Happy Oscar Day! For the first time in 27 years, I will miss the Oscars! My family is visiting and I don't have TV! So I will have to catch the highlights the next day on the interwebs. Even though I won't be watching the show, doesn't mean I 'm not going to make my annual top ten list! So here we go!
10. Oppenheimer
I'm sorry I didn't catch Oppenheimer in IMAX 70mm, but it was still super awesome watching in my living room in my PJ's! I learned a lot about American history from watching Oppenheimer. I knew very little about the Manhattan Project. All I knew was that they tested the bomb in New Mexico and dropped it in Japan. I didn't realize America was in a race with the Nazis to create the bomb, and I certainly didn't know about how they threw Oppenheimer under the bus after he spoke out against further use of the bomb. Christopher Nolan is top Christopher Nolan, and I hope he wins for Best Director tonight. He's proven himself over and over, and he deserves to win. I think Oppenheimer will take home Best Picture.
9. Spider-Man Across the Spider-verse
If this movie doesn't win Best Animated Film then there's no hope for any of us. Honestly, it should have been nominated for Best Picture. It's really, really good! And *spoiler alert!* I am so annoyed that it ends in a cliffhanger!! I need the next movie out LIKE YESTERDAY! The animated Spider-Man movies are probably some of the best animated movies I've ever seen in recent memory. The animation is just so good! It's truly like watching a comic book come to life! I loved the first movie, I loved this second chapter, and I can't wait for the next one!
8. Barbie
I think Barbie was the only movie I saw in the theaters this year. Isn't that sad? Covid really turned me into a hermit! I'm glad I caught it in theaters because seeing Ryan Gosling in a fringed cowboy shirt on the big screen was truly worth it. He probably won't win the Oscar, but I really want him to! I think that would be hilarious if he got his first Oscar win for playing a Ken doll. When this movie was initially announced, and those first pictures from the shoot were released, the whole world held their breath. We all knew this was either going to be something truly magical, or a massive fail. I'm so glad that it turned out to be the former! I'll admit, I was very skeptical in the beginning, but Barbie won me over! It's fun and feminist, without being too preachy. And I have to mention that the fashion is just incredible! It's probably not going to win for Best Costume Design, because historical films almost always win that one, but this movie, more than any other other movie nominated, is all about the costumes! Barbie isn't Barbie without her outfits!
7. The Super Mario Bros Movie
I feel like this movie was made for Millennials because I ate it right up! Let me tell you something: I was the QUEEN of Mario Brothers and Mario Kart on Super Nintendo and N64! I haven't played in over 20 years, but if you stuck an N64 controller in my hands, and put in Mario Kart, I could kick anyone's ass! I also loved playing Donkey Kong, so I lit up when Donkey Kong and Diddy showed up! I honestly wasn't expecting to like this movie, like, at all. But it sucked me in from the start and just made me so happy! It took me back to when I was a kid, playing Mario Brothers, and all I wanted was that mythical star that would give me unfathomable powers and make me invincible!
6. Air
I think we all saw this one coming. I am bias. Ben and Matt together again?? Of COURSE I am putting Air on my list! But in all honestly, Air is so good! It's like the quintessential feel good movie! And Ben back behind the camera directing his good buddy Matty Damon? Sign me the heck up! Honestly, there's not really anything super stand out about this movie. It's a straightforward story about the creation of the Air Jordan, nothing to blow your socks off. But it's so well done, and just really nice to watch such a cute, wholesome movie!
4. Priscilla
I love Sofia Coppola and I was really excited to see Priscilla as soon as I heard she was making a film about her. After last year's Elvis, it was kind of nice to have a foil with Priscilla. I'm about to give a probably unpopular opinion. I think Jacob Elordi gave a better Elvis performance than Austin Butler. To be fair, there are no scenes of Elvis performing in Priscilla since it is a movie about Priscilla and not Elvis. You only see Elvis in day to day scenarios when he's at home with Priscilla. But even so, I was more convinced by Jacob Elordi's performance. But like I said, this movie isn't about Elvis. It's about Priscilla. And I think Cailee Spaeny did an excellent job portraying a young girl in love with a rock star, and in way over her head. Nobody is a better cinematic storyteller about girlhood than Sofia Coppola, and Priscilla is no exception. It took me back to my school girl days of having a crush on the coolest guy in the room. Except, unlike in Priscilla's case, the coolest guy in the room didn't even know I existed!
3. Saltburn
I honestly can't remember the last time I screamed out loud - and I mean
SCREAMED - while watching a movie. Let alone scream multiple times!! I
had a deep visceral reaction to this film, and rightfully so! I
mean...those of you who've seen it, you screamed too, right? It is a travesty that Saltburn didn't get any Oscar nominations. Especially none for Barry Keoghan!! I mean...those of you who've seen it, you know what he did! We all saw him do those things - all of those crazy, deranged, jaw dropping, cringing until my muscles hurt, can barely get myself to repeat it things - and he didn't get a nomination?? If it were up to me, I'd give him the win! Looking at the list of Best Actor nominees, none of them even comes close to Barry Keoghan's wild and daring performance. NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!
2. Past Lives
Ugghhh!! Tug on my little heartstrings why don't you?? Also, why didn't Celine Song get a Best Director nomination? Lots of snubs this year, I'm telling you! I'm glad she's up for Best Picture and Best Screenplay though because she really deserves it! I would even go as far as to say Past Lives was snubbed of acting nods as well. It's a very understated, but hugely affective film that gets you right in the core of your emotions. Greta Lee and Teo Yoo play childhood sweethearts who lose touch when Greta Lee's character immigrates from Korea to Canada. They reconnect twelve years later through Facebook, but then lose touch again. After another twelve years pass, they finally see each other for the first time since they were children. You can just FEEL the longing, the regrets, and the hope between them. Past Lives is a truly beautiful and touching film about the paths our lives take, the what ifs of it all, and of course love and friendship.
1. May December
I was reminded once again why Todd Haynes is one of my favorite directors. I was bummed to see May December only get one nomination for Best Original Screenplay. No Best Director, no Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress, no Best Supporting Actor for Charles Melton, who gave a phenomenal breakout performance! Normally, a movie about a grown woman having an affair with a 13 year old boy would be extremely uncomfortable and frankly disgusting to watch, but May December is such a melodramatic masterpiece dripping with satire that it's actually funny in a very dark way. This film is every possible kind of cinematic genius. From the brilliant dialogue, to the pitch perfect performances, to the score, the costumes, the hair and make up - EVERYTHING! You are cued to the tone of this film about five minutes in. Julianne Moore's character opens her refrigerator door to dramatic piano music while the camera zooms in on a close up of her as she tearfully declares, "We don't have enough hot dogs!" At that moment, I knew exactly what Todd Haynes was doing, and I was completely on board! Todd Haynes, when are you going to get your Oscar? I've loved you since Velvet Goldmine, but the people don't seem to get you!
Here are my thoughts on the rest of the Best Picture nominees:
American Fiction - Didn't see it
Anatomy of a Fall - Didn't see it
Killers of the Flower Moon - I loved the book and was really looking forward to the film adaptation, but unfortunately, I was disappointed overall. I am rooting for Lily Gladstone though! She was fantastic!
Maestro - Maestro is good, however, Bradley Cooper made some creative and interesting artistic choices that I didn't necessarily agree with. I didn't love the movie overall, but I appreciate the ambition.
Poor Things - Didn't see it
Zone of Interest - Didn't see it
Comments
Post a Comment