For anyone who might be interested, here’s my list of the 9 Best Picture nominees for tonight’s Academy Awards, in descending order of how much I liked them. The criteria I use to judge the nominees is a long, convoluted mix of cinematic artistry and entertainment.
(FYI – I’ve tried to avoid spoilers)
#1: 12 Years a Slave – This is a phenomenal film. It is raw and heart wrenching, understated but incredibly well executed. The acting is superb, with so many powerful performances (Chiwetel Ejiofor is deserving of a best actor Oscar). This film shines a harsh light on a dark era in America’s past that has all too often received a far more glossy treatment. The film is nearly flawless (only two VERY minor acting quibbles keep me from saying it’s perfect). And I must say, it was one of the most memorable movie theater experiences of my life. It was a late Saturday night showing and I left the theater emotionally spent, having to compose myself once I arrived home to be able to relay to my wife what I had just seen. It was the second of the nominees I viewed and it set the bar high for all to come.
Rating: 98 (out of 100)
#2: Philomena – This was an incredibly entertaining film, with equal parts drama & comedy & (surprisingly) mystery. The acting is perfect, like you’re watching actual people living their lives, not actors portraying roles. The script writing is witty & effortless, twisting and turning with ease. The film’s only weakness (and it is slight) is that it raises many themes & questions, but doesn’t seem too concerned with answering them all. This actually doesn’t bother me too much (I prefer some ambiguity in films) but it did create the tiniest sense of “incompleteness.” Having said that, I loved this film. It is the one I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone who was looking for great filmmaking combined with entertainment.
Rating: 96
#3: Nebraska – This film is superb. It is quiet & still, but it operates with a purpose & it is extremely effective in doing so. The style low key & deadpan, just as you would come to expect from the director, Alexander Payne. The drama in this film operates at a low hum – always there and buzzing – but also incredibly funny (I laughed out loud more than once, and definitely more than with any other film in this list). Nebraska is also an essay in film technique. It took me back to my film study days from college, as I examined the film space and the editing and wonderfully antiquated terms like “pillow shots.” Also, there are so many little established nuances within the film’s world that are so rewarding and the stark black and white aesthetic is hypnotizing. Mind you, it’s not a perfect film but it is still such a refreshing against-the-grain experience. I truly enjoyed this film.
Rating: 92
#4: The Wolf of Wall Street – In short, this is a great film. That’s the only thing I can say about that references short, though. It’s quite a long film, but it is always engaging. It is a film of excess depicting a story of excess (a brash Wall Street broker who made the world his own, and reveled in all the vices it had to offer). Likewise, the filmmakers seem to revel in letting the actors play it big – scenes run on and the pacing shifts gears relentlessly. I got the sense that the film, itself, is a perfect representation of the world it depicts. There are some truly memorable scenes (“Lemmon 714” comes to mind) and the acting is incredible (Leonardo DiCaprio is also deserving of a best actor Oscar). One particular item of delight that I must call out: I love the authentic VHS camera clips and the filmmaker’s respect for the viewer in how something of a particular place in time should be viewed. As for criticism, it is a bit exploitative & it relishes in the debauchery. Also, I was expecting a bit more pathos that never really came. I must say, the film reminds me of Scorsese’s Goodfellas in so many good ways. It is precise, expert filmmaking from artists operating at their highest, and it is extremely entertaining to watch.
Rating: 90
#5: Her – This is an extremely well made film. It is enjoyable & easy to embrace. The film is understated but it builds a powerful underlying message about our current technological culture and what the future may hold. The world it creates is complete and totally foreseeable, but also not showy or brash. It just provides a matter-of-fact backdrop for the story. The acting is top notch, with Joaquin Phoenix managing to carry the screen by himself for a great portion of it. It is a bit slow at times but it rewards your patience. The ending feels right, but can come across as a bit of a copout, depending on how you look at it. I found it to be an entertaining comedic romance (rather than a romantic comedy), and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Rating: 88
#6: Dallas Buyers Club – Such a lean & effective film, much like the lead character performance by Matthew McConaughey (again, a best actor-worthy performance and I think his will be the one to win). There are so many great, “lived-in” acting performances. And the scriptwriting is compelling, with an emotional heart that does an effective job of pulling you in. The film’s matter-of-fact, non-exploitative approach to the subject matter and the day-to-day activities of the characters is what I loved about it most. The film is not without its flaws (it’s clunky and uneven at times, and the budget limitations ever so slightly peak out from time to time). Regardless, it’s a well-made, engaging film. And it surprised me in how much I liked it.
Rating: 88
#7: Captain Phillips – This is a very compelling, well-executed docu-drama. The skill & craftsmanship of the filmmakers is readily apparent. The tension builds & tightens to an almost unbearable point, as you watch with the dramatic irony of knowing what happens in the story (which is a true story of a freightliner hijacked by Somali pirates) but not HOW it happens, exactly. The acting is approachable and executed precisely. And the emotional toll conveyed is something to behold. There is really nothing technically wrong with this film. It achieves what it sets out to achieve. My only complaints would be that it doesn’t exactly stick to the facts (minor details, really) and because of the nature of the story, there is only so much content that it can delve into – therefore, it’s a bit limited. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed this film.
Rating: 87
#8: American Hustle – I feel somewhat bad having this film so far down the list. It’s a really great film. It’s entertaining – with equal parts drama and comedy and intrigue. It surprised me with its depth. The film features incredible acting and commitment. The actors are on-point with their roles. The film is a bit uneven and drawn out at times. Plus, it can be a bit heavy handed in its style and approach to the story – almost like it’s showing off of what it’s capable. Having said all that, it is well made and very enjoyable.
Rating: 84
#9 Gravity – This film is impressive – more so technically than anything else. It starts quick and doesn’t let up. I watched this in 3D and I was glad I did. It adds such a breathtaking element to the experience. It is, however, more of a high quality action movie than an artistic film. It has an emotional chord that slowly starts to grow, but it remains so tough to identify and empathize with the characters and it somehow does NOT manage to capture the hopelessness or fear of the situation. A big sticking point with this film for me is the physics of space and the liberties that are taken in service of the story. Still it is a technical powerhouse, and it is quite entertaining. It is worthy of a Best Picture nomination, but for me, it resides at the bottom of the list.
Rating: 79
As of yesterday, this marked another fast and furious month-and-a-half of movie viewing leading up to the Oscars. It was such an incredibly impressive crop of nominees this year. I’ve carried on this “Oscar Adventure” of seeing each Best Picture nominee before the Academy Awards telecast for every year since 1997. As always, I want to give a special thanks to my wife and daughters for putting up with this film fascination of mine.
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