Last year, to shake things up, the MTV Movie Awards became the MTV Movie & TV Awards, with non-gender or genre defining categories. Most of the nominees came from films that had recently opened in theaters (such as “Get Out”, “Logan” and “Beauty and the Beast”) instead of the entire prior 12 months.
This year’s lineup does a better job at spanning the past year, and here are my choices for who should win (Monday Night at 9pmET) – if movies dominate the categories:
BEST MOVIE – “Avengers: Infinity War”
It’s between this and “Wonder Woman” for the title, but as much as I liked “WW”, “Infinity War” certainly takes some real risks. “Black Panther” is in the middle, and “Girls Trip” and “It” are at the bottom of the pile.
BEST PERFORMANCE IN A MOVIE – Timothee Chalamet, “Call Me by Your Name”
Just when you thought awards season was over for Chalamet, he gets another shot at taking home a trophy for his breakthrough work in the Oscar-winning drama. Saoirse Ronan is a close second in my book for her Oscar-nominated performance in “Lady Bird”.
BEST HERO – Gal Gadot, “Wonder Woman”
In the film, and in real life, Gadot has led the female empowerment women, and therefore, this award has twice the meaning.
BEST VILLAIN – Josh Brolin as Thanos, “Avengers: Infinity War”
Brolin packs quite a punch in Marvel’s latest superhero epic.
BEST KISS – Olivia Cooke and Tye Sheridan, “Ready Player One”
I hope the MTV voters give a little love (see what I did there?) to the Best Movie of 2018 so far.
MOST FRIGHTENED PERFORMANCE – Emily Blunt, “A Quiet Place”
I don’t exactly know what the category suggests. Does it mean that the actors were frightened or the audiences watching the actors? Regardless, Blunt’s bathtub scene in hubby John Krasinski’s thriller checks off both boxes.
BEST ON-SCREEN TEAM – Cast Members of “Ready Player One”
Technically, Mark Rylance should also be part of the accredited/listed team.
BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE – Jack Black, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”
Not a huge “Jumanji” fan, but I’ve met Black on two occasions and he’s a nice guy.
SCENE STEALER – Letitia Wright as Shuri, “Black Panther”
#WakandaForever
BEST FIGHT – Sequence in “Atomic Blonde”
It’s an interesting, slightly unconventional, though welcome choice considering the Charlize Theron action/thriller wasn’t a huge financial hit.