Good morning all!
Well it's Oscar day. Up until this very moment, The Oscars broadcast was a sort of "other Superbowl" for me. I have always been wrapped up in the pageantry, the fashions (which I typically get "wrong" according to style "experts." Hey, I like what I like.) and the hosting, good, bad or ugly. Ultimately, in the last several years when I've made a really concerted effort to see all the nominated films, it's been a test, for me, to see if my film appreciation is in line with "the experts."
Typically, it's not. I would NEVER have picked "Moonlight" "Birdman" or "Shape of Water." And there are a ton of movies that got the best picture nominations I would not have nominated and plenty I would have that didn't. Like "Straight Outa Compton."
But I digress. Tonight is the Oscars. The COVID Oscars. Who knows that that's going to look like? What I can tell you is that this year's nominees, the five I've seen (of 8) have looked very different from nominated movies of the past.
Oh there are biopics. There are historical movies. There are quiet, emotional dramas. I'm not saying the genres aren't there. It's the attitude that's different. Maybe it's me, but the stories being told in these movies and they way they are being told feel as if we've gone to a place where the ART of a film is more important than the BOX OFFICE numbers. (Except for "Mank" which was just terrible.)
I have not yet seen "The Father," "Judas and the Black Messiah" or "Minari" but I will. (Especially "Minari" given my absolute passion for recent foreign films like "Parasite" and "Roma.") I will see those films because of the 5 nominated films I've seen so far, I've seen (Even with "Mank," which is not a good movie) a move toward stronger storytelling. The movies are a focus on the human condition, telling stories about people. If the point of movies is to uplift, entertain, or educate, I see much of all three points in these nominees. Because most of these movies were released either on Amazon or on Netflix, more of the masses have access to them. Stories that would have been drowned out in a sea of Marvel-Star Wars-Anything Disney are now being heard and seen by people in their living rooms. Our eyes are being opened, we are being educated, to a broader world through entertainment. Maybe there is hope for Hollywood yet.
So last night I saw two more of the nominated films.
"Sound of Metal"
A heavy-metal drummer's life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing.
I haven't seen Riz Ahmed in much, but I'll be honest. I'm going to look for him in more parts now. His portrayal of Ruben, the heavy metal drummer and heroin addict who loses his hearing, is one part gut wrenching raw and one part beautiful. The opening five minutes might be a bit jarring since it's a punk concert and everything is very loud. Also, the language is very strong. However, this movie sheds a bright light on the deaf community, a community that is often forgotten and rarely highlighted. Full of real, human drama, Ahmed carries this film and deserves his Best Actor nomination. Paul Raci is a strong contender for best supporting actor, but I'm not sure one really amazing scene is going to win him the statue. But what do I know? Judi Dench was on screen for like 9 minutes in "Shakespeare in Love" and she got an Oscar. I doubt this will win Best Picture, but I wouldn't cry if it did.
"Sound of Metal" is available FREE on Amazon Prime.
See this movie.
"The Trial of the Chicago 7"
The story of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounds the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, IL.
Let's get this out of the way: I HATE Eddie Redmayne and Sacha Baron Cohen. I have never liked their work. I have always maintained the SBC ruined "Les Miserables." And Eddie, well, he also didn't help "Les Miserables" much and also he's just...weird.
Now that I've gotten that off my chest, let me say this: Sasha Baron Cohen should win Best Supporting Actor tonight for his portrayal of Abbie Hoffman. And Eddie Redmayne finally managed to give us a performance where, yes, I still want to slap him, but now it's because of his character's actions, not because he's a creepy little white dude. I would also love to see the ever amazing Aaron Sorkin win best screenplay. And this movie is a front runner for Best Picture.
Entertaining, stunning, funny, illuminating, this film is everything you could ask for in a movie. (Stuff even blows up and catches on fire, for all you action film fans.) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II gives us one of the more memorable performances as Bobby Seale, the lone Black protester on trial. His performance is restrained and strong in a way I haven't seen a Black Panther (the political group, not the Marvel heroes) portrayed. Bravo to that.
This movie is available FREE on Netflix. SEE THIS MOVIE.
Of the five films I've seen I believe the real battle, in my mind, is between "Promising Young Woman" and "The Trial of the Chicago 7." I honestly think, given the society we're in at the moment, these are two very important films to watch and learn from. I would dearly love to see "Promising Young Woman" win Best Picture because a female centric film dealing with this topic needs to hit mainstream and it needs to be honored. But I believe "Chicago 7" is going to take home the big prize.
If you watch the Oscars tonight, enjoy. Meanwhile, keep watching movies!
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