Hello there, fine listeners of THE WATCHLIST WITH PATTIE AND BILL.
First, thank you for listening to me and putting up with me and my ramblings.
Second, do the Oscars still matter to you? I used to be all about the Oscars. I held parties, gave out ballots (for fun and prizes) and celebrated the celebration of all things film. Nowadays, with the proliferation of media and a paradigm shift in how, when and where we consume it, the Oscars are both passé and the way in which movies from relative newbie platforms like Netflix, Amazon, etc., gain legitimacy.
I admit, in the last few years, this celebration of movies has slipped from its perch atop my "must see" list to "OK, I guess I'll watch it." I continue to watch to root for the films I believe in and would love people to see and gauge what I still have yet to see.
Since Pattie and I started this crazy, fun and (hopefully) informational podcast, I've wanted to bring back a spark in what is still good about TV and movies…no matter how, when or where you consume them and encourage people to expand their palates to maybe see something they ordinarily wouldn't, hopefully like it and spread the word. So it's with those sentiments I make a vow to see as many of the 2020 Oscar-nominated films and bring you my thoughts on them. This way, maybe, just maybe, you see something that brings you that spark of excitement in movies again…and again.
Below is a list of this year's nominees, along with mini-reviews of the ones I have seen. As I see more I will update these reviews so, by Oscar time, all of us are rooting for our faves (while still wondering out loud why no women nominees for director and almost – again – noactors of color save for two?). I'm going to just focus on the major categories for my list. You can read a full list of the nominees at oscars.org.
Bill's abbreviated list of 2020 Oscar nominations
Best Picture:
Ford v Ferrari – A really great and entertaining film. It is gorgeous to look at (as the cinematography is outstanding – shame it wasn’t nominated there), the acting is good and the sound is incredible (much earned nominations in the sound categories). While very good (and a potential re-watch for me) it will not be Best Picture.
The Irishman – A film too long for its own good at times. I liked it, especially the second half, but if this film were an hour shorter it would have been much better and not put me to sleep twice.
Jojo Rabbit
Joker - A film that is amazing because of the AH-MAY-ZING performance of Joaquin Phoenix. His performance makes this movie and elevates it to another level and makes you believe he WILL become The Joker. Remove him, and it's a good film but not best picture.
Little Women
Marriage Story
1917 - This film is amazing. Whereas JOKER is lifted by a performance, this truly is a film lifted by it's direction. So, I think, Sam Mendes WILL win Best Director, if for nothing else the seemingly unbroken shot from beginning to end that lends to the tension of the mission of two soldiers desperately trying to save 1,600 allied soldiers from a trap. So far, this is in the lead for me - between this and PARASITE.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – What can I say... Technically, there is nothing wrong with this film. It's well acted, looks freaking phenomenal, blah blah. But there is something about this pic that just bored the crap out of me. Maybe I missed something? Maybe I didn't.
Parasite - What a messed up movie this is. Funny, heartfelt, with a quirky kind of horror turn. It is truly a contender for best picture. Well worth your time and attention. Much more so than IRISHMAN, ONCE UPON A TIME, and, dare I say, JOKER
Lead Actor:
Antonio Banderas, "Pain and Glory"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" – Good but he's been better in films like THE DEPARTED and REVENANT. Plus he won for the latter so he really has no chance here.
Adam Driver, "Marriage Story"
Joaquin Phoenix, "Joker" - Phoenix deserves the Oscar for this. Now I haven't seen MARRIAGE STORY yet, but if Joaquin Phoenix can make you know that his character wants to cry and not laugh, but laughs because of a condition, it's those subtleties that elevate this AND allows him to sit with Heath Ledger as the best performers of this character.
Jonathan Pryce, "The Two Popes"
Lead Actress:
Cynthia Erivo, "Harriet"
Scarlett Johansson, "Marriage Story"
Saoirse Ronan, "Little Women"
Charlize Theron, "Bombshell"
Renee Zellweger, "Judy" – I can't say enough about Zellweger's
performance in this film. It, for me, was mesmerizing and changed
forever how I will watch (if ever again) THE WIZARD OF OZ. I need to
see BOMBSHELL and MARRIAGE STORY, but so far, Renee nailed it.
Supporting Actor:
Tom Hanks, "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood"
Anthony Hopkins, "The Two Popes"
Al Pacino, "The Irishman" – Meh. Pacino is good but never made me forget he's Pacino in makeup. He was better in lighter fare like OCEANS 13, even. But the nomination further legitimizes Netflix as a major Hollywood studio with Oscar caliber films.
Joe Pesci, "The Irishman" – Again, meh. Pesci was amazing in GOODFELLAS and hilarious in MY COUSIN VINNY. I do like that he is more subdued in his performance here but there's gotta be better.
Brad Pitt, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" – Leo may star in the film, but Pitt carries it as DiCaprio's put-upon but loyal stuntman/friend/jack-of-all-trades. He looks good (damn he won the gene pool) and acts well (see the sequence visiting Charlie Manson's little village of weirdos), but the jury is still out in this category.
Supporting Actress:
Kathy Bates, "Richard Jewell"
Laura Dern, "Marriage Story"
Scarlett Johansson, "Jojo Rabbit"
Florence Pugh, "Little Women"
Margot Robbie, "Bombshell"
Director: (I can't believe I've seen all of these films - yay me)
Martin Scorsese, "The Irishman" – Should have won for GOODFELLAS. Did win for THE DEPARTED. Again, this legitimizes the Netflix platform in a huge way, but there was better this year.
Todd Phillips, "Joker" - While Joker is really good, the movie itself is good but Phoenix's action makes it great. It's an actor's piece, not a director's piece.
Sam Mendes, "1917" - My pick for winner. His method of the seemingly unbroken shot elevates your tension seeing the action and makes you a part of the mission of the two soldiers setting out to save 1,600 men. Wow.
Quentin Tarantino, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" – Tarantino is really full of himself these days. This movie (again, maybe I missed something) is hum-drum. So, it's nice that he was nominated but meh.
Bong Joon Ho, "Parasite" - The award for this film should be (and probably will be) Best International Film, and possibly best picture. But there is no way Ho beats Mendes for 1917.
Animated Feature:
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Dean DeBlois
I Lost My Body Jeremy Clapin
Klaus Sergio Pablos
Missing Link Chris Butler
Toy Story 4 Josh Cooley
Adapted Screenplay:
The Irishman Steven Zaillian – A brilliant writer, the look of the film and script were the best parts of this film. Too bad it's not better.
Jojo Rabbit Taika Waititi
Joker Todd Phillips, Scott Silver Again, an actor's piece, not necessarily the writing. Or put another way...the writing is good, but it's what the actor does with it that scored this nomination for Phillips and Silver.
Little Women Greta Gerwig
The Two Popes Anthony McCarten
Original Screenplay:
"Knives Out," Rian Johnson
"Marriage Story," Noah Baumbach
"1917," Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns While a great film, it take sthe cake for directing.
"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," Quentin Tarantino – Again... meh.
"Parasite," Bong Joon-ho, Jin Won Han This film might win in this category. It is exceptionally well-written. Yeah, my money's on this.
Cinematography:
"The Irishman," Rodrigo Prieto – Nah…there was better.
"Joker," Lawrence Sher - shot in depressing hues of blue and drab, the shots bring you into Phoenix's world, but there's almost too much drab. Like c'mon already, we get life sucks and is depressing with nothing to counter- balance Phoenix's dread with others light.
"The Lighthouse," Jarin Blaschke
"1917," Roger Deakins - beautifully shot. It's got stiff competition from ONCE UPON A TIME but there's no way a film that looks like one unbroken shot (and is in many, many parts of this film) doesn't win.
"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," Robert Richardson – This guy has a real shot (no pun intended) of winning. This film really looks 1970s, from the way the actors are shot, to how the sunlight dances around Hollywood. Beautiful to look at, for sure.
Film Editing:
"Ford v Ferrari," Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland - The editing, particularly during the racing scenes is fantastic. This is the film I want to win.
"The Irishman," Thelma Schoonmaker – Again, a brilliant editor. I just
wish they could have made a shorter, tighter film.
"Jojo Rabbit," Tom Eagles
"Joker," Jeff Groth - Ummmmm...nah. But the editing does a nice trick during the film as a way inside Phoenix's mind.
"Parasite," Jinmo Yang - A great entry, but my money would be on FORD VS. FERRARI
Sound Editing:
"Ford v Ferrari," Don Sylvester - This film should win both sound categories. If you have a great surround set up at home, do yourself a favor and rent or buy this flick. It's amazing to listen to. My pic for winner.
"Joker," Alan Robert Murray - Nah
"1917," Oliver Tarney, Rachel Tate - great sound effects in this one. Sometimes, it's the matter of just hearing one or two sounds, vs. hearing a chorus of starships that make for great sound editing.
"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," Wylie Stateman – Too bad this film was mostly about dialogue. I admit I do not know the intricacies of this category and what is worthy of an Oscar nod, but I would have to say that the nomination is prize for this guy.
"Star Wars: The Rise of SkyWalker," Matthew Wood, David Acord – This is tough because it's STAR WARS, so of course there are a million little sounds going on that are impressively edited and mixed together. Which is why it won't win. It's a great way to end the saga, but the days of taking home trophy after trophy are long over. Plus it didn't get a nod for mixing which is kind of bad.
Sound Mixing:
Ad Astra
Ford v Ferrari - Again, AH - MAY - ZING. My pic for winner.
Joker - Again, Nah.
1917 - See my review in sound editing.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – See any of my reviews above.
Production Design:
"The Irishman," Bob Shaw and Regina Graves – Not bad, but I think ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD did a much better job of designing the feel of the time in which these respective movies are set.
"Jojo Rabbit," Ra Vincent and Nora Sopkova
"1917," Dennis Gassner and Lee Sandales - The design does drop you into the middle of a world war, but it's the direction and cinematography that win the day for 1917.
"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," Barbara Ling and Nancy Haigh – Not too shabby. But I have a feeling better is out there.
"Parasite," Lee Ha-Jun and Cho Won Woo, Han Ga Ram, and Cho Hee - a great, great job was done showing the difference in the classes here, especially in the respective homes of the characters. Probably your winner. (Pattie here - The flood scene was created in a giant swimming pool I feel like that alone is what should give them the Oscar here)
Original Score:
"Joker," Hildur Guðnadóttir - minimalist and engaging but nothing without Joaquin Phoenix in the part.
"Little Women," Alexandre Desplat
"Marriage Story," Randy Newman
"1917," Thomas Newman - This is a great score. Amazing, and gets your heart beating.
"Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," John Williams – Johnny Williams is always great and knows this universe as well as George Lucas through the themes he's created for this universe. But lately, the Academy has given the Oscar to stripped-down scores who tell their emotions with one chord rather than a full orchestra.
Original Song:
I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away Toy Story 4
I'm Gonna Love Me Again Rocketman – a good song in a movie with middling reviews and one that died-off earlier in the year.
I'm Standing With You Breakthrough
Into the Unknown Frozen 2
Stand Up Harriet
Makeup and Hair:
Bombshell
Joker - Amazing but either Judy or Bombshell win here because you are making people look like other real people.
Judy – Amazing job turning Renee Zellweger into Judy Garland. Transformative. My pic to win.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
1917 - See my comments in Joker
Costume Design:
"The Irishman," Sandy Powell, Christopher Peterson – The outfits in Scorcese's films always seem the same – men's Italian suits on gangsters. Next...
"Jojo Rabbit," Mayes C. Rubeo
"Joker," Mark Bridges - good, but ONCE UPON A TIME wins here
"Little Women," Jacqueline Durran
"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," Arianne Phillips - A great job making everyone look cool and of the time. Damn, I wish I were thin, younger and could pull these off.
Visual Effects:
Avengers Endgame – Great, but too much CGI (especially these days) is always too much CGI. Subtlety has been the trend so, while an excellent, excellent film, this is typical and it's box office is it's reward.
The Irishman – It's amazing to hear about the layering of visual effects and the cameras invented and used to film this and de-age Pesci, DeNiro and Pacino. But the effects were done better in CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR with a young Tony Stark or even an emaciated Tony Stark in ENDGAME.
1917 - Holy shit, were these good. Subtle and amazing. It makes you ask, how do they make this look so real. Your winner.
The Lion King- Nope. Not by a longshot. Too much "live action" remaking going on. The nomination is the reward here.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – See my comment about ENDGAME.