2018 Oscar Nominations Thread (post and whinge about them here) — Page 3

ErikJ972 - Thanks for the article, it was an interesting read. I will agree that Dixon's redemption arc is unfair and doesn't seem right, but it doesn't bother me to the point where it lessens my enjoyment of the film. We live in a world where people like him often do end up their own "redemption arcs" and don't get what they deserve. His actions can never be excused, though I think that there is something valuable in the fact that he becomes so invested in finding the rapist throughout the second half of the film.

I was surprised to see THE POST getting a Best Picture nomination over I, TONYA.

THE POST was serviceable Spielberg (which says a lot), but I, TONYA is the better film...IMO.

GeorgeandDot said: "Disappointed by the absence of The Florida Project for Best Picture and Michael Stuhlbarg, and Armie Hammer for Best Supporting Actor.

I'm rooting for The Shape of Water. It's unapologetically cliche and for some weird reason I absolutely loved it. I'm also hoping for Call Me By Your Name and Lady Bird for Best Picture too. If any of those three win, I'll be happy. I loved Three Billboards, but only because of Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell. The writing was all over the place and I found it to be a total campfest. At least Mcdonagh was able to back off on the misogyny just a bit for this film, but the racial stuff was a bit tone deaf considering that none of the leads are black and Rockwell's character is totally redeemed even though we never hear from the people he apparently tortured. It's just the most straight white "bro" movie I've seen in a long time, even if the lead is a woman. It just feels like a mess. Meanwhile, I think The Shape of Water, Lady Bird, and Call Me By Your Name could be classics."

I think you just spoke my language.

I wanted to like I, Tonya more than I actually did. I think getting the nominations it received should be an award in of itself because I would not have nominated it for anything except for Janney but I'd have her 4th or 5th in my rankings if I was able to control who all five nominees were.

Updated On: 1/25/18 at 03:59 PM

I haven't seen a single Best Picture nominee yet. I'll probably check out Darkest Hour and Dunkirk later this week. The other contenders don't pique my interest.

ETA: I dl'd Get Out last night thanks to HBO. I get the comparisons with Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Stepford Wives, Meet The Fockers, and The Skin I Live In but each of those movies was better than Get Out IMHO. It was an entertaining B+ movie that suffered slightly from schizophrenia. Not bad at all...just not great. The ending was risible.

Updated On: 1/29/18 at 10:44 PM

GeorgeandDot said: "Also, just why the f*** is The Darkest Hour nominated for Best Picture? It's just such an ordinary movie. I don't understand why it made the cut over The Florida Project, I,Tonya, The Big Sick, and Mudbound."

Surprised about this as well. It's a perfectly fine film and I think Oldman is terrific in it, but any of the films you listed are more exciting and moving than Darkest Hour. Especially The Florida Project, which knocked me flat.

Updated On: 1/29/18 at 10:21 AM

The Florida Project certainly deserved more attention.

But while I was surprised how well Phantom Thread did on nomination day, I've since seen the film and have completely changed my position. I was bowled over by it and now consider it the year's best film. Now for me it's the no nominations for Anderson's screenplay and Vicky Krieps's extraordinary performance that are remarkable.

Carnzee, not trying to identify one singular unifying point to Phantom Thread.
All I can say is that I ultimately loved it the most as a movie about the games necessary to keep a volatile, precarious and impossible-to-walk-away-from relationship alive.
Not unlike Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in this key respect.


SPOILER:

Who knows if one day Reynolds and or Alma will insist they stop with their particularly, ahem, toxic roleplaying?
Will it go the way of George and Martha's baby?
If so, then what?

Updated On: 1/31/18 at 06:36 PM

Yeah, wasn't a big fan either

Someone, I'll focus on where we agree. The score is extraordinarily good, managing somehow to impress in the moment without distracting in any way from the action. Krieps is amazing!

And Manville is giving one of those remarkable chilling woman watching from the sidelines (or is she?) while continually on edge supporting performances - think Moorehead in The Magnificent Ambersons, Anderson in Rebecca, Lansbury in Manchurian Candidate, Hershey in Portrait of a Lady, Linney in The House of Mirth.

henrikegerman said:

And Manville is giving one of those remarkable chilling woman watching from the sidelines (or is she?) while continually on edge supporting performances - think Moorehead in The Magnificent Ambersons, Anderson in Rebecca, Lansbury in Manchurian Candidate, Hershey in Portrait of a Lady, Linney in The House of Mirth."

Interestingly, Rebecca was one of PTA's influences when writing this film.

Someone: I'm not sure that the sewing secret mementos in the dresses was some sort of Chekovs Gun that needed a pay off. I think it just showed his attention to detail. I'm not sure though.

I ( SPOILER) don't think this is about Munchausen by proxy, because that is about getting sympathy and attention for yourself, and that doesn't appear to be Alma's motivation for poisoning him. She wants him to be reliant on her.

For anyone interested in the documentary categories, Strong Island, Icarus, The Last Men in Aleppo and Heroin(e) (Documentary - Short Subject) are available to stream on Netflix and Abacus: Small Enough to Jail is on Amazon Prime. I'd say they're all worth a watch.