The Oscars Post 2022

The Oscars are tonight and to tell you the truth, I am not all that excited. For one thing - ten nominations for best picture is too much. Secondly, awarding some of the categories before the show and only announcing them to cut time is disappointing and disrespectful to those categories. Finally, three hosts is three too many. That’s how time can be cut from the show - skip the extra entertainment that takes away from the nitty gritty.

I have not seen Parallel Mothers at the writing of this post; so, there’s that.

I did get to see the last two movies that have been nominated for Best Picture or one of the acting awards:

In Licorice Pizza, a high schooler meets a young woman who works for the yearbook photographer and he is instantly enamored. The film tells the story of what happens next. Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman star. Bradley Cooper, Sean Penn, John C Reilly and Maya Rudolph have fun roles. It’s a cute movie with a Best Picture nomination.

Drive My Car is set in Japan and subtitled. The film has been nominated for Best Picture and Best International Feature Film. An actor/theater director is still grieving the death of his wife when he is invited to direct a multilingual adaptation of a famous play. As part of the festival’s contract, a car with driver will be provided to him. At first he balks, but after seeing that the girl assigned is a skilled driver, he relents as long as they use his car. Over time, the two share their tortured pasts as he navigates the challenges presented by directing the play. It was very good.

Now to my picks:

Best Actress - Jessica Chastain

Best Actor - Benedict Cumberbatch 

Best Supporting Actress - Ariana DuBose

Best Supporting Actor - Kodi Smit-McPhee

Best Picture - The Power of the Dog

MK out.

Movie Monday - 3/21/2022

I have three movies left to see before the Oscars. One may not be available to see until after the show, but here’s hoping.

Interesting tidbit about the 1960s West Side Story - George Chakiris (who played Bernardo) is the nephew of a close family friend. The story is about two rival street gangs in 1950s New York. One member from one group falls in love with a the sister of the other a la Romeo and Juliet. I’m not sure why the musical was adapted again. It was pretty great the first time. I was surprised that the remake maintained the 1950s setting. It begs the question again - why was it remade, especially because it’s almost exactly like the first? Maybe because it’s impossible to improve the original and Steven Spielberg really, really wanted to do it??? Despite all that, it was pretty good.

Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand star in The Tragedy of Macbeth as the title character and his wife. We all know the story - A trio of witches predict that Macbeth will be King and Lady Macbeth is going to make sure it happens. I very much appreciated that the set design didn’t make it look like a stage play. It flowed well and kept my interest.  I liked it.

In The French Dispatch, the story of the last issue of a fictional newspaper is told in three vignettes. Wes Anderson is a master of quirky characters and perspectives askew. The large ensemble cast includes Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Benicio Del Toro, Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet and Owen Wilson. It was good.

Recently binged:

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 4 - Prime

All Creatures Great and Small Season 2 - PBS

MK out.

Book Chat - 3/10/2022

I have two books to mention this week.

The Storyteller by Dave Grohl

I enjoyed reading the autobiography (so far) of this talented musician. From punk rock garage bands to Nirvana to the Foo Fighters, Dave has some stories to tell. 

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

Imagine a world where the tiniest lapse in judgement could send a person to parenting school. Imagine an institution that subjectively infers feeling and intent in its exercises to become a good parent. It reminded me a bit of The Handmaid’s Tale. This rather dystopian novel horrified me, but it was good.

MK out.

Book Chat - 3/3/2022

I just finished reading Normal People by Sally Rooney. I still don’t like her writing style, as previously mentioned when discussing Conversations With Friends, but I felt more invested in this story. I wanted to slap the main characters a few times. Communication breakdown and trust issues were themes winding throughout the book. The ending wasn’t very satisfying, but it left what happens next wide open. There’s a series on Hulu based on the book. I can’t decide if I will watch it. Overall, I liked the book.

MK out.

Movie Monday - 2/28/2022

It’s been a busy dash. I did, however, watch a couple of the movies nominated for Oscars. I have five left to see.

I have never read any of the books, and I understand there are several but when I started watching Dune (starring Timothée Chalamet), I figured I’d be fine. I was wrong. First, the sound quality wasn’t good, because when they were speaking low (on purpose) and saying things pertinent to the plot, they were near impossible to hear. Where was the sound engineer? Secondly, I spent a good part of the film confused. Finally, I had a hard time finding any of the characters endearing. I know I’m probably not the target audience, but a Best Picture nomination???

The Tinder Swindler is a documentary about a guy who has defrauded women all over the world and how three of the ladies got him back. It was good, but one thing could have made it better. I’ll let you watch and then come back and tell me what you think that is.

Bradley Cooper, Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Mary Steenburgen and many others starring Nightmare Alley made it a great ride. The film opens ominously, watching Stan Carlisle (Cooper) dumping a heavy, longish bag into the floorboards of a dilapidated house and then setting it all on fire. From there, we watch him take steps that, to him, seem like they are leading him to success but they are really leading to his descent. It was good.

MK out.

Book Chat -2/25/2022

Let’s dive right in: 

The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton 

Someone is planning a major cyberattack on the US and the President has to work behind the scenes to try to figure out how to stop it. There’s also a leak coming from a very high level of the government. This attack would cripple the water and power supplies, transportation and communication systems, all manner of financial institutions, the internet, and any device that connects to it. It would plunge the US into The Dark Ages. Sadly, Russia poses a similar threat to the US and other countries.  I was entertained and a little freaked out by the book.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Benny and Byron’s mother has died. The estranged siblings are left with a black cake to eat “when the time is right” and a video message their mother left to share many things she didn’t have time to before she died. It was good.

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

Lillian’s friend Madison, whom she hasn’t seen since Lillian had to leave their boarding school suddenly, calls her with the promise of a job offer. Lillian learns that the job is to care for Madison’s stepchildren. Since they tend to spontaneously combust, Lillian must keep them safe and out of the public eye while their father is being vetted for a high ranking government position. I liked it.

MK out. 

Book Chat - 2/10/2022

Last time, I forgot to mention that I read 43 books in 2021 - 19 more books than my goal. I really am grateful for being able to pick up a book and travel to another place for a little while. 

The Hotel in the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

The story goes back and forth in time between the 1940s and 1980s. Two young lovers, one Chinese and one Japanese, are separated by the Internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. Will they ever see each other again? It was good.

Bright Burning Things by Lisa Harding

A former stage actress in the throes of alcohol addiction must choose between the bottle and her young son. I didn’t really care for the writing style, but it was tense, interesting and ultimately

a good read.

MK out.