It's coming to the end of the annual Award Season, so here are my thoughts in this year's Best Picture Oscar nominees. (And no, I'm still not over the fact that Nightcrawler and Gone Girl are not on this list.)
American Sniper
I've never been a fan of war movies. I've never been a fan of Bradley Cooper's. And yet, this film is surprisingly good. The politics (pro/anti-war) are irrelevant- it covers both sides, and it's a well-told true story, with some emotional weight. However, it definitely sags in the second half and shows us very little that we haven't seen in a million war films before. Despite its title, we don’t see enough of Bradley sniping, and frankly that would have made for a far more interesting and original film. As good as it is, it definitely does not deserve to be on this list, despite its enormous box-office success.
Birdman
I've always loved Michael Keaton, yet Oscar-calibre performances have never been his forte. Until now. And he's not alone, as both Edward Norton and Emma Stone (finally!) get a nod each for their supporting roles, and I would have happily added Zach Galifianakis to that list too. Borrowing from Alfred Hitchcock's Rope gimmick, this tale of a faded actor's attempt to (re)claim credibility plays as if it was all shot in one take (but for a few bizarre inserts at the bookends), and it works amazingly well. It’s a bit on the pretentious side, but the ending will have you discussing the possibilities for hours, and that can only be a good thing. Shame about all that fucking drumming.
Boyhood
The front-runner in this category, this is a genuinely awesome achievement. Watch 12 real years pass by before your very eyes as a boy (including the actor himself) grows from 6-18 in under three hours. Given that it is scripted and not a documentary, the plot could have used a bit more direction, and too much time is spent on the final, ponderous hour, but the ultimate result feels natural and uncontrived. Patricia Arquette is also a deserved favourite to take home the Supporting Actress Oscar for her recognisably honest role as the lead’s mother.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Wes Anderson directs Ralph Feinnes in a wacky art house comedy? No thanks. However, somehow I DID end up seeing this upon its release, long before the awards buzz. Wes Anderson's hyper-real universe usually catches in my throat, but somehow this one just worked for me. Every scene is meticulous, necessary and beautifully shot. It's also hilarious, unpredictable and an absolutely unique tour-de-force.
The Imitation Game
Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley both get deserved nods in this (until recently) secret, true-life tale of the unlikeliest of tragic war heroes, Alan Turing. I would have liked to have seen Mark Strong get some awards recognition too, but that's surely only a matter of time anyway. The film has an emotional punch, as it celebrates a man who could never be celebrated in his far-too-short lifetime. If I had a criticism it would be that we learn next to nothing about the code-breaking machine Turing built, nor what it actually does. Great to see a nomination for its very melodious score.
Selma
Britain's David Oyelowo has been personally overlooked, despite deserved rave reviews for his incredible, dignified, human performance as Martin Luther King Jr. and the corresponding outrage is fully justified. The film follows a somewhat repetitive pattern and there are many scenes that simply make the same point made in a previous scene, leading to a bit of a lull rather than a building of tension. Criticising the film feels like criticising the real-life story, but this film's success rests squarely on Oyelowo's shoulders and would certainly suffer without his performance.
The Theory of Everything
Eddie Redmayne is simply phenomenal as scientific genius Stephen Hawking, and must surely be the Best Actor front-runner. I'm not quite feeling the love for the performance from Felicity Jones as his devoted wife, nor the Best Picture thing, but it is a far more compelling story than you may expect, both touching and amusing, and definitely more than just a performance-based film.
Whiplash
For my money, this is the best film of the bunch. Miles Teller has been cruelly overlooked this awards season, but thankfully JK Simmons is the hot favourite to win the Supporting Actor gong as a tyrannical teacher who conducts a much-admired Jazz band, comprised of the best of the best of the school's students. As someone who absolutely HATES jazz with a passion, even I shed a tear at the musical virtuosity in the phenomenal final scene. Yes, there is an argument that the female characters are either sidelined or altogether absent, but this is very much the tale of man vs. man, and all of the machismo and locker room banter that implies. If anything, it speaks further to the teacher's tunnel-visioned outlook. An amazing movie.
Posts
