Academy Award Snubs



The Academy Award nominations were announced on Tuesday morning and we've had a few days to think about them and those who missed the cut. Below are my disappointments among this year's nominations.

* Won't You Be My Neighbor. If you're a regular reader of this column, you know how much this film impacted me. In fact, from the moment I saw it there was little doubt that it would be my top pick for 2018. And even last week I wondered if it might get into the Best Picture competition. At the least, I figured it was a lock for the documentary competition. Boy was I wrong. I enjoyed "RBG" and "Minding the Gap" was interesting. I've heard good things about "Free Solo," too, but "Won't You Be My Neighbor" being completely left out is ridiculous. It was not only great, but one of the most high profile entries in the medium. This is probably one of the biggest gaffs in recent memory.

* A Quiet Place. It got technical nominations, so unlike the above it wasn't shut out. This was one of my favorite films last year, and it hasn't gotten the due it deserves. John Krasinski crafted a fascinating, unique and engaging film, one with great performances. I'm disappointed that it hasn't been remembered this Awards Season.

* Emily Blunt. This one hurts. She's an incredible actress that never gets her due. This year she gave two incredible performances — in "A Quiet Place" and "Mary Poppins Returns" — and yet she didn't get a single nomination. It's a crime. In a year where the Academy talked about including more popular films to connect with mainstream audiences, these kind of omissions seem backwards.

* Eighth Grade. This was a smaller film that many didn't see, but it was a powerful story of growing up. It was a part of the Golden Globes, and will be part of the Independent Spirit Awards, but being shut out of the Academy Awards is a shame.

* Ethan Hawke. I wasn't a huge fan of "First Reformed" as a movie, but Hawke was great in the role and worthy of recognition.

It was a strong year for films, and there were plenty of interesting movies. But I guess you can't remember them all.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve
Read more