The Oscars! The show heard round the world. We love it, we hate it, we love to hate it. My best movie bud Daniel and I have been cramming for the ‘scars as per usual and I know all five of you have been on the edge of your seat waiting for my reviews, so here we go.
Best Picture from worst to best
Maestro- Brad is a great actor and a wonderful director but this movie was so dull. And enough with Carrie Mulligan. There have to be other actresses.
Poor Things- Again, an acting tour de force from Stone and Ruffalo is like you’ve never seen Ruffalo before but… I just don’t like grotesque so this was not the film for me.
Past Lives- This is not an Oscar worthy movie. This is a nice little love triangle flick.
The Holdovers- LOVE this movie, will watch every Thanksgiving. Giamatti’s mustache deserves an Oscar but the rest of the film is not Oscar caliber.
Anatomy of a Fall- Brilliantly made mystery. Ping me and tell me if you think she did it. Best movie of the year? No. But definitely top five.
American Fiction- I adore Jeffrey Wright and this film stole scenes directly from my life. It’s wonderful and should be seen by everyone but it should not win best pic.
The Zone of Interest- Brutal. Moving. Disturbing. Necessary. Add it to every “best film about WW2” list.
Oppenheimer- Brilliant film but should not win because, you know, there were no Japanese people or even the slightest mention of the Indigenous and local people who were and are still being impacted by the bomb. Inexcusable oversight in an otherwise extraordinary film.
Killers of the Flower Moon- Scorcese has done it again. Killers is so incredibly good, you don’t even notice that it’s six hours long. JK, but it is three hours and in anyone else’s hands that would be two and a half hours too much but in Marty’s hands it’s just right. He never over explains which makes it all the more devastating when you figure out what’s going on. He keeps up just the right level of tension through the entire movie- it’s not so much that it’s painful but it’s not so little that you can miss it. Lily Gladstone is an absolute powerhouse which is all the more impressive because she’s in a Scorcese film with DiCaprio and De Niro and she’s the one you can’t stop watching. Leo may be a dick in real life but he’s been my Romeo since I was 12 and watching him play this slow, rough, second rate gangster was thrilling. De Niro De Niro’d as only De Niro can. And all to tell the true and vital story of the Osage people. I will be livid if this movie doesn’t win, but I also don’t think I have to worry.
Best Director
Scorcese
Best Actor
Cillian
Best Actress
Lily but mad props to Sandra Huller who helmed not one but TWO best picture nominated films. Holy cow.
Best Supporting Actor
Ruffalo
Best Supporting Actress
Da’Vine Joy Randolph but I haven’t seen Nyad and Jodie is always good. Also this group of nominees is weird. I really don’t have strong feels about any of them. Well, I have strong feelings against one of them but we won’t rehash that.
Best Animated Film
The Boy and the Heron which I haven’t seen yet but it’s Miyazaki so just give him all the Oscars.
Cinematography
Killers
Costume Design
Killers
Documentary
Some of these aren’t available yet but Bobi Wine is incredible and was my fav of the ones I did watch.
Editing
Oppenheimer. Also, #justiceforeditors, we don’t talk enough about how they’re the most important people in the movies.
Best Original Song
I’m Just Ken- Look, I hated that stupid movie but this song was the only good thing about it, and also the only thing anyone took away from the film. Because it was a movie about Ken.
Production Design
Poor Things- I cannot even imagine the work it took to build this bizarre world.
Writing- Adapted Screenplay
American Fiction
Writing- Original Screenplay
The Holdovers
And that’s that. Enjoy a weekend of movie cramming and tell me who you’re voting for!