It is that time of year again. And the awards season finale would not be really complete without me expressing my opinion on it. Wait no more! As you will be privy to my ranking of the Best Picture nominees. How would I cast my ballot, if I had one.
Well, actually do wait a little bit as I discuss a few of the other categories first.
A C T I N G !
This year seemed to be exceptionally odd when it comes to the supporting categories. Ever fearful of submitting two performances for the same film in the lead category. The last time it happened as far as I can tell was in 1991 for Thelma & Louise. [For Best Actor: 1984 – Amadeus] This results in bizarre situations. For example, where Judas and the Black Messiah apparently doesn’t have a lead actor as both performances were nominated for Best Supporting.
This year it has resulted in several co-lead performances being nominated in the supporting categories. How is Isabella Rosselini’s three or four scenes supposed to compete with Zoe Saldaña or Ariana Grande who were in half of their respective movies.
Anyways, my picks….
Best Actor
Ralph Fiennes for Conclave.
Adrian Brody is probably going to win. His character is more dynamic and I too tend to prefer the bigger performances, but there was something about Fienne’s more subtly and more subdued demeanor that really resonated with me. And of course it is a shame he has not already won an Oscar.
Best Supporting Actor
Jeremy Strong for The Apprentice
You can find out why in my review of the film. It is a shame Kieren Culkin has to steal this category (see my rant just up above). This is the most interesting category of the year, where there are so many compelling performances. One notable snub: Chris Hemsworth as Dementus in Furiosa. Shoutout to one of the my favorite performances of the year.
Best Actress
Mikey Madison for Anora
The best performance by a woman, in a movie that was released in theater this year, was actually Willa Fitzgerald in Strange Darling. All the movie sites, though, list it as a 2023 film. So technically it doesn’t count? So why not instead give it to Mikey Madison. Or Demi Moore. I have no strong feelings one way or another. Though it would be funny to follow up Emma Stone winning it for a heavily sexualized (partially prostitute) role, with another heavily sexualized (partially prostitute) role. #hashtagfeminism?
Best Supporting Actress
uuhhhh… Felicity Jones I guess? for The Brutalist
This is a category where I can’t rustle up any strong emotions. Two are auto-disqualified in my mind, and of the remaining ones, they are all worthy enough. I don’t have even have any interesting outsider picks or snubs to shout out either.
B E S T P I C T U R E
Haven’t seen
N/A. I’m Still Here
Haven’t had a chance to see it. Haven’t even watched the Joaquin Phoenix movie of the same name from a few years back, so I can’t even make a joke about that.
The ones who should not even be nominated. Would be upset if won.
9. Emilia Perez
Obvious choice for last place, obviously. Though I will at least say that the internet pile-on is out of proportion as those thing tend to be. Not to discredit the valid concerns from the Mexican and trans communities. But this is not one of the worst movies ever made. It is definitely weird and not for everyone though. The film makes strong choices, though they almost always end up being choices I don’t like. Definitely should not have been nominated, especially in so many categories. Seems like the only people who adore this movie are the ones giving out awards. Also, the songs are bad.
Ice cream: Null.
8. Wicked
Maybe I am just biased against musicals. But just like Emilia Perez, I did not like the songs. Having good songs seems pretty important in a musical. Popular is fun enough, but the rest are cacophonous pop slop with non-discernible melodies that I can’t imagine people actually singing along to.
My bigger problem is the prequel-itis Wicked is infected with. The need to explain all the minute details of the original film. Why can’t the Wicked Witch just have a black, pointy hat? Why does the hat need a backstory?
Ice cream: Null.
Inoffensive, but would be disappointed if it won.
7. A Complete Unkown
I promise I don’t hate music. I don’t have any strong connection to Bob Dylan’s music. Wouldn’t necessarily be a problem in a music biopic, but this one especially seemed like a concert film at times. At least Dylan is an interesting and strange character. Almost operating at negative charismas as he mumbles and complains his way through life. But because of his songwriting talents everyone is just in utter awe of him and his genius.
Ice cream: Null.
6. Dune: Part Two
I don’t like the sand planet. It’s rough and gets everywhere. All the interesting scenes in the two films take place outside of the desert. Part Two has a lot more desert than Part One. I do recognize it as a quite the cinematic feat and perhaps Villeneuve will get awards recognition after Part Three a la LotR: Return of the King.
Ice cream: Null, obviously.
I get it. I wouldn’t vote for it, but I get it if it wins.
5. Anora
Somewhat surprising that this softcore porn turned farce is a frontrunner for Best Picture, but I won’t push back. I was amused, I laughed, I had fun. I found parts of it problematic. Perhaps through my own external biases. Like when the Russian Oligarch father has a humorous humanizing moment towards the end. But thankfully all the Russian characters were ultimately shit-heads.
Ice cream: depicted in several scenes (revisited location)
4. The Brutalist
Every year there is one or two nominees where I recognize it as a good movie, but just something that doesn’t really speak to me. I don’t have any really much in substantial critique. It didn’t need to be as long as it was. But I am sure that was a stylistic choice. There are a lot of deliberate, interesting choices made in the dialogue, cinematography, sound design. Still, despite its best efforts I anticipate it will soon fade from my memory.
Ice Cream: Null.
Rooting for, would be delighted if they won
3. The Substance
Body horror has led me astray many a time in the past. From most of Cronenberg Sr. work. Or Palm D’Or winner Titane. Maybe it was because the shock in took itself so seriously. The Substance is flashy, stylish, gross, and somehow even hornier than Sean Baker’s last film. Thankfully it was made by a woman, so all those ogling shots of Marget Qualleys ass are feminist instead of problematic!
Ice cream: Null.
2. Nickel Boys
The token Black movie to get a Best Picture nomination to try to stave off the #oscarssowhite label. Evidenced further by the lack of nomination for either Best Director (over Emilia Perez obviously) or Best Cinematography (also over Emilia Perez obviously). I though the Terrence Malik style and commitment to being pseudo-pov for the whole film would cause alienation and a only increase the facade of the medium. But it grew on me and by the end I was as emotionally invested as one could be in this tragic tale.
Ice cream: Mentioned, shown, eaten, plot relevance, multiple scenes. All-in-all a triumph of ice cream representation in an otherwise lackluster roster of films.
My vote goes to:
1. Conclave
The Oscars needn’t be a societal mirror, shoehorning in current event messaging instead of just picking what is best. This year there is the opportunity to do it while also awarding the clear Best Picture of the nominees.
Conceptually, it may seem like an incredibly dry film. Cardinals gathered together to vote fro the new pope. It is a testament to the films great script, the wonderful performances, the score and visuals, that it ends up enthralling throughout. At times almost like a tense crime thriller, but also peppered with moments of levity and wry humor.
Conclave is not in your face about its allegories to the political system at play in the US. Though it is quite obvious in how the Cardinals strategies how to vote; rather than voting for the candidate they believe best, voting strategically to defeat the undesirable option.
If you watch no other part of the film, at least treat yourself to the speech Ralph Fiennes gives at the start of the titular conclave.
Ice cream: Null.
AWholeCroissant 