Oscar's Best 2024

I found 2024 to be a disappointing year for "best" picture nominees.  Among my very conservative friend group, I'm considered to be the most liberal of conservatives.  I've even been called a RINO.  I actually consider myself down the middle, especially on most DEI or WOKE issues.  I think the academy clearly has a "type" of movie they like to reward, often the more weighty and socially conscious art style films.  Who hasn't heard, or said, "now that's an Oscar type movie"?!?!  I don't really have an issue with certain themes being deemed more "worthy" than others.  Although, I would certainly like to see more of the non-types, like big budget, summer blockbuster action movies, along with comedies, animation, and even horror, getting more recognition.  I do see signs of this trend slowly changing, maybe because there are now up to 10 nominees, instead of 5, which used to be the max.  My issue this year, is that some movies seem to be rewarded for the mere concept or theme of the film, then for the actual quality of the movie. 

As always, I'll review the top movies nominated, in the order I would rank them, best to worst.  I enjoyed the top three, maybe four, far more than the rest.  The bottom three could have come in any order.  I disliked them all for different reasons.  In the end, I tried to rank them on the elements I did like, more than what I didn't.

There were a few movies this year that I think were worth watching, that the Academy overlooked, or more likely weren't "Oscar types".  My recommendations this year are a bit more "edgy" or darker than usual.  While I'm not exactly a fan of horror, "Strange Darling" and "Longlegs" fall into that genre.  "Strange Darling" is a unique take on a serial killer, both in style and substance.  "Longlegs" felt like a mix of "Silence of the Lambs" with the mysticism of season one, of HBO's, "True Detective".  For a fun, there is a slightly crazy movie, set in Belfast, called "Kneecap", that I recommend.  It's based on a true story about a rap group trying to save and legitimize the Irish language.  Finally, if you were born in the 60's, and consider yourself a "Saturday Night Live" fan, the movie "Saturday Night" is worth seeing.  The film primarily follows Lorne Michaels as he endeavors, against all odds, to get the firsts episode of SNL on the air.

1)  A COMPLETE UNKNOWN:  I can't say I'm a big Bob Dylan fan, but I do respect him and his accomplishments.  That being said, "A Complete Unknown" was the most complete and most entertaining movie of the year.  The film chronicles the rise of Dylan, from a vagabond, 19-year-old, folk singer and song writer to a world-renowned icon.  Timothee Chalamet's performance is simply spectacular, and I'll be rooting for him to win the best lead actor Oscar.  I believe he's the best actor of his generation, and the next De Niro or DiCaprio.  His commitment to the role, his obvious research, not to mention his live musical performances, are truly to be admired!  Dylan arrives in NY where he meets, and is mentored by Pete Seeger, an established Folk music star, played brilliantly by Ed Norton.  Dylan becomes romantically involved with Sylvie, played by Elle Fanning, and eventually teams up professionally and romantically with Joan Baez, wonderfully portrayed by relative unknown Monica Barbaro, who I'm also rooting for to win an Oscar, although she's considered a long shot.  There is a palpable beauty and authenticity to the look and sound of this movie.  Dylan has always been somewhat of an enigma, often charming and just as often cranky or downright nasty.  That definitely comes through. The man won a Nobel Prize but didn't even go to the awards ceremony to accept.  In the end, I was totally captivated and thoroughly entertained.  What higher praise......

2)  DUNE: PART TWO:  Timothee Chalamet part 2!  Ordinarily I'm drawn to actor driven films.  Give me a strong performance and great writing over spectacular visuals, or thrilling action.  Dune may be the exception to this preference.  The performances by this star-studded cast.... Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, to name a few...... were as good as you'd expect.  However, it's the visual beauty, the effects, the CGI, the action, and the sheer entertainment value that make this movie special.  I suspect the credit mostly goes to the writer and director, Denis Villeneuve.  I'm not sure I fully appreciated how beautiful the first Dune was, but it's unmistakable in Part 2.  Maybe this is a continuation of the trend to reward more popular "non-Oscar types".

3)  ANORA:  Mikey Madison plays the titular Anora, an Uzbek American, Brookly native, hard edged, sex worker.  She gives a no holds barred, brazen, fearless, utterly committed, performance, for which she appropriately received a best actress nomination.  I hope she wins.  She seduces, and becomes seduced by, Vanya, the son of a Russian oligarch.  He hires Anora for a week of partying and sex.  The week of fun evolves into a love affair, and they impulsively elope to Las Vegas.  Naturally, his parents aren't pleased and insist on an annulment.  Oscar nominated Yura Borisov, is Igor, an enforcer, who's tasked with keeping an eye on Anora and protecting Vanya.  His performance is the anchor to the film and what gives it heart.  Overall, it is a very fun, and funny, movie, with a lot to like.  I was thoroughly entertained.  I did have issues, once again, with the 2:20 run time, and several scenes I found unnecessary, as they didn't further the story, were unbelievable, or simply too long.  For example, there is a sequence in a diner, a prolonged search for a missing Vanya, and a tow truck incident that fall into the unnecessary, too long, and unbelievable category, respectively.  I also felt the film lost some of its momentum when Vanya's stereotypical and poorly acted parents enter the film.  Although, the very end was unexpected and riveting.  

4)  CONCLAVE:  This is the definition of an actor driven film.  Ralph Fiennes single handedly drives this movie and is solely responsible for its acclaim.  There are several other excellent performances, but they exist only to enhance Ralph Fiennes.  The beloved pope has died, and Cardinal Lawrence (Fiennes) is charged with organizing the Conclave, the event by which a new pope is elected.  118 Cardinals from the world over, descend on the Vatican, for this secret and sacred process.  Cardinal Lawrence must wrangle egos, deal with questionable motives, in-fighting, and deception, all while trying to be true to the church's teaching, and the wishes of the recently deceased pope.  The writing and performances are Oscar worthy.  It's a very strong film, with a similar feel as "Two Popes", from 2020, which earned two best actor nominations, lead and supporting.  However, I felt the ending was rushed and unsatisfying.  As my brother likes to say, "it didn't stick the landing", and therefore gets significant deductions.

5)  THE BRUTALIST:  Everything in this movie is excellent.  The acting, the writing, the direction, and the cinematography, are all top shelf.  Adrian Brody plays Laszlo Toth, in this based on a true story, epic.  He's a renowned architect who, as a Jew, flees war torn Europe, to start anew in America.  He works menial jobs, until given his big break by Harrison Lee Van Buren, a wealthy businessman, played beautifully by Guy Pearce, who I've been critical of in the past (Memento not withstanding).  While all the individual pieces are excellent, the film suffers from being nearly 3 and a half hours long and consequently from being slow paced, or boring.  Laszlo has substance abuse and fidelity "issues", which, while being important to defining his nature, are alluded to more than depicted on film.  There is a significant train derailment, which is shown from a drone perspective.  The view from above shows a train driving in to a foggy cloud, followed by a bright flash, and that's it.  For this tragically long movie, these felt like missed opportunities for some sorely needed action.  Laszlo's character also doesn't seem to evolve much during the 3.5 hours.  He's kind of a dick early and remains one late.  The movie reminds me a little of my review of "Killers of the Flower Moon", a film in which I liked everything, but thought it too long and ultimately boring.

6)  NICKEL BOYS:  This movie was hard to review, and hard to decide where to place on this list.  I understand why the film was nominated, being very much "Oscar-type".  However, for me, it was just too artsy, by a lot.  This type of movie makes me feel like I should be taking notes or need to check the Cliff Notes after watching.  Our protagonist, Elwood Curtis, played primarily by Ethan Herisse, is a black high schooler, growing up in the racist American south, of the early 1960s.  Although innocent of any crime, he ends up in an abusive reform school in Florida.  There he's befriended by Turner, also wonderfully played by Brandon Wilson.  The film is beautifully written, shot and acted.  However, the events are nonlinear, jumping around in the timeline.  It's sometimes viewed from first person, sometimes second.  One scene is shown twice, from two different viewpoints.  There is a mule, and a recurrent alligator, which I'm sure symbolize something important, that I didn't quite get.  There is considerable violence, but it's never quite shown, just alluded to, or shown in the aftermath.  These are clearly directorial choices.  To me, these issues made the movie feel disjointed and made it difficult to fully immerse myself.  I think my favorite part was a short, but gripping, scene, in a bar, near the end of the film, in which an older Elwood bumps in a prior fellow "inmate", played by Trey Perkins.  I think Perkins was overlooked for a supporting actor nod.  In the end, I did enjoy it.  I understand and respect that someone would cherish this movie, but for my taste, still a little too artsy.

7)  WICKED:  Much like last year's "Barbie", I'm quite certain that the target audience for this movie wasn't 60-year-old white guys.  Naturally. there was a lot of singing and dancing, much of which I did enjoy.  Ariana Grande was "fine" as Galinda (Good Witch) but Cynthia Erivo was extraordinary as Elphaba (Bad Witch).  At 2:40 it was far too long, especially considering it's only Part 1.  Visually it was only okay, and the entire film felt a little too preachy and "WOKE".  I'm sure this appealed to the theater-kid crowd, but it wasn't really for me.  I'd say it's pretty much what you'd expect, just longer.

8)  THE SUBSTANCE:  My feelings about this movie are similar to those I had about "Everything, Everywhere All at Once".  So many people I respect raved about this film, but I didn't care for it all that much.  Demi Moore is Elisabeth, a beloved, Jane Fonda type, exercise guru, with a successful television show.  She's aging and is being pushed out by Harvey, the show's producer, played by Dennis Quaid.  She's to be replaced by the younger, hotter, Sue, played expertly by Margaret Qualley.  Elisabeth is turned on to the possibility of getting injections of a mysterious "substance" which will preserve her youth and career.  The willingness to pay any price, or take any risk, for youth and beauty just didn't feel all the unique or original.  The set up, during the first half of the movie felt very "on the nose" and predictable.  Yes, there are some excellent scenes with beautiful visual and performance choices, just not enough.  The second half, after having accepted and injected the substance, simply became too chaotic, inconsistent, and unbelieve for me.  I saw the film in an art house type theater.  During a late, very violent scene, when audiences were supposed to shocked and horrified, my audience was quite literally giggling at the absurdity.  In another late scene, a now grotesquely deformed Elisabeth, could barely move her legs, but in a following scene she's shown agilely sprinting down a hallway.  These types of scenes pulled me out of the "flow" of the film, and I found myself checking my watch frequently to see "how much longer".

9)  EMILIA PEREZ:  Another musical I didn't fully get.  This movie has been controversial but did receive 13 Oscar nominations, among the most ever, by any film.  The somewhat preposterous premise is that Manitas (Karla Sofia Gascon), a cartel leader, hires Rita (Zoe Saldana), a lawyer, to arrange for him to undergo a sex-change operation and to create a new identity, for him to start a new life as a woman.  Some of the musical numbers are quite lovely, but the performances, the pacing, and the overall entertainment value was lacking, in my opinion.  Although, I have to admit I enjoyed it more than I expected to.  I've never mentioned other reviews, but I do frequent IMDB quite often.  The Metascore (cumulative critics review score) was a mere 70, and it's IMDB rating (cumulative user score) was a dreadful 5.5.  I'm not sure how this poorly received film, by critics and audiences alike, deserved the honor of being one of the most nominated films ever.  While this is very much an Oscar-type, and a front runner, it's just not that great.

10)  I'M STILL HERE:  This foreign language film is another "based on true story".  In 1971 former Brazilian congressman, Rubens Paiva, was taken from his home by the military, which had overtaken the government and the country.  Eunice (Fernanda Torres), his wife, and his kids, are left to their own devices, awaiting his return.  The film primarily chronicles Eunice's endeavor to discover what's happened to him, and how to move on in his absence.  At some point, along with one of her daughters, she is also taken by the military, imprisoned and interrogated, but only for a relatively short while.  This movie had plenty of opportunity to be dramatic, or more interesting and entertaining, but it failed on all counts, in my humble opinion.  The first hour, or so, is primarily the family going about typical family business.  Much of the first act is intermittently shot in a shaky handheld camera style, which after a while I found annoying and distracting.  Rubens is shown, in his office, or on the phone, but what exactly he's up to isn't made clear.  Once he's taken, we never see his character again, although, it's assumed, and later confirmed, that he's been tortured and killed.  There is no physical violence shown, beyond a black-out hood being placed, showers denied, and repetitive looking through mug shots.  I never quite felt the distress nor tension I'm sure they were hoping to convey.  At the risk of a "spoiler", in the last act, decades later, Eunice receives notice that a much-desired death certificate has been issued.  There is much jubilation along with media attention.  For whatever reason, prior to the notification, the desire for a death certificate is never even mentioned or hinted at.  Therefore, there is no anticipation and no shared jubilation from the audience, when it's finally received.  I didn't care for the photography, the pacing, nor the acting, despite 3 significant nominations and much critical acclaim.  Ultimately, it's 2 hours and 17 minutes of nothing much happening.

As always, I welcome any opinions, in agreement or disagreement.  Tell me what other movies, in your opinion, should have been nominated or should be seen.

Oscar's Best 2023

2023 was an atypical year, as far as which type of movies got nominated for best picture Oscars, as well as for my thoughts about those movies.  My opinions are a little contradictory this year; features I enjoyed in one movie might be the same feature I didn't like in another.  For example, I loved how silly "Poor Things" was and yet didn't like "Barbie" as much because it was too "silly".  I believe this is also the first year in which three foreign language films got nominated in the Best Picture category.  My top three films this year were easily placed.  After that, it could have been just about any order, and I rearranged it several times.  As usual, there were also several movies that I really enjoyed and felt should have gotten more attention.  "The Iron Claw" was shockingly good.  I was expecting a formulaic wrestling movie but got a well-crafted and deeply emotional family drama.  Hats off to Zach Effron, for delivering an Oscar worthy performance.  "The Boys in the Boat" did deliver a formulaic film, but the formula exists because the formula tends to work.  "Air" was another very entertaining movie, with a great soundtrack, and safe for the entire family.  "Society of the Snow" is an intense recounting of the Uruguayan Rugby team that crashes in the Andes. If you're looking for a little more action, I enjoyed "The Covenant", starring Jake Gyllenhaal and directed by Guy Richie.  As always, I welcome all comments, if they agree with my opinions or not.  Tell me what movies you liked, or didn't, and maybe what you think got overlooked......

1)  OPPENHEIMER:  For me, this is the best movie of the past 5 years, or perhaps longer.  Christopher Nolan is rapidly making a run at "best living Director".  He never fails to deliver visually gorgeous images, heart pounding action, smart writing, complex plots, and A-list performances.  I suspect everyone knows this movie is about the development of the Atomic Bomb which was eventually dropped on Japan.  Personally, I'm partial to actor driven movies, with the good writing being the second most pivotal feature I'm drawn to.  Although, even great acting can't always rescue bad writing.  Cillian Murphy delivers a deep, complex, powerful yet nuanced performance.  His range of expression is awe inspiring.  He's seemingly able to portray several conflicting emotions at once.  Robert Downey Jr. is his amazing self as Lewis Strauss.  I expect, and hope, both will win best acting Oscars.  Emily Blunt and the rest of the supporting cast are equally amazing, in lesser but important roles.  The music, the cinematography, the pace, the direction, all just add to the power and beauty of this film.  There's a reason this movie got the most nominations (13) of any film this year.  I particularly enjoyed the scenes in which the various scientists debate the science of various obstacle to be overcome.  Each scientist is passionate about their own opinion and are eloquent in defense of it.  However, as it should be in science, facts and math win out in the end.  You can argue opinion, but not facts.  Math doesn't lie.  The scene in which the bomb is first tested is one of the most memorable scenes in recent memory.  The silence during the anticipation of the countdown, followed by the KaBoom, and its chaotic aftermath, was simply breath taking.  I loved just about everything about film.  Of course, I'm still of the opinion that no movie needs to be 3 hours long, but "Oppenheimer" may be an exception. My only minor criticism would be about the ending.  The testing scene was so powerful, I'd have liked that be the end.  However, it was followed by a fairly lengthy "trial" sequence, in which efforts are made to discredit Oppenheimer.  While understandably necessary, I felt those scenes were far less dramatic and lessened the impact of the explosion.  That being said, I'll be rooting for Oppenheimer to win every award it was nominated for!

2)  POOR THINGS:  Talk about original!  Yorgos Lanthimos has directed some of the strangest movies.  "The Lobster" and "The Killing of a Scared Deer" are far too odd to easily explain.  Weird doesn't even begin to describe them.   I think his most popular film, "The Favourite", was his first mainstream film, it garnered 10 Oscar nominations, and was his first collaboration with Emma Stone.  The plot chronicles the physical and emotional development of Bella Baxter, played by Stone.  Bella has an adult body when she's reborn with an infant's brain.  We share in her journey of physical, emotional and intellectual transformation.  Her acting, particularly her physical performance, is hard to describe, and impossible to praise too highly.  Willem Dafoe plays a physically disfigured physician, in the mold of Dr. Frankenstein, while Mark Ruffalo plays Bella's first love interest.  He teaches her about the ways of the world, social norms, and carnal pleasures.  All three actors are at the top of their game.  Every word, action and mannerism seems genuine.  Every set, backdrop, costume, sound and spoken word has been clearly and carefully considered, artfully crafted, perfectly performed and brilliantly directed, with genuine passion, even love.  Ordinarily I'm put off by silly or nonsensical scenes or movies.  Having a medical background, I find myself overly critical of medical scenes that aren't accurate or authentic.  Just like my military background makes me more critical of inaccurate military scenarios.  That being said, this entire movie is so outlandish and over the top, that all the silly, crazy and impossible situations just somehow work and further the plot.  Want to take someone's brain out and pop it in to another head?  Why not!  This movie may be just too odd for some: so, as much as I enjoyed this masterpiece, I'm not sure I'd blanket recommend it to everyone.

3)  KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON:  I believe Martin Scorsese is currently the best living director.  I'm also of the debatable opinion that Leonardo DiCaprio is the best working male actor and that Robert DeNiro once also held that distinction.  This film is set in the 1920s Oklahoma, home of the oil rich indigenous people of the Osage Nation.  There are conspiracies, murders, and other crimes, committed in an effort to rob the Osage of their oil rights.  I loved just about every part of this movie.  The direction and acting were what you'd expect from this A-list.  I particularly enjoyed watching Leo play a somewhat dimwitted rube, who is easily manipulated.  The cinematography and depictions of the Osage people was simply breathtaking.  Scorsese fingerprints are all over this movie.  So, typically there are a number of things that make me like a movie less.  In this one, I liked every individual part, but still didn't love the movie as a whole.  With a 3 hour 26-minute run time it was simply too long.  Much of the action and beauty simply didn't move the story forward and the plot wasn't that complex to require so much time.  I likened it to a long stroll through a beautiful forest.  It may be gorgeous and invigorating, but after some time, it just becomes a long walk in the woods. In the end, he plot didn't support the length or hold my attention long enough.  

4)  THE HOLDOVERS:  If asked to name a great character actor, Paul Giamatti would certainly be a name that would instantly pop into my mind.  His ability to fully inhabit a character is unmatched.  In this movie he plays Paul Hunham, a history teacher at a boy's prep school in a snowy New England.  He is a cranky, pompous, lazy eyed professor, equally despised by students and staff for his rigid ways.  During the Christmas breaks, when most students depart, a few are "holdovers", unable to go home.  Paul is tasked with watching over them until the term resumes.  During the break he develops a special relationship with a troubled student, Angus, played beautifully by newcomer Dominic Sessa.  Rounding out the key players is Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Oscar nominated for best supporting actress.  She plays Mary Lamb, the school's cook, and a grieving mother.  There is nothing specifically wrong with this movie that I can put my finger on.  There are great performances and touching scenes with Giamatti and Sessa.  However, I didn't think the secondary plots added much to the film, a number or scenes seemed to meander, and not all the acting performances matched those of the leading men.  Overall, a very nice film that didn't need to be 2 hours and 13 minutes long.

5)  AMERICAN FICTION:  There is a lot to like about this movie.  Jeffrey Wright plays Monk, a serious but stalled novelist and literature professor.  As a failing African American writer, he becomes even more discouraged by the success of another writer, gaining notoriety, having written a "Black" novel.  Her book exploits negative racial stereotypes and relies on Ebonics to sell books.  As a goof, using a pseudonym, Monk writes a novel, exaggerating the same stereotypes he's enraged and repulsed by.  Lo and behold his book becomes a huge success.  Monk, his sister, his agent and his love interest give deep and poignant performances.  They are all characters I'd enjoy learning more about.  All the "real" characters in his life defy the negative stereotypes he exploits in his novel.  As I walked out of the theater, I remarked that I was disappointed by the character played by the typically excellent Sterling K. Brown.  He plays Monk's brother, Cliff, a newly out of the closet homosexual, cocaine snorting, self-absorbed, overcompensating, plastic surgeon.  I just felt the character, and his portrayal of him, didn't fit in with the more genuine, measured, and thoughtfulness of the other characters.  That being said, he was nominated for best supporting actor, so what do I know?!?!  Finally, I'm not a huge fan of the open ending, leaving the conclusion for the audience to decide.  Sadly, the haphazard ending didn't do the beauty of the rest of the film justice.  Still, this movie is clearly worth watching, with wonderful performances and more than a few laughs.  I was entertained!

6)  ANATOMY OF A FALL:  My favorite of the three international films.  Sandra, a successful German novelist, is living in a beautiful French mountain home, with her less successful husband, and severely visually handicapped son, Daniel.  After returning home from a walk, Daniel finds the body of his father, lying dead in the snow, under a balcony of the remote chalet.  There are suspicious circumstances and Sandra is eventually charged with his murder.  Sandra Hueller, who plays Sandra, gives a masterful performance and deservedly earned an Oscar nomination for her work.  It's no coincidence that acting performances soar when the writing is as good as it is in this film.  While I'm generally not a huge fan of child actors, I did enjoy the performance of Milo Machado-Graner, who portrayed Daniel.  This movie reminded me of another movie I loved, "Doubt", with Meryl Streep. Did she, or didn't she?  I particularly enjoyed the courtroom scenes; unlike any I've seen before.  I also found the scenes depicting a marital fight particularly powerful.  I suspect the fight will feel familiar to many.  I'm not proud to say that I recognized myself in several of the exchanges.  I also didn't object to the open ending in this film, as the not knowing is sort of the point.  As usual, this movie was just a little too long, but still very much worth seeing. 

7)  MAESTRO:  No doubt Bradely Coooper is a force to be reckoned with.  His body of work as an actor and director is truly impressive.  Carey Mulligan, who plays his wife Felicia, is also at the top of her game and a top character actor working today.  I'm a huge fan of both leads.  This movie was clearly a passion project of Cooper's, and his admiration of Leonard Bernstein is evident in every frame.  The movie is lovingly crafted and directed.  This biopic primarily focuses on Bernstein's family relationships, particularly his marriage.  He's openly bisexual, which is a fact Felicia accepted prior to marriage.  I try to rate a movie on what it is, rather than what I wish it was.  However, I really wished the movie would have been more about his artistry than his family life.  Ultimately, I felt the movie was just too artsy for its own good; maybe trying too hard.  The film just moved too slowly and didn't consistently hold my interest..... didn't pass my watch test, in that a looked at my watch several times to see how much longer.

8)  BARBIE:  I don't think I'm the demographic this movie was targeting.  Although I'm a huge fan of both Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie, this movie just didn't resonate with me.  I found the entire movie a bit too campy and the kind of silly I don't particularly enjoy.  Seldom do non-musicals, with dance numbers in the middle, appeal to me.  While the leads were their usual spectacular selves, I thought some of the other actors were sub-par, and not consistent with "best".  Sadly, I have to say I found the performances by Will Ferrell and Kate McKinnon to be particularly poor and distracting.  While I understand why so many people really enjoyed this movie, it just wasn't for me.

9)  PAST LIVES:  This film chronicles the lives and relationships of two South Korean childhood friends, Hae Sung and Nora.  They are shown walking home together from school and playing together on a chaperoned playground date.  At around 13 years of age Nora's family moves to Canada, and eventually, as an adult, she moves to NYC.  The two remain intermittently in contact, primarily through the internet.  There are long intervals during which they totally lose touch, although neither has forgotten or gotten over the other.  Once in their 30's Hae travels to NYC in hopes of rekindling.  Nora, played by Greta Lee, gives a performance worthy of the praise she's received.  However, I thought Hae, played by Teo Yoo, showed very little real emotion and even less range.  He had the same lost expression throughout, regardless of circumstance.  I also didn't feel like the first third of the film adequately laid the groundwork, or demonstrated, the deep connection that fuels the remainder of the movie.  I didn't feel the crackle of passion and chemistry between them.  The movie seemed to be about the choices we make, and how different choices may lead to vastly different paths and outcomes.  It explores the "what might have been" of it all.  I did particularly enjoy a conversation during which Hae tells Nora, and I'll paraphrase, "in my life you're someone who leaves, but in his (her husband) life you're someone who stays." My son, Dylan, who usually shares my sensibilities about movies, loved "Past Lives".  In fact, he went so far as to claim it might have been better than "Oppenheimer".  I'm in the process of removing him from my will!

10)  THE ZONE OF INTEREST:  This was a tough movie to watch, in part because of my own personal history.  Rudolf Hoess, played by Christian Friedel, is commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp.  He lives with his wife Hedwig, played by Sandra Hueller, and their children, in a gorgeous home, next to the camp, separated only by a high wall.  The home is lavish with modern amenities, a full refrigerator, a beautiful garden, and even a pool.  They want for nothing.  There are servants toiling in the home and others working in the garden, clearly cheating death while on work release from the camp.  Rudolf has a very busy work schedule, in part finding more efficient ways to operate the ovens.  His work portrayed as important but rather mundane.  Behind the wall you intermittently hear the pop of distant gunfire, you occasionally see glimpses of the camp, you get clear views of a large chimney spewing smoke and flame.  The camp is never in your face, but constantly smolders in the background.  The family members go about living their lives, able to treat the atrocities being committed only a few feet away as commonplace; background noise.  The only positive images in the film are those of a girl placing apples, under cover of night, where prisoners might find them in the daylight.  Those scenes are filmed in a photo-negative way, as to appear otherworldly.  While powerful and well-constructed, the movie simply doesn't have much depth or arc.  The point that humans are capable of inhumane and monstrous acts is demonstrated over and over.  There didn't seem to be much more of a point to it than that.... 

Oscar's Best 2022

In my humble opinion 2022 was not a very good year for great movies.  As a result, I have spent more time than usual considering my ranking of the movies, in large part because none of them really stood out as "best" and many didn't seem Oscar-worthy at all.  I know it's a commonly held opinion that the Academy nominates "art" or "independent" movies, that often go unseen, and excludes the more popular, summer blockbuster type movies.  The majority of movie goers don't see and don't enjoy or appreciate the films that are more typically nominated.  Crowd pleasers, like comic book movies, rom-coms, horror, action, and comedies are seldom nominated.  If the Oscar was awarded to the most popular movie, we wouldn't need a nominating committee at all, but could just give the awards based on box office data.  In that case we'd probably have several from "The Fast and Furious" franchise winning Best Picture.  Personally, probably because I'm old, I appreciate the way the Academy nominates movies.  To me, "best" should mean a lot more than popular.  While I typically also see the blockbusters, and enjoy them, I don't expect them to be, or want them to be, nominated in this category by the Academy.  Let those other movies win Golden Globes, or People's Choice awards.  So, this year, my rank order could have gone any number of ways.  My top and bottom 3 or 4 changed several times and are essentially interchangeable.  Didn't love any of them nor hate any of them, so my reviews and opinions will be brief.  

Actually, my favorite movie this year was "The Whale", which wasn't even nominated in this category.  Other movies that I enjoyed, that weren't, and probably shouldn't have been, nominated, include "Bullet Train", "The Batman", "Hustle", "Vengeance" and "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent". 

As always, I welcome all comments and opinions, especially if they disagree.

1)  TAR:  Reluctantly ranking this first, based largely on another amazing performance from Cate Blanchett, who I suspect will win her third Oscar, on her eighth nomination.  It's the tale of a fictional classical music conductor who struggles with her personal and professional demons, in a rather compelling way.  Talent, power, and sexuality aren't always what they seem to be. Admittedly, it's far too long at 2h 38min, but her performance is simply spellbinding, and I'm a sucker for good acting and actor driven films.  The movie is expertly crafted by Director Todd Field who also directed two of my favorites: "Little Children" and "In the Bedroom".  It was too long, inconsistently paced, and didn't stick the landing.  Still, a very good movie and very much an "Oscar-type", art film.

2)  ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT:  This World War 1 epic, based on the book by the same name, is intensely beautiful.  There is no sugar coating or glorifying war in this film.  It begins with schoolboys clamoring to join the military, to be patriots, eager to fight for country.  Of course, once bullets fly, and bodies drop, they quickly realize that war really is hell on earth.  Start to finish this movie unflinchingly shows just how dark, oppressive, cruel, and relentless war can be.  The movie features stunning cinematography, gripping performances, and a compelling plot.  Not quite as good as "1917" but still worth a watch, if you don't mind sub-titles.

3)  ELVIS:  A very entertaining studio movie, but still worthy of a "best" nomination.  Obviously, this biopic follows the career or Elvis Presley, from humble beginnings to worldwide stardom.  The film focuses largely on Elvis's complicated relationship with Col. Tom Parker, his manager.  Austin Butler does an amazing job mimicking Elvis, both in sound and style.  He's the front runner for "best actor"; although, I'll be rooting for Brendan Fraser's performance in "The Whale".  My only criticism of his portrayal of the King, is that he often seemed like he was posing more than acting.  The musical sequences were spot on and engrossing.  His physical performance was dynamic and authentic.  However, off stage scenes, involving dialogue, were typically brief and consisting more of static posed facial expressions rather than dynamic interactions, lacking the appeal of the musical sequences.  Another distraction to me was Tom Hanks.  As much as I like him as a person and as an actor, I don't think his accent, his look, or his acting choices hit the mark.  Easy movie to recommend, even at 2 hours and 39 minutes.

4)  THE FABELMANS:  Typical Spielberg.  A well written, well told, entertaining, reality based, story.  Ultimately, that's what he is, a storyteller.  Hard to argue that many have done it better.  This clearly auto biographical movie follows the life of Sammy (read Steven) and chronicles the events that shape his development.  Sammy begins his love affair with film, at a very young age, after his parents take him to a matinee at the local cinema.  He beings making his own movies, before he even gets to high school.  Moving across country, being bullied for being the rare Jewish kid in a California high school, and the family turmoil surrounding his work obsessed, by the book, father, and his artsy self-indulgent, free spirit, mother, are among the critical events that shape his future.  At times the performances seem a bit staged and stiff but overall, it's an interesting story, well told.  Not Spielberg's best work, but not his worst either.

5)  THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN:  I don't have many criticisms about this movie.  On the contrary, the plot was interesting and original, the performances were outstanding and Oscar worthy, the cinematography was beautiful, and the direction was professional.  So, despite virtually everything about this film being technically good, I simply found it boring.  Clearly there were many things to like about this film, but in the end, I just checked my watch too many times, wondering "how much longer".

6)  TOP GUN: MAVERICK:  What can I say, this was a super fun movie?!?!  Much like the original "Top Gun", the relationships were compelling, and the action was gripping.  I'm an unapologetic Tom Cruise fan, and there was a lot of him, and he did not disappoint.  I was a little shocked that he allowed himself to be shown as so short in a few scenes, especially opposite Miles Teller.  I did have issues and difficulty suspending disbelief in a number of scenes.  Particularly hard to accept as plausible was the sequence in which two jets are shot down over a snowy forest.  The two ejecting pilots are able to parachute down and then jog to one another in minutes.  Hard to believe.  Because I enjoyed, and remember, the original so much, I felt like the sequel was a little bit "more of the same".  While fun to watch, how many original or different ways can you feature jets flying around?  I'd have liked to see more of the younger pilots and their stories, and a little less melodrama.  No doubt you will be entertained if you see this movie, making it easy to recommend, but to me it's just not an Academy Award kind of film.

7)  AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER:  I agree with a review I read that described this movie as a 3-hour long screen saver.  I saw this film in IMAX 3D, which no doubt greatly enhanced the experience, as it would most movies.  In the end, the plot was predictable and not that compelling, the acting was mediocre at best and the pacing was slow and inconsistent.  I couldn't help myself, wondering what they did all day in the jungle or at sea, when they weren't hunting.  Where did the electronic gear come from?  Do they have jobs?  Do they have bathrooms or toilet paper?  Are there stores in the trees?  Do the adults just hang out and play with the kids all day?  I know, not great reasons to dislike a movie.  It was often visually beautiful, but the thin script and 3 hour run time, make it pale in comparison to the original.  On the other hand, nearly 2.5 billion in ticket sales translates to people liking it!

8)  EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE:  More people told me I had to see this movie, than any movie I can remember in recent history.  Even Dan, my brother, and Dylan, my oldest child, with whom I usually agree about movies, recommended this one to me.  It's garnered the most Oscar nominations of any movie in 2022 and won several significant awards from other agencies.  I just don't get it.  In fact, I was certain that I'd seen it in a bad mood, or was tired, or something else, explaining why I alone didn't care for it.  I actually watched it a second time, something I virtually never do.  There have been movies about which I dramatically changed my mind, after a second viewing (e.g., "Minority Report"), and I was convinced this would be one of those.  Alas, I disliked it just as much a second time, maybe more.  I found the acting to be mediocre at best.  Michelle Yeoh was good, Ke Huy Quan was okay, and Stephanie Hsu was less than, although they all got nominated.  How Jamie Lee Curtis got a nomination is beyond me, likely a career popularity nomination.  I didn't find the action to be all that original, including somewhat mundane fight sequences, lacking visual appeal.  I found the plot to be uninspired, given all the potential in a multiverse.  I found the main characters reactions, while shifting within the multiverse, to be unbelievable and inconsistent.  I think what bothered me most was the pure silliness, while still trying to be profound.  It's listed as a comedy, but I don't recall ever laughing.  Hot dog fingers, super karate pinkies and talking/walking rocks were just too much for me to bear.  I was completely unable to buy-in to the story and was supremely disappointed....... both times.

9)  TRIANGLE OF SADNESS:  Male model Carl and his gorgeous model girlfriend Yaya, get a free suite on a luxury yacht.  This is a story about male-female relationship norms as well as class distinctions and shifting roles in modern society.  The clever writing is likely what made the Academy consider this movie "best", and why it's not last on my list.  When the yacht goes to ground, the ship's crew and guests find themselves marooned on an island.  All social norms are abandoned, title and status, nor physical appearance and beauty carry much value, and mayhem ensues.  For me, the overwrought, predictable, and often unbelievably "silly" situations along with sub-par acting performances, make this movie average at best, hard to watch at worst.

10)  WOMEN TALKING:  It's in the name.... a lot of talking and very little doing.  Females of all ages, in a modern Amish-like religious community, have been sexually abused by the men in the community, for decades.  Once the perpetrators come to light, the women must decide if they should do nothing, stay and fight, or pack up and leave. They have to weigh how each decision might change their own future, the future of their children, and their relationship with God. The leading women in the community get together and discuss the merits of each option, knowing the rest of the women will follow whichever path they choose.  The women are often supportive of each other, but just as often are aggressive and combative with each other.  Most of the film takes place in a hay loft, in the rafters of a poorly lit barn.  The acting is reasonably good, but in addition to being dark in tone and lighting, the plot is inconsistent and just not very captivating.  At times it feels preachy and often becomes repetitive.  The positives in this film simply don't outweigh the negatives.  Possibly a movie Dan would like.

Oscar's Best 2021

Movies, in theaters, seem to be on the comeback trail, and I couldn't be happier about it.  Still, 2021 wasn't ideal, having to watch several of the Oscar movies on TV rather than in the theater.   I'm also not thrilled that the trend of longer movies continued in 2021.  Movies approaching 2.5 to 3 hours have practically become the norm.  Maybe filmmakers are trying to lure people back to theaters by giving "your money's worth", but it's a trend I can't get behind.  I enjoyed many movies this past year, but none of them jumped out as particularly superior.  I struggled more than usual coming up with my rank order.  I'd say the top four were close, and the remaining six could have come in just about any order.  Most had many elements that I really enjoyed but also had elements that I found lacking or even distracting. I will continue my "stripped down" version of the blog to remain on record.  Commentary and disagreement are encouraged.

1)  CODA:  I think I liked this movie so much because it was so simple, pure, genuine and heartfelt.  While nothing about it was over the top amazing, there just didn't seem to be anything wrong with it either.  It's a movie I watched with family, and we all came away touched and happy for having seen it; thoroughly entertained.  Simply being entertained has always been the primary benchmark by which I judge movies.  Plus, I've always had a soft spot for coming-of-age movies.  The themes are often formulaic and can become melancholic or cheesy, but CODA remained truly original.  Ruby is a high school student, facing all the anxieties and uncertainties that torment most teens.  She's from the wrong side of the tracks, finding it difficult to balance work (fishing with her brother and father), romance, peer pressure and her secret desire to become a singer.  Her life is complicated by the fact that her brother and parents are all deaf.  She's spent her entire youth being an oddity to her peers and an interpreter for her parents.  She's an outsider in every way imaginable.  Despite her overwhelming vulnerability and mistrust "CODA" avoids becoming sad or edgy.  In the end, due to excellent writing, superb acting, and thoughtful direction it was just beautiful, sweet, funny, and thoroughly enjoyable.  I recommend this film be seen with family.

2)  LICORICE PIZZA:  After watching this movie I was certain it would be my favorite of 2021.  There is so much to love about this movie.  Perhaps I'm a bit biased as Licorice Pizza was directed by one of my favorite directors, Paul Thomas Anderson, who is responsible for some of my all-time favorite movies (e.g., Magnolia, Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood, Phantom Thread).  The movie is set in the 1970s and follows the lives and relationships of Alana and Gary, played beautifully by Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, son of Phillip Seymor Hoffman.  It was impressive to see both of these young actors so expertly tackle the complexities of the characters they portrayed.  This movie, very much like Magnolia, felt like a collection of short stories, or skits.  Each "story" had a life of its own and could have become a movie of its own.  All the skits are tied together by the relationship of our young protagonists.  Each "story" also had a significant co-star to drive the sub-plot.  For example, Sean Penn, Tom Waits and Bradley Cooper each contributed to this amazing movie.  While the overall film was extraordinary on many levels, the reason I didn't rank it first, was that some of the skits fell short, leaving the movie somewhat inconsistent and intermittently less enjoyable.

3)  NIGHTMARE ALLEY:  Another terrific director in Guillermo del Toro, but WOW, what a cast.  Bradley Cooper, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Toni Collette to name a few, star in this movie set around con men and the circus life; themes I've historically enjoyed.  Nightmare Alley follows the rise and fall of Stan, a man seemingly born to be a carny.  As he creeps out and up from his pitiful beginnings, he achieves increasing success, and his pride and ego grow in equal measure.  Ultimately, pride and the desire for more, become his undoing.  However, what makes this movie truly special, along with the wonderful acting, is the gorgeous cinematography.  It really is a visually beautiful film to watch.

4)  KING RICHARD:  Similar to CODA, this movie felt like "nothing special but thoroughly entertaining".  A very simple premise, Richard Williams raises and coaches Venus and Serena to tennis stardom.  Living in poverty, against all odds, through sheer determination Richard overcomes all hurdles to propel his children into the then Caucasian dominated world or tennis.  In the end it's a touching story about the importance of family, passion, and hard work.  Will Smith gives his customarily solid performance, but the young women are also surprisingly strong actors.  I'm usually down on young performers, but many of this year's films feature younger actors, who do far more then deliver.

5)  BELFAST:  Speaking of young actors, Belfast stars 9-year-old (at the time) Jude Hill, playing Buddy.   The film is the semi-autobiographical story of Kenneth Branagh's youth.  He grew up on a lively street in Belfast, where everyone knew everyone else.  Children playing in the streets, parents chatting on the stoop.  One day Protestant and Catholic are living in harmony, the next there are riots, explosions, relentless violence, barricades and mounting rage.  The film follows one family's struggle to adapt to these changing times, and to do what's right to protect themselves and their loved ones.  This movie is filmed in black and white yet is visually beautiful.  As most films nominated for Best Picture, the acting is also superb.

6)  DUNE:  I grew up reading comics and sci-fi and I do consider myself a fan of this genre.  However, as I get older, I find myself more and more critical of these movies.  I'm less impressed by special effects, costumes and makeup.  That being said, this movie is extraordinarily visually beautiful and, of course, features top notch acting.  Timothee Chalamet has amassed quite a resume for such a young actor.  I think most films nominated for Best Picture, tend to have strong writing, acting, and cinematography.  In the end, what else really matters?  I found the plot of Dune to be somewhat confusing and the pacing was meandering (code for too damn long).  I wasn't bored, but I'm not checking to see when the Part 2 comes out.

7)  POWER OF THE DOG:  This film is set in1925 Montana.  There are cows, lassos, guns and horses but I wouldn't call it a western.  The story centers on wealthy rancher brothers.  Benedict Cumberbatch, always amazing, is Phil and rising star Jesse Plemons is his brother George.  Kirsten Dunst is Rose, who finds herself the object of George's desire.  Phil is dark, bitter, and increasingly mean-spirited as his brother becomes increasingly involved with Rose.  Rose has a son, stealing most scenes, played by Oscar Nominated Kodi Smith-McPhee.  Ultimately, I believe, this film is about what it means to be a man.  What is a man's responsibility to family, community, and to himself?  There is a subtext about what sexuality has to do with male identity in 1925.  While I was entertained, this movie was far too "artsy" for my liking.  Sometimes "independent" movies just seem too artsy for the sake of being artsy.  The narrative and "meaning" can be cleverly disguised.  Often it feels like you need to read up after watching, to find out what it was really all about.  To me, that's more work than I want from a movie, going against my "entertain me" preference.  I do understand that this might be exactly what some people cherish and enjoy (read- my brother Dan), and why it garnered the most nominations of any film this year.  I guess it's similar to the difference between a story and a poem.

8)  DRIVE MY CAR:  This is another very artsy movie, and it's three hours long, Japanese, with subtitles.  As I've said before, subtitles almost automatically mean a slight downgrade.  Your eye-line isn't on the action as you read, and nuances in language are missed when interpreted.  This movie is still somehow captivating, in part for its novelty and in part for its sad beauty.  Our protagonist is a renowned stage director and actor.  His wife, his muse, dies unexpectedly and the story truly begins two years later, when he takes a job in Hiroshima.  There he is assigned a young woman to serve as his driver.  The story revolves around his relationship to his wife, self-discovery and his art.  He if forced to confront is loneliness and the errors he made in his life and marriage.  It's a very slow pace, stoic acting, and overall sad..... not a movie for everyone, to be sure, but on some level I did enjoy it.

9)  DON'T LOOK UP:  Hard to imagine I'd have a movie featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Meryl Streep on the bottom of any list.  He is clearly at the top, or near the top, of the "best actor of all-time" list.  She is unequivocally at the top of that list for actresses.  While Leo and Jennifer Lawrence are characteristically fabulous, the movie just isn't.  The two play an astronomy professor, Dr. Mindy and his assistant/student Kate.  One night they discover a giant comet that is on a collision course with earth.  If impact can't be averted global extinction is a certainty.  They go about trying to alert the authorities and the public; with very little success.  Meryl plays the President of the USA, Jonah is Hill is her son, the Chief of Staff.  Mark Rylance is an eccentric billionaire funding the efforts to derail the comet.  Adam McKay is a wonderful comedic director.  However, I think he relies too much on humor and silliness in this movie.  It's always bothered me when a director tries to play it straight/realistic but periodically go off the rails with unbelievable silliness.  There is an inconsistency in delivering the message that I find distracting.  Meryl, Jonah, and Mark are simply too over the top, unbelievable and unrealistic caricatures of real people.

10)  WEST SIDE STORY:  I remember loving the 1957 original and I'm a fan of Steven Spielberg.  His credits need no explanation.  That being said, this is a three-hour long song and dance.  While the singing and dancing is entertaining enough, with some extraordinary scenes, there just wasn't enough story to support three hours of it.  To be fair, I'm not a huge fan of musicals in general, which likely colors my opinion.  Rachel Zegler and the other leads were clearly well-trained professional singers/dancers.  Ansel Elgort was more than acceptable.  Still, the movie didn't feel very modern, innovative, or different enough from the original.  The romance, the forbidden love, felt forced and overly dramatic.  It also didn't really address racial tension or gang life in a believable way.  Ultimately, the fact that I checked my watch several times during the show, says it all.

Oscar's Best 2020

2020, by all accounts, was a dumpster fire of a year.  That may be a harsh overstatement for the movies of 2020, but overall it wasn't a very good year for movies either.  Even my favorite movie of 2020 wouldn't have been in my top 3 most years.  Once again I'm fairly sure my top choices won't win many Academy honors, it's just my own opinion.

This year my personal choice for the best and for the worst picture was easily made.  However, my choice for 2 and 3 could have been a tie, and 4 through 7 were nearly a coin toss as well.

I have to confess that I haven't seen any of the pics this year in an actual theater.  While I have a nice television there is no duplicating the feel and ambiance of a theater with an audience.  I toyed with not writing this blog at all this year, but decided to do a stripped down version, just to be "on record".

As always, I welcome comments of praise and agreement, as well those of disagreement.  Naturally, I'm also interested in movies you may have particularly enjoyed, and why.  No other movies I've seen stand out, although I did enjoy "Tenet" and surprisingly the four hour long Zach Snyder version of "Justice League".

1)  Sound of Metal:  Without question the best film I've seen this year.  Riz Ahmed was simply fantastic as Ruben, a suddenly deaf metal drummer.  His ability to quietly and subtly convey emotion was impressive for such a relatively inexperienced actor.  I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised given his great starring performance in HBO's "The Night Of".  The film takes us through Ruben's journey from a drummer with a joyful life, full of music and love, through his rapid hearing loss, his transition to be a member of the deaf community, and his growth as a human being.  The direction is terrific and the film beautifully shows his evolution, the eventual acceptance of his circumstance, and his ultimate ability to find "stillness".  I was also impressed by how they were able to demonstrate the phases of his hearing issues, audibly, to the audience.  One of the reasons I often find myself enjoying a film is due to which, and how many, characters I genuinely care about or am interested in.  Pretty much every character in this movie has a story I'd have liked to discover more about.  Lou, his wonderfully portrayed girlfriend (Olivia Cooke), Joe, the leader of the deaf "school" (Paul Raci), and several of the other "students" were rich, genuine, complex and interesting in their own right.  They contributed heavily to my enjoyment and the quality of this movie.  I'll be rooting for Riz to win the Oscar but I doubt he will.  The academy seems to give Oscars posthumously, as lifetime achievement awards.  Chadwick Boseman, who has clearly been one of the past decade's best actors, will likely win for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom", a movie and performance I unfortunately didn't much care for.

2)  The Trial of the Chicago 7:  This movie is part documentary, part bio-pic, and part courtroom drama.  Aaron Sorkin, the prolific writer of some of the best dialogue in movies and on Tv (eg The West Wing, The Newsroom, The Social Network, Moneyball, A Few Good Men) is still somewhat of a novice director and it showed.  The movie details the protests around the 1968 Democratic Party Convention in Chicago, and the trial of 7 key "instigators" that followed.  The characters are certainly well played and interesting.  The trial is equally captivating and infuriating.  It's a very entertaining film, depicting an important part of American history, but I just found it too busy.  Too many characters and opposing points of view to fairly deal with them all. "Herding cats" comes to mind.  That being said, it was still the second best film, to me, of 2020.

3)  Judas and the Black Messiah:  Another historical drama depicting the influences of Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya) on the Black Panthers, and their infiltration, by the FBI, through the reluctant informant Bill O'Neal (LaKeith Stanfield).  Both of the leads were absolutely superb and both were nominated as best Supporting Actors.  How Daniel Kaluuya was nominated as a Supporting Actor  instead of as a Leading Actor is beyond me.  He dominates and captivates in every one of his many scenes.  I'm very much looking forward to whatever his next projects are.  He has limitless talent and the potential to be the next Denzel.  The film reminds us of a very sad part of our American history.  I think my personal politics, as a white middle aged man, made much of it quite disturbing and hard to watch.  I suspect many won't appreciate the quality of the film for similar reasons.  Still, it's very good and well worth seeing.

4)  Mank:  As I mentioned, the next four choices could have come in just about any order, and on any given day I may have rated them differently.  I probably liked "Mank" more then the others because it deals with movies and movie making, topics I obviously care a great deal about.  The movie details the process by which alcoholic screen writer, Herman Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), comes to write "Citizen Kane" for famed director Orson Wells and RKO studios.  As much as I've loved many of David Fincher's films (eg "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", "Fight Club", "Se7en") this one is black and white, meandering, and slow.  While the performances are solid and the writing good, it's probably a movie meant for hard core movie buffs.  

5)  Nomadland:  I keep hearing this is the front runner to win Oscars in many categories, but I'm just not sure why.  As always Frances McDormand is hypnotic, but for me, her performance wasn't her best and it just wasn't enough to elevate the whole movie.  The movie is about how a middle aged woman deals with loss.  Her husband, her town, her community, and her entire way of life have all essentially died.  She finds herself content, in a new life, traveling through the American west as a nomad, living out of her van.  She encounters several other nomads who are on journeys of their own, all adopting this unconventional lifestyle.  The cinematography and the acting are all certainly great but ultimately there was very little character development or "plot".  No real arc and a lack "spark".

6)  Minari:  Another well acted, interesting tale, that just moves too slowly.  It tells the story of a Korean American family that leaves California to settle in Arkansas to start a new, hopefully better, life.  It poignantly depicts the importance and value of self actualization, sacrifice and compromise, family, community and belonging.  Once again the acting and cinematography are excellent, there was much to like, but once again it's just too slow and somewhat boring.

7)  The Father:   This may sound familiar....... it's a very well acted and interesting film that's just a little slow/boring.  I'm not going out on a limb to call Anthony Hopkins an acting treasure, even an icon.  He does not disappoint in this film about the sad impact Alzheimer's disease has on those who have been afflicted.  The film cleverly demonstrates his own confusion and mental decline as well as the chaos it creates for those who love him.  However, like several other movies in recent years, it feels more like a stage play then a movie.  Only one or two sets for the entire movie, clever dialogue, but no real "movie magic".  I feel like "Amour" and "Still Alice" were both far more powerful movies about how Alzheimer's can destroy a life and a family.  I'd suggest watching either of those ahead of "The Father".

8)  Promising Young Woman:  I've been accused of liking too many movies; being a soft critic.  I've consistently said a primary criteria for me is simply how entertained was I?!?!  Did I check my watch or look at my phone during the movie, or was I swept away?  It's why I'm in favor of comedies, animated and action  films, as well as comic book movies being considered for the best picture award.  These types of movies tend to focus more on pure entertainment, which is a wonderful thing and doesn't preclude greatness in my book.  However, to be considered BEST, a film really should be more then just entertaining, it should have some weight, a message, or gravitas.  If it doesn't have those things it really should at least be supremely entertaining.  I'm sure many will find this particular movie more entertaining then some of the other nominated films.  At it's core this is a movie about revenge.  A young woman struggling with her own identity after a trauma endured during her college years.  She seeks some measure of control as she tries to right the wrongs and punish those who in her eyes deserve it.  While entertaining enough, there is nothing truly special about this movie.  To be kind, I'd say that I didn't find the acting to be spectacular.  The plot was unrealistic and over-wrought.  This movie was inconsistent and ultimately forgettable as just another decent movie.  I have no idea what about this particular film merits consideration as BEST anything.

Oscar's Best 2019

Overall I'd say it's been a very good year for good movies, but I'd also say that it has not been a good year for great movies.  I found myself struggling again, but far more then usual, to create my own personal rankings of the best picture nominees.  I was pretty comfortable with my first choice, but the next two, or three, could have come in just about any order; the same could be said about those on the bottom.  I have a feeling that the order of my list won't be shared by many.  The critics front runners, and movies I've had friends and family rave about, are not necessarily those at the top of my list.

I should also say, with the advent of high quality original content from the streaming services, I was unable to watch each of the films on the big screen.  It's clear that these type of movies are going to get more nominations in the future, but they can be difficult, if not impossible, to find in a theater near you!  I haven't missed a best picture nominee on the big screen for probably a decade, until Roma, which was essentially only available on Netflix.  While I applaud excellence in movie making, wherever it comes from, I do lament missing the "best" on the big screen.

As usual I'd like to mention a few movies that I enjoyed but were overlooked by Oscar's major categories, or were not the type of movies Oscar would typically recognize at all.  So, if you're searching for something to watch/rent, consider these movies.
If you have a daughter and want her to learn a little about the amazing Ruth Bader Ginsburg I strongly recommend On The Basis Of Sex.  Last year's documentary about her was also worth watching.  In my mind she's as important as anyone who has fought for equality and social justice.  Brittany Runs a Marathon was another surprisingly enjoyable movie with a strong female protagonist.
This year three movies pay tribute to musicians in very different ways.  I particularly enjoyed Yesterday, honoring the Beatles in a rather unique way.  One of the most original plots in quite a while.  Blinded by the Light shows just how meaningful and motivational music can be.  Bruce Springsteen's music and lyrics give hope to an oppressed Pakistani boy living in England.  Finally, in a somewhat atypical biopic, Taron Egerton brings Elton John to life in Rocketman.  With all the awards going to Bohemian Rhapsody last year I was a little surprised by how little love the Academy showed this movie.  It's not nearly as good but was still enjoyable.
A few heavier and darker movies that I particularly enjoyed this year were Uncut Gems, Dark Waters and Richard Jewel.  If you like to think about and discuss religion The Two Popes is quite engaging and thought provoking.
While I'm not typically a huge fan of comedies, this year I enjoyed Long Shot, Booksmart, Good Boys, and Shazam.

I probably mention it every year, but movies are once again just too damn long.  Having gotten that off my chest, for better or worse, here is my personal ranking of the best picture nominees.  I actively invite debate, agreement, or dissent.  While I'd love some accolades, I'm just as happy to be called out.

1)  1917:  "War is hell" is made palpable.  This film vividly shows the violence, sacrifice, loyalty, pain, loss, and heroism against the backdrop of World War 1 trench warfare.  Two soldiers are sent on a suicide mission to get a critical message to a front line unit.  If they fail, 1600 will die, including the brother of one of our "heroes".  The writing is exceptional, the tenor is dramatic, the acting is spot-on from the mostly unknown leads as well as from the entire supporting cast.  Sam Mendes directed one of my all time favorite movies, American Beauty, and once again his direction is first class.  However, what makes this film extraordinary is the cinematography.  Some of the amazing visuals were almost too stunning and beautiful.  A few times I found myself nearly taken out of the action as I sat gaping at the beauty of a particular shot or scene, momentarily forgetting where the action was going.  This is not just a technical masterpiece, it's also a mesmerizing story.  Quite simply this is the most complete and most entertaining movie, from start to finish, and was therefore my favorite this year.

2)  Joker:  While I suspect the key to a great movie is the script, it can argued that a strong director is actually the most pivotal ingredient, merging all the necessary components together.  That being said, I'm personally most awed by great acting.  Of course all the elements of movie making are important to the process, but I'm fairly consistently drawn to movies with strong performances.  Joker is definitely one of those actor driven movies.  Joaquin Phoenix, to my mind, is one of a small group of elite actors, consistently bringing honesty, vulnerability and truth to his performance.  I may not have loved every movie he's made, but I always enjoy his performances, and this movie is no exception.  He plays Arthur Fleck, a wanna be comedian, with severe psychiatric issues.  His gritty and inspired performance is simply mesmerizing.  It's impossible to take your eyes off him.  I was conflicted walking out of the theater, not sure how I felt about it.  But it's one of those movies that grow on you over time, creeping in to your thoughts.  I was expecting more of a caper movie, with the Joker hatching some evil plot only to be thwarted by a hero in the end.  However, this was no typical super hero movie.  Instead the Joker's origin story is an exploration in to the anguish of mental illness and it's impact on an individual as well as on society.  Todd Phillips is best known as a comedic director, but this dark and intensely personal film, with its homage to Taxi Driver, marks him as a far more versatile director whose future films I'm eagerly awaiting.

3)  Jojo Rabbit:  When I saw this movie I thought it would be my favorite of the year.  It slipped to number 2 after I saw 1917, and ultimately to it's current location.  I went back and forth between it and Joker.  Ultimately, my brother, who's opinion I respect and who is not easily offended, explained to me why he found it "wildly offensive".  Something about "oh those fun loving and misunderstood Nazi's".  Clearly we had a different take.  It's a movie about a lonely ten year old boy, growing up against the backdrop of World War 2, and Nazi occupation.  The boy is part of Hitler youth, wearing his little brown uniform, with the swastika armband.  He has an imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler, played hilariously by the film's director, Taika Waititi.  His mother, played beautifully by Scarlett Johansson, is a antiwar activist, and is harboring a Jewish girl in the crawl space of their home.  In time the boy comes to discover her and they form a complicated friendship.  I'm not generally a fan of children actors but these two were tremendous.  Given the disturbing premise and the overall terrifying darkness of the film, it was still quite unique and surprisingly hopeful, funny, and endearing.  Heart warming and heart breaking at the same time.

4)  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood:  It can't be argued that Quentin Tarantino is a top notch director and screen writer.  His mastery of the English language is peerless, even if at times it can be a bit pretentious or self congratulatory.  Put his words in the mouths of some of the greatest acting talent and how could you go wrong?!?!  Leonardo DiCaprio play a past his prime television actor and Brad Pitt is his trusty friend, assistant, and stunt double.  Margo Robbie is Sharon Tate as the movie loosely revolves around the "Helter Skelter" crimes of Charles Manson.  All the leading and supporting actors are hypnotic.  I found relative newcomers Margaret Qualley and Julia Butters to be particularly effective.  This is also a visually stunning movie with a multitude of story lines; perhaps too many.  To me it ended up being a series of fantastic short films; like a collection of skits or vignettes, versus a cohesive story with an understandable arc.  I personally enjoyed the scenes in which DiCaprio has a long conversation with a young aspiring actress played by Julia Butters.  Ultimately I found this movie to be long on style and a little short on substance, leaving me feeling like "what was the point", which isn't ideal for a 159 minute run time.  That being said, I was quite entertained by what is sure to become another Tarantino classic!

5)  Ford v Ferrari:  I would call this a formula movie....but in a good way.  "Good Guys" having to overcome impossible odds to defeat the villain.  Recalcitrant and troubled "bad boy" has to be corralled by family or friends, to give a top performance.  There is a formula because it consistently works.  When you add Matt Damon and Christian Bale to talented director James Mangold, it's bound to do more then just work.  I'll admit I have a bit of a man-crush on Bale.  He and Damon have excellent chemistry portraying deeply complex characters and give customary top level performances.  Not to be overlooked are all of the many supporting cast members who also contribute significantly to the success of this movie.  I don't know, or care, all that much about cars and I don't follow racing at all.  Still, the movie seemed to have gotten all of the technical aspects of this film right.  Overall a beautifully shot, expertly crafted, well acted, engaging, and very entertaining movie.

6)  The Irishman:  Martin Scorsese may well be the best living director and it's impossible to understate the many accomplishments and talents of Robert DeNiro.  This movie is commonly considered a front runner to win significant awards, including best picture.  Al Pacino gives a tremendous performance as Jimmy Hoffa and DeNiro as a mob hitman.  However, it was Joe Pesci who stole every scene he was in, as the sweetly terrifying mob boss.  It was really great to see him and Harvey Keitel again.  I did have a number of "issues" with this  movie.  Considering how little actually happens, and how slow the pacing is, it was a bit boring and self indulgent.  I'm not sure why it needed to be 3 and a half hours long.  I also had a problem with the different ages played by DeNiro.  The de-aging effects just weren't all that good.  I was distracted by the fact that the young man version looked and moved a bit awkwardly, which made it difficult to fully buy in to the character.  While it is a fascinating story of loyalty, friendship and "honor among thieves" I found it to be more nostalgic then entertaining, trading more on reputation then achievement.  I asked a few friends to quickly recall one scene that stuck out in their memory........ most came up blank.  To me, when I think of any great movie, a number of specific scenes come instantly to my mind.  Clearly not Scorsese's best.  Perhaps it would have fared better on the big screen, but for me it was only available on Netflix.

7)  Little Women:   This is a lovely little film but I'm clearly not the target audience.  It's a well told and well known tale of four sisters struggling to be part of a family, while retaining their own unique identity.  The performances of the sisters are all believable and the direction by Greta Gerwig points to a promising future behind the camera.  The compulsive attention to detail and the gorgeous costuming do help make this ensemble period piece enjoyable.  I also particularly enjoyed the brooding performance of fast rising young star Timothee Chalamet; clearly an actor to watch.  On the flip side there is something about Laura Dern that I just don't care for.  While she's been in a number of excellent movies, I don't typically enjoy her performances.  I also found some of the action to be erratic, jumping around between characters and time lines.  Ultimately this movie is good enough, but to me it was a little boring, predictable, "on the nose", lacking depth and nuance.  "Family Friendly" just isn't typically my cup of tea.

8)  Parasite:  This Korean movie is another critic favorite and front runner to win best picture.  These past few years I seem to be on a run of rating eventual winners low on my personal list.  This movie is so incredibly highly regarded I've come to question my own tastes.  I do have to admit to a mild bias against sub-titled movies.  Although, this year I did very much enjoy the Spanish language film Pain and Glory. Part of my problem is that I'm most interested in the acting.  When you're reading subtitles you often miss the nuances of facial expression, because your eyes are drawn elsewhere.  Add to that, you simply can't hear and discern all of the inflections in tone or expression when you don't understand the language.  It all just sounds foreign.  Perhaps that's why I didn't find the acting to be superior.  I also found the movie to be a very slow build for the first two hours, with a somewhat silly and hard to accept premise.  I've read that this bit of cinema is a masterful and nuanced depiction of class war.  The haves versus the have nots.  To me it felt like the have nots were basic criminal con artists.  The haves weren't exactly angles but they also didn't seem to deserve what they ultimately get. As the films nears it's conclusion it changes from slow and somewhat boring to absolute mayhem.  It goes from zero to a hundred in the blink of an eye, making it feel uneven, almost like two different movies.  Again, there are clearly things to like about this movie.  It is a fascinating glimpse in to another culture.  While visually excellent I still wasn't all that entertained and am not sure what all the hype was about.

9)  Marriage Story:  This would normally be a film right up my alley.  Dark and actor driven. I'm a fan of both Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver and they were both in top form.  However, I have to say, I've never been a fan of writer-director Noah Baumbach, and no surprise I didn't care for Laura Dern's contributions. I found the performances of many of the supporting characters, and all of the lawyers involved, to be unbelievable at best. The scenes with the social worker on a home inspection were particularly distracting. To me, this movie felt like a stage play, scripted and rehearsed.  Each actor gives long monologues while the other actor waits for their turn to perform.  I had a similar feeling and review about Fences, a few years ago.  I know a lot of people were touched by this film and the subject matter, but to me it felt manipulative, over wrought and overly dramatic.  Having heard and read all the hype, I eagerly anticipated this film, expecting to love it.  I did enjoy many parts of it, especially the acting of the leads, and some of the writing/dialogue, but in the end was disappointed. 

Oscar's Best 2018

It's been a very unusual year for movies, and for best picture Oscar nominations.  There were a significant number of very good movies this year, probably more then usual.  However, there was a shortage of truly amazing movies.  It was also unusual in that a number of my personal favorites this year got completely ignored by the Academy.  In fact, my absolute favorite movie of the year wasn't even nominated for best picture, although, it was nominated for best documentary.  It was an unusual year in that it was the first time in many years that I haven't seen all the nominees in a movie theater.  It was also unusual in that a "comic book" movie got recognized as a best picture nominee.  What's getting to be less unusual is how long movies seem to be.  Most have run times of over two hours, which in my opinion is just too long.  Two hours should be the max for most films.
Before I go through my ranking of best picture nominees, I'd like to mention a few movies that I enjoyed and think are worth checking out.  I'll try to list primarily those that Oscar overlooked, so if a movie got a significant nomination I won't mention it here.  The next time you're searching for a movie, consider these.  I'd love your feedback, good or bad, if you watch any of the following movies based on my recommendation.
In the "chick flick" or family friendly category:  Crazy Rich Asians, The Greatest Showman, Juliet Naked, and Love Simon were very entertaining and fun to watch.
In the "guilty pleasure" category:  Upgrade, Annihilation, Widows (visually stunning), The Mule, and Avengers: Infinity War are worth checking out.
In the "unique" category:  Searching,  American Animals (movie/documentary hybrid), and Tully were something a little different but still quite interesting and entertaining.
In the "indie" category:  The Rider, Eighth Grade, Beautiful Boy, and most especially Blindspotting were the movies I hoped Oscar would recognize.  Blindspotting was near the top spot on my personal list of favorite films this year.  It's the story of a man haunted by a single act that caused him to be imprisoned and changed his life forever.  It explores how it might feel "to be judged by the color of your skin or remembered only for the worst thing you ever did".
There were two other movies that did get recognized for Academy Awards, but not best picture, that I think deserve special mention.  Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse got nominated for best animated feature, but it should have been nominated for best picture.  It's the first animated movie that captured the feeling and joy of reading comic books.  If you grew up reading comics, you'll enjoy this film.
Free Solo got nominated for best documentary and it was my favorite movie this year.  I'm not typically a huge fan of documentaries, I generally prefer to be entertained and not educated by film. This year had a number of exceptional documentaries, to include RBG, Three Identical Strangers and Won't You Be My Neighbor.  Free Solo chronicles the life of Alex Honnold and his obsession with rock climbing; specifically his desire to climb Yosemite's El Capitan.  He climbs the 3000 foot sheer rock wall "Free Solo" which means without any ropes or other safety gear.  While it is a tale about a rock climbing savant, it's really of an examination of what makes Alex tick.  We learn about his motivation, his singular focus, and most interestingly about his personal and romantic life.  There is nothing fake or pretentious about Alex.  He seems incapable of deceit or artifice.  It really is a fascinating film that deeply moved and inspired me and it still lingers fondly in my memory.
Now on to my reviews of the best picture nominees from best to worst- IN MY OPINION.  My first two choices and last two choices were somewhat easy to  make, the four in the middle could have been in any order.

1)  A Star Is Born: This year, more then most years, I'm basing my list primarily on how entertained I was.  I usually put more weight on acting, cinematography, writing and direction, but this year was more about pure entertainment value.  Having said that, A Star is Born was the most entertaining movie this year.  Following in Ben Affleck's footsteps Bradley Cooper is off to a great start with his directorial debut.  It may have been easier filming a re-make (number three) but it's still quite an accomplishment.  A Star Is Born is the love story between an alcoholic, aging, deeply troubled, famous musician, played by Cooper, and the heart of gold, young, unknown, meek, aspiring singer song-writer played by Lady Gaga.  The chemistry between them simply works.  Together they amount to more then either of them could have independently, the ideal of any productive and rewarding relationship.  They seem to have genuine affection between each other and it shows.  The film could easily have become melodramatic or cliche but it avoided those traps with clever writing, great songs and authentic performances.  The evolution of their romance felt real, and the musical numbers even more so.  Clearly Cooper is a superior actor and Gaga a superior singer, but each proved to be more then adequate in the opposite role.  I do think the movie slowed somewhat during the last third.  The build up and growth of the relationship was well paced and gripping.  However, later in the film, when the focus drifted to more peripheral topics, like her family and dealing with fame, it seemed to slow and lose focus.  However, it's an excellent film, worthy of the top prize.

2)  Bohemian Rhapsody:  Another supremely entertaining film.  I had forgotten how much I liked Queen music.  I had the pleasure of seeing them live in concert, a million years ago, and had that memory as a backdrop.  I saw the film with my wife and youngest daughter, and we all had a very positive experience; we were all entertained.  The film works well beyond simple nostalgia.  Rami Malek clearly did his homework and seemed to embody the essence of Queen front-man Freddie Mercury, both in appearance, swagger, and on stage presence.  The remainder of the cast was more then adequate, but Malek steals the show, and all scenes without him are somewhat lacking.  The writers and director (Bryan Singer) expertly captured the essence of the time and the complexity of the relationship between band members.  Freddie Mercury was a complicated person, struggling with his identity.  He doesn't quite know how he fits in with his Indian Parsi family, in society, with his band, or with his sexuality.  These topics are explored but only superficially.  It's not really a deep dive in to his motivation as much as a tribute to the music.  Singer does beautifully captures the look and feel of the era.  Bohemian Rhapsody "sticks the landing" with the final Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium, which is breathtaking, visually and musically.  Despite being a gay man, the key emotional relationship, is between Freddie and the love of his life Mary Austin.   The film examines all aspects of his life, his motivations, relationships, the music, and ultimately his fatal battle with HIV/AIDS.  This film joins the growing list of great musical biopics, such as Walk the Line and Ray.

3)  Vice:  This movie reminded me a lot of Adam McKay's other wonderful film, The Big Short.  He uses several of the same actors and the same unique quirky style of telling a complicated, potentially boring, story.  He was able to make the details of very complicated financial collapse, and now the life of vice president Dick Cheney, both understandable and compelling.  Of course it helps when you have Christian Bale doing the heavy lifting.  I'm typically drawn to movies that are actor/performance driven, and Vice is definitely that.  Bale is consistently able to transform himself, both physically and in character, which in my opinion is the hallmark of exceptional acting.  He's arguably one of the finest actors working today and in many ways reminds me of my personal favorite Meryl Streep.  He takes chances, accepts a wide range of roles, and seems to become whoever he's portraying, instantly erasing any lingering memory of any other prior equally mesmerizing performance.  Working across from Sam Rockwell (George Bush), Amy Adams (his wife Lynne), and Steve Carell (Donald Rumsfeld) gave Bale equally talented actors to play against.  Three outstanding performers at the top of their game.  I'm sure most won't put this movie as high on a list as I did.  Even with McKay's directing talents and superior acting, it's still too long, meandering and a bit dry.  That being said, it's a very enjoyable film and if you're not careful you might actually learn some history.

4)  Green Book:  It's the 1960's, racism is alive and well, and a black virtuoso pianist takes on a musical tour through the deep south.  He requires a driver/security for this trip and hires a white Italian American man for this purpose.  Mahershala Ali gives an Oscar worthy performance as the musician.  His performance is rich with elegance, dignity, and even subtlety as he uncovers the complexity of his own personal motivations and illustrates the complexity of the nation's racial divide.  Ali is rapidly becoming a force in the acting world.  He may have one of the most expressive faces I've seen.  It's impressive how much emotion and intent he's able to convey with a mere glance, smile, raised brow or tilt of the head.  Viggo Mortensen portraying the driver, is his acting equal.  The film contrasts a man struggling with his identity with that of a man deeply rooted and secure in his identity.  Ali doesn't know where he fits in, in his personal life, within his own race, or in society at large, while Viggo has deep family roots and a clear place in his Italian-American neighborhood.  The film is well told, well directed and extremely well acted.  However, there isn't much that is surprising or original about it.  Two men from opposite sides of the tracks are forced together and learn they aren't so different after all,  in the end coming to respect and understand each other.  My oldest son pointed out that he knew exactly what to expect and could have easily predicted how it would end even before it began.  Sadly he was right.  Although it is predictable and stereotypical in many ways it is still an important story, well told, and worth seeing.  I was entertained.

5)  BlacKkKlansman:  Spike Lee directs this "based on a true story" account of Colorado Springs' first black detective, who was able to infiltrate the KKK along with his Jewish partner, played by Adam Driver.  The movie is well acted, expertly directed and beautifully shot.  Denzel's son, John David Washington plays the police officer who against all odds infiltrates the KKK.  It's the 1970's, and the civil right's movement is heating up.  America is a far cry from racially tolerant.  Up and coming Adam Driver plays a Jewish cop, who hides from his own ethnicity, seemingly unwilling to recognize his own minority status.  Washington tries to embrace and promote his race, unable to hide from it, while struggling to be accepted by his peers and by society.  In the end Driver comes to recognize the significance of his own ethnicity and how all races deserve to be treated equally.  I very much enjoyed Topher Grace's performance as David Duke, the leader of the KKK.  While the acting, the direction and the action make this movie worth seeing, I found the writing to be somewhat redundant.  The film kept making the same point over and over.  Considering the high stakes of a Jewish man going undercover to infiltrate the KKK, the tone of the film lacked a degree of menace that the theme would suggest be present.  There were far too many "silly" and comical moments which I felt took away from the weight and seriousness of the theme.  Overall it was an enjoyable experience but I felt there could have and should have been "more".

6)  The Favourite: Who doesn't love a great period movie?!?!  Director Yorgos Lanthimos has made some of the oddest and most uncomfortable films in recent memory, such as The Lobster, Killing of a Sacred Deer, and Dogtooth, all films clearly NOT made for the masses (watch at your own risk).  In The Favourite he has assembled a cast of fine actors.  The Academy seems to reward performance driven films, very much like I do. The film is beautifully set in the 18th Century, with a sickly Queen Anne, wonderfully played by Oliva Colman, on the throne.  The sets and costumes are spectacular.  Rachel Weisz is the Queen's aide but also her confidant and lesbian love interest.  She controls the Queens itinerary, has her ear, and is even able to influence policy.  Naturally her position incites envy and others conspire against her.  Emma Stone appears as a prior lady, now a manipulative servant down on her luck, but with limitless ambition.  She quickly befriends and charms the Queen, eventually challenging for control and power.  Her character will do anything, stoop to any level, to gain an upper hand.  There is plenty of intrigue as each party schemes to rise in the ranks.  I particularly enjoyed the scenes involving a somewhat secondary character, Robert Harley, played by Nicholas Hoult.  Each of his all to few scenes were outstanding.  It's never quite clear what each person's motivation is, what emotion is genuine, which words are true......  It's a quirky and unique film, beautifully told, cleverly written, and expertly acted.  While I was entertained, in the end, it was just a bit to absurd to rate more highly.

7)  Black Panther:  While I did enjoy this movie, and understand it's social significance, I simply didn't think it was even the best comic book movie of the year.  My brother, whose opinion I don't always share but always respect, absolutely hated this movie.  In any case, I thought both Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse were superior comic book movies this year.  If ever such a movie deserved a best picture nomination, to me, it would have been Deadpool.  In general I suspect I'm guilty of being a movie snob when it comes to the Academy Awards.  I don't think critical acclaim should have anything to do with box office success.  While I do watch and enjoy the block busters I prefer that the Academy Awards go to more meaningful, serious, or artsy, type movies.  I'd be more in favor of a different Oscar category to allow for fan favorites like X-men, Mission Impossible, James Bond, comedies or horror movies to give them a chance at winning Academy Awards.  Although, there are other award shows that more readily recognize these type of movies.  All that being said Chadwick Boseman was wonderful as The Black Panther, just as he was as Jackie Robinson (42) and Thurgood Marshall (Marshall).  I'm glad I saw this film as it has great production value, strong women characters, fantastic effects, excellent costumes, and an interesting plot, but it simply wasn't extraordinary, or not extraordinary enough to warrant a best picture nomination.

8)  Roma:  I have no idea how this movie got one, let alone ten, Oscar nominations.  It's a black and white, very long, sub-titled movie.  The story is set in Mexico and is told through the eyes of a maid, serving a dysfunctional family, in the 1970's.  I found the performances to be flat, the direction and pacing to be inconsistent and meandering, the writing to be uninspired and pointless, with the color literally taken out.  The only praise I have is for the cinematography.  Many of the visuals are stunning.  The scenes of Mexico City at the time were interesting and beautiful, there is also a gritty hospital sequence that's excellent.  Still, I was unable to connect or relate to any of the characters and didn't really care what happened to them.  It's been a long time since I've disliked a "best picture" nomination so much.  One scene perfectly summed it up for me; a close up of a car tire slowly rolling over a mound of dog excrement.  This was the first time I've missed seeing a best picture nomination on the big screen, and I'm glad for not having spent the money.  Often nominated movies are re-released to theaters, taking advantage of the buzz nominations generate.  As of yet, Roma has still not been released in any of the many theaters I frequent, including the art house theaters.  Roma is a Netflix original that never went in to wide release.  I'd love to hear from someone who enjoyed this movie.  Clearly I must be missing something as I was NOT entertained.