Swingin' at the Seance

I finally got a chance to watch all the documentaries nominated for an Oscar this year. These films are usually quite difficult to watch and quite difficult to rate: they tend to deal with heavier, serious subject matters and it is difficult to critique them as I would the narratives. Still, I know exactly which film impressed me the most and which I thought was simply not that good.

5. Democracia em Vertigem

The Edge of Democracy is a documentary illustrating the political crisis in Brazil. But I am afraid that you do need to know quite a bit about the situation in the country to begin with to truly get the most out of it which is a shame as it would be good to get a clearer look at what exactly has happened.

4. Honeyland

This is most likely the frontrunner in this category (it is also nominated for the Best International Film Oscar). I am sad to say that I did not love it as much as other people did. I admit that a big reason why is my personal philosophy as far as animal rights are concerned. But I think I might also be a bit tired of filmmakers using real people, especially in the poorer places in the world, as some kind of source of amusement for the Western audiences and I kind of feel this is what is happening here. Still, the film looks gorgeous.

3. The Cave

The Cave introduces us to some incredible people doing incredible job and it truly captures the horrors of war. But it also focuses greatly on showing horribly wounded children. Of course, this does get the point across and hopefully opens people’s eyes to how bad the situation in Syria is but also feels a bit exploitative. 

2. American Factory

American Factory is a very well made documentary about the way politics and capitalism and globalizations play out in a smaller setting (a factory). It is an interesting study of how business is made and how individual people play their roles in that madness. 

1. For Sama

For Sama might be the biggest surprise this Oscar season for me. And while it might seem disingenuous for me to put it at number one while I complained about The Cave, I feel like For Sama is just as tragic and heartbreaking and somehow seeming more respectful. Maybe it’s because it is the filmmaker’s own story. The fact that she managed to document so much of her own life during wartime is an extraordinary achievement and I feel very privileged to have been allowed a glimpse into her world which is terrifying but also, perhaps, a bit hopeful.

Every year the same thing happens: Oscar nominations are announced and a large number of film lovers are upset. They might be mad that they favourite films did not make the cut, they might be mad films they did not care about did. But there is also a group of people upset that Oscars fail to reflect the landscape of filmmaking as far as diversity is concerned. Contrary to what Twitter statistics may tell you, women and people of color ARE making films. They are making great films. Check out critics’ end-of-the-year lists and see how much more interesting they are than anything the Academy has to offer. I mean, just look at the Best Director nominees.

5. Todd Phillips, Joker

I am sorry but this is a joke of a nomination. There is nothing about Joker that suggests to me someone with a true artistic vision was behind it. Well, the one thing people seem to admire unanimously is Joaquin Phoenix’s performance – something Phillips admits he did not even really direct.

4. Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

I enjoyed Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood when I saw it in the summer but even then I couldn’t help but notice some truly odd filmmaking choices were made. There are so many things here that could have been done better or just cut completely. 

3. Sam Mendes, 1917

1917 is a good film. It is a competently made film. Hell, I would say it is impressive at times. But it is, after all, an exercise in style, in an execution of a gimmick more than anything. I can appreciate what Mendes did but I won’t applaud it too loudly.

2. Martin Scorsese, The Irishman

Scorsese made a film that only he could have made, that much is for sure. The Irishman is undeniably his. And everything that happens in it and especially the performances are conducted by an expert, by someone who definitely had a vision and knew how to execute it. And that is more than can be said for most of the nominations this year.

1. Bong Joon-ho, Parasite

For every Academy voter the choice for Best Director would be obvious. Parasite is the best film of the bunch and Bong Joon-ho created something exceptional. He created an amazing world, so similar to our own but still fascinating somehow, he created fleshed-out, complex characters and he knew exactly how to work with his actors to bring them to life. He introduced wonderful symbolism. He might be the greatest filmmaker of the year.

We continue our journey to the Oscars with more technical awards. I feel like the sound nominations are always kind of disrespected and honestly, misunderstood. I mean, I feel like every year we have another conversation about what exactly is the difference between sound mixing and sound editing, and then we nod our heads hearing an explanation we still may not fully understand. I know I am trying my best to be educated but I am by no means an expert. What does not help is that the nominees tend to be films that are getting tons of nominations in other categories as well (this year, with one notable example I am particularly happy about) so it feels as if no one gave them that much thought to begin with. After that optimistic intro, let us rank the nominees.

Best Sound Editing

5. Joker, Alan Robert Murray

4. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Wylie Stateman

3. Ford v Ferrari, Donald Sylvester

2. 1917, Oliver Tarney & Rachael Tate

1. Star Wars: the Rise of Skywalker, Matthew Wood & David Acord

Best Sound Mixing

5. Joker, Tom Ozanich, Tod A. Maitland & Dean A. Zupancic

4. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Mark Ulano, Christian P. Minkler & Michael Minkler

3. Ford v Ferrari, Paul Massey, Steven Morrow & David Giammarco

2. 1917, Mark Taylor & Stuart Wilson

1. Ad Astra, Gary Rydstrom, Mark Ulano & Tom Johnson

Ad Astra is a gorgeous and sad film showcases Brad Pitt’s best performance in years (ever?). It is a shame it did not get more recognition. Maybe at least the sounds of space and desperation could get what they deserve.

I need to speed things up with those Oscar posts because February 9th is approaching rapidly. Today I bring you a very quick list of my preferences in three categories that are all about the look of the film. Sadly, it becomes clear that in all the Best Picture-adjacent categories I simply do not care about the nominees that much. I do not feel particularly strongly about anything here.

Best Cinematography

5. Joker, Lawrence Sher

4. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Robert Richardson

3. 1917, Roger Deakins

2. The Irishman, Rodrigo Prieto

1. The Lighthouse, Jarin Blaschke

This is the film I truly want to win because the look of The Lighthouse is absolutely extraordinary. It should have been nominated for so much more.

Best Visual Effects

5. The Lion King, Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones & Elliot Newman

I know the technology is impressive but it ended up being really spooky when the animals looked like actual lions but were made to say Disney jokes.

4. The Irishman, Pablo Helman, Leandro Estebecorena, Nelson Sepulveda & Stephane Grabli

The de-aging technology was much better than I expected but there were still some weird moments when you could tell: „that’s an old man”.

3. Avengers: Endgame, Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Matt Aitken & Dan Sudick

2. 1917, Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler & Dominic Tuohy

1. Star Wars: the Rise of Skywalker, Roger Guyett, Neal Scanlan, Patrick Tubach & Dominic Tuohy

Well, at least it looked cool.

Best Production Design

5. 1917, Lee Sandales & Dennis Gassner

4. Jojo Rabbit, Nora Sopková & Ra Vincent

3. The Irishman, Regina Graves & Bob Shaw

2. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Nancy Haigh & Barbara Ling

1. Parasite, Woo-Woo Cho & Ha-jun Lee

And now we are entering a territory in which the nominations are completely baffling to me. Three of those films absolutely do not deserve to be even considered for awards (period) of technical nature. Alas, it is what it is.

5. Jojo Rabbit, Tom Eagles

This film was a disappointment in every way for me. I know some people did enjoy it but even they have to realize how badly the entire thing was put together.

4. Ford v Ferrari, Michael McCusker & Andrew Buckland

The most boring, safe, and unoriginal film of this year’s Oscars. I have actually heard a lot of praise for the editing in Ford v Ferrari but I think a truly good editor would cut at least an hour from the runtime of the film.

3. Joker, Jeff Groth

I cannot believe I am putting Joker so high on a ranking but this category frustrates me greatly. I guess the editing in Joker is bearable, if only in comparison to all of the truly awful stuff going on.

2. Parasite, Jinmo Yang

Parasite is a near masterpiece and editing is absolutely masterful as well. I am putting it as number two on the list but I would be absolutely ecstatic if Jinmo Yang won.

1. The Irishman, Thelma Schoonmaker

But I have to give it to the absolute legend Thelma Schoonmaker. Making a film that is three and a half hours long not only watchable but enjoyable is a true art and she is a genius. There are moments in the film that will stay with me forever. Thank you Movie God for Thelma.

I enjoyed all of the nominated features in one way ot another. And that is great! So far the „lesser” (in the view of the public) categories have the best films to offer.

5. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

The only reason How to Train Your Dragon is lowest on the list is because it is the third installment in the series and I do not think it particularly stands out. Still, it is an enjoyable story with some stunning visuals.

4. Missing Link

Missing Link looks wonderful and promises a lot of humour and fun from the very beginning. Sadly, it loses its spark somewhere at halfway point and becomes a bit dull.

3. Toy Story 4

It seems a bit unfair, perhaps, that I put How to Train Your Dragon so low and justified it with it being another entry in the series and now put Toy Story FOUR third. But it did completely charm me. It is funny and fun and it features a new character that is possibly the best representative of the millennial generation in cinema.

2. Klaus

I absolutely loved Klaus, much more than I anticipated. It is beautifully animated, it is warm. I only watched it a few days ago and all I could think about was how much I can’t want to watch it next Christmas. Is Netflix going to save animation?

1. J’ai perdu mon corps

Animations for adults are less likely to win Oscars which is a shame because I Lost My Body is the most interesting nominee this year. It is as bizarre as it is touching. It somehow makes you feel for a severed hand. It is somehow about something incredibly specific and unbelievably universal. A very good film.

If nothing else, this year gave us a good batch of nominations in the live action shorts category. Just a side-note, I could swap the placements 2-4 in whichever order because they are equally good. 

5. The Neighbors’ Window

A couple in NYC is settled in their routine of being together for a long time and having kids. What unexpectedly brings excitement into their life is the view into their neighbors across the street’s apartment. They see them having sex one day and become obsessed. This is a story of a relationship getting stale, about aging, but also about not appreciating what you have (a „grass is always greener” thing). The film is not bad but not too exciting either and I’m not sure how I feel abut the ending.

4. Une soeur

This short is a real thriller and it reminded me of my favorite live action short from a few years back, DeKalb Elementary. In Une soeur a dispatcher receives a bizarre phone call that turns out to be a from a woman being driven in a car by an abusive partner doing what she can not to let him know that is trying to get help. It is a short that keeps you on the edge, well-acted and perfectly paced.

3. Nefta Football Club

Two brothers find a literal drug mule and steal the drugs. Both brothers are still little kids but the older one is already pretty streetwise so he has plans as to what to do. Let’s just say, they do not exactly work out… The film has cool music, great child actor, and despite being about children living in poverty and stealing drugs, it’s kind of funny.

2. Saria

A true story of an incredibly tragic occurrence in Guatemala. I am not sure if I should write what it is – it happened in real life but also is the finale of the film. The film takes place in an institution for orphans and follows two sisters. Their life in this place is hard and all the kids are subjects to abuse from the guards and other employees. The children try to rebel. It is a tragic tale told with tenderness and respect. An important, very well-made film.

1. Brotherhood

My pick for best live action short is the one with the most beautiful cinematography, as well as an interesting, tragic, and sad premise. The oldest brother comes back to his family after… being with the Islamic State. He brings along his new wife, who is only fourteen years old and pregnant. The father has a really hard time with this entire situation, the mother is trying her best to accept what has happened, the brothers are just happy the oldest is back. The setting is gorgeous and the film truly makes you think about uncomfortable things. This would be my pick for the award.

I think acting categories brought the most disappointments as far as Oscar nominations go this year. The Best Supporting Actor might actually be the least problematic (I’m not sure if there were any glaring snubs here) but, let’s be honest, it’s not exactly exciting. Still, here is my ranking.

5. Anthony Hopkins, The Two Popes

I am mostly unimpressed by The Two Popes, I think maybe a harsher look at the Catholic Church would be more appropriate in 2019. Anthony Hopkins is fine but does not exactly showcase anything you could not get from any other role of his. You know he’s fine even without watching the film and watching it does not bring much more.

4. Brad Pitt, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

Brad Pitt is most likely going to win this award and I am okay with that. In „Hollywood” he’s charismatic, he’s fun, he’s handsome… The only reason he is so low on this list is because I am biased towards one of my favourite films of the year…

3. Joe Pesci, The Irishman

…The Irishman. And let it be known that the person I would most like to see with an award for the film is Robert De Niro. Alas, we know this I not going to happen. Still, both Pesci and Pacino are in their element here. For all three of those man The Irishman feels like a culmination of their career (I am not saying the END of their career). They all seem like living, breathing gangsters and are a perfect representation for what all three – and Scorsese – gave to cinema throughout the decades.

2. Al Pacino, The Irishman

See above. (BTW, am I the only person putting Pacino ABOVE Pesci?)

1. Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

A surprising choice, I think. Honestly? I am surprised myself. Here’s the thing: I do not know much about Mr. Rogers. As a European, I did not grow up with his show. I did grow up with Tom Hanks, though. Maybe he is my Mr. Rogers? Hanks brings a wonderful, gentle performance full of tenderness. The film did not necessarily work for me but his role touched my heart. And in a year that mostly felt cynical and sad, I appreciated that immensely. 

Today, I am continuing my Oscars series and ranking the nominated animated short films. As always, these are the short films easiest to view online. I feel like it would be a good idea for ALL the short film producers to consider making them more easily available since the pre-Oscars time might be the time people are most interested in short films. Oh well.

5. Sister

I feel like all of the short films this year are quite good and I could probably swap Sister with number 4 or 3 easily. But something had to be last. This is a story of a brother-sister relationship – with a twist! The twist is really what it is all about so I will not say much more.

4. Mémorable  

Once again the animated short film creators tackle the subject of aging. Mémorable is a touching portrayal of an older man with some interesting technique choices.

3. Dcera

I could just repeat what I just said about Mémorable, just change the title and „aging” to „parent-child relationship”. A beautiful and sad little film.

2. Hair Love

Hair Love made me roll my eyes at first, because OF COURSE it was necessary to show the father as the one who has no idea how to take care of his daughter’s hair, but it won me over fairly quickly. A true tearjerker and so, so sweet.

1. Kitbull

Look. I am not happy about putting a Pixar film at the top of the list either. Especially since I already gave the top spot to Disney in the Original Song category. But Kitbull made me genuinely weep and as someone who lives with both a cat and a dog, I was truly impressed by the attention to detail in animating the animals (especially since they are not exactly drawn realistically). I could choose an independent artistic achievement here but it would not be genuine since Kitbull is the one I liked most.