Not sure if that should follow with “that’s gotta be some sort of record” or “can’t remember the last time that’s happened”.
In any case, both statements are true and that’s why I’m here.
Historically, this is a difficult feat to accomplish for a number of reasons. Hollywood’s idea of “the best films of the year” typically translates as “movies we save for the end of the year but somehow represent the year as a whole.”
They’re not blockbusters or movies most normal people (ie don’t live in the big cities that host limited screenings) get the chance to see before the awards shows. In recent years, some have been streaming exclusives, which leaves out those of us who don’t want to pay for half a dozen subscriptions because of FOMO.
My family and I are bigger on movies than the average household but we typically only manage to catch one Oscar nominee before they roll out the red carpet. If we’re lucky.
Anyway, here we are. Of the ten total nominees, we saw
-Elvis
-Maverick
-Avatar: The way of water
-Everything everywhere all at once
-The Banshees of Inisherin
The other 5, we’re less likely to see. Two are exclusive to Apple+. “All quiet on the western front” is an German foreign film (also, shouldn’t it be illegal that they have the same name as an older movie that won for best picture?) and it’s not likely we’ll get to a theater to see “triangle of sadness” or “the fabelmans” before Oscar night. (Although when it comes to cable, it’ll be worth the wait. Knowing how Spielberg operates, hopefully we’ll catch it on hbo or some channel without commercials).
Overall this looks like a good crop of films. We have big films and indie films, the kinds of movies that might not get the spotlight if not for the rule change where up to 10 movies can be nominated. They also cover multiple genres and themes. But probably the best part is that these movies had been released throughout 2022 so people had more opportunities to see them.
There’s still a 50% chance none of the movies we saw will win the big prize but they’re still the best odds we’ve had in a long time, if ever.
I’d already done reviews of Avatar and Elvis. I don’t see Avatar winning more than technical awards. Elvis has a good chance but considering Baz Luhrmann never won for any of his previous films, I wouldn’t bet money on him.
Austin Butler, if he doesn’t win, something is wrong. Not only was he as good as transforming into his role as Rami Malek to Freddie mercury, he actually did his own singing. So that puts him a cut above.
Maverick, a proper review will come soon. But as a HUGE fan of the original movie, I enjoyed it a lot. It was a proper sequel (a rarity) that paid tribute to the original but also stood well on its own.
The most I can ask is for lady Gaga to win for best song- by virtue of her sheer awesomeness
Which leaves the other two. Two films where there’s a very low likelihood I’ll see them more than this one time.
Everything everywhere all at once
It’s not often a movie with sci-fi elements gets so many big ticket nominations. 11 in total including three for acting.
And if any film can challenge Avatar for technical achievement, this is it.
Unfortunately it’s not the type of movie I can sit through more than once. My mind has a lot of flexibility when it comes to pictures (in long and short formats) that expand beyond most would consider “normal.” So it says a lot that this movie is just a little too out there for me.
Based on the synopsis, I knew it involved multiverses (like I said during my Avatar review under trailers, this concept is Hollywood’s shiny new toy). I knew it be out there but just not THIS level of insanity.
It starts out mundane enough. Evelyn, a small business owner goes to the IRS to deal with audit issues. But suddenly the fate of all worlds is at stake, you’re the chosen one and your daughter is the bad guy that needs to be stopped.
That’s simple enough to understand. As is the possibility that every decision you make can result in endless possibilities- the version of yourself that pursued one path is a separate entity that exists in another realm of reality.
The book this movie is based on probably goes into even greater depth than those 139 minutes do. That being said, it gets to a point where you throw the common sense out the window and say “ok, I give up.” It becomes impossible to pinpoint which universe determines the trajectory of the plot. Some you only see for a second or two and certain universes are just WTF moments. The most notable likely where everyone has hot dogs for fingers. (I am not making this up, I swear!). And the object that could bring the end of everything- an everything bagel with literally everything on it.
My first thought- man, whoever wrote this must really hate everything bagels.
One “running gag” (if you wanna call it that) running through the movie- the husband is the messenger that tells the protagonist of her destiny. Whenever a different version of him appears in place of her husband, he takes his glasses off in dramatic fashion. If this movie wasn’t already trippy on its own right, that’d make a great drinking game.
There’s a moment of downtime where the two of them lie low to eat something. He eats a bagel with cream cheese and drinks cream straight from the vessel. Apparently in his universe, the alphaverse, there are no more cows. And in a flurry of panic a few minutes later, Evelyn says “enough of your clay pots, cream cheese, no cows”… this is a serious movie but I fell over laughing at that comment.
It’s an r-rated movie and it manifests in some really bizarre ways that would probably make the squeamish tune out. It’s also probably not an ideal movie for anyone with photosensitivity because there’s one or two scenes where hundreds of images flash within seconds.
I’m pretty sure one of the nominations is for costumes. Almost every version of Joy, the villain, wears some outrageous outfit. For me, that was way too much. I know fashion is objective, but some of these fashion choices, I just didn’t get.
But if I’m being honest, a lot of things in media have fallen into the same trap. Pushing more flash and effects when we’re in dire need to go back to the basics. Like great storytelling.
This movie does have a good story to it, but it sometimes gets lost in the fray.
What I found the most interesting- this version of Evelyn is the chosen one, essentially, because she’d failed at everything she’d tried. Meanwhile every other version of her in existence exists because she succeeded in one of those many things.
In terms of nominations, I’d absolutely give Michelle Yeoh best actress. Not just because of the multiple versions of her, but she does a LOT in this movie. I can’t imagine how many days of training and work she put into it but she deserves to be rewarded for that.
The actor who played her husband was actually the child actor in Indiana Jones and the temple of doom… the fact he got past the child actor curse and was able to re establish himself in such a big way… I favor someone else for supporting actor but he was no slouch.
I don’t expect Jamie Lee Curtis to win, but it’d be cool if she did. Being nominated for the first time so far into her career, that’s a huge triumph.
The Banshees of Inisherin
Just saw this in the other night and it was entertaining in its own weird way.
For this. I’d highly recommend subtitles. They can only enhance the overall experience.
I’d seen two of Martin McDonough’s collaborations with Colin Farrell, both were interesting watches I’d seen a couple times. I like Colin Farrell with his native accent, way better than his American roles, and I don’t want to miss out on any details.
The best way to describe this movie is that it’s a historical black comedy. It takes place on a small island off the coast of Ireland in 1923 while a conflict (I’m guessing the conflict that is behind the existence of Northern Ireland) takes place on the mainland.
Colin Farrell and Brendon Gleason (who were in “In Bruges” together and nominated for this film for separate acting categories) are best friends… until this movie starts.
Colm (Gleason) decides he doesn’t want to be friends with Padraic (Colin Farrell)… he has some sort of epiphany he wants to get more out of his life and Padraic only prattles about things that don’t matter to anyone but himself.
That’s the gist of it, but it’s more interesting than it sounds. The source of the conflict is that Colm wants Padraic to leave him alone to do his own thing and Padraic is the worst listener. It reaches a point where Colm makes a threat of bodily harm if he doesn’t leave him alone… and let’s just say he makes good on said threat. To say anymore would spoil the fun.
You’ll either get this movie or you won’t, but even if you don’t, it’s at least memorable.
The funniest part is one scene where Padraic goes on a drunken rant and after he leaves, Colm says “that’s the most interesting he’s ever been. I think I like him again.” There’s also a white lie involving a bread van with some funny results.
Along with the two actors, Barry Keoghan who plays Dominic, is nominated. But I’d give this to Brendon Gleason for best supporting. He was GOOD.
Also gotta say I’m a little surprised the priest wasn’t nominated. He had some of the best lines in the movie, even with the few minutes he’s on screen. There’s also this creepy old lady Mrs. McCormick who plays an interesting role that’s a huge plot spoiler but when it comes across, it’s a cool moment.
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