This month I have seen only two movies:
Lego Batman Movie
As a big fan of comic book movies, and Batman in particular, I loved this. I know I've missed a whole load of jokes. So much going on in every scene made it difficult to catch everything. Doesn't have the same wide appeal as the lego movie, but for Batfans, it was utterly brilliant.
Prevenge
Really good (though I think the people in front of me enjoyed it more, they were in hysterics almost all the way through). I thought the DJ Dan section was a particular highlight. But the whole film is good. Shifting tone and keeping you on edge. Worth checking out, I'd say.
As for the oscars. Most years I make an effort to at least check out the best picture noms, and as many of the films that have acting noms (usually they are mostly the same). But this year I've struggled to build up the enthusiasm for it. I thought Arrival was good, but felt it would lose a lot of impact on re-watch (until the reveation it felt very much eh to me). I had no sympathy for either main character in la la land and thus wasn't invested in their story at all, and felt the music overpowering the lyrics is a poor show for a musical film. I really enjoyed Hell or High Water, so of the three I'd want that to win, but I know it's most likely La La Land. As Meade says, Hollywood loves itself some hollywood. I think there has been too much of a "is this just being nominated as a response to #oscarowhite?" attitude to a lot of he non-white nominees that they won't just be given the awards to prove oscars aren't racist. Viola Davies has a good chance because the cast of Fences lived with their characters for a lot longer than usual for film because they had a run in theatre perfecting the performances, which gives it more of a foundation for a good performance. I think Maharsala Ali is in with a shout under the position of 'we need to recognise Moonlight because it was a good film, let's give them the supporting actor'.
Lego Batman Movie
As a big fan of comic book movies, and Batman in particular, I loved this. I know I've missed a whole load of jokes. So much going on in every scene made it difficult to catch everything. Doesn't have the same wide appeal as the lego movie, but for Batfans, it was utterly brilliant.
Prevenge
Really good (though I think the people in front of me enjoyed it more, they were in hysterics almost all the way through). I thought the DJ Dan section was a particular highlight. But the whole film is good. Shifting tone and keeping you on edge. Worth checking out, I'd say.
As for the oscars. Most years I make an effort to at least check out the best picture noms, and as many of the films that have acting noms (usually they are mostly the same). But this year I've struggled to build up the enthusiasm for it. I thought Arrival was good, but felt it would lose a lot of impact on re-watch (until the reveation it felt very much eh to me). I had no sympathy for either main character in la la land and thus wasn't invested in their story at all, and felt the music overpowering the lyrics is a poor show for a musical film. I really enjoyed Hell or High Water, so of the three I'd want that to win, but I know it's most likely La La Land. As Meade says, Hollywood loves itself some hollywood. I think there has been too much of a "is this just being nominated as a response to #oscarowhite?" attitude to a lot of he non-white nominees that they won't just be given the awards to prove oscars aren't racist. Viola Davies has a good chance because the cast of Fences lived with their characters for a lot longer than usual for film because they had a run in theatre perfecting the performances, which gives it more of a foundation for a good performance. I think Maharsala Ali is in with a shout under the position of 'we need to recognise Moonlight because it was a good film, let's give them the supporting actor'.
