The 96th Academy Awards are this Sunday, March 10th, 2024, and I've seen the most amount of Best Picture nominees I ever have, so let's recap my Letterboxd reviews for them about it!
Starting with the Barbenheimer in the room, I definitely have a whole other post dedicated to the box office phenom and my respective reviews of the films, so those thoughts can be found at https://www.mosmedia.blog/post/barbenheimer <3
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
AS FOR THE REST!
American Fiction
Directed by Cord Jefferson
Saw on my own @ Alamo Drafthouse Denton
February 12th, 2024
Creativity is dead because the industry muffles it.
I really couldn't watch this from an aspiring writer perspective, as it really only said "why try?" The industry only wants new stories through the most accessible and profitable next best thing, not through what shows a creator's true gifts and getting to tell the stories they pour their life into. Having also read Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, talk about a trans-media experience of the publishing realm being BRU-TAL.
I wasn't expecting it to focus more on the familial side of Jeffrey Wright's character, but then again I applaud the marketing for not giving away the whole thing. We're invited to know every piece of Monk, and it only broadens our support for his ultimate literary justice, albeit an unfortunate moot point of the film. The tinkering and testing of water to be blown out of only heightens with each of Wright's moves, earning his spot comfortably and confidently in his Best Actor nomination.
I guess I'm supposed to be left unsatisfied and angry at this. It's unapologetic of what media feeds off of alongside the repercussions and conversations that follow. Message aside, these performances are incredible, and I love the nuances within the many relationships in this film. Pacing can be off at times and other ends could've been tied up without leaving us completely high and dry, but that's life. We move on.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Anatomy of a Fall
Directed by Justine Triet
NOT seen...womp womp.
But! My sister's dear friend Kate Hickerson (https://boxd.it/xry7 on Letterboxd) has gracefully allowed me to use her words in what I feel is the only thing you should need to head to your nearest theater (not the Alamo Denton, eye roll eye roll) and see this film:
A film opening with P.I.M.P. by 50 Cent is a film for me
(4½ stars)
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
The Holdovers
Directed by Alexander Payne
Saw with my dad @ AMC Clearfork
November 20th, 2023
A quiet movie was needed, and a real good cry, too.
Enjoyed this subtle commentary on men's mental health, and the crude and purest need for community despite bitter and delusional solace with one's self. Drags a bit, lacks a bit of balance in tone, but I also just should've been prepared that this wasn't all sh!ts and gigz.
Shoutout Giamatti for being America's loser. Shoutout Sessa, a debut that will surely take him far. And shoutout Da'vine, my girl Mary, my draw back to water when this film just didn't feel like it was for me.
Tears steadily streamed, Cat Stevens crooned, and I had a great father-daughter screening to celebrate making it to fall break. May shooting on some Kodak film never die. A gorg 35mm experience, and a cozy holiday watch for the books.
This one has grown on me since viewing it, mostly through quirky or gut-wrenching Tiktok edits that I'll shamelessly link for those who care or don't care for spoilers. The writing is great, I look back on it with immense comfort, and I definitely have developed a little crush on Sessa. I know I'm not alone. I'm so glad it's gained traction with its critical acclaim, and I see this aging oh-so-gracefully.
Quirky/fun/doesn't make you want to crawl up and die edit: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTL8J1eUL/ (great song, too! Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second by STRFKR)
Unfortunately I can't link the other one due to UMG wiping TikTok of copyrighted music, but this also could've been a slight blessing in disguise for sensitive viewers (me) who tears up 15 seconds into the edit playing the last scene with Need 2 by Pinegrove in the background. Protecting y'alls peace, you're welcome.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Now, to the peace that devastatingly wasn't protected.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Saw on my own @ Alamo Drafthouse Denton October 20th, 2023
"You realize we're gonna be in this theater for three and a half hours?" -man on my left trolling me for not bringing a blanket. Okay dude, could've done without the four courses of food you ordered in the duration of this film as well.
Sir. The softest sherpa couldn't relieve the chronic chills from this viewing experience. Not one minute unaccounted for, Scorsese insisting: you will not look away, and you will not forget.
It's taken me a bit to gather my words for this one, stemming from the overwhelming amounts of emotions from the breadth of this raw and nothing-short-of-authentic history. It leaves a deep ache for this horrid betrayal and selfish iniquities that these people were inflicting into a rightful population of this country, and more importantly, the crimes to THEIR land that we unrightfully took before it was "our" country.
I hope that this continues to age with grace and it grows on those who dare to hit this with their shallow criticisms of pacing and duration, for Scorsese did a wonderful thing: not letting this story go untold, and not letting these voices left unheard. Thank you Marty.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Maestro
Directed by Bradley Cooper
Saw on my own @ home on my laptop/TV via Netflix
February 28th, 2024
Bradley, your director hat is no longer "kid wearing dad's oversized baseball cap." This is easily one of my favorite performances by him since Silver Linings Playbook, and this character study felt so graceful and deeply appreciative for Leonard and Felicia's deeply complex relationship.
As impressed that I was with Cooper, the spotlight leaned more towards Carey Mulligan, intentional or otherwise. Although I'd prefer others to win Best Actress in a Leading Role, her nomination is MORE than warranted. Between seeing her in this and Saltburn, her characters in 2023 just can't win. Poor gal.
Similar to Oppenheimer, the use of color versus B&W was very intentional and incorporating switches in aspect ratio was AWESOME! Objectively amazing orchestral displays, props to the musicians and Bradley's FOR REAL conducting. Six years in training came THROUGH, brother.
We got some iffy pacing, but biopics are just tough. Dealing with real people with real lives, what do you include and what gets left out? And who are we to say what could've been done without? I thoroughly enjoyed learning about these lives, and it's safe to say that Bradley might just know what he's doing by now.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Past Lives
Directed by Celine Song
Saw on my own @ Alamo Drafthouse Denton
February 11th, 2024
The importance, the absolute necessity of silence. The breadth of such reflecting distance and its intimacies. Yeah...this one hurt.
This year's original screenplay noms has got some gems, I can’t lie, but I feel I could assert that this is the shortest one. What is said between the powerful quiet of this film not only soaks into your very soul, but it complements the very soul of the film itself, shot beautifully and portrayed through beautiful people. I think I have a crush on all three of them, I’m sorry.
I thought about so many different relationships in my life with this watch. No matter the degree of severity of their bond, I felt an ache the entire time of just how vital each one of them are. This film sits you down with this seemingly doomed relationship, and given their evolving cultures and the technologies that be, this dynamic is fostered and carried through many stages that cuts deep to the viewer.
In one degree or another, you experience and/or have experienced the same emotions as any of the characters present, whether it be Nora, Hae Sung, or Arthur. There’s complexity in these emotions that I’m still grappling with. I cried walking out of theater, sobbed more outwardly in the car on the way home, and listened to the soundtrack to truly twist the knife as deep as I could let it...
because I knew I was supposed to sit with these feelings, and allow them to teach me about my heart. Not only its vital position within me, but within the people I share my heart with. Call it psycho emotional sabotage, call it cinematic therapy that’ll put you in therapy, but I wanted to watch it again as soon as it ended. There’s still so much I want to feel again. I love movies, and I need to appreciate the silence more.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Poor Things
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Saw with my boyfriend @ Cinemark Rave Ridgmar
December 23rd, 2023
ITS NOT TOO LATE TO MAKE THIS MY PERSONALITY!! I WILL READ THE BOOK I WILL WATCH IT AGAIN I WILL PRAISE THIS THING TIL ITS IRRELEVANT AND DATED I LOVE POOR THINGS!!
They marketed this movie just right, showing or hiding all the right things. Never seen such a talented ensemble. So elegant and refined yet ridiculously crass and hilarious. My boy and I were hooting and hollering, giggling and guffawing.
Emma stone's press run for this was spectacularly spot-on. The gradual autonomy of realizing her body's true nature and being a woman in general was tragic, beautiful, raw, and coming from stone's natural edge, she makes it look effortless. The variety of philosophy you encounter when rushed into the real world is all of these things as well, but the journeys we take with these new discoveries know no bounds, and this film encapsulates that WONDERFULLY!
Dafoe: slayed. Ruffalo: slayed. Youssef: slayed! Gotta get onto Ramy soon on Hulu; I'd really like to see more of his chops.
It shatters and stitches my heart back up to think of how Mary Shelley would've cherished this. Of course, yet another man telling a woman's story, but a WOMAN'S STORY! Frankenstein is an obvious influence, but the originality of this narrative has just the right nuances while paving a road to massive renown. I hope enough of y'all take the time to take this one in. It truly is a spectacle.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
The Zone of Interest
Directed by Jonathan Glazer
NOT seen...womp womp pt.2
Pretty much the only thing I gotta say is Sandra Hüller starring in both of the international films nominated for best picture (the first time more than one foreign film has been nominated in this category) is so big and so beautiful to see.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Other nominees I'm rooting for in some other categories:
-Wes Anderson's The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, an amazing short story adaptation I read before viewing, available on Netflix, nominated for Best Live Action Short Film.
-Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron, the swan song (hehe) for Miyazaki with all the heart and soul he's brought to cinema henceforth, nominated for Best Animated Feature Film.
-Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, and Kemp Power's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, a groundbreaking animated trilogy in the making growing to timeless status, also available on Netflix, and ALSO nominated for Best Animated Feature Film. I'm perfectly fine with either.
My personal ones that I feel were robbed of Academy recognition:
The Iron Claw
Priscilla
Asteroid City
Beau is Afraid
Eileen
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Whew! And I haven't even gotten to my predictions. I'm keeping those in my notes app for fear of being so completely wrong and that being published. The demon on my shoulder would be telling me to just edit this post to show that I guessed them all right anyway. I could also be like my dad who claims he gets the perfect March Madness bracket, the one in his head.
Patting myself on the back for my commitment, and so so so excited for Sunday. Happy Oscars watching/complete indifference to it, and thanks as always for reading!
Cheers,
Mo ☆
Comments