And the Oscar Goes To…
I’ve always been a huge fan of the movies. Going to the movies, watching movies from my couch, making lists of movies to watch, sharing my opinions on movies I’ve seen, reading all the movie trivia on IMDb, etc. So when Oscar season rolls around, I get excited. I am ready for the [albeit sexist and racist] Academy to tell me exactly which movies I should have seen. This year and last, I have made it my mission to watch all the Best Picture nominees before the ceremony. But let me back it up a bit.
The first movie I ever saw in theaters was “The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland,” in 1999, which I needed to be carried out of mid-action, as the sound was too loud. I’ve matured a little since then. I’ve spent just as much time watching the bonus features on “Shrek” and 2003’s “Peter Pan” as I did watching the actual films. I love peeking behind the curtain and understanding exactly what goes into making something so complex and dynamic. This year, I watched the 30-minute making-of featurette about Guillermo Del Toro’s “Pinocchio,” because stop-motion animation is so fascinating. (I am also of the opinion that this film should have joined the others in the Best Picture category, but I’ll take that up with the Academy.)
For over a decade, I’ve been keeping a list of movies on my phone that my parents think are important for me to see before I die. These are their own preferences, but generally, the Academy liked them, as well. Currently unwatched on there: “Wall Street,” “The Green Mile,” and “Dances With Wolves,” among a handful of others. Only last month was I finally able to tick “Rocky” off the list. Yo, Adrian!
Last year, I was gifted a “Best 100 Movies Of All Time” scratch-off poster. I’ve seen well over half of those. Thank you to Grandpa Brian for staying silent beside me as I experienced “Casablanca” for the first time. The most recent watch from the poster: “Rocky.” The oldest film watched: Charlie Chaplin’s “Gold Rush.” I’ve enjoyed them all. Well, I’ve enjoyed most of them. “2001: A Space Odyssey” was a bit… I don’t know. Not my thing.
Though I did take one Film Studies class in college (yay liberal arts!), I would not consider myself a snob of any sort. While I understand that different camera angles are supposed to evoke different emotions, when I talk about how much I enjoyed a movie (or didn’t) I’m not droning on about the cinematography (although you go cinematographers—you guys are great). I’m talking about the plot, or the characters I loved the most, or the way it made me cry or my heart thump. I’m talking about the soundtrack or the most memorable lines. And then I’m sharing with everyone, of course, what IMDb has on record. (Did you know that Stallone still takes care of Rocky’s two pet turtles, Cuff and Link?)
Last year, ahead of the Oscars, I watched “Nightmare Alley,” “Belfast,” “King Richard,” “Don’t Look Up,” “Licorice Pizza,” “CODA,” “Dune,” “The Power of the Dog,” “Drive My Car,” and “West Side Story.” Some, like the latter, I saw in theaters upon their release. Others, I had to seek out among streaming services as the ceremony neared, such as the subtitled “Drive My Car.” I like to know who is vying for the biggest prizes, and I like to have my own opinions on who should win. Last year, my favorite was rewarded. If you haven’t seen “CODA,” please do.
Earlier this week, I took myself to a matinee showing of “Women Talking” at the local AMC. There were four of us in there. It seems my unemployment has been well-timed to allow me these outings. It wasn’t streaming, so I had to make do. I enjoyed myself with a small popcorn. I’ve also seen “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “The Fablemans,” “Triangle of Sadness,” and “Elvis.” Remaining are “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which I will probably be seeing in theaters next week, and “Tár,” which I will pay $6 to stream. Anything for Cate Blanchett, am I right?
It’s a fun mission I will continue to set for myself each year, not just to say I have, but to make sure that I am not missing out on a great piece of art. Each journey to watch the nominees is like experiencing a cinematic time capsule of the past year. My pick for this year’s big winner? “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Justice for Jenny (if you know, you know). Though, I imagine “Everything Everywhere” might take it. Both were wonderful in their own ways. I cannot imagine two movies more different from each other, and yet there they are, sharing a category, asking me to see them.
So on Sunday, Mar— Oh, god! In the process of writing this blog I have just realized that I will be overseas visiting my sister during this year’s Oscars… are our flights refundable? Just kidding. Though maybe not. Perhaps I will be waking up in the middle of the night in Paris and seeking out a place to watch Jimmy Kimmel make fun of the nominees. But whenever I watch, wherever I watch, the ceremony will likely inspire several more films to add to my list.
There are not enough hours in a lifetime to watch every film worth watching. But, as Ewan McGregor’s Cricket says in Guillermo’s “Pinocchio,” “You must try your best, and that’s the best anybody can do.” Well put.