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.