By P.A. Geddie
The 97th Academy Awards takes place March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony is televised on ABC and streamed on Hulu.
Last year I was totally in to following the Oscars for recommended movies and chasing down where to watch them in today’s ever-evolving streaming world. I saw about half of last years’ nominees before the Oscars and vowed to see some of the rest of them during the year. There were some good ones for me, and I’m a picky film aficionado, although a devoted one. I enjoyed Killers of Flower Moon, Past Lives, Oppenheimer, Nyad, and Anatomy of a Fall and still hope to see a couple of the others.
I look for interesting stories, something different than the ho-hum, all too often cookie-cutter stuff where you know what’s going to happen before it does. Predictable equals boring if it’s going to hold my full attention. I don’t like movies that rely too heavily on sex or violence to try to carry their stories either. Somewhere in the middle of those extremes is where we find good stories.
I still haven’t been able to watch Barbie although I’m told by the toughest of feminists that it has a good message for women. But all that PINK I see in the trailer is still a little too nauseating for me dive in just yet.
This year I have not watched a single one of the nominees. I haven’t even heard of most of them. I don’t know if I’ve completely lost touch or if the Oscars have.
The one I HAVE heard about and am eager to see is the Bob Dylan story, A Complete Unknown. It’s coming soon to one of my streaming stations and I’ll be sure to get the popcorn and know I will enjoy it from what I’ve seen and read so far.
Here’s a rundown of all the nominees for Best Picture and a few other categories.
Anora follows the beleaguered marriage between sex worker Anora and Vanya, the son of a Russian oligarch. This film features Yura Borisov who is nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Mikey Madison is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
The Brutalist is the story of a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor emigrating to the United States and struggling to achieve the “American Dream” until a wealthy client changes his life. Besides Best Picture, Adrien Brody is up for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Guy Pearce is nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Felicity Jones for Actress in a Supporting Role.
A Complete Unknown is nominated for Best Picture with producers Fred Berger, James Mangold and Alex Heineman. Timothee Chalamet is nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Edward Norton is nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Monica Barbaro for Actress in a Supporting Role.
Conclave is a political thriller where the pope dies of a heart attack and a cardinal organizes a conclave to elect the next pope and finds himself investigating secrets and scandals about the major candidates. Ralph Fiennes is nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Isabella Rossellini for Actress in a Supporting Role.
Dune: Part Two is a space opera. Enough said.
A Spanish-language French musical crime film, Emilia Perez follows a Mexican cartel leader who enlists a lawyer to help them disappear and transition into a woman. Karla Sofia Gascon is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role and Zoe Saldana for Actress in a Supporting Role.
I’m Still Here is a Portuguese-language political biographical drama about a mother and activist coping with the forced disappearance of her dissident politician husband during a military dictatorship in Brazil. Fernanda Torres is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Nickel Boys is an American historical drama following two boys of African descent who are sent to an abusive reform school in 1960s Florida.
The Substance is a horror film with grotesque, hyper realistic imagery that follows a fading celebrity who, after being fired by her producer due to her age, uses a black market drug that creates a younger version of herself with unexpected side effects. Demi Moore is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Wicked is an American musical fantasy and reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. Cynthia Erivo is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role and Ariana Grande for Actress in a Supporting Role.
With the exception of A Complete Unknown none of these films are my cup of tea. The casts include amazing actors that I enjoy seeing perform so maybe I’ll try one or two. But for the most part, I’m hoping by next year’s Oscars there are much better choices for good film entertainment.
