[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1204680249

I loved it, probably my favorite Shakespeare adaptation to date. Cinematography was excellent, the use of black-and-white produces a starkness that really compliments the intensity of the story. Tbh I was a little disappointed in Denzel Washington’s performance, but I thought Frances McDormand was great and Kathryn Hunter ran away w the movie. Every scene she was in was literally breathtaking, I did not move an inch whenever she was on screen. Alex Hassell also had a really interesting role, and I did like what they did with some parts of the play, particularly with the “Third Murderer” and the crows which added another layer of creepiness to the Throne of Blood style fog. Also, I’m glad that they got rid of my least favorite exchange from the original play: “You egg! / He has killed me, mother!”

All in all it was another fantastic Coen project, the lack of awards buzz is a shame but Washington might get in and McDormand is doing just fine. Praying Kathryn Hunter does a Lesley Manville and upsets for a nomination though; easily top five performance this year for me.

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[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1204227752

Jason Travis wrote:

I agree the producers manipulated the ceremony for a Boseman “emotional” moment, but that by no means discredits Anthony Hopkins and his best actor victory. Years from now hopefully the win will be looked at as one of the most deserved in history, and not “well it would have been nice- but do you remember the presentation?” Hopkins didn’t even show up (he never planned to). Plenty of actors don’t show up to collect their trophies, and some even decline their victories (Marlon Brando, George C Scott). Doesn’t mean they aren’t still merited with the win. Plenty of presentations get botched too, most notably with the La La Land/Moonlight scandal. Doesn’t take away the fact that Moonlight is still a Best Picture winner. Don’t let the trashy ceremony ruin what is now a celebrated and OSCAR winning performance.

I like the idea that in the future people will hail his win for The Father as one of the best and most-deserved wins in Academy history, and I suppose it is quite possible. I guess I’m just frustrated with the way some people are attacking him online because of a situation that’s entirely out of his control, or suggesting that his merit wasn’t as important as Boseman’s narrative. The inevitable mass letdown when Boseman lost, compounded with the producers’ scheming, has led to a lot of animosity towards Hopkins and his win that I think is very unfair. I do hope the win ages well though, because he was incredible.

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[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1204227675

Alan wrote:

The person who decided the awards order:

I’d have to disagree with this. The order of the awards seemed very deliberate to me—they were capitalizing on Chadwick Boseman’s death and widely-predicted Best Actor victory in order to keep eyeballs on the screen until the very end for an emotional moment. The way that the producers toyed with viewers, and Boseman’s own family, with the category switch-up was completely trashy, especially since it backfired in a horrible way when an apathetic Joaquin Phoenix announced an absent Anthony Hopkins as the winner.

Everyone supporting Boseman was manipulated and insulted by the producers, and they have every right to be angry at the way that the program was staged.

Anthony Hopkins’ victory was utterly diminished by the setup as well. I thought he gave the better performance and ought to have won, but the way that they set up the telecast ruined his win and made a mockery of those rooting for Boseman.

Plus, Nomadland—which won the biggest prize of the night, Best Picture—was shoved before Best Actress and Best Actor as if this year’s winner was less important than any other year’s, which was particularly cruel for Chloé Zhao as a female Chinese filmmaker (they definitely anticipated her film to win in this category).

The producers tried to be clever with the switch-up, and they ended up messing up Zhao, Hopkins, and most of all Boseman and his legacy with their sleazy pandering. They should not touch another Oscars telecast with a ten-foot pole, and ought to publicly apologize for their mishandling of the broadcast.

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[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1204119284

kaziz wrote:

If so, it’ll be the most embarrassing Oscar nomination in quite some time. No, Glenn Close is not embarrassing in HE. Amy Adams is. Very much so.

Sue me, but I thought that Amy Adams was pretty good in Hillbilly Elegy. She definitely wouldn’t crack my top five this year, but I think she really threw everything she had into a role that didn’t offer very much to her and gave a solid turn. The movie is saccharine, and it’s not one of her best roles, but the way that she portrayed the sharply opposed dualities of her character contextualized J. D.’s complicated relationship with his mother in an evocative way that the script couldn’t.

Also, how can you fret about a nomination for the consistently great Amy Adams when Jared Leto might score an Oscar nomination for an even worse movie?

Anyway, loving all this support for Vanessa Kirby at SAG. Would love if she takes SAG and BAFTA on the way to an Oscar win, but I’m pretty skeptical right now.

[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1204039218

The Trial of The Chicago 7  was an overwrought wretch, yet another reminder that Sorkin can only write and direct a very narrow range of performances.

Mank was terrific and Fincher killed it. A bit jarring for me at first, but I think it’ll hold up really well in his filmography.

Nomadland was better than both and Chloé Zhao will deservedly win Picture and Directing.

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[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1204016270

Love that Vanessa Kirby nomination, her odds at nabbing an Oscar nom too are pretty great. The love for Trial of The Chicago 7 was nauseating, and the Corden nomination made me hurl my breakfast.

 

 

 

[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1203999745

Why does it have to be about hating white people instead of giving (often overdue) recognition to many talented actors of color? I think Anthony Hopkins is just about the best actor of our time, but I’m not gonna be hung up if he doesn’t win. I wouldn’t say it’s because they’re punishing white people, either: Hopkins just got nominated and he already won a very well-deserved Oscar. Meanwhile, Lindo’s been repeatedly snubbed for great performances in movies over the years—he deserves his time, just like Hopkins. Boseman was a rising star who gave a fantastic final performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Those are the reasons why they’re being recognized by critics circles right now, not because there’s an angry agenda against white people. If that were really true, then I’d think Viola Davis would be sweeping the awards instead of Carey Mulligan and Frances McDormand. Just because white people aren’t winning everything and we’re seeing more diverse stories—and consequently more diverse award winners—doesn’t mean that white people are hated. Imo it’s just that non-white people are finally starting to be loved. There’s a big difference.

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[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1203992342

wolfali wrote:

Forgive me if it’s been mentioned already but it’s a bit disappointing that they remembered <i>The Plot Against America </i>and still forgot Zoe Kazan and Anthony Boyle. They were the MVPs for me (closely followed by Ryder who I’m overjoyed to see included).

Just saw the nominations and am thoroughly confused how one could nominate Spector, Turturro, Ryder, and the show for Limited Series without nominating Zoe Kazan. Best performance on the show, and should’ve won her an Emmy.

[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1203992265

estrelas wrote:

Acting branch is not touching that movie. If I’m not mistaken, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was the last Kaufman movie to be truly embraced by the Academy.

Not to mention he wasn’t even the director of that film. I’m Thinking of Ending Things is my favorite movie of the year, but there’s no way it’s coming near Best Actress. It has a real shot at an Adapted Screenplay nomination, though.

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[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1203981573

The Girls' Room wrote:

Eh I don’t know; I don’t really buy that because I don’t think it offers a new perspective on dementia. What does it really say about it? I’ve been living with my gma who has had dementia for years now. She is long past the stages of Hopkins’ character’s dementia. Given that, as you say, most if not everyone knows someone suffering with [dementia], what does the film say about dementia that people don’t already know?

It’s a new perspective bc it’s from the perspective of the person struggling with dementia, rather than others watching someone struggle with dementia. Obviously it’s not the first film to attempt something like that (Joker was from the perspective of a mentally ill man too), but with an actor like Hopkins in the leading role (esp since he was a great King Lear) and great writing/directing I’m sure it’ll find more nuances in its depiction of mental illness.

[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1203980220

wolfali wrote:

Just saying that SPC has sent a gazillion screeners to SAG (according to images on Twitter) of The Father recently. BAFTA have already seen it and the HFPA have also been sent the screeners. Just because it has low critics visibility it doesn’t mean it won’t ever get any visibility.

Isn’t that exactly the point though? People have been underestimating both Pieces of A Woman and The Father far too early in the race. A lot of critics haven’t seen them, but all the major awards shows will—their performance with critics probably implies very little about how they’ll do at the Globes, SAG, BAFTA, etc.

[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1203973447

I rather liked Adams in Elegy, I always like her no matter what she does, and I feel like she is doing everything the script and Howard want from her. The problem is, the script is so desperate to tug at people’s heartstrings that even though I think Adams is nailing exactly what’s asked of her, it nevertheless feels disingenuous. Also, agree that if she didn’t get in for Arrival that she’s not getting in for this.

[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1203969411

Last year Florence Pugh was doing pretty poorly during the critics awards before Little Women came out. By the end, she was one of the most awarded actresses in the category. Maybe the (impressively successful) release of Pieces of A Woman will result in much more attention for Kirby and Burstyn? Same applies with The Father, although that film’s general acclaim vs Pieces‘ otherwise tepid response obviously favors Colman and Hopkins.

[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1203878319

Out of curiosity, have films with reviews as bad as Hillbilly Elegy ever received major nominations? And I mean like, abysmal reviews. I don’t know if there’s any precedence for it, but I feel like Adams and Close aren’t completely doomed yet–that is, I don’t think either is getting in, but at the same time I wouldn’t be too shocked if one does.

[Potatohead Joined: Apr 6th, 2019 Topics: 0 Posts: 130 View Predictions]

#1203724069

ivostoyanov wrote:

Different competition. Garner acts circles around Snook, and with Aduba and Smart is a little more complicated, but to be honest, both had just one good episode.

Disagree about Snook and Garner, tbh I was much more impressed with how Snook stepped up for her bigger role than how Garner’s performance continued to shine in a smaller one. To be fair Snook had much better material in this season than her previous while Garner had the opposite situation. Both delivered, but Snook just had the better season to really show her strengths in the role.

Also, I loved Jean Smart to death but Uzo Aduba absolutely deserved that award. Mrs. America was full of amazing supporting actresses but she stood out with the best performance in the best episode of the season. “She Was Killed By Space Junk” is a great submission, but “Shirley” gave Aduba the ability to display so much raw, heartbreaking emotion that she stole the season for me right then despite how small her role wound up being.