The Oscars are tonight. I've been working very hard to live my dash, get chores done AND watch the rest of the movies I needed to see before the show. Sadly, I was not able to watch Richard Jewell. I really wanted to see it because Kathy Bates was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. I don't think it was in the theaters very long. Anyway, I've watched quite a few movies in the last week or so:
Bombshell
Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman play real-life former FOX newscasters Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson, respectively, in this film based on true events. Margot Robbie plays a composite character, Kayla Pospisil. The three women were the tip of the iceberg of sexual harassment claims against Roger Ailes and several other executives and show anchors at the network. They were instrumental in bringing the inappropriate culture to light. John Lithgow plays Ailes. Kate McKinnon, Connie Britton, Allison Janet and Malcolm McDowell also star in the film. It was good.
The Two Popes
Near the end of his tenure, Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) meets with the future Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce) to put aside their differences and determine the future of the Catholic Church. It was interesting. The acting was superb. Pryce was nominated for Best Actor in a year that the field is heavy with great performances. I liked it.
Joker
Joaquin Phoenix gives a standout performance in Joker as the title character. We get a glimpse of the descent into madness of a bullied and misunderstood individual. I've had the privilege (if one can call it that) of observing mental illness up close and personal. It isn't pretty and Phoenix's performance captured it accurately. The movie being nominated for Best Picture? I'm not too sure. It was good though.
Harriet
Cynthia Erivo was wonderful as the title character in Harriet. The film gives us a glimpse of the Underground Railroad that helped many African Americans escape slavery. Harriet Tubman was instrumental in the venture. I couldn't help thinking about how courageous and gutsy a person she was. I liked it.
Pain and Glory
Antonio Banderas plays an aging film director who reflects on his past. Penélope Cruz, Julieta Serrano, Cecelia Roth, Leonardo Sparaglia and Asier Etxeandia round out the cast. It was very good.
1917
Sam Mendes directed, co-wrote and produce this film that is partially a story told to him by his grandfather, Albert Mendes. In WWII, two soldiers are tasked with going behind enemy lines to deliver the message to halt an attack that will be happening the next day at dawn. The fates of 1600 troops are at stake, one of whom is one of the message runner's brother. Talk about
being suspenseful. Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman star in this film. It was good.
The Irishman
Robert Deniro stars as Frank Sheeran who becomes a hitman for Jimmy Hoffa, played by Al Pacino. Add Joe Pesci, who plays Russell Bufalino, to the mix, and you've got yourself a mob movie. It's based on a nonfiction book. It was good.
As I do every year, I will tell you who I think should win in each of the top five (in my estimation) categories. Just because a movie is good, it doesn't mean it should be nominated for Best Picture. I'm still miffed that the Academy insists on nominating more than five films. Rant over. Let's begin.
All of the ladies nominated for Best Actress this year were very, very good: Cynthia Erivo (Harriet), Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story), Saoirse Ronan (Little Women), Charlize Theron (Bombshell), and Renée Zellweger (Judy). I pick Renée Zellweger.
The nominations for Best Actor were good ones: Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory), Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood), Adam Driver (Marriage Story) although I would have nominated Edward Norton (Motherless Brooklyn) instead, Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) and Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes). I pick Joaquin Phoenix.
For Best Supporting Actress, the nominees are: Kathy Bates (Richard Jewell), Laura Dern (Marriage Story), Scarlett Johansson (Jojo Rabbit), Florence Pugh (Little Women) and Margot Robbie (Bombshell). This category is a tough pick for me. I didn't see Richard Jewell and the other four ladies did great jobs, but by some not-very-fancy-or-scientific means, I pick Laura Dern because her character had a little fire in her.
Best Supporting Actor is another tough category. The nominees are: Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes), Al Pacino (The Irishman), Joe Pesci (The Irishman) and Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood). I pick Brad Pitt.
As previously stated in a previous post, of the nine films nominated for Best Picture, I think Ford v. Ferrari and Marriage Story were very weak nominations. The Irishman, 1917 and Joker were plus/minus nominations in my book. I know, I know. Nineteen Seventeen won the Golden Globes, but I thought it was a bit of a sentimental win. The strongest nominations were Jojo Rabbit, Little Women, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood and Parasite. Here's why: Each of these films had a little something that made them different. Some had a little quirk (except maybe Little Women), and y'all know how much I like quirky. Each told their stories in an inventive way. All that to say, I think Parasite should get Best Picture.
Enjoy the show!
MK out.
(Sorry for the funky spacing. Blogger has gotten cranky.)
