively disturbing, I'm not sure. The science is pshht, but my money says they'll be studying this in film school sooner and longer than any other movie on this list.
Professional Artist
Less my area of expertise, but I do appreciate the form. (I made my rankings exclusively based on what was in the Hugo voter packet, which may not match with what you'll find with the linked Google Image searches.)
6. Kathleen Jennings Solid, but too cartoony for me, and lacking a distinctive style.
5. Galen Dara Not quite a fan, personally, of the sharp transitions between colors, or the color selections themselves.
4. John Picacio Solid and enjoyable, but somewhat standard fare.
3. Victor Ngai Kinda Toulouse-Lautrecky? I like it, but it's not quite my icebox plum.
2. Bastien Lecouffe Deharme Kind of a gothy, baroque Frank Frazetta. I like the way he uses light.
1. Sana Takeda What can I say? I'm a sucker for intricate ukiyoesque Muchan stuff. And this is great.
Related Work
Reading the list of nominees, I knew there were only two I would consider for the top spot, so I read them.
2. No Time to Spare by Ursula K. Le Guin
A selection of Le Guin's blog posts from the last decade or so of her life.
Oh, Ursula. We didn't deserve you. Such a perfect mixture of tenderness and spit, the academy and the dirt patch. I wish I could have met you. I wish you were my grandma.
1. Crash Override by Zoë Quinn
A recounting of Gamergate and its aftermath by its primary target.
An important book and a topic that only seems to be getting more and more timely. Inspiring, a call to arms. Let's take the Internet back from the doxy trolls!
[1] Thanks, MoviePass!
[2] I've been known to say that Empire is my favorite Star Wars film because that's "the one where Luke gets what's coming to him."
[3] And in this film, even when he does finally get involved, he is still pretty literally just phoning it in.
[4] And, well, yes, where both Elliot and the alien are consenting adults. I think? I hope?
See also:
Short stories
Novelettes
Novellas
Novels
