All eyes will be on Hollywood today as the winners of the 89th Academy Awards are announced. Among those who will be watching closely is a vocal contingent from Oahu, where friends and family of screenwriting brothers Aaron and Jordan Kandell of Manoa eagerly await to find out if “Moana,” the Disney animated hit they helped write, wins the Oscar for best animated feature film.
While the Kandell twins won’t be present at today’s ceremony, they are in Los Angeles this weekend to attend Oscars-related events (and parties!). Before they left Honolulu last week, they took time to weigh in with their picks in six top Oscar categories: best picture, best director, best actor and actress, and best supporting actor and actress.
Joining the Kandells in sharing their Oscar faves this year are Brent Anbe, Hawai‘i European Cinema Film Festival programming director and “Hawaii Five-0” casting associate, and local filmmaker Stephanie J. Castillo, whose latest film “Thomas Chapin, Night Bird Song” shares the story of alto saxophone and flute virtuoso Thomas Chapin.
BEST PICTURE
>> Anbe: “‘Moonlight’ is an unflinching, honest and character-driven tale that is effortlessly directed, cast and written. It is beautifully paced and filled with very relatable feelings … that the characters and actors bring with tremendous creative force. Universal feelings that come with adolescence, young adulthood, and community are explored and executed with unwavering skill.”
>> Castillo: “‘Moonlight.’ The last scene in the film left me so moved that it made the film for me unforgettable until today, months after seeing it. The film rang so true emotionally.”
>> Kandells: “‘Moonlight.’ The most original, emotional and important film of the year. Moved us deeply and stayed with us the longest.”
BEST ACTOR
>> Anbe: “Denzel Washington. ‘Fences’ is a hurricane of brilliant acting. Casting perfection.”
>> Castillo: “Denzel Washington. His performance grabbed me and personified a human experience; though black, it was everyman. Written and acted with universal and powerful truth-telling.”
>> Kandells: “Casey Affleck (in ‘Manchester by the Sea’), Viggo Mortensen (“Captain Fantastic”) — two amazing, underrated actors shine in roles and movies that couldn’t be more opposite. But as Captain Fantastic, Viggo to us steals the show, showing incredible range in an iconic star role.”
BEST ACTRESS
>> Anbe: “Isabelle Huppert. I think she is an amazing French actress, and I’m so excited that we are going to be able to screen another film of hers at the eighth annual Hawai‘i European Cinema Film Festival at Ward Theatres on March 26 titled ‘Things to Come (L’avenir).’ A great complement to her performance in ‘Elle.’”
>> Castillo: “Isabelle Huppert. It was said no American movie star could play this role, and I could see why. Huppert played this complicated and so damaged and emotionally twisted character with fearless and bold precision.”
>> Kandells: “Isabelle Huppert. Few Americans, including ourselves, had heard of Huppert before this nomination, and fewer have seen her in ‘Elle.’ That is why Emma Stone will win (for ‘La La Land’), but Isabelle’s performance blows everyone else out of the water.”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
>> Anbe: “Mahershala Ali. He brings quiet strength to his character and performance in ‘Moonlight’ that makes him relatable and accessible. I’ve been a fan of his from Netflix’s ‘House of Cards,’ also.”
>> Castillo: “Mahershala Ali. Acting a stereotyped character, a drug pusher, Ali brought a surprising freshness to his role and filled it with real compassion and love. Unforgettable.”
>> Kandells: “Mahershala Ali. All the performances this year were stellar, but in our opinion the best performance wasn’t nominated. Sunny Pawar, the 6-year-old star of ‘Lion,’ was unforgettable.”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
>> Anbe: “Viola Davis. Denzel Washington and Davis weave and elevate each other (in ‘Fences’) through story conflict, complexity and circumstances, that is unparalleled.”
>> Castillo: “Viola Davis. Her character of a faithful, submissive yet an honest wife left me shaken as she had to deal with big and painful surprises. She was masterful in this.”
>> Kandells: “Viola Davis. The best part of ‘Fences,’ Viola is always incredible.”
BEST DIRECTOR
>> Anbe: “I’m going enthusiastically with the writer/director/filmmaker Barry Jenkins and his film ‘Moonlight’ for top honors. ‘Moonlight’ is what filmmaking and storytelling is all about!”
>> Castillo: “Barry Jenkins. With no fancy set designs or glamorous stars, Jenkins’ direction brought to life the pain of childhood and made it universal and real. He skillfully brought us to the moment at the end of true triumph for his characters.”
>> Kandells: “Damien Chazelle. Who should win? Barry Jenkins. Where ‘La La Land’ calls attention to itself, Barry Jenkins draws the viewer in (with ‘Moonlight’). (Both are) perfectly structured, paced, original and powerful filmmaking.”
