One of my favorite days of the year - Oscar Sunday! This year there are 9 Best Picture nominees. Since I have been blogging way less, I'll summarize my thoughts on each of them below. I also want to say that it is a crime that the Academy has overlooked female filmmakers and people of color. It is truly ridiculous in 2020 to still be focusing so much on stories of white men, told my white men.
1917 When this won the Golden Globe I was pretty surprised, since it hadn't even been released wide yet in America. I was ever-so-slightly against this film, just because I feel over war films in this moment of time. However, I went to see one random Wednesday night and was completely blown away. Some say the "one-shot" is a gimmick that isn't necessary, but I believe it is wholly necessary. I feel and see exactly what the characters see, and I was constantly wondering how they would get out of a scenario (and how the director, Sam Mendes, would get his camera out of it too!).
Ford v. Ferrari This is another one that I wasn't jazzed about seeing, but once it got a Best Pic nom I saw it last week. It is a perfectly find, competent film with performances from the always great and committed Christian Bale and Matt Damon, but it's a movie about two behemoth car corporations having a whose-dick-is-bigger contest while sticking it to the people that actually race and take care of the cars (also, I found the character played by Josh Lucas to be waaaaaay over the top and unbelievable). I have no idea how this film got a Best Pic nomination.
The Irishman Was able to see this in the theater when the Alamo Drafthouse was having a Crime Films of Martin Scorsese theme in October. I did not care for this film.
Jojo Rabbit I was unsure about seeing this one, but since I'm an Alamo Drafthouse Season Pass holder I figured why not. I'm so glad I did because I loved it! Jojo is a great character to see the world through, and his slow understanding of the world through learning and death is beautiful. Taika Waititi is the real deal.
The Joker The only one I haven't seen, because I have no desire to and a Best Pic nom didn't change that. But I like Joaquin Phoenix generally.
Little Women I adored this film so much that I saw it a second time a few days after my first viewing. I live for the scene of Jo and Laurie's confrontation because it just feels so real. Even with this new and great take on Amy, I still don't buy that Laurie is in love with her and marries her - he just wants to join the March family. Saoirse Ronan is quite possibly my favorite actress (she's been nominated for FOUR Academy Awards and she's only 25!).
Marriage Story A brutal and honest portrayal of divorce and how it causes generally normal, sane, decent people to act like monsters. Great performances all around (I love seeing Adam Driver as Kylo Ren and as divorcing dad Charlie).
Once Upon a Time.....In Hollywood I'm not a Tarantino fan in general, so I only saw this because it is a Best Pic nominee. I found it to be self-indulgent and weirdly (though not for Tarantino) violent and bloody at the end.
Parasite Lindsay and I saw this when we were in NYC for her birthday in October. I had heard great things about it, but didn't really know what it was about or the plot; I honestly thought it was a horror/psychological scary movie and I asked Lindsay a couple time during the first thirty or so minutes "When does it scary? Is this when it gets scary?" It doesn't every really get scary in the horror sense. It's a brilliant movie and I want it to win all the awards (not just the supremely dumb and anglo-centric-worldview category Best International Feature Film award).
Live Action Shorts All of them told such interesting, unique stories that I'd be happy if any of them won except The Neighbor's Window, which means it will probably win. It's white, affluent people living in Brooklyn learning a pretty easy lesson by watching their neighbors through their window (what kind of people never close a curtain or blind?!).
Animated Shorts Just saw these today! I loved Kitbull, an adorable story about the friendship between a kitten and a pitbull that made me tear up. Also really liked the submission from the Czech Repulic, Dcera (Daughter) for its simple story and amazing camera work with stop motion.
Thoughts on supposed snubs I saw Hustlers and didn't think it was anything special or groundbreaking or revelatory. I was put off by the franticness of Uncut Gems (although read a great piece about how the film is set up as game of basketball and I thought that was really cool). The Farewell was pretty great and was definitely snubbed.
