Best Picture Nominees — Call Me By Your Name

On Sunday, March 4 we'll learn which one of nine films nominated for Best Picture will claim the top prize. Between now and then, I'll be looking at each of the Best Picture Nominees, continuing today with "Call Me By Your Name."

Call Me By Your Name
Starring: Armie Hammer, Timothy Chalamet, and Michael Stuhlbarg
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Total Nominations: 4
Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Actor (Chalamet), Best Adapted Screenplay (James Ivory), and Best Original Song ("The Mystery of Love")
About: This is an interesting entry in the fray. Much of the discussion of this film — aside from the story — was about how beautifully it was shot and crafted. Yet, it didn't get any nominations for direction or cinematography. Instead, it's a Best Picture nominee and it got nominations for Chalamet in the lead role, and for Ivory's screenplay. It was also one of the Best Original Song nominees. As with all of these nominees the question is what, if any, awards will they win. I think this is a long-shot for Best Picture. Some have tried to compare it to "Moonlight," but I don't think it has that kind of buzz. Chalamet is a good story, too. And he had quite a year, including being in "Lady Bird" and "Hostiles," as well. But the favorite is Gary Oldman, and personally the dark horse is Daniel Day Lewis in possibly his final role. The Best Original Song category feels pretty wide open to me, so who's to say. But if I were to narrow it down to one award I think that it has the best chance, it's Ivory for Best Adapted Screenplay. "Call Me By Your Name" is the only Best Picture nominee in that category, and I think that gives it an edge. But I could just as easily see this one going home empty handed. We'll find out in just under two weeks.
Rating: R for sexual content, nudity and some language.
Where to See It: "Call Me By Your Name" is now playing in limited release nationwide.