The Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts, and Sciences will present their awards, little statuettes known as Oscars, for outstanding features, animated, and short films on Sunday, March 10th. Celebrities will gather on the red carpet for us to ooh, ah, or gasp over their outfits. There are myriad categories such as best cinematography, costume design, special effects, directing, producing, editing, original screenplay, theme song, musical score, adapted screenplay, best actor/actress, best actor/actress in a supporting role, and of course best picture of the year.
Some awards are given out in an untelevised ceremony before the big event. It’s a chance for hundreds of people behind the scenes to be recognized for their contributions to these films, as well as a time for the actors to shine.
I’m not big on award shows. They tend to be long, the jokes get stale, and some of the entertainment can be over the top. It’s not that I dislike people winning awards for their work. It would be great if we lived in a world that recognized all our efforts. I dislike the politics, and conspiracy theories surrounding award shows.
As far as Oscars go, films that come out between September 1 and December 31 have a statistical advantage over films released in January through August no matter how exceptional these films may be. With the sheer volume of films produced and the diverse nature of the subject matter addressed in these films, comparing any part of them is like comparing apples to coconuts. They are both fruits, but they are nothing alike.
Selected members of the motion picture industry vote. They are more qualified to judge the work of their peers than laymen, but are they impartial? None of us really knows. Films from major motion picture studios have bigger budgets to create an “Oscar buzz” than Indy films. Theaters/cinemas are more likely to show films they believe will appeal to the largest audiences. They have no choice because they need to fill the seats to stay in business. Films that bring in more money at the box office are considered more successful and therefore better.
I prefer to judge films by how they make me feel. I use a similar criterion to evaluate books and music. Several of the films that have been nominated in one or more categories are available or will soon be available to stream before award night. Here is a list of films and where to watch them if you missed them in theaters. Streaming information is subject to change.
The Holdovers (available to stream on Peacock+) stars Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham a curmudgeonly instructor at an elite boy’s prep school in New England during the Vietnam War. After refusing to change the failing grade of a prominent donor’s son, Hunham is punished by being assigned to look after a small group of boys who can’t go home for Winter Break. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is Mary Lamb the school’s cook. She’s recently lost her son in Vietnam. Her anguish and the contrast between the spoiled elitists attending the school who will receive draft deferments and Ivy league admissions in comparison to her son who excelled at the school, but couldn’t afford to go to college is powerful. Dominic Sessa plays Angus Tilly, a difficult student who ends up as Henham’s lone charge. The three actors play their roles to perfection. No spoilers here, but watch this film. It’s exceptional.
Killers of the Flower Moon. Martin Scorsese’s film about the true events surrounding the murders of members of the Osage Nation after oil is found on their lands is available to stream on Apple+. Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a weak-willed grifter who does the bidding of his uncle William Hale (Robert De Niro). Hale convinces Burkhart to court and marry Molly (Lily Gladstone) an influential member of the Osage Nation. Hale has been killing off Molly’s relatives, so their shares of the oil profits will go to Molly. If Burkhart marries Molly, he will inherit all her shares when she dies, and Hale will “help” Burkhart manage the profits from the oil. Burkhart and Molly develop real feelings for each other which puts Hale’s plan in jeopardy. The movie is long and slow in places. The film shifts between subtle nuances and overt acts of violence and cruelty without warning. It’s an important film about shameful true-life events. Stellar performances from a strong supporting cast add to the power of this film.
Oppenheimer will be streaming on Peacock starting February 16, 2024. It can be rented or purchased on Apple TV+, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Xfinity, or YouTube. Cillian Murphy stars as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who headed the Manhattan Project during World War II which created the atomic bomb. The film chronicles the career of Oppenheimer and his later fall from grace. It also stars Emily Blunt as his wife, Kitty; Matt Damon (Gen. Leslie R. Groves); Robert Downey, Jr. (Lewis Strauss); Florence Pugh (Jean Tatlock); Rami Malek (David L. Hill): and Gary Oldman (Harry Truman).
Barbie is available for streaming with certain subscriptions to Max, YouTube, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Vide. It can be rented on Vudu, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, or YouTube TV. Barbie (Margo Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) have the perfect life in Barbie Land, but everything changes when they venture out into the real world. Strong supporting performances from America Ferrera (Gloria); Micheal Cera (Allan): Will Farrell ( Mattel CEO); Kate McKinnon and Issa Rae.
American Fiction is available to rent or purchase on YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Vudu, and Amazon Prime Video. Monk (Jeffrey Wright) is a frustrated writer and highly intelligent professor. When his most recent manuscript is rejected by his publisher for “not being Black enough,” his personal and professional lives seem to start a downward spiral. His seminar is poorly attended, but Sintara Golden’s (Issa Rae), is packed. Golden is an author who writes exploitative novels that stereotype Blacks. An angry Monk pens what he believes is a satirical novel mocking the literary cliches expected from Black authors only to be offered a huge sum of money for his manuscript and a movie deal. Under the pen name Stagg R. Leigh (a former convict’s name) the book becomes a bestseller. Monk suddenly has success, but not as himself. Can he get his life back? Watch the film to find out. Also stars Tracee Ellis Ross, Sterling K. Brown, Leslie Uggams, and David Keith.
Maestro is available with a subscription to Netflix or a premium subscription to Sling TV. This film chronicles the life and loves of Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper) a brilliant American conductor and composer. Also stars Carey Mulligan as his wife Felicia Montealegre Bernstein; Matt Bomer, Vincenzo Amato, Michael Urie, and Sarah Silverman.
Past Lives is available with certain subscriptions on Showtime, YouTube, Hulu, fubu TV, Sling Tv, Paramount+, and Amazon Prime Video. It can be rented on Vudu, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, or YouTube TV. In Seoul, South Korea, Na Young (Greta Lee)and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) were twelve-year-old classmates beginning to fall in love. After Na’s family emigrates to Toronto, they lose touch. Twelve years later, Na has Americanized her name to Nora, and she’s living in New York City. Hae has finished his military service to his country. He begins to search for Na on Facebook hoping to reconnect. Nora and Hae video chat and rekindle their feelings for each other, but the timing isn’t right to be together. Twelve years later Nora is married, but Hae has ended his relationship. When they meet again, will they have to settle for the love they shared in the past? Also stars John Magaro as Nora’s husband, Arthur.
Poor Things (no streaming dates yet – you’ll have to look for it in theaters) Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) is a reanimated corpse with a baby’s brain. She embarks on a journey of self-discovery and debauchery as her intelligence quickly grows to adulthood. Also stars Mark Ruffalo, Willam Dafoe, Ramy Youssef, and Christopher Abbot.
The Zone of Interest (no streaming dates yet – you’ll have to look for it in theaters). The commander of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), and his wife Hedwig (Sandra Hüller) try to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp. Inside the carefully constructed garden walls, the family is oblivious and indifferent to the suffering and murder of Jews. He lavishes gifts on his family which are the possessions of murdered Jews and ponders more effective ways to exterminate prisoners. The film sounds tough to watch, but its powerful message about the dangers of indifference is so important.
Anatomy of a Fall is available to rent on Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and Google Play Movies & TV. This French legal thriller stars Sandra Hüller as Sandra Voyter, Samuel Theis as Samuel Maleski, and Milo Machado as Daniel Maleski. Sandra, a successful writer, lives in a secluded chalet with her husband Samuel, and their son, Daniel, who is sight impaired. The next day after Samuel disrupts an interview Sandra is giving about her work, Daniel finds his father’s dead body on the ground below the attic window. Sandra insists his fall must have been an accident, but the authorities charge her with murder. After searching the house, they find a tape of Sandra and Samuel arguing. Sandra insists her novels are fiction, but Investigators scour them looking for clues or a motive. Did she kill her husband? Did he fall or did he jump? Watch the film to find out.
Nyad is available on Netflix. (Annette Bening nominated for Best Actress) Bening stars as champion swimmer Diana Nyad. This biographical sports drama chronicles Nyad’s multiple attempts to swim the straits of Florida at the age of sixty. It provides flashbacks of her life, career, and the childhood sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her swim coach, Jack Nelson (Eric T. Miller). Thirty years ago, she failed in her attempt to complete the 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida. This time, she enlists the help of her former trainer and partner, Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster) and navigator John Bartlett (Rhys Ifans) as her swim partner. Nyad succeeds on her fifth attempt.
The Color Purple (Danielle Brooks - nominated for Best Supporting Actress) This remake of Alcie Walker’s classic novel stars Brooks as Sofia, Fantasia Barrino as Celie, Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery, Halle Bailey and Ciara as Nettie Harris, and Louis Gossett Jr. as Mr. Johnson. Torn away from her sister and her children, Celie must face the hardships of her life without family. After her marriage to an abusive husband, Celie finds help and strength from the bonds of a new sisterhood with her stepdaughter and a sultry singer named Shug Avery. This film is available for streaming on demand in 4K Ultra HD on Prime Video. Watch it online as a rental for $20 or purchase a digital download for $25.
May December (Nominated for best original screenplay) is now streaming on Netflix in the U.S. and Canada. The film was inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau scandal. Actress Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman) travels to Georgia to meet with Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianna Moore) whom she’ll be paying in an upcoming film. Twenty-three years ago, Gracie was caught raping thirteen-year-old Joe Yoo (Charles Melton), a friend of her son, George. Gracie was thirty-six at the time. While in prison, she gives birth to Joe’s child. After prison she and Yoo marry and have two more children. They are still together largely because Joe has never come to terms with his sexual abuse by Gracie, and Gracie has never admitted to being a sexual predator. Berry’s questions unlock feeling long buried.
El Conde (nominated for best cinematography) is available on Netflix. The film is a Chilean black comedy horror film. Chilean dictator, Augusto Pinochet (Jaime Vadell) is a 250-year-old vampire seeking death. The plot is too wacky to explain here, but it’s fun to watch.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Nominated for Best Original Score by John Williams) is available to stream with a subscription to Disney+ or it can be rented on Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play Movies & TV. Harrison Ford is back as Indiana Jones Twenty-five years after escaping with half of Archimedes’ dial (Nazi astrophysicist, Jürgen Voller has the other half), Indy is approached by his goddaughter, Helena, who wants to study the dial. Helena’s father Basil Shaw was obsessed with the dial. After Indy and Helena retrieve the dial half from the university archives where it was hidden, they’re attacked by Voller’s men. Voller is now working for the CIA on NASA’s Apollo program. Mystery and intrigue follow.
Photo Credit:
By The Oscars, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60976416