Hello and welcome! It's been a while since Linda and I have blogged about movies and mostly that's because it's been a while since Linda and I have watched movies together. Boooo COVID!
Anyway, this caught me by surprise, because everything has a "new normal" schedule these days, but the Oscars, which are normally in February, are happening TOMORROW, Sunday, the 25th. Color me shocked! I've seen exactly two films in the theater since January of 2020 ( when I saw "1917", the last movie I saw in a theater BEFORE Covid) and neither of those two ("Wonder Woman 1984" and "The Little Things") are nominated for the Best Picture. (I saw them because a friend rented out a theater for both of those and it was a blast watching a big screen flick with 18 people I knew! I suggest it, it's way cheaper than you think!)
Instead an odd collection of films that may have been overlooked in other years, are getting a shot at the golden statue. So far I've seen 3 of the 8, with intention to see two more tomorrow. All of the pictures nominated are available in one form or another on either Netflix or Amazon Prime. (You may have to "rent or buy" some of them.)
"Promising Young Woman"
A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path.
Carey Mulligan is beyond stellar in this film that starts as one thing and ends as another. Mulligan has grown lightyears away from her portrayal as the pretty Ada in "Bleak House," and she well deserves her nomination for Best Actress. She carries this movie from start to finish. First a commentary on the danger of the bar scene for single women, this becomes an eye-opening criticism of the "Boys will be boys" mentality that has deep, deep roots in our subconscious when it comes to sexual crimes.
Shocking, funny, and overall unexpected, this one could be a real contender if it doesn't get shut out by the louder, better promoted films like "Judas and the Black Messiah." I would love to see this win Best Picture.
See this film.
"MANK"
1930's Hollywood is reevaluated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screen writer Herman J. Mankiecwicz as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane.
Sigh. I love me a good biopic as much as the next gal. And heaven knows I love "Citizen Kane." I also enjoy the work of director David Fincher. But this screenplay, written eons ago by Fincher's father, Jack Fincher (who died in 2003), is, in a word, befuddling. Based on a two month span of time in which Makiecwicz wrote "Citizen Kane," the first hour and half of the film is a mess of flashbacks and quick scenes about 1930's Californian politics in a society where studio bosses controlled everything. Normally this would be cool. But for a film that's supposed to be about a washed up writer writing one of the best films in history, this film is neither biopic nor behind the scenes. It's just...befuddling. You can't just put Gary Oldman in a fat suit and call it an awesome film.
The last half hour or so picks up the pace and the point of the film is finally, FINALLY made in the last couple minutes, in a radio and TV clip that has nothing to do with the actors or the writer or anything. And it's the most moving bit of the movie.
This one is nominated for 10 Oscars. I see Trent Reznor adding to his Oscar shelf for the original score, and there are one or two technical awards this film should pull in. Amanda Seyfried is likely for best supporting actress. As for whether or not you should see it, well, you could save yourself a lot of time, and watch the first ten minutes, the last half hour, and then watch "Citizen Kane."
"Nomandland"
A woman in her 60's who, after losing everything in the Great Recession, embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling, modern-day nomad.
Some movies entertain. Some uplift. Some educate. "Nomandland," weirdly, does all three, but in reverse order of my list.
Frances McDormand is a national treasure and is well deserving of her nominations this year for Best Actress AND Best Picture. This is a very strange film at first. The vibe initially is that of a slow moving documentary. In fact, at one point, I said out loud (to no one since I was alone) "Why isn't this a documentary?"
Easy answer: Because once you get into the pacing of the movie, you realize you're seeing real life in a way we've never really seen it before. And therefore this deserves more eyeballs on it than a documentary might get.
The cast is not Hollywood beautiful. Could be because much of the cast is made up of actual Nomads, people who travel around the country, living in their vans or their RVs, working seasonal jobs here and there, and overall living as an earth friendly community that's always on the move. ("Tiny House Nation" can suck it. These nomads know how to live simply!)
David Strathairn, a favorite of mine, is a good pair with McDormand. Both play socially awkward, private people trying to reach out for some kind of contact. Set mostly in the deserts of the American West, there's little to distract the viewer from the truth and longing in each character's face.
This movie is a possibly a bit slow for many people, but well worth a look. If nothing else, your eyes will be opened to a new American Dream. Nominated for 6 Oscars, I fear this one is too quiet, too still, to beat out the bigger, noisier films like "The Trial of the Chicago 7." But after the years of anger and noise and unrest, it was actually nice to watch a community of people who learned how to live in peace and calm. McDormand is likely for Best Actress. I'm not sure I can pick this over "Promising Young Woman" for my favorite, but if it won Best Picture I wouldn't cry.
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