(Dear Reader, thank you for your patience regarding my lack of content these last few weeks. I've had about four time-intensive projects drop into my lap recently, so the time I usually spend on this blog has had to be diverted to these efforts. Things will hopefully get back on track very soon.)
So the nominees were announced this past week for the 95th Academy Awards.
These awards remain the most prestigious in film. And while many of you, dear readers, are of the opinion that all awards shows are terrible and should simply be shunned, it is my perpetual hope that Hollywood will reform itself and once again nominate movies that matter.
“All Quiet on the Western Front”
“Avatar: The Way of Water”
“The Banshees of Inisherin”
“Elvis”
“Everything Everywhere All at Once”
“The Fabelmans”
“Tár”
“Top Gun: Maverick”
“Triangle of Sadness”
“Women Talking”
My own top ten of the year include:
1. Top Gun: Maverick
So below are my thoughts on some (not all) of this year's nominees.
BEST PICTURE
I've seen six of the nominees on this list. While Top Gun: Maverick is the best movie of the year, it will not win. There are some pretentious pieces on this list like Elvis, The Fabelmans, and Tár.
If there is an underdog to root for in this fight with a chance to win, it is Everything Everywhere All At Once. While this movie is horribly flawed in moments of execution, it is an incredibly original, visually stunning, and wonderfully acted piece that kept going strong by word of mouth to become A24 studio's highest grossing film. Since Top Gun won't win, this is the one I am rooting for.
BEST DIRECTOR
Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Steven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans”
Todd Field, “Tár”
Ruben Ostlund, “Triangle of Sadness”
I have not seen Triangle of Sadness or Banshees. Tár has some really great moments, like the one where the main character breaks down the prejudices of a student in one continuous shot. But most of it is boring pretention. I might say the same thing about The Fabelmans, but is done with a bit more skill in the right places. Once again, I am going to root for EEAAO for their daring and bold vision.
BEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, “Tár”
Ana de Armas, “Blonde”
Andrea Riseborough, “To Leslie”
Michelle Williams, “The Fabelmans”
Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
I haven't seen Blonde or To Leslie. I don't think Michelle Williams should win in this category, though she did a decent job. For me it is between Blanchett and Yeoh. Blanchett's Tár commands a room whenever she walks into it and does a great job of showing her slowly lose that control over the course of the film. But Yeoh gives, to my mind, the best performance of her career and has to embody a wonderful range of characters, so I will be hoping for her to win.
BEST ACTOR
Austin Butler, “Elvis”
Colin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Brendan Fraser, “The Whale”
Paul Mescal, “Aftersun”
Bill Nighy, “Living”
Of these, the only one I've seen is Butler's Elvis. His work in this film is Oscar-worthy, though I am very happy for the successful return of Brendan Fraser.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Angela Bassett, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Hong Chau, “The Whale”
Kerry Condon, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Jamie Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Stephanie Hsu, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
I've only seen EEAAO, but between the two nominated here, I would go with Hsu for her wild performance. Although Curtis has never been nominated and this might be her year. The Supporting Actor/Actress category is often one where the voters reward someone for an entire body of work and not just for a particular film.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Brendan Gleeson, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Brian Tyree Henry, “Causeway”
Judd Hirsch, “The Fabelmans”
Barry Keoghan, “The Banshees of Inisherin”
Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Key Huy Quan is my choice to win and I truly hope he does. Not only was I a big fan of his back when I was a kid, but his performance deserves all the accolades that it is getting. Hirsch is a scene stealer in his small role in The Fabelmans. And Henry does a heartbreakingly restrained performance in Causeway.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
“Babylon”
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
“Elvis”
“Everything Everywhere All at Once”
“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris”
This category is notorious for snubbing original sci-fi and fantasy costuming. EEAAO or Black Panther should clearly win, but I think they will go with something like Babylon. Although I have a soft spot for Mrs. Harris, which used the clothing to make you feel what the main character felt.
BEST SOUND
“All Quiet on the Western Front”
“Avatar: The Way of Water”
“The Batman”
“Elvis”
“Top Gun: Maverick”
There was some great sound work in many of these films, but the one that really made the experience pop was Top Gun.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
“All Quiet on the Western Front”
“Babylon”
“The Banshees of Inisherin”
“Everything Everywhere All at Once”
“The Fabelmans”
Even though I was not a fan of the movie, John Williams scores never fail to touch the heart.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“All Quiet on the Western Front”
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”
“Living”
“Top Gun: Maverick”
“Women Talking”
I honestly don't know why Glass Onion is on this list. It had a terrible screenplay that thought it was way smarter than it was. If I was conspiratorially minded, I think that this was a set up to give Rian Johnson an Oscar as a reward for his hatred towards Star Wars fans. I think Top Gun should be up here, since it does the rare thing of improving upon the story found in the previous film.
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“The Banshees of Inisherin”
“Everything Everywhere All at Once”
“The Fabelmans”
“Tár”
“Triangle of Sadness”
I have a feeling that Spielberg and Kushner are going to win for this one. While this makes me happy for Spielberg (even though I didn't like the movie), I think the most interesting script is the one for EEAAO
BEST FILM EDITING
“The Banshees of Inisherin”
“Elvis”
“Everything Everywhere All at Once”
“Tár”
“Top Gun: Maverick”
This is actually one of the toughest categories for me. The most challenging editing would definitely be EEAAO. But we also have to take into account the effectiveness of the edit: how does the edit make us feel. Whether it is Elvis' manic cuts or Tar's long, slow takes, there was some mastery in some of those scenes. And Top Gun is almost perfect in its action movie execution. I'm actually not sure who should win here.
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
“All Quiet on the Western Front”
“The Batman”
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
“Elvis”
“The Whale”
On principle, I oppose Black Panther here for the way they ruined the look of Namor. I'd actually go with The Batman on this one, particularly with the way it let Colin Ferrel disappear into his role as the Penguin.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”
“Marcel the Shell With Shoes On”
“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”
“The Sea Beast”
“Turning Red”
The only movie I've seen on this list is Turning Red and it was the worst film of the year.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“Applause” (“Tell It Like a Woman”)
“Hold My Hand” (“Top Gun: Maverick”)
“Lift Me Up” (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”)
“Naatu Naatu” (“RRR”)
“This Is a Life” (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)
The only on her that sticks with me is the one from RRR. That was a fantastic, show-stopping number that I hope wins.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“All Quiet on the Western Front”
“Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths”
“Elvis”
“Empire of Light”
“Tár”
I've only seen two movies on this list. I think that it once again shows the Academy's prejudice against action films that Top Gun is not on here. The mastery of camera work that was necessary to give audiences that experience is fantastic and worthy of an Oscar.
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
“All Quiet on the Western Front”
“Avatar: The Way of Water”
“Babylon”
“Elvis”
“The Fabelmans”
Even though it was a mediocre movie, I would give this one to Avatar, for its sheer visual power.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
“All Quiet on the Western Front”
“Avatar: The Way of Water”
“The Batman”
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
“Top Gun: Maverick”
Again, this should be Avatar's category to lose.
Soon I will be posting my annual OSCAR GAME for anyone who wants to participate.
Thoughts?
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