Since the 2009 Oscars (remember The Hurt Locker vs. Avatar?)I've been gathering a group of family members to watch all the Best Picture nominees, put our heads together, and share our rankings. Thanks to my wife Emily, mother-in-law Barb, brother Jason, sister Sarah, and brother-in-law Tyler.
While Oppenheimer looks sure to have a big night tonight, group consensus went in a different direction, with Celine Song’s quiet stunner Past Lives winning out over Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers in second place.
Just like the Oscars, it’s a tight LIly Gladstone vs Emma Stone race for Best Actress. Group consensus in the other races went to Paul Giamatti, Ryan Gosling, Da’vine Joy Randolph (unanimously).
For director, the group did award Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer. Our screenplay awards went to Past Lives (Original) and Barbie (Adapted).
Best Actress
Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon): Ben, Emily, Sarah
Emma Stone (Poor Things): Barb, Jason, Tyler
Best Actor
Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers): Jason, Sarah, Tyler
Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer): Barb, Emily
Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction): Ben
Best Supporting Actress
Da’vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers): All!
Best Supporting Actor
Ryan Gosling (Barbie): Ben, Emily, Sarah, Tyler
Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer): Barb, Jason
Adapted Screenplay
Barbie: Ben, Sarah, Tyler
American Fiction: Emily, Jason
Oppenheimer: Barb
Original Screenplay
Past Lives: All!
Without further ado, here are our individual rankings!
Ben
This is an absolutely terrific year at the Oscars. I either loved or really liked all of these movies. No clunkers!
1. Past Lives. Sometimes you see a movie and know right away it’s going to be one of your favorites. This directorial DEBUT by Celine Song is so perfectly written, shot, and acted from start to finish. Just thinking about the final scene makes me smile and cry at the same time.
2. Anatomy of a Fall. From a simple premise (did she or didn’t she?), this movie expands to look at a troubled marriage, a boy coming to his own conclusions about his parents, and the meaning of guilt. An absolutely incredible performance by Sandra Huller (also in Zone of Interest), and perhaps the best scene of the year (the fight flashback). A great movie.
3. The Holdovers. What an absolute delight. Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and newcomer Dominic Sessa make a delightfully unlikely trio spending Christmas break at a prep school in 1970s New England. I loved how director Alexander Payne made this feel so authentically like a movie from the 70s. The kind of movie you’ll want to put on every Christmas.
4. The Zone of Interest. Audacious in its mundanity. Director Jonathan Glazer describes this as two films- one you see and one you hear. People living their simple, boring lives while just over the wall great evil happens. This movie is brilliantly constructed and stays with you long after you’re done watching.
5. Killers of the Flower Moon. The greatest director alive telling one of the most tragic stories in American history, one most audiences didn’t know much about. The first time I watched it, I had a little trouble comprehending the central relationship between Mollie and Ernest. The second time, it all clicked for me as I saw their relationship as a tragic reflection of the American psyche. There are so many incredible scenes (that ending!), and Lily Gladstone is nothing less than astonishing as the heart and soul of the movie.
6. Oppenheimer. How am I putting the likely winner, and a great winner at that, at 6? The year was that good! Christopher Nolan does an incredible job bringing a propulsive and tragic energy to Robert Oppenheimer and his development of the atomic bomb. A beautiful score, tremendous cinematography, and a great central performance by Cilllian Murphy. I did find the last 45 minutes or so a little less engaging than the rest of the movie, but that’s only a small issue in a monumental achievement.
7. Barbie. While others may have doubted this movie before it came out, I always had faith in Greta Gerwig, one of my favorite directors. Starting with an iconic American symbol, Gerwig fashions a goofy, fast, funny, and moving meditation on American womanhood. It wouldn’t have worked without a dynamic central duo, and she got the perfect couple in Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
8. Poor Things. Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Favourite) continues his streak of funny, bizarre, singular films in this movie about Bella Baxter. Bella is a Frankenstein-like creature who sojourns through a steampunk-like fantasy world, making choices unbound by any mores. It wore me out just a touch by the end, but what a meticulously crafted vision.
9. American Fiction. An interesting mix between a moving family drama and a contemporary satire. While I think the satire could have been just a touch sharper, I loved watching these Black actors tell a very specific story that both comments on modern media and tells its own story of a very specific family. Every single actor is great, and Jeffrey Wright ties it all together with a perfect performance.
10. Maestro. This is at 10, but I still really liked it! It’s well-performed, has some amazing sequences, and is absolutely gorgeous to watch, both in the black and white and color sequences. It’s at the bottom of my list, though, because the script isn’t quite focused enough and it doesn’t end up feeling quite as unique as the other movies on this list.
Director: Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer). While not my favorite of the films in this category, Nolan deserves it for bringing this massive movie together.
Actor: Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction)
Actress: Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon)
Supporting Actor: Ryan Gosling (Barbie)
Supporting Actress: Da’vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers)
Original Screenplay: Past Lives
Adapted Screenplay: Barbie
Barb
I am looking forward to my annual trip to D.C. for the Oscars! Quite a number of good movies this year. I’ll be anxious to see what others think.
1. Oppenheimer. Such a good movie. It deserves all the accolades it has received. An excellent performance by an all star cast anchored by Cillian Murphy. The visuals are stunning and the soundtrack fits so well. Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb, faces the moral dilemma of what could happen if he was successful.The switching from black and white allows not only Oppenheimer's perspective but how it might look to others. I didn’t know about the events after his success so I found that particularly interesting.
2. Past Lives. Past lives is a touching film that seems to ask the age old question, what if? Two childhood friends Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) are separated when Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea to Toronto. They reconnect, as adults, for a weekend in New York. Although Nora is happily married, both feel that strong connection so many years later. The touching final seems to ask; what does the future hold?
3. Barbie. An updated Barbie! While holding true to the Barbie we all loved, there is a liberated and contemporary feel to this Barbie as she addresses modern day challenges. There was such attention to detail that some who didn’t grow up with Barbie may have missed. I loved Billie Eilish’s song What Was I Made For. I thought Ryan Gosling was very good as Ken but I was disappointed that neither Margot Robbie or Greta Gerwig were recognized. Barbie may be updated but it looks like the rest of us may have a little work to do.
4. Killers of The Flower Moon. After oil is discovered on Osage land a group of ruthless opportunists move in to claim what is not theirs. Robert DeNiro, as William King Hale, effortlessly plays on both sides of the conflict. Gradually he involves his somewhat naive nephew, Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio). The exploitation and murder of the Osage is chilling. And it was done so casually. There are many twists and turns in this movie that I admit I didn’t see coming. It successfully keeps you engaged and wondering where this is going. The romance between Ernest and Mollie (Lily Gladstone) is tender but complicated. The plan to take over the Osage starts to unravel when the Feds. move in. An all star cast and a really good movie.
5. The Holdovers. Curmudgeonly professor, Paul (Paul Giamatti) and his student, Angus (Dominic Sessa) are ‘held over’ at their prep school over the Christmas holiday. Paul as punishment and Angus because his mother and step father choose to vacation without him. Both have their demons and neither want to be in this position but there they are. They are joined by campus cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) who grieves the loss of her only child in Vietnam. Although there is a serious side to this movie there is a softer, more sentimental side as well. Paul and Angus form an unlikely bond. Some of the most touching moments are when Angus sets out to find his father and Mary grieves the loss of her son with her pregnant sister. Set in the 70’s, I loved the soundtrack.
6. The Zone of Interest . Wow. A lot to digest. The Hoss family living their idyllic life in their lovely home and garden, while turning a blind eye to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp on the other side of the wall. The fact that Rudolf (Christian Friedel) is the commandant of Auschwitz seems largely ignored by his wife Hedwig (Sandra Huller) even as she tries on the clothes of the dead. This just demonstrates the ability to set aside things that are uncomfortable. Coupled with the haunting music, the atrocities committed at Auschwitz are apparent without ever needing to cross the wall. While screams, gunshots and fire and ash billow from Auschwitz, children play on the other side of the wall protected by their mother. Rudolf seems to have some understanding of the consequences of his actions but can rather quickly set these aside. The ending of the movie is powerful as it skips to modern times showing women sweeping the floors surrounded by piles of victim’s shoes, uniforms and other remnants of the Camp. I’m sure the young girl dropping something along the path has major significance , but I’m not sure what that is. Hopefully some of the other reviews will explain this. Such a powerful and troubling movie.
7. American Fiction. I found myself rolling my eyes so many times during this movie. I think it would have been even funnier if we weren’t experiencing such mob mentality in our own Country today. How quickly everyone, especially the elite, were willing to jump on the bandwagon in American Fiction. A noteworthy cast anchored by an excellent performance by Jeffrey Wright. I know many people didn’t like the final scene but I thought it was clever.
8. Anatomy of A Fall. Well Sandra Huller has had a busy year! She gives an outstanding performance, this time as Sandra Voyter in Anatomy of a Fall. When Sandra’s husband is found dead in the snow beneath the attic window the question becomes did he suicide, was it an accident or was it murder? Milo Machado-Graner delivers a remarkable performance as Daniel, Sandra’s vision impaired son, as he wrestles with the question if his mother is a murderer. Sandra, on trial for murder, exposes a troubled marriage which further muddies the water. I found the trial fascinating, with many twists and turns. I’m not sure why it toggles between English and French but it seems to work. The fact that she is acquitted still leaves the question did she or didn’t she. It’s impossible to know and it is up to the viewer to decide. I thought this was a fitting ending.
9. Maestro. First let’s state the obvious. Leonard Bernstein was a complicated man. Also, is there anything that Bradley Cooper can’t do? Initially we had trouble following the dialogue and actually turned on the subtitles. Although you get a pretty good picture of Bernstein (Bradley Cooper) I actually found his wife Felicia (Carey Mulligan) much more interesting. Cooper’s performance conducting Mahler’s symphony left me exhausted. In a good way. Although not at the top of my list I really did enjoy this movie.
10. Poor Things. Well, that was interesting. I am really anxious to see what others thought of this movie. After being brought back to life by troubled scientist Godwin Baxter, AKA God, (Willem Dafoe), his creation, Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) starts out being completely dependent on others. As she becomes more independent she wants to see the outside world for herself. Emma Stone, of course, is fantastic, as is Mark Ruffalo as Duncan. Probably a good movie, just not my cup of tea.
BEST PICTURE: OPPENHEIMER
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: Cillian Murphy
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: This was the toughest category for me. So many outstanding actors. Even though I didn’t like the movie, I think I have to go with Emma Stone. What a difficult role.
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Da’Vine Randolph
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Robert Downey Jr. ( Robert De Niro is a close second).
DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Past Lives
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Oppenheimer
Emily
Reviews
What a great Oscar year, full of female liberation, unconscionable acts in history, and out-of-sorts writers!
1. Past Lives
Celine Song wrote and directed a poignant and affecting story examining the losses, trade-offs, and what-ifs that accompany starting a new life--in this case, Na Young/Nora's immigration to Canada from Korea as an adolescent, and the way her life unfolds thereafter. The central "what-if" is her close relationship with her childhood friend, Hae Sung. The portrayal of their paths crossing at different points in time (a la Richard Linklater's Before trilogy, but all in one movie) make you feel a bit unsettled, as if something isn't unfolding the way it's supposed to... but maybe that "supposed to" is for another lifetime. Or... maybe there is no supposed to, and there are just different gains and losses that shake out of every choice and circumstance. Nora's husband Arthur's navigation of the deep connection between Nora and Hae Sung was so compassionate, and a source of hopefulness for what is to come in the rest of this life for Nora... and maybe the next? I just loved this movie and can't wait to watch it again.
2. The Holdovers
A great watch from Alexander Payne, whose work I usually enjoy. Set in and around a Boston-area all-boys prep school in the early 70s, the appeal of this movie is witnessing the bonds formed among the unlikely central trio - each wrestling their own demons - throughout their time of forced togetherness (now that I think about it... sort of like a heavier Breakfast Club?). Paul Giamatti was so excellent as the prickly and resentful classics teacher and out-of-sorts aspiring writer, and of course Da'Vine Joy Randolph has garnered a lot of attention for her incredible performance as Mary, the cafeteria manager grieving her son's death. One of the most heart-wrenching moments in the movies this year was her visit to her pregnant sister's house, preparing to welcome a child in the wake of the loss of her own. I especially loved witnessing the antagonistic relationship between Giamatti and his student, Angus (a breakout role for Dominic Sessa), soften over time, as they begin to tell lies--of varying significance-- to protect one another. A really great watch, and another one I can't wait to watch again.
3. Anatomy of a Fall
If you want to stop daydreaming about chalet living in the French Alps, watch this great film from the year's only(!) nominated female director, Justine Triet. From the first baffling scene, in which a student's in-home interview with novelist Sandra Voyter (played by the great Sandra Hüller) must be cut short due to deafening music upstairs, I was totally perplexed by Sandra (JUST GO TURN IT DOWN) and started to think she had something weird going on. Soon, we are trying to figure out whether her husband Michael's death is by suicide, murder, or accident. The courtroom drama that ensues is fascinating- both as we try to piece together what happened and as we get a glimpse into the French court system, complete with pleated neckerchiefs. We have the irony of the couple's blind child, Daniel, being the only witness (i.e., presumably the least blind to what happened). Can we get supporting acting nominations for his dog and his court appointed "minder" Marge, for her Siri-informed veterinary services? You might conclude differently or not from the jury (I have my own theory); and there is much to puzzle through psychologically and factually that makes this such a captivating movie.
4. Killers of the Flower Moon
Leonardo DiCaprio is no stranger to a period piece, and this time we get him in 1920s Oklahoma with fake teeth and an uncalibrated moral compass. But the real star is the incredible Lily Gladstone, and I would just love to see her win Best Actress for her powerful and understated performance here. I didn't know the history of the oil discovery on Osage Nation land (though no surprise that oil greed would cause lots of problems... doesn't it always?). And the appointment of "guardians" to manage money for the Osage people due to their presumed incompetence was an obvious recipe for disaster. Leonardo DiCaprio's character Ernest was truly perplexing in his apparently honest love for his wife Molly, and how easily manipulated he is by his uncle to take unconscionable actions. There are definitely moments where I couldn't watch, but I saw most of it!
5. Oppenheimer
This was the most obvious Oscar Movie of the bunch, and for good reason. Cillian Murphy was spectacular in the title role. Knowing not much about the key thing there is to know about Mr. Oppenheimer, the attention to his inner life, intellect, conscience, and morality as he carried out his work and lives with its ramifications was fascinating. Christopher Nolan's direction is impeccable. The moment of waiting to see if the Trinity (bomb) test is going to work had my heart pounding. Having followed the scientists' work so closely up to that point, there is an inclination to want to see their hard work succeed... until you think about the implications of that success. I don't usually key into scores that much, but this one was striking. In the scene where the bomb gets wheeled away, hearse-like, from Los Alamos and out into the world, the music sounded familiar. Is that... Mozart's Requiem? Not exactly, but surely a nod to it if you listen to the track "What Have We Done" and Mozart's "Lacrimosa" side by side. Not all of the storylines (taking place at different points in time: pre, during, and post Los Alamos) held my attention in the same way (the during was most interesting), but I thought it was a great movie.
6. Poor Things
This was the last one I watched, and by the time I viewed it, I had heard one thing over and over: it's... explicit. So going in, I had my guard up and was prepared to be appalled. But, I thought it was so good. Emma Stone is incredible in a very challenging role as Bella Baxter, the experiment of her creator, God (Godwin), evolving over the course of the movie as she progresses in her liberation (reminding me a bit of the 2014 sci fi movie Ex Machina, and also... in a way... Barbie?). Yorgos Lanthimos gives us the over-the-top absurdity he is known for (did you see The Lobster? or Dogtooth?), and creates the most captivating story world as Bella goes from home/lab to Lisbon, a cruise ship, Paris, and on... The production design--especially the color--and costumes are something else. And the hybrid animals created by God, and later, Bella are really fun... especially the one at the end!
7. Barbie
The true cultural phenomenon of the year! Kudos to amazing direction by Greta Gerwig and great acting by the perfectly cast Margot Robbie as the title character--our two most obviously snubbed would-be nominees. The irony of the male character, Ryan Gosling's Ken, being the nominated but not Gerwig or Robbie, is lost on no one - but I'm still looking forward to his Best Song performance during the show tonight. Like Poor Things (though very UNLIKE Poor Things) we have imaginative and fun production design, along with a creative story of female liberation. I loved the feminist themes of course, and Barbie coming into her own over the course of the movie. Her connection to America Ferrera's character helps make Barbie's conflict relatable, and she drives the message home in her memorable monologue (the reason for Ferrera's Supporting Actress nomination to be sure). I also thought Kate McKinnon was hilarious as the weird Barbie!
8. American Fiction
Here we get another out-of-sorts writer (is this the third of the year?) navigating family drama (don't you want Sandra Voyter and Monk Ellison to network at a conference?), this time played by Jeffrey Wright. A home run performance for him; the totally-over-it attitude was so funny and believable. I also love to think about D.C. native Jeffrey Wright and fellow cast member Issa Rae chatting offscreen about growing up in the D.C. region (she spent some formative years in Montgomery County). The writing aspect of the movie explores interesting themes of `good" writing, voice, whose stories get told by whom, authenticity, race, class, white guilt, movie deals, and the publishing industry in a capitalist America. While connecting with some heavy themes, it's somehow also a funny movie. I liked the clever ending that takes you inside Monk's mind as he imagined how his story would end... complete with Mozart's Requiem again.
9. The Zone of Interest
I truly do not know what to do with ranking this deeply, deeply, deeply disturbing movie. It was so impactful and so distressing. Another historical film with major immorality at the center, and people's ability to look the other way in the face of atrocity. This glimpse into what was going down during the Holocaust was chilling, telling it in a different way than we've ever seen by focusing on the domestic life of a Commandant's family that literally shares a wall with Auschwitz. It's not graphic, but the hints of what's going on on the other side of the wall leaves the horror to the imagination. Also horrifying is his wife, played by Sandra Hüller (having a big year!), and her adoration of living there with her beautiful garden, pool, and children... tending to life next door to death upon death upon death. I will not ever be able to watch this again, but will surely never forget it.
10. Maestro
Though it is my number 10, that should say nothing about Bradley Cooper's great performance in the challenging role of Leonard Bernstein. (It's interesting to have conductor movies in consecutive years... I loved last year's Tár). We have another case of a complicated relationship, and I never have any qualms with the wonderful Carey Mulligan. who plays Bernstein's wife. It was interesting to see the story of their relationship over time, including after her death. The conducting parts were very impressive... I am sure it was a feat for Cooper to learn. Ultimately, I thought it was a good movie facing a very tough pool of competitors this year.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Actor: Cillian Murphy
Actress: Lily Gladstone
Supporting Actor: Ryan Gosling
Supporting Actress; Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Adapted Screenplay: American Fiction
Original Screenplay: Past Lives
Jason
1. Oppenheimer
2. Poor Things
3. The Zone of Interest
4. The Holdovers
5. American Fiction
6. Past Lives
7. Barbie
8. Anatomy of a Fall
9. Killers of a Flower Moon
10. Maestro
Director -Christopher Nolan
Original Screenplay-Past Lives
Adapted Screenplay-American Fiction
Best Actor-Paul Giamatti
Best Actress-Emma Stone
Best Supporting Actor-Robert Downey Jr.
Best Supporting Actress-Da'vine Joy Randolph
Sarah
1. Past Lives
2. The Zone of Interest
3. Barbie
4. Anatomy of a Fall
5. Poor Things
6. Holdovers
7. Killers of the Flower Moon
8. Oppenheimer
9. American Fiction
10. Maestro
Director: Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest
Actor: Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers)
Actress: Lily Gladstone (Killer of the Flower Moon)
Supporting Actor: Ryan Gosling (Barbie)
Supporting Actress: Da’vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers)
Original Screenplay: Past Lives
Adapted Screenplay: Barbie
Tyler
1. The Zone of Interest
2. Barbie
3. Past Lives
4. The Holdovers
5. Anatomy of a Fall
6. Killers of the Flower Moon
7. Poor Things
8. Oppenheimer
9. American Fiction
10. Maestro
Best Director: Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest (Should be Greta)
Adapted Screenplay: Barbie
Original Screenplay: Past Lives
Actress: Emma Stone (Poor Things)
Actor: Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers)
Supporting Actress: Da’vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers)
Supporting Actor: Ryan Gosling (Barbie)
