by Sam Juliano
Our annual get-together for The Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 24th at the Tigerhouse Firehouse in Fairview, New Jersey. Festivities commence at around 6:00 P.M. This is the thirty-eighth year consecutively and as always it has become a way to meet up with some unseen for the previous calendar year and to converse on so many topics, including the movie scene. The show and the awards themselves are laughable but as a celebration of at least some of. the year’s cinematic riches it has always been entertaining, if outlandish. I have some wishes for the results, though I am well aware that none will come to pass. My deepest hope and wish is to see either NEVER LOOK AWAY or COLD WAR (the former is actually a 2019 film for all our list-making purposes as it is the only film of the five nominees in that category that opened theatrically after the 1st of the year, in mid January) surprise in Best Foreign Film. Capernaum would also make a magnificent choice, though like most I also love Roma and The Shoplifters. In any case I consider Pawlikoswki and Von Donnarsmarck’s films staggering masterpieces. I’d love either the aforementioned Cold War or Never Look Away to surprise for Best Cinematography as well, the latter was lensed by Caleb Deschanel. Though Alfonso Cuaron is a lock for Best Director and is most deserving I am rooting for an uspet by Pawel Pawlikowski (Cold War) or Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite)
In the category of Best Lead Actor, I have no problem at all with the terrific Rami Malek, whose electrifying performance in Bohemian Rhapsody is preferred to Christian Bale’s but my favorite in that category is Willem Dafoe’s as Van Gogh in At Eternity’s Gate. Though “Shallow” is the lock of the night for A Star is Born. I can fantasize about the win going to the year’s most beautiful song, “Where the Lost Things Go” from Mary Poppins Returns. And then there is Richard Grant, who would delight many if he were prevail for his brilliant work in Can You Forgive Me? though certainly Mahershala Ali, the favorite was deserving as well in Green Book. Glenn Close will almost certainly win, but aside from the career narrative she gave what I think was the best performance of the five nominees or at least as great as the one delivered by Olivia Colman in The Favourite. I do want Regina King to win (If Beale Street Can Talk) and am pretty sure she will. Finally I am rooting for Minding the Gap (runner up Hale County Before and After) to upset for Best Documentary, which will in the end probably go to Free Solo or RBG.
Lucille and I saw two films theatrically this past week, though one of the two was a second-viewing of the ravishing German masterpiece Never Look Away, which I awarded 5 stars to a few weeks back. Loved it even more still on second look.
Everybody Knows **** (Friday night) Montclair Claridge
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Green Book is the worst BP winner since The Shape of Water.
RIP Stanley Donen, the great man who directed Funny Face, still my favorite movie musical of them all. Singin’ in the Rain is no slouch either. And Donen directed Burton to a superb performance in the unfairly maligned Staircase.
Mark, I am not so negative on GREEN BOOK as you are and have sided with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who stated the racist criticism is totally misguided. But unlike Jabbar, who considers the film one of the very best of the year, I find it an entertaining but unremarkable film. I did snicker when you said “since THE SHAPE OF WATER, which of course was only last year. 🙂 Del Toro’s film in any case was in my Top 5 of 2017. Wonderful capsule tribute and reminder on Stanley Donen and the musical masterpiece he co-directed, SINGIN IN THE RAIN. I also happen to agree with you on STAIRCASE too! Better than most believe it is! Thank you my friend and have a good upcoming week!
Glen Close most certainly did not win…a real surprise (even Olivia Colman seemed authentically stunned).
There were a few other nice surprises (Spike Lee winning adapted screenplay) along with the typical mixed bagged of head scratchers.
Why so much love for Bohemian Rhapsody (and the “let’s not talk about Bryan Singer” agreement amongst all of its winners reeked of hypocrisy and all that is wrong with the world when it denies or covers up the crimes of famous people)?
And why Green Book over such obviously more deserving fare (basically the only other Best Pics less deserving would’ve been Vice and Bohemian Rhapsody)?
But the ceremony was speedy and crisp without the burdens of a host…another nice surprise.
Overall my favorite moments were Regina King winning, Spike, Olivia, and the Black Panther speeches for costume and production design.
David, no she most assuredly did not as we can see here in one of Oscar’s most unforgettable read-off and speech:
I agree with you on Green Book NOT being the most deserving and that’s an understatement, and loved the high points you mentioned. The decision to go hostless was indeed a revelation and probably means a tradition has been born. I like BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, but think it over-the-top to have it as the evening’s big winner with four Oscars. Still Malek was a superb choice, even if my own fave of the five is William Dafoe as Van Gogh. Thank you so much my friend and have a great week!
Olivia Colman’s win and speech were two of the nicest things I’ve ever witnessed on an Oscar show. Overall a worthy telecast.
Ricky, I can’t agree with you more my friend! The show was one or the better ones for sure at the expense of saying anything nice about the Oscars, an awards show reviled by a good number. Colman’s win and speech were a thing of beauty. Have a great week my friend!
Sam, your Oscar party pictures often look far more enjoyable and warm than any of the official ones. Alas, I’ve got to catch up with most of the films this year. I’m not sure it was a wise idea to expand the list to 10 films, it suggests a golden age or maybe it’s to get more attention and box office for the films mentioned. Probably the latter.
Bobby, thank you so much! I will include some on the upcoming MMD either late tonight or in the morning. We had a record turnout this year at 54. I happen to agree with you on the ill-advised expansion. Five (5) was ideal. Hopefully they will eventually come to their senses. No doubt it had to do with your latter reason re attention and box office. Have a great week!!
My apologies for not attending this year. I came down with the flu and wouldn’t dare risk that be spread around. I know it was another one of your epic events and am hoping to hear more on tomorrow’s new Monday Morning Diary. Nothing in the show moved me like Olivia Colman’s deserved upset win.
Frank, I completely understand. There is always next year!!! The flu is not anything to fool with. Totally agree on Colman and will have the full report on the coming MMD indeed. Thank you my friend!