I've cared about the Oscars for years now, as I've always been a movie-obsessed nerd that loved to arbitrarily rank and judge things. Yet it's only been since 2012 that I've been actively writing about the nominated films and live-blogging the ceremony. In all that time, I've never seen all the nominated films. Usually, I top out at just over half or so. I came the closest to completing the Oscar Death Race, as some call it, last year when I saw 50 of the 59 nominated films. Of that number, I manage to review even less.
I went into this year's Oscar season expecting about the same outcome. Yet, somehow, as the day came closer and closer, I realized I actually had a chance of seeing everything. Of hitting 100% on the Letterboxd list of all the nominees. With the help of some new friends, I was able to grab the two rarest of this year's slate. (That would be “Les Miserables” and “St. Louis Superman.”) After I saw those two, I realized there was no good reason not to watch the shit I promised myself I wouldn't bother with. The taste of victory was too much. I had to go for it, even if it meant watching some truly mediocre nonsense.
So, I did it. I saw all 53 of the 53 nominated films. I really wanted to review more of them though. Last year, I posted 28 reviews. This year I topped out with 25. (I did write long reviews of “Star War: The Rise of Skywalker” and “Klaus” back in December, so technically I was just one shy of last year's number.) I guess I should be glad I managed to get that much done, considering the Academy moved the ceremony up almost a whole month from its usual airdate.
I figured I needed to commemorate this successful marathon in some way. Just to prove I did in fact see all of the nominees this year, here are capsule reviews of everything remaining that I didn't get to write long reviews of. Yes, some of these are recycled from my end-of-the-year retrospective. Thanks to the handful of people reading this. The Live Blog will begin at 8:00PM EST.
“Daddy Issues... IN SPACE!” The film, heavy-handed in its themes as it is, sure knows how to engineer some thrilling sequences. The moon buggy shoot-out and the space baboon attacks are both highlights. A convincing not-too-distant future world is created here, with a lot of well utilized little hints and details. Brad Pitt is excellent, even if his narration is totally unnecessary. [7/10]
From a narrative perspective, this is an incredible juggling act that somehow never looses you. While definitely not as bold as “Infinity War,” the pure joy with which the film approaches its many cheer-inducing, fanboy moments is infectiously gleeful. Marvel spent a decade building up to this, so they probably deserve the victory lap. And it's sweeter in its focus on the characters and their relationships than it had to be. [9/10]
Let's welcome this to the list of Random Bullshit That Got Somehow An Oscar Nomination. Obviously, this is anti-science propaganda for the “Christians Are So Persecuted!” crowd. But that's not even the worst thing about it. It's so ridiculously overwrought, from Chrissy Metz' screamed-to-the-rafters performance to an actual candlelight singalong. It's also unforgivably boring, graceless, and maudlin. Topher Grace seems so uncomfortable, I hope they paid him well. [3/10]
Interesting how this gravitates between themes of brutality – apparent in that incredible final scene – and forgiveness. Bartosz Bielenia gives a compelling performance, as someone torn between his best and worst instincts. The sermon scenes are genuinely powerful and inspiring. The direction is a little dreary and it meanders a bit in the last third. [7/10]
Documentary Short Films:
In the Absence
A chilling depiction of a senseless tragedy, frequently captured by the cameras and cell phones that were actually there. It takes the clueless authorities responsible for so many deaths to task directly.... And it's a controversy that is still ongoing, as the ending demonstrates. Not an easy watch but fantastically assembled. [7/10]
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)
Becomes a sweet and frequently touching depiction of women's rights slowly getting a grip in a troubled country by focusing on the young kids simply having fun. The real people interviewed here are all so charming and likable. The documentary bracket is so focused on the atrocities in the Middle East this year, it's not to see some hope coming out of that area. [8/10]
Life Overtakes Me
Probably my least favorite of the Documentary Shorts this year, just because it's such a dispiriting watch. The plight of the refugees in these bleak situtions are certainly natural human drama. You truly feel for the children with this horrible Resignation Syndrome. However, I do wish the film focused more on the scientific reasons behind the bizarre condition. [7/10]
St. Louis Superman
Bruce Franks Jr. is certainly an inspiring figure. His speeches towards ex-cons shows the deeply personal passion he has, his honest desire to help the unfortunate and right wrongs. The scenes of his rap battles provide a nice, interesting contrast to his more professional side. The moments with his son further characterize his personal mission to seek justice. [7/10]
Walk Run Cha-Cha
My favorite of the Documentary Shorts, largely because of the wonderfully sweet and choreographed dance number it concludes with. I love how it captures the way real people love, connect, and overcome the difficulties of their lives. The couple at the center of the story are so damn cute together while this also gives us a snap-shot of real history. [8/10]
In documenting Brazil's downfall into authoritarianism, director Petra Costa is undoubtedly holding a mirror up to America's own situation. Only Brazil's long history of corruption and dictatorship separates us. This is a very personal story for the filmmaker, as she knows figures on both side, which explains her very passionate handling of the material. There's so much information in these two hours, so much double crosses in Brazilian politics, that it's easy to get a bit lost. [7/10]
Brings the series to a concise conclusion, in a way that's almost too neat to be satisfying. As the series veers towards a bigger scope, the comic relief is increasingly out of place. (Though Ruffnut gets some moment.) This undoubtedly has the best villain of the series. The relationship between Hiccup and Toothless remains the cuddly heart and goes to some interesting places here. And the titular Hidden World sure is awfully pretty. [7/10]
A film that makes the difficult decision to humanize the abusive cops, the criminals, and the normal citizens caught in the middle in the events leading up to a riot. Successfully captures a day-in-the-life feeling of an impoverish French suburb. Compelling throughout but starts to loose momentum once the riot actually starts, before taking us out on one hell of a ballsy ending. [7/10]
As you'd expect, this story of seaside madness is filled with ominous isolation, emphasized by the constricted aspect ratio, and increasingly unnerving episodes. (The use of seagulls is especially creepy.) What wasn't expected is how damn funny it is, as Eggers exploits old-time-y sea captain speak for as much absurdity as possible. Dafoe and Pattinson grow increasingly unhinged and blustery, as the film goes more mind-altering and perverse. [9/10]
For a movie that has no reason to exist, this was better than anticipated. Yes, the few new additions to the story are totally unnecessary. (Though I do like the tunnel scene in the Elephant Graveyard.) Most of the songs seem horribly out-of-place, though the “Lion Sleeps Tonight” singalong is cute. While Chiwetel Ejiofor is no Jeremy Irons, the casting is pretty inspired. It's not the original but the photorealistic animation is impressive in its own way. [6/10]
A sequel to a movie I hated that manages to be an even more tedious experience. The plot is utterly incomprehensible, fantasy gobbledygook. How can anyone give a shit about this stuff? There's so much CGI eye-gouging and utterly dispassionate battle scenes. Angelina Jolie isn't even in a third of the film. The scenes of horned, winged humanoids having terse conversation reminds me of “Gargoyles” and Warwick Davis plays a goblin, so that's cool. [3/10]
As always, Laika's visuals are absolutely spellbinding in their detail, their quirky character designs, and inventive camera angles. The physical comedy gags are so wild and broad, they become impressive acts. Mr. Link is a delightful character: A sasquatch who is shy, socially awkward, but with a wholesome heart. The moral lesson – find true friends, not the social group society tells you to go with – is obvious but does produce at least one surprising plot twist. And the voice cast is having a ball. Definitely the best of the recent wave of Bigfoot-themed animation. [7/10]
Making this an actual singing-and-dancing musical with magical-realism elements does break-up the typical musician biopic tedium some. Taron Edgerton is fantastic and the film earns points by not sanitizing things too much. I've never seen a film that baits the Best Costume Design category so hard and it's kind of amazing. It does eventually fall into all the totally expected beats. It's a lot better than “Bohemian Rhapsody,” if nothing else. [7/10]
By far the most inessential of this series but certainly, by no means, a bad movie. The humor and heart is absolutely still there, as I laughed plenty of times and the movie still made me tear up. The new characters are all lovable, with Duke Kaboom being especially Keanu-licious. The film's villain, meanwhile, is so sympathetic and well realized that she really ceases to be a villain at all by the end. This seems to bring the franchise to a somehow more definitive end than part three did but Disney's shareholders will probably demand a “Toy Story 5” at some point anyway. [7/10]
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