You know me. I’m a long time movie buff, love the Oscars. Follow the headline link for the complete list of this year’s Academy Award nominations.
One thing I particularly appreciate about acting is when someone completely disappears into a role, becomes unrecognizable. Two of the best actor nods really capture this sentiment.
Christian Bale completely disappeared and became Dick Cheney in his role in the movie Vice.
And the same can be said for Rami Malek, who became Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody.
Acting!
Brilliant!
Sad year for movie scores, though.
Something I found lacking this year was that one movie that I came out of saying, “Wow, that’s clearly the best picture I saw all year!” with some enthusiasm and not just appreciation. Something clearly well made that I wanted to go right back in and watch again. Often that film I react to isn’t really in the conversation (Arrival, Whiplash) and sometimes it wins or is close (Gravity, Argo). But usually there’s SOMETHING like that among the Best Picture nominees, and for me there isn’t this year.
There were some films that I admired greatly. I thought Roma was superbly crafted. I liked BlacKkKlansman a lot…that’s the one that comes closest I think to what I’m describing above. I’m scratching my head a little at why If Beale Street Could Talk isn’t there (I would put it into the field instead of Green Book or Bohemian Rhapsody).
Actually, the film I think I loved the most this year was never in the conversation (nor would I argue necessarily that it should be, though I would have been tickled if it were): Sorry to Bother You.
I guess that will make the ceremony interesting…there’s nothing I have a real rooting interest in.
Fav movies from last year.
The Wild Pear Tree by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, he is always brilliant.
Ash Is Purest White by Jia Zhangke.
I also loved Annihilation by Alex Garland, terrific, terrific movie..
Given its standing with some critics, I was kind of surprised to not see Annihilation with some kind of nomination. I didn’t see it, but I heard it was outstanding. And I liked Alex Garland’s previous film, Ex Machina.
It strikes me as funny just in a punny way that A Quiet Place was nominated for Sound Editing. It’s a quiet place! What sound? 😉
Oh, in A Quiet Place the use of sound was astounding. Almost musical. You know i love sound art/noise.
BTW they should get rid of the foreign label!
ART is ART, “The subject of human creativity is not an ethnic-centric, but a composite subject.” said Anthony Braxton, and rightly so.
Art from the USA’s authors is not considered foreign in Europe.
I’m on the other end of the spectrum and tend prefer acting that is subtle, rather than animated, and never put much stock into impersonation roles because all the nuances have been worked out by the original person. However, Bale’s performance was subtle, thanks to Cheney’s lack of animation, and certainly worthy of this nom.
I agree Malek is also worthy.
The Academy loves when an actor impersonates someone else.