OSCAR WATCH 2022

Dune

I was lucky enough to see Dune on the big screen and what a wonderful experience it was. Beautifully shot with intense detail. I had seen the Lynch version all those years ago and found it a little difficult to follow. This was presented in an easier to understand way. I thought the casting was brilliant, Chalamet and Zendaya were young and yet otherworldly at once, and Brolin and Momoa lent a lot of heavy cred to their roles. I was also thrilled to briefly see the goddess that is Charlotte Rampling towards the end of the film. I hope we see more of her in future films. Villeneuve is such a great filmmaker, especially in this genre; Arrival is a masterpiece. Dune comes close, the 'colour' in those desert scenes were masterful, the set design also just brilliant. This is a film to be seen.

In terms of Oscars, it is nominated for 10 - no mean feat. I think it will probably do well in the tech categories, effects, editing, sound etc and possibly the score for Hans Zimmer.

Cruella

I really enjoyed this, it was pure camp entertainment and the Emmas, Stone and Thompson, looked like they were having a ball. This is the back story of Cruella de Ville, did we need it, probably not, but it was a lot of fun. Really it was all about the costumes!

And that is what it is nominated for, 2, hair and makeup and costume, thinking it should get the later.

Belfast

This is a beautiful film, possible my favourite of the bunch. Shot stunningly in black and white and written with such truth and heart. Based on Kenneth Branagh's life as a child in Ireland amonst the IRA rising. The film is harsh in so many ways, but so full of love in a much more meaningful way. The acting is wonderful, with Judi Dench stealing every scene, as Ken's grandma. But the star, surely, is young Jude Hill as Buddy (Ken). The film revolves around Buddy  and his perception of his surroundings at that time. And then there is the soundtrack...mostly Van Morrison tunes and they help really lift the film. Say what you will about VN these days, but when you hear one of his songs, you smile.

Written and directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, Belfast is nominated for 7 Oscars, including Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay, Sound, and Original Song for Van. I think it will fair well in Original Screenplay.

Being the Ricardos

I loved this film so much, I had heard mixed reviews of this film, maybe they just don't get Lucy. I have been a fan of I Love Lucy for a long time and know a little bit about behind the scenes. I think the premise was clever, they took a week in the show's history and showed the drama behind it all. Both Kidman and Bardem really embodied their characters, and the supporting cast were equally as good. I just soaked this up. 

It is up for 3 acting noms, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, and JK Simmons. I don't think they will win.                                                                               

Don't Look Up

This was an absolute blast. I love Adam McKay movies, they have a lot of heart, and are wickedly funny, but are usually telling a terrible tale about our crazy world. Don't look Up is all that and more, superb cast, great story but possibly a little too long. The Premise is scientists (Leo and Jennifer) find an large asterix hurtling towards earth, if it hits it will wipe the planet.

4 noms for this film, Best Picture, Film editing, Original Score, and Original Screenplay. Possibility for screenplay I think.

Licorice Pizza

This was as great as I was expecting. When I originally saw the trailer, I was thrilled. I loved the vibe, the humour, the music. I thought the young boy reminded me of a young Phillip Seymour Hoffman, when I found out it was his son, I was in tears. His performance is worthy of his father. Everyone is great in this ensemble coming of age film. There are some true moments of hilarity, especially around the Jon Peters character, there is great heart, and an amazing soundtrack. It is very 70s of course, and feels like a lovely companion piece to Boogie Nights. Again, this was a little long, but it was pure joy and one of the best movies I have seen in a while. But then I always love anything by PT Anderson.

Licorice Pizza is up for 3 noms, Best Picture, Directing, Screenplay. Look I do not think it will win anything, possibly screenplay. But it doesn't matter, this is a great film.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

I wasn't keen to see what I thought would be a train crash of a film. But place what you think of the Baker's aside, this was a pretty good. It has gotten mixed reactions but I thought it was a wonderful form of storytelling. Is the story awful, of course it is, but it is told and acted extraordinarily well. ANdrew Garfield - on a serious roll this year - is utterly brilliant portraying Jimmy Baker as the ugliest, most horrid human that he is. But Jessica Chastain is absolutely stunning as Tammy Faye. It shows her in a more human light and there are points you feel seriously sad for her. She got herself into a toxic, cult-like relationship and didn't realise until it was way too late. To humanise and make you feel empathetic towards her character is a testament to Chastain's acting ability. It is no characterisation, she embodies her. This movie is difficult to watch at times, but her performance is mesmerising. I feel the Oscar is hers.

This film is nominated for 2 Oscars, Best Actress, and Hair and make-up. I suspect it will win both!

Coda

This is a remake of a far superior French film, The Belier Family. So there is that, but of course the US being the US, have no idea...sigh. So maybe, if I had not seen the original I would rate this much higher. It is a good story but pretty much the same bar the changed the family from farmers to fishermen. CODA is Child of deaf adults, and Ruby is the only person in her family that can hear. The pressue of this is enormous. Ruby loves nothing more than singing, and she can really sing. but her family will never hear her voice, literally and figuratively. She spends her time interpreting for her family and keeping them on the straight and narrow with their work. With the pressure on Ruby to sing more and attend college away from her family, the pressure to help her family is equally as big. This is filmed well, adn the acting is great. The music also wonderful and uplifting. This is becoming a favourite with everyone, so is definitely a wild card. 

Nominated for 3 Oscars, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur (the father) and adapted screenplay. It will probably will for Troy but maybe even the other 2!

The Lost Daughter

This is a dark little film. It is about motherhood and the trauma of being a mother. Olivia Coleman delivers, as always, a powerhouse performance as Leda a divorcee holidaying on a Greek island. She is a English professor and is working on the break. When she comes across a Greek family also on holiday and becomes entangled in their world, things start to fall apart. SHe slowly unravels and shows a woman with real regrets in her life. Flash back shows her as a young mum with two young daughters, a brilliant but fragile mum who struggles to juggle her work and motherhood. as a viewer you do not know what went wrong, and you start to form many thoughts. This adds to the intensity of the film. It is well directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, and the cast are great but this is Olivia's (and Jessie Buckley who plays the young Leda) film. There are scenes where Leda is alone and does not speak, she is observing and thinking and you know everything from the stunning acting of Coleman. What she can express physically and from her face without saying a word is a masterclass in acting. This goes equally for Buckley who embodies a young Leda so much, you think it IS Coleman magically de-aged.

Both Jessie and Olivia are nominated as is Maggie for Best Adapted screenplay. I don't think this little film will win anything, but both are powerhouse performances so anything is possible!

The Power of the Dog

There has been very mixed reviews about this film but I really enjoyed it. Firstly and I think most importantly, it is a stunning film to watch, the cinematography is outstanding. Then the acting is next level. The four main characters are outstanding. Benedict Cumberbatch (to quote my Andrew, the actor of our generation!) is absolutely lost in his character, Phil, a rugged and nasty cowboy. Phil is the older of two rancher brothers, his younger brother, George (the brilliant Jesse Plemons), is a nicer, softer fellow. On their travels they meet Rose and her son Peter. Phil taunts and teases them. George marries Rose and brings them home much to the annoyance of Phil. Phil slowly and subtly drives Rose to drink, but in time takes Peter under his wing. It Phil being genuine, or is this a mean long play. Phil has a lot to hide and that informs his character. Rose is beautifully played by Kirsten Dunst and Peter by Kodi Smit-McPhee. Peter is an odd, unnerving character. Is he a little slow or is he smarter than he shows, hard to say. All of this characterisation build to a gob smacking twist towards the end. This film is not my favourite but I really loved it, it is a masterpiece.  Don't let the weirder reviews put you off.

This is nominated for TWELVE (12) Oscars. Woah, that is a lot. Best Picture and director - I think they will win. All four actors, Benedict should win, but that doesn't mean he will, ditto for Kodi. Also Screenplay, score, production, sound, cinematography, film editing. I think it will win for cinematography.

King Richard

I didn't hate this film, I didn't love it, it was ok. I can see it is an important story, but again, too bloody long. Will Smith is a powerhouse at the Richard Williams, the king of the title and Svengali/father behind Serena and Venus. Again, it was too long. I think if you love tennis this film is for you.

King Richard is up for Best Picture, Actor for Smith, Supporting Actress for Aunjanue Ellis, Film Editing, Original Screenplay, and Original Song. It appears Will Smith will win Best Actor, I have other preferences but I am ok with that.

Spencer

This is a quirky and odd little film. Based around one Christmas weekend with the Royal family when Diana was at her lowest and seemingly losing her mind. Kristen Stewart loses herself in this role, she is truly amazing. 

Only one Oscar nom for Kristen Stewart, and she has a good shot.

Nightmare Alley

I love the films of Guillermo del Toro. His vision is extraordinary, fantastical with a little bit horror/reality within, and Nightmare Alley continues this vision. The film is set amongst the backdrop of a travelling carnival and the carny folk of the 40s. Stan - played brilliantly by Bradley Cooper - joins a travelling carnival, assisting Madame Zeena (Toni Collette) and her husband Pete (David Strathairn). Pete takes Stan under his wing and teaches him all the tricks of the clairvoyancy trade. He falls in love with Molly (Rooney Mara) and they leave the carnival to use his new founded skills on the road. There they bump into Dr Lillith Ritter (Cate Blanchett) who has her doubts about Stan but they join forces. Ritter gives information to Stan to use to swindle others, but things go horribly wrong.

This is beautifully filmed, the carnival and the art deco building that Ritter works from. The set design so intricate and compelling, it adds to the storytelling. The huge cast is wonderful, great characters and acting. I really loved this film.

4 noms for this, Best Picture (yet no best director...shame), cinematography, costume design, production design...and it may just get production.

Tick Tick...Boom

I thoroughly enjoyed this, based on the story of Jonathon Larson, who eventually wrote Rent! This follows his rise through Broadway, the wins and knock-backs until he gets the idea - after losing many friends to Aids - to write Rent. This of course, changes how a Broadway musical can be, but Larson tragically dies the night before it's opening night. Andrew Garfield is extraordinary as Larson, supported by a firm cast of singers and dancers. The music is glorious and uplifting, especially the wonderful diner scene. There is so much to love in this film, with the great Bradley Whitfield and Judith Light in small supporting roles.

2 noms, for Garfield and for film editing, it probably won't get anything, which is a shame.

Parallel Mothers

Extraordinary film from the great Pedro Almodovar. I am a huge fan of his work, having seen most of his films. He writes so beautifully for women but he also has his axe to grind with Spanish history, understandably so. This is a story about mothers, but it is also about the buried history of the Spanish war. Janis (Penelope Cruz, always outstanding, but especially when she collaborates with Almodovar) and Ana (Milena Smit) meet in the maternity ward as they are both about to give birth. Both are single mothers, with Smit being significantly younger, and bond over their situations. After leaving hospital with their little girls, they both decide to keep in touch, but in time Janis changes her phone number. When they accidentally reunite and Janis finds out Ana's daughter has died of SIDs, she is heartbroken and as the truth starts to unravel, things become very murky. The smaller storyline is Janis is trying to locate her great-grandfather who died in the way, and like many others was buried in a large unmarked grave. Arturo is an archaeologist who is working on locating these graves. Arturo, married, is the father of Janis' baby. There is a lot of twists and turns in this drama, although I saw most of it coming. The women shine, and the story is very dramatic. Also starring the fabulous Rossy De Palma, as Janis' best friend!

2 noms, for Penelope and for Original score, it probably won't get anything, unsure why it didn't get nominated for Foreign Film.

The Tragedy of Macbeth

I loved this rendition of my favourite Shakespeare play. Shot in crisp black and white and up close, you really feel pulled into the story. The set design which is sparse is sharpened by the black and white. The close ups of faces draws you in. Washington is brilliant, but you always know it is Washington. McDormand is so good as the crazy Lady Macbeth. But you do not but the relationship between Washington and McDormand sadly, however that is my only criticism. Great supporting cast also. I have no idea why it was not nominated for more Oscars.

Denzil gets a nom, also Production and Cinematography, I doubt it will win anything.

Drive my Car

This clocks in at 3 hours long and it is long but it is really wonderful. I loved this film base on one a short story by one of my most favourite authors, Haruki Murakami. Yusuke is a theatre director, his wife, Oto, is a screenwriter. She tells him stories while they have sex. She has an affair with her collaborator, the younger, Koji. Yusuke catches them having sex but says nothing. Oto has a cerebral haemorrhage and dies, Yusuke is heart broken. Since the affair and Oto's death, Koji has been acting out in public and gotten a bad reputation. A few years later Yusuke is asked to direct a multiple language version of Uncle Vanya and casts Koji as Vanya. Yusuke has glaucoma and is given a driver to take him to the theatre and back. He insists on the driver driving his own car to make him feel more comfortable. A female driver, Watari is assigned to him.

SO huge plot over numerous years and a little bit of jumping around, but it is easy to follow.  Hence the much needed 3 hours. Could it have been edited to less, of course, but you know I didn't mind. It was a very meditative story, the acting sessions are great, the driving scenes where a lot of the dialogue and stories unravel - there is so much more to the story than I have written, lots of little twists and turns - are really good. It is hypnotic, the acting sensational, the mood and feel of the film very calming, the cinematography lovely. I highly recommend this film.

Nominated for 4 Oscars, Best Picture, Best Director, Adapted Screenplay, and Foreign Film - it should win the later.