Best picture of 2018? Bohemian Rhapsody

The local movie theater is operated by Cinemark

The first movie on Feb. 18 started at 12:35 p.m. but I was at the ticket office hours earlier, schedules in hand. The Academy Awards are this Sunday and I was determined to see all the "Best Picture" nominees.
I thought I was in really good shape this awards season as I had already seen several top movies including "Black Panther," "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Roma," the first nominee from Netflix.
As it turns out there were five I had not seen, and that's why I was so anxious to get to the Cinemark Theatre, about 15 minutes from home in Scott County, Iowa. I saw three at Cinemark ("Green Book," "The Favourite" and "Vice") on Monday and Tuesday, and rented two through Redbox ("Blackklansman" and "A Star is Born.")

Best picture? That's "Bohemian Rhapsody," hands down.
Runners up? "Black Panther" and "Green Book."
Favorite surprise In 2018? "Blackkklansman."
Tops in politics? "Vice."
Best re-make? "A Star is Born."
Fine films and nominations: "Roma" and "The Favourite."

I call Bohemian Rhapsody the best picture, overall, because it is based on a true story, and features an absolutely outstanding performance by Rami Malek. I had never seen Malek's work before but he is known for his role on a television show, "Mr. Robot."
He studied the late Freddie Mercury closely, for a year or more, and he was spot-on in his depiction of the iconic artist, whose music is heard around the United States today, decades after his death.
Added to Malek's work is a fine supporting cast, including band members Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy and Joseph Mazzello. Queen actually performed in the years when I closely followed rock music. (I even contributed to the 1985 Live Aid concert and scored a tee shirt which I wore for several years). That's another reason for this decision.
One of my favorite movies to be nominated is Spike Lee's "Blackkklansman." I was locked into this picture from the first scene (which featured Alec Baldwin as a pompous white supremacist) and in the well-presented story directed by Lee. Adam Driver, who is white, and African-American John David Washington depict the actual police officers who stymied the Ku Klux Klan in 1960s Colorado Springs, Colo.
Many Midwesterners might not realize that Colorado was actually a hotbed of Klan activity, with a governor who served 1935-47, Benjamin F. Stapleton. The people of Colorado have since removed Stapleton's name from various public buildings including the airport in Denver.
"Black Panther" was a wonderful romp from Marvel, and I enjoyed "Green Book," as representing a strong, well-acted story.
According to various press accounts there is no clear favorite for Best Picture. In the Feb. 22 issue of the Quad-City Times, Associated Press film writer Jake Coyle wrote that the situation has befuddled onlookers, with Variety magazine describing the awards ceremony as "uncharted territory."
On the contrary, the situation is most exciting. Who will win?
The Academy Awards are presented Sunday, Feb. 24 on ABC-TV at 7 p.m. Central time. Millions of movie lovers are expected to watch.