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Oscar Nominations Chat! (from now to Academy Awards)
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- Clare
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The 2023 Oscar nominations are now out! I'd love to hear people's thoughts on what you saw that was nominated. Was it worthy of the nomination? Do you think it will win? Why? What do you think should win? What shouldn't win and why? What do you recommend we see? This is a chat-only thread; please click YES to join if you'd like to be notified of others' comments by email. The closing date of this thread is one week after the Academy Awards, which are scheduled for March 10. Please ignore the video link; this is for chat only. The nominees are in many places online. Here's one link: https://press.oscars.org/news/96th-oscarsr-nominations-announced
Attended (8)
Clare
Hey great to see everyone in this chat thread! Three of the Best Picture nominations are still in cinemas: American Fiction, Poor Things, and The Zone of Interest. I hope to see all of them in the next few weeks. Has anyone seen any of them?
Laura
I haven't seen any of those and would be interested in seeing American Fiction and Poor Things. Not sure if I'm up for Zone of Interest but maybe anyone who has seen it could share how violent/intense/disturbing they found it to be, if at all. Thanks for initiating this, Clare.
Clare
Laura, I read a bunch of reviews on cinemaclock, and it sounds like it’s not violent. The reviews were all over the map though because not everyone understood the movie. Others thought it was excellent.
Richard
The violence is heard, but not shown. Ominous.
Kathy
I have seen Poor Things at the Park Theatre. Very interesting. I’ll give it at 7.75 out of 10. Emma Stone is great in the role! Some beautiful cinematography too.
Richard
She was fantastic. What a creative movie!
Kathy
Just watched the trailers. I would love to see American Fiction and I would be interested to see Zone of Interest too. 😊
Clare
I am thinking of seeing Poor Things on Sunday evening, early show, somewhere in Vancouver, if anyone wants to join me. It is currently playing in three Cinemas in Vancouver. I would probably go to the park on Cambie, or ScotiaBank theater on Burrard.
Richard
I've seen all of the Best Picture nominees this year, which is a first for me. It was a pretty good year for movies. The ones I would pick are Past Lives and Zone of Interest. I doubt that either will win, but I'm glad they got the recognition. They are both brilliantly done and are very moving and powerful. They are both the kinds of movies that you keep on thinking about long after you've seen them. Most of the others are all good, but don't pack that kind of punch for me. The only one I don't think should be on the list is The Holdovers. I thought is was pretty formulaic. I was surprised the May/December didn't get any acting nominations. Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman are amazing in it.
Kathy
Thanks Richard, I hadn’t heard about May/December and am now looking forward to watching it soon!
Clare
Hey everyone, movies on Tuesdays in February are only five dollars each! Same with popcorn :-)
Clare
So, I saw Poor Things. I don't often see fantastical movies but I thought it was great! Emma Stone was outstanding. I heard it was long but I never felt it. I think it will win at least one Oscar. OK, on to the next!
Laura
Nimona is a movie nominated for best animated feature and is on Netflix. I really enjoyed this story of a young, quirky outcast insisting she should become the sidekick of another reluctant outcast, and their adventures together trying to clear his name. She has a secret that I won't give away but it was quite engaging. Zone of Interest was intense but good and really makes you think of the extremes of 'turning a blind eye' - I can still hear the haunting music. Poor Things was quite the film - very unusual, a bit disturbing, and stylistic. Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo's performances were both excellent and I wouldn't be surprised if either of them won in their acting categories.
Laura
Maestro (also on Netflix) drastically increased my opinion of Bradley Cooper. I was impressed that he not only starred in it but also directed and produced it. I knew of Leonard Bernstein from his role in creating West Side Story but that's about it. It was interesting to learn more about his life during a time where it was difficult to be his authentic self in society. Oppenheimer was also well done. Interesting to see great scientific minds at work, unfortunately, in this case, to create an instrument of war. The more films I see, the harder I think it will be to guess who will win! Thanks, Clare, for helping me dive into the Oscar-nominated movies this year. I usually see next to none, so this has been a fun change!
Rebecca
Hi there - I think I’ve seen all the Best Picture nominees this year too, unusual indeed. I agree Zone of Interest is disturbing to watch, also sound track very powerful. Brilliant. I’m still haunted. I was surprisingly impressed with Maestro. Loved the look/feel of the film.
Clare
I agree with you Rebecca - the look and feel of Maestro was wonderful. I'm not sure how to describe it but I loved it!
Laura
I watched Rustin on Netflix and it was excellent. I can see why Colman Domingo is up for Best Actor in a Leading Role - he was great. This film encouraged me to revisit and expand my knowledge of the American civil rights movement. I saw Nyad and it was good. I was glad to learn of the woman in real life that this film is based on - a very inspiring and driven athlete. Annette Bening and Jodie Foster were both good but the competition is stiff in their acting categories and I'm not sure either will win. Not that I'm an expert! I found May December kind of unsettling and I didn't appreciate it as much as many of the other films.
Laura
American Fiction was great, and made some important points about current American society and literature. It's just so wildly different than the rest of the nominated movies. More moments of comedy and less intense than many others. I really liked it but would be surprised if it won. Also on Netflix is The After - up for Best Live Action Short Film - was well done and moving, but there is a scene of violence that, for those especially sensitive like me, you may wish to avoid. My priority now is to watch Killers of the Flower Moon. I'll likely fast forward some of the violent scenes but I'm interested in learning about the history of Indigenous people, even if it's difficult. Has anyone else seen it and would recommend it?
Clare
Hi Laura, I recently saw Killers of the Flower Moon and I would definitely recommend it. The movie shares the true (and sad) story of the Osage (Indigenous) people in the U.S. around the 1920's. It's a long movie and I anticipated I would need a break but didn't. While not fast-paced, the story was told in a very thoughtful and engaging way. See it if you can.
Clare
Of the many films I’ve seen in the last little while, the one that has stuck with me the most is Zone of Interest. I keep thinking about it and reflecting on both human nature and also what’s happening in the world today. I also really enjoyed American Fiction and Poor Things. I rarely watch a movie a second time but I would see these three again. I saw Oppenheimer, and compared to the above three, (and hearing all the hype and the awards it’s winning), I was a bit disappointed. I thought it went too long and while I thought it was good, I didn't appreciate it as much as many seem to be. Thanks Laura for that recommendation about Rustin on Netflix. I saw it last night and also thought it was excellent.
Clare
I also thought Maestro (on Netflix) was great. Bradley Cooper is amazing throughout. I'm not surprised he's up for Best Actor. I saw The After, an 18 minute short movie on Netflix. It's up for Best Live Action Short Film, and I thought it was excellent. One part is a bit visually shocking (a violent scene), and another scene is emotional intense. Great acting by David Oyelowo. Did anyone else see it? Has anyone seen Killers of the Flower Moon?
John
I just watched American Fiction on Prime. Seen Flowers of the Killer Moon on Telus and 6 more. Still have to see 2 more…
John
Zone of Interest, tick. Poor Things will have to wait till after the awards. Can’t say as I’m super excited about any of the entries and attribute that to being spoiled by great theatre of the past.
Kevin
So far I managed to see: Barbie; Oppenheimer; Maestro; Poor Things; The Holdovers; Nyad; The Boy and the Heron. I enjoyed them all. Has anyone else seen Poor Things? It was pretty surreal, but then I like that kind of thing now and then. Mind you, not as surreal as The Boy and the Heron, which is a whole other category of surreal.
Kevin
I also started May December but haven't had time to get back to it. I really want to see Godzilla Minus One, too. :-) I've heard many good things about it.
Clare
Hey Kevin! Great to see you in this chat! Not sure if you watched the Oscars but Godzilla won in its category, so I hope you see it! I really liked Poor Things. I think I liked it more after I saw it actually (rather than during), so now I'm really curious about The Boy and the Heron, which also won. My top 4 are Zone of Interest, Poor Things, Maestro, and American Fiction (not in any order). I'm in the middle of Past Lives, which many seem to really like.
Richard
No big surprises for what won last night. My only disappointment was Wes Anderson winning live action short. I thought his was the weakest, not the strongest, though I generally enjoy his films (we saw all 5 at a Buddytree event). If you get the chance the see them, The After and Red, White and Blue are very powerful short films.
Clare
I really enjoyed The After, and I will look for Red White and Blue. I really enjoyed watching so many great films these last two months or so. Thanks to everyone who joined me in one way or another in watching movies or through this chat. It’s been great!
Clare
I usually try and see many of the Best Picture nominees but am way behind this year! What have you seen and what do you recommend in this category?