Academy Award Season Again!

Over the last few years, I have always made predictions about Oscar winners on this blog. I usually make a point to watch as many potential nominees as I can so I can have a general idea of the quality of work out there. This year I did not do such a good job of keeping up on nominated films, so I don't think I will venture my predictions and picks like usual. 

First, I want to to respond to some of the most common reactions I get whenever I talk to people about the Oscars or Golden Globes (I LOVE awards shows). I often hear, "They always pick movies no one has seen", or, "None of the movies I liked this year were nominated." I understand this sentiment. It's difficult to connect to the movies featured in these award shows because they aren't the box office hits that are featured in all the theaters. In fact, sometimes, only small, independent theaters will show them. But I do not believe that this fact discredits these movies at all. The film industry (like most things) is all about money. That is why every year we see more and more sequels or comic book movies or books stretched out into three parts. The movie producers want a sure thing.  They keep making movies based on models that have worked in the past. I believe though, that we need to take more risks. No risk, no reward. That doesn't mean the box office hits aren't good, but it also doesn't mean movies that didn't top the charts are bad; they just aren't supported by production teams as much.

This year at the Golden Globes, George Clooney won the Lifetime Achievement Award. In his speech, he briefly addressed this issue, urging viewers to support the little movies because the big, popular productions "don't need any more help." Since I have made it my goal to watch more potentially nominated films, I can tell you I have seen much more moving, humanizing films. Films not about car stunts and battles and dragons, but about life. Real people and events. Real conditions. And I have seen beautiful artistic skills. It really has made me love movies.

BUT...there is a flip side. We cannot judge movies based on the awards they win. Because a lot of beautiful, fantastic, amazing movies don't win any awards at all. Sometimes the Academy is biased or influenced by campaigns. Sometimes a year was so good that 50 movies could have won Best Picture. Sometimes one particular facet of a movie was amazing, but the rest wasn't good enough for critics/voters to consider the movie worthwhile at all. Sometimes it just takes the right movie at the right moment for the right person to be perfect. As Clooney said in his speech, "I don't remember how many awards Lauren Bacall won. I remember her saying 'Just put your lips together and blow.' And I have no idea what kind of hardware Robin Williams took home, but I sure remember, 'Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.'"

As for the insights I do have about this year's awards... 

1. I thought The Imitation Game was one of the most extraordinary movies I have seen in a long time and I learned a lot of history that I didn't know because of it. I recommend it fully. 

2. I thought Birman was artistically beautiful (the whole movie looks like one shot with no fade in or fade out-crazy!) and had great acting, but I honestly did not get the ending at all. If you did, please explain it. 

3. I wish I liked American Sniper more, but I didn't get into it at all. 

4. I did see three of the animated nominees: The Boxtrolls, Big Hero 6, and How to Train Your Dragon 2. I liked HTTYD2 the best of the three, although Baymax was so funny. 

5. Maleficent brought to life all of my fantasies of a fairy world I had as a child. It is nominated for costume design, though, and that wasn't a huge stand-out for me. Same problem for Interstellar. It is nominated for music, which was probably my least favorite part of that movie. But I could see it winning for Production Design or Visual Effects.

6. "Everything is Awesome" from the LEGO movie was nominated, which is basically the most addicting song ever. But "Glory" from Selma is sure to win. 

7. We do see big box office hits in the visual effects category: Captain America 2, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Dawn of Planet of the Apes, and Interstellar. I think I'll go for Interstellar on that one. 

I might go see a few more nominees before the 22nd if I can. The Ross Theatre on campus is featuring all the short film nominees this week. I went to that last year and it was great. If you have any movie recommendations that are available for viewing now, please feel free to comment. Have I mentioned I love movies?