The Oscars are just around the corner and I've been hard at work watching (almost) every nominated movie! Actually, almost is an overstatement. I've watched a lot of them. A lot of the big ones. And this year I've decided to go through the big category nominees and discuss my favorites and my picks.
Starting with the biggest category of them all, Best Picture. I feel like this is the category that decides a good chunk of the other categories as well. Like whatever movie wins best picture probably is taking home at least a few other Oscars.
So let's set the tone for the next week and count down my favorites in this category and who I think will take home the trophy.
Didn't Watch: Zone of Interest
Look, I'm sorry. I didn't get to all of them. This one was a little hard to find in the theaters, I was having some personal issues, and I just didn't get around to it. Sue me. I'm sure it was wonderful. It's the only movie nominated for Best Picture and Best Foreign Language Film, so it's probably taking home the Oscar for the latter, but I don't think it's going to beat some of the other movies in this category. So no, I didn't see it.
Not Bad, but Not My Favorite
Diving into the movies I actually watched, there were a few that I thought weren't bad, but there were things about them that I didn't like. In order:
9. Maestro
I'm going to agree with the prevailing criticism that this was almost painfully obviously an Oscar-bait movie, and no one likes that. That aside, the movie had a lot of strong moments. I thought the second half of the movie really found its footing, both in the plot and in the acting. This movie was largely about the incredible acting and Carey Mulligan absolutely deserved her nomination. But I thought the first half of the movie was kind of...messy? Like I couldn't figure out what they wanted this movie to be about at first. And I couldn't really get into it at first. I probably wouldn't watch it again, but it wasn't a waste of two hours.
8. Barbie
Is this blasphemous to say as a woman? Barbie was just okay. Loved the sets, loved the costumes, and some of the dialog was great. The America Ferrara's first monologue was extremely well done. The camp was entertaining and the entire opening sequence in Barbie land was so fun. And then it just got confusing? Like the rules around Barbie-land versus the real world were weird and what the hell was Will Ferrell doing and why wasn't Alan's part bigger to contrast the sucky Kens and the list goes on and on. I thought there were a lot of really good and important things about the movie and there were a lot of moments that spoke to me as a woman, but there were a lot of things that did not make for a good movie.
7. Poor Things
Again, with the feminist blasphemy. There was a lot about this movie I liked though. Costumes, sets, most of the storyline, the acting, the cinematography, this movie absolutely has a lot of high points. I felt like the Paris sequence kind of ruined it. I realize that whole section is about female sexual liberation and earning money in a way that was both empowering and sticking it to the man, but I thought Paris would have been an opportunity to explore so much more about female liberation and it seemed like a lot of that was side-lined for the sex montage. And no shame to women who enjoy having sex with multiple partners, we fully support that here at Movie Reviews No One Asked For, but she also seemed to attend university classes and a socialist club and had lots of lady friends. Where was that?! We wanted more of that. WE WANTED MORE OF MARTHA! LOVED Martha. Not to mention this one felt long. I could feel it in my ass. But again, there's a lot I did like about it, so it's worth the watch if you haven't seen it.
V Enjoyable, No Complaints
This next tier is for the movies that I genuinely enjoyed, they're just not making the top three.
6. The Holdovers
This felt like a good quiet-evening, relax-by-the-fire type movie. Kind of slow, but had good characters, good feelings, and good performances. And a good story that didn't quite have the bow on it that you would expect but still very satisfying. Kind of in that, not an idealized Hollywood ending, but still a happy ending. It was a little predictable, I'll give it that, but very much a story about family without characters that were related by blood. And I'm so glad Da'Vine Joy Randolph got a nomination. Her performance and her character's story were such a huge part of the heart of this movie and it was so good. That and the dislocated shoulder scene.
5. Anatomy of a Fall
Again, a little slow, despite being a murder mystery, but still very good. Very subtle in the way European movies often are. The point was to focus on the characters and they were all so wonderful to watch. I mean, the mother and the son were both the stars of that movie. And the dog. I still have no idea how they did that scene. You know what scene. And the fact that you don't really know what happened in the end or who lied about what. I also thought the dive into how the trial affected the son was really well done. It didn't feel like a side story, it felt like the most important story being told. This one I'd watch again.
4. Past Lives
This one I would also watch again. This is the kind of love story I'm talking about. This is a romance movie that I can get on board with. I loved the complexity of this love story and what a good character Arthur (John Magaro) ended up being. He could have been the guy that everyone hated, but that bed scene was so well done that you're kind of rooting for him. Like, no one's the bad guy here. They're just people trying to live full lives and sometimes that gets complicated. I also kind of love that there were two movies that seem to toe the line between English and a different language. I think that's a wonderful way to globalize the movie industry and such a real and personal experience for so many people. That's a great choice that I think directors should continue to use.
The Top Three...
This is it! My top three picks!
3. Killers of the Flower Moon
Setting aside the cultural significance of bringing this kind of historical moment to the big screen, there was so much about this movie that was wonderful. The acting, the directing, the story, just everything. The story was so good. I walked out thinking that the plot was clean, straightforward, and still complex. And there were so many great scenes that all felt necessary. Even though it was a long movie, every scene felt like it played a distinct role. And I can usually find things to shave off in a three hour movie. But this movie was well done from start to finish.
2. Oppenheimer
Again, a three hour movie where all the scenes felt necessary. Every moment built on top of the last. And there were some really powerful scenes and performances. The final interrogation sequences were incredible, detonating the bomb, all great, although Oppenheimer announcing they'd bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki was frankly a masterpiece. The emotion in that moment was portrayed so well in the directing and the acting. Also, apparently the new trend is to shoot half your movie in black and white and half in color? Seems fun. But I thought Oppenheimer was an excellent movie and I'm almost positive Cillian Murphy is getting the Oscar.
THE UNHELPFUL REVIEWS OSCAR GOES TO...
1. American Fiction
I loved this movie! It was funny, it was heartwarming, it was moving, I was incredibly saddened when Tracee Ellis Ross immediately died, there was so much about it that was wonderful. And had heart and purpose. It felt like every side story had a purpose. It was so real. It told so many stories that represent so many people and still addressed controversial topics with grace and poise, particularly the complexity of black representation. It felt like we were going on a journey that was real. And more importantly, I think it brings up the complexity of black representation without diminishing the progress that's been made. I don't think it's perfect, but it was definitely my favorite film.
But Who Do I Think is Taking Home the Oscar?
Oppenheimer. Easy. And it's not hard to see why. It's an incredible film that checks boxes you didn't even know were available to check. And it's definitely a classic Oscar film, so I'm pretty sure it's taking home the big prize. And well deserved, I must say.
Next, we move onto acting! Yet another field I am expert in! So stay tuned!
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