It took me a couple of days to look over the list of Oscar nominations. I care only because I actually do like movies. Well, if I can find a good one.
Some time back, I took on a project of watching all the Oscar winning movies (Best Picture) and even went so far as to obtain copies of all of them. Of the Best Picture winners in the 91 Academy Award presentations to date, I own 92 of the winners.
How does that math work? Well, some of you movie trivia people know that there were actually two winners that first year: Wings, and Sunrise. Sunrise is the better of the two. There were two separate (but equal) awards given. Wings won Outstanding Picture, while Sunrise won Best Unique and Artistic Picture. The Academy considered them equal awards. The next year, they did away with the Best Unique and Artistic Picture category, and retroactively declared Wings to be the top film. Changing history isn’t a new thing for Hollywood, as you can see.
Anyway, whatever film wins the award for Best Picture will get added to my collection, because I’ve continued to build my Best Picture library. Because movies, I suppose.
I looked over the list of films nominated for Best Picture, and noticed that of the nine films nominated, I’ve seen exactly zero of them:
- Ford v Ferrari
- The Irishman
- Jojo Rabbit
- Joker
- Little Women
- Marriage Story
- 1917
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
- Parasite
I have two previous versions of Little Women: the 1933 version with Katherine Hepburn and Joan Bennett, as well as the 1949 version with Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret O’Brien, June Allyson, and Janet Leigh. I don’t know why I’d need another version. I suppose someone thought they could improve upon a film starring those nobodies, huh?
I might take a look at 1917, and possibly Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Or not.
So, what about other nominees? That is, films nominated in other categories? Have I seen any of them? Turns out I have. I’ve seen Best Animated Feature Film nominee Toy Story 4.
And that’s it. Of all the movies nominated for any Academy Award, I’ve only seen Toy Story 4. And, yes, I’m including the Best Score category in which John Williams’ score from The Rise of Skywalker is nominated. I haven’t seen a new Star Wars film since The Force Awakens. And I haven’t seen that Marvel comic book movie, Avengers: Endgame which was nominated for Best Visual Effects.
As I said, I’ll get the winners of the major categories (Picture, Animated Feature, Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenplays), like I do every year. But, as is often the case, the winners aren’t really the best movies.
Here’s where you come in. Of the movies nominated for any Oscar, which are actually worth seeing, or even owning? Help me spend my money.
Ford vs Ferrari is definitely worth watching. Best film I saw all year, though Joker was very good, too.
Too many white dude movies.
I saw Ford vs Ferrari with my twenty-something son, who is definitely NOT a car-guy.
We both loved it – great movie.
They should have made it a gay love story to appease the Liberal Social Justice voters.
I’ve only seen “The Irishman” (on Netflix). Hardly a Best Picture but it’s Scorcese. I own “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” and plan to watch it this weekend. (I bought it used at Family Video because it’s Tarantino so it’s a safe bet.)
I really want to see “JoJo Rabbit” because the trailer is hilarious (a little kid’s imaginary friend is a funny Adolf Hitler) and it’s by Taika Waititi who does very funny stuff. He directed “Thor: Ragnarok” (and voiced the rock monster whose rebellion failed because he didn’t print enough fliers). He directed that wonderful mockumentary about five vampire roommates, each of whom is a different take on vampires. And he directed “Eagle Vs. Shark” about a guy fighting his old school bully a decade later, which was mediocre but contains this exchange:
Man on Phone: “He’s not here. Can I take a message?”
Jemaine Clement: “Tell him ‘JUSTICE IS COMING!’”
Man on Phone: “Okay, Justin.”
Jemaine Clement: “No. Justice. Justice!”
So…see JoJo Rabbit.