89th Academy Awards Thread

[songanddanceman2]

This has got to be one of the worst years for films and Oscars. Everything just feels so meh. La La Land was perfectly fine but 14 nods? Are you kidding. Honestly I preferred Patriots Day and Sing Street to most nominated films.

[RippedMan]

Honestly, if we're being real, Zootopia should just win the whole damn thing. 

[ErikJ972]

I disagree. I thought it was a great year for film in general and this will be the first year in a while that I will probably actually tune in to the Oscars.

Much of that has to do with Moonlight which is the best American film I've seen in a decade.

[Jane2]

I've seen around seven of the big films this year and also think they were all meh. For me, this has been the worst year for movies that I remember.

I don't care who wins what, even at the SAG awards.

[Mister Matt]

This has got to be one of the worst years for films and Oscars. 

Well, but that's said pretty much every year.  Of the BP nominees, I've only seen La La Land thus far, but I fear Hacksaw Ridge will be a film I actively hate like the gawdawful Revenant (I don't even know if I can bring myself to watch a Gibson film), but at least the others don't appear to be the snoozefests that were Boyhood or Tree of Life, or another see-my-signature-style Tarantino vanity piece.

Have I missed something or is there no "FILL-IN-THE-BLANK hasn't won an Oscar yet, so we have to give them one for whatever they did recently" Hollywood industry OUTRAGE campaign?  The ones for Scorsese and his boy-toy DiCaprio were positively nauseating.

[Jane2]

"Well, but that's said pretty much every year."

Matt, do they really say that? Anyway, personally I usually go batSh!t over one or more films each year. This year I'm actually thinking that maybe the whole industry of filmmaking has changed, and not in a good way for me.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Have I missed something or is there no "FILL-IN-THE-BLANK hasn't won an Oscar yet, so we have to give them one for whatever they did recently"

 

Well, that should arguably apply to Isabelle Huppert, and there seems to be a feeling that Viola Davis is "due" too...which is not to say she doesn't absolutely deserve it, of course.

 

[Mister Matt]

Matt, do they really say that? 

Someone always does.  Just like we get the annual "WORST TONY BROADCAST EVER!" post.

Well, that should arguably apply to Isabelle Huppert, and there seems to be a feeling that Viola Davis is "due" too...which is not to say she doesn't absolutely deserve it, of course.

I haven't seen anything too blatant, though.  Nothing like "Three 6 Mafia has an Oscar, but Scorsese doesn't?!?!?!" sort of crap that leads to a Departed level of Academy bone-throwing.

[aaaaaa15]

ErikJ972 said: "I disagree. I thought it was a great year for film in general and this will be the first year in a while that I will probably actually tune in to the Oscars.

Much of that has to do with Moonlight which is the best American film I've seen in a decade."

Couldn't agree more. Moonlight is one of the all time greats. Jackie also makes it into my favorite films of all time. Probably La La Land too although I do wish the hype would die down a bit because my brain keeps automatically thinking 'well it isn't THAT good'. Also really enjoyed Arrival, O.J.: Made in America and Moana. None of the films from last year's awards race I liked as much as any of the aforementioned, except if you count Ex Machina which only made it into the techs. 

I think it has been an exceptional year for these type of movies.

[hork]

songanddanceman2 said: "This has got to be one of the worst years for films and Oscars. Everything just feels so meh. La La Land was perfectly fine but 14 nods? Are you kidding. Honestly I preferred Patriots Day and Sing Street to most nominated films.

 

Agreed. I actively disliked five of the Best Picture nominees and ranged from lukewarm to warm on the other four. Hell or High Water is my favorite of the bunch but it wouldn't even be in my top 10 for the year (top 15, maybe).

 

[BroadwayNYC2]

A very strange year for film indeed. A few still sit with me long after I saw them (La La Land, Arrival, Manchester by the Sea), a few I liked in the theatre but now I view less favorably (Moonlight) and a few I completely forgot about (Loving).

Most of my favorites didn't even make the cut: Sing Street, The Witch, Other People and Edge of Seventeen 

[ArtMan]

I saw Fences and Hell Or High Water today.  I really loved both.  Denzel gave a great performance.  (I never saw the play)  I think if he didn't already have 2 Oscars under his belt, he would be a shoo in.  Prior to this, I really liked Casey's performance in Manchester,  but Denzel  was so much stronger in his role.  I loved Hell or High Water.  It reminded me of No Country For Old Men with Tommy Lee Jones,, which was a favorite of mine during that year.  Jeff Bridges is also extremely good.  He may receive his second.

[Call_me_jorge]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned and I can't find the link, but one of the best foreigner film nominees can't make it to the ceremony, because they live in Iran. 

[Jane2]

re Fences. They didn't take advantage of the medium of film. This played like a play. It had one set, and the blocking, oy. Walking from one side of the backyard to the other. Dead space in between. I wish it were more like a movie.

[ArtMan]

Re- Fences.  Not opening it up didn't really bother me.  I was more into the story since I never saw the play and the performances.  i usually like Denzel, but have not been that interested in his past films for the last 5 or so years.  I was just blown away by his performance.  Not really a spoiler but be warned:  I really identified with his character when he was feeding his brother.  It is something i do with my mother five times a week at her nursing home.  That scene really moved me into tears.

[bwaylyric]

Imagine if Miles Teller and Emma Watson were cast in La La Land instead of Stone and Gosling.  

City of Other Stars

[gypsy101]

Finally saw Moonlight last night. My boyfriend and I were both blown away by it (he said it's in the running for one of his favorite films of all time). The beauty, the subtlety, the performances, the score, everything was stunning. I've now seen La La Land, Fences, Hidden Figures and Moonlight (as well as Jackie and Loving with Best Actress noms) and for me it's between Moonlight and La La Land for the Best Picture (as i'm sure it is for most people). Hope to see the rest before the ceremony.

[John Adams]

I wish there had been more love for "The Lobster". I think that if  "La La Land" and "The Lobster" were shown as a double bill, their similarities might better come through.

For my tastes, I thought the choices regarding storytelling in "The Lobster" were bolder, more creative, and certainly less cliched and expected than those used in "La La Land". If "La La Land" deserves a nomination for Best Picture, "The Lobster" should also be in the running.

[MoveOnGypsy]

Have you seen Lion? I've seen all of the ones you mentioned and it's hands down my favorite.

[henrikegerman]

This is one of the best year for awards season buzz movies in a long time.  I loved all three of the movies generally given the best odds to win best picture: Moonlight, La La Land, and Manchester.  None of them are junk.  Whereas I can't count the number of years I've hated the movie that won best pic.

Also, it's hard to remember a year with stronger performances by leading actresses.  In many another year, long overdue stars - and damn good actors - 4 time nominee Annette Bening or 5 time nominee Amy Adams might have easily been favored to win for their work this year (and Adams gave not just one but two highly acclaimed performances this season), but this year's race was so chockfull of strong performances that their not even being nominated wasn't particularly surprising.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Wow, Henrik, you're quite the glass-half-full guy tonight. I mean I like those movies you've mentioned perfectly well (actually MOONLIGHT a good deal more, and MANCHESTER a good deal less that that, but no matter--) but when the whole movie-going year was done, I felt like there were so few good movies to choose from just to fill out the rosters for all the nominees this year.

Yes, among the 9 movies nominated for Best Picture, there were at least 5 or 6 that were swell, but look at the rest of the list of ALL the movies released last year-- where are all those brilliant also-rans that were equally deserving but got snubbed due to lack of space? They're nowhere to be found because the cupboard seemed so bare this year. I'm usually quite the cockeyed optimist myself most of the time, but this past year of moviegoing felt like a low ebb in memorable product. My optimism only encourages me to believe the slate of releases in 2017 will be fabulous by comparison.

[Consistency]

I don't think Henrik's opinion is that far out from the kind of talk I've been reading on various film forums. In my estimation, 2016 was the strongest year for movies since... 2007, maybe? Or at least I think that was the last time I was able to fill a top ten entirely with films I legitimately loved (and I could almost fill another top ten with films I liked nearly as much.)  

Of course, only one of the films in my top ten is a Best Picture nominee - and only a few others ever had any chance of being major awards contenders. (I should add that I did like all of the BP nominees this year, to varying extents - a rare occurrence, especially with a slate this large.) 

Though I usually think lists without commentary aren't all that interesting, here's my top ten as it currently stands: 

1. Certain Women
2. Land of Mine
3. Moonlight
4. Your Name
5. The Lobster
6. Paterson
7. I, Daniel Blake
8. The Red Turtle
9. A Quiet Passion
10. Fire at Sea

And the close runner-ups: The Salesman / La La Land / Knight of Cups / The Witch / Sing Street / 10 Cloverfield Lane / Manchester by the Sea / The Handmaiden / Love & Friendship

That's an embarrassment of riches in any year, in my opinion. 

[Mister Matt]

Of the BP noms, I only have yet to watch Lion and Fences (though I remove Hacksaw Ridge from the equation entirely).  I've really enjoyed all of them thus far, with Hidden Figures leading as my personal favorite.  After watching, I was a bit surprised that Spencer received an acting nom, but not Henson.  Henson was the real standout for me.

[AC126748]

I would have given Janelle Monae Spencer's slot. Spencer is a fabulous actress, but it just didn't feel like an Oscar performance to me.

I'm sure Henson was considered leading and got shut out of what was a very busy category.

[henrikegerman]

"Yes, among the 9 movies nominated for Best Picture, there were at least 5 or 6 that were swell, but look at the rest of the list of ALL the movies released last year-- where are all those brilliant also-rans that were equally deserving but got snubbed due to lack of space?"

Someone, first it's not as if most movie years are brimming with brilliant also-rans, particularly of the awards-likely category of movies.

5 or 6 of a group of 9 being swell, if we were for the sake of argument to agree on that, is at least par for the course and at most bordering on a movie banner year.  Even going back to vintage Hollywood one can find ****ty movies nominated for best picture, and even winning (The Greatest Show on Earth anyone?).

As far as movies not nominated for best picture that were well received (and we may not agree on all of them - when do we ever agree on all of them? that's what makes moviegoing) for your consideration:  Indignation, Eye in the Sky, Toni Erdmann - these first three btw are standouts for me personally -  Hail, Caesar! - in my opinion vastly underrated - Elle, Jackie - two movies I also liked very much and Huppert's destined for legend performance alone should make Elle required viewing - The Handmaiden, Loving, Jungle Book, Captain Fantastic, Silence, Love and Friendship.  To  name just a few.

I'll also add that one movie nominated for best picture, Hidden Figures, I would hardly call a great or oscar worthy movie.  But for its genre, the middle of the road historical feel good movie, it was highly satisfying, well made, had some excellent performances, and didn't insult anyone's intelligence - which is a damn side more than I can say for a great many movies that win Oscars and a damn side more than what one can usually say for movies of its genre.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Gosh, Henrik, maybe I've just turned in to a cranky old curmudgeon when it comes to movies that please me these days. Of the ones you've listed in your last post, only LOVING and EYE IN THE SKY would make the list of also-rans I give high marks to. I utterly agree with your assessment of HIDDEN FIGURES: a cheerfully commercial take on a deserving subject that wasn't great art but made its audiences very happy. A solid B+.

As for the rest, I thought HAIL CAESAR was a dreadful script cleverly concealed by wonderful production design and a great cast. I couldn't wait for ELLE to end, I disliked it so. I found JACKIE oddly amateurish, including the nominated performance of its leading lady. Ditto the underwritten INDIGNATION. SILENCE was (deliberately) excruciating with no redemption for me. LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP felt like a pale imitation of a witty Regency comedy, rather than the real thing. (Compare it to the terrific FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD of 2015 for how one of these should be done.)

Oh God, have I turned into the After Eight of movie reviewers? For ballast I thought that MOONLIGHT, ARRIVAL and HELL OR HIGH WATER were among the best works of the last 3 or 4 years, so at least I'm happy to celebrate those from my snooty ivory tower.