Quick takes on 2016 Best Picture nominees

Sunny Pawar in Lion

Here are my impressions of the movies I have seen on the Best Picture list, plus Snowden which should have been included but wasn't (too political, I guess) and a huge thumbs up to Hell or High Water  
(already reviewed). 

La La Land - is for la la brain dead. After the first scene on the highway, it descends and never recovers.  A chick flick.  If you like dancing and singing, this one's for you but it doesn't have much meat.  No to Best Picture. (Attention: Carla:  Rafi will not like.)

Manchester by the Sea - yes, as depressing as rumored. A good story but if there's a movie with a more unpredictable, worse ending, I can't recall what it is other than, maybe, Ole Yeller.

Skip Manchester if you are experiencing an emotional upset, are downfallen, sick, sad, disturbed about the presidency, Ziki, alt-right, global warming or romantic ventures, need a pedicure, money, drugs, or can't find the remote. No to Best Picture (Carla:  I'm not sure how Rafi will like Manchester.  Better to stay at home.)

Lion - great all the way around.  Will win Best Picture unless (likely) overtaken by Fences (the trailer looks so mundane) or Hidden Figures, two movies of color and Figures about women, both very much in vogue today.  Neither movie have I seen but that's not stopping me to predict Hidden Figures (women and black women) will win.  

The prime weakness in Lion (they all have weaknesses) was the rush to finish the search.  More time should have been devoted to the hunt for his homeland rather than the buildup.  You'll understand if you see it.  

Nicole Kidman in Lion is good, but not good enough to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress, let alone  win. (Carla: Lion is a yes for Rafi.)

The Salesman - nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.  Dull.  One of those you keep hoping will take off, but it never leaves the runway. Acting, commendable, but nothing to write Aunt Frances  about. This is a "psychological thriller"?  Maybe to friends of the producer, to Iranians, or the critics (they are so predictable) but not to those of us accustomed to "psychological thrillers." (Carla:  No)

And that's all she wrote!

Sincerely,
patricialesli@gmail.com

Oscars for Redford's 'All is Lost'

The hair dryer got tossed, but who needs one anyway when Mother Nature is standing by to help take care of business? Robert Redford in All is Lost

Yes, I know it's not his movie, but it's his movie. 

 

Moviegoers, there are no doubts.

Here are my predictions for nominations:

1. Best Picture (may win)

2. Best Director, J.C. Chandor

3. Best Actor, Robert Redford (may win)

4. Best Sound (a crew of 25)

5. Best Visual Effects (a crew of ?  I can't count that high)

Redford's surely got the lungs, don't he?

The script is so short, even I might have been able to learn it.

Ladies and gentlemen, this ain't no chick flick.  This is a man cave movie (thanks, Paula and Garry), but one the chicks will like, too, as long as they can live without romance, sex, clothes, and human relationships.  Who needs 'em?

Oh, and if you are prone to sea or car sickness and have a weak stomach, better stay at home.  At least, the language is fairly clean except for one loud, almost obscured, expletive. 

Anyway, my pal, Eric, said his father set out to sail the eastern coast a few years ago, but abandoned the trip after two days because of loneliness.  See this and you'll understand why.  Yeeks and sea geeks!

I kept wondering where the sharks were.  Come on, sharks, let's get this over with...fully expecting the huge open mouth and the teeth from that monster to engulf the boat which those of you old enough to remember the famous scene in Jaws cannot ever forget. 

How about that halo of fire?  Come to me, Jesus.  I need you now.

And who schooled the fish?  Have you ever seen such ballets underwater?  Amazing synchronicity.

I kind of lurched along, holding my breath from one scene to the next, amazed at all the star's seagoing knowledge, and pleading with him to please take the life jacket hanging on the side of the sailboat.

Which way is up?

That the sea prisoner had so many dry changes of clothes gave one pause.  And how do you keep all those maps dry and what was the name of that instrument?  Not to get technical or anything.  (Sextant.  The only proximity to sex you'll get in this movie, with the possible exception of women who daydream.)

Please, who came up with the awful title?  Who would want to see or know more about All is Lost?  Does it not presage doom and abandon hope for all who enter here?  (Well, I went, didn't I?)

 

Instead, how about The Old Man and the Sea? (Sorry, Robert, but statistically speaking, you are "old" (77) even if physically and mentally, you are not.  Sure it was Hemingway's title, but that was about a fish.  This is about man's battle with the elements, the sea, Mother Nature, yourself. You can't copyright titles anyway.)

The star is weather-beaten and rough and tumbly.  Still, he is Robert Redford and that macho macho man the women just adore.  And we've never been bothered as much by age like men are bothered by age when it comes to attractive partners.  We'd go see him in just about anything.

 

And he's got a full head of hair which doesn't stick to his head as much as you'd think after all those days at sea, and his body looks all right, supplying a surprising storehouse of energy to combat the elements and keep the boat in line, if for a while.

Hang on and get ready for a rocky ride.  Life jackets, advised.  But save the popcorn for later, unless you want to choke.

patricialesli@gmail.com

Oscar flicks for free at National Archives

Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, 2012, The Invisible War

The public is invited to attend screenings of Academy Award nominees in four categories for free at National Archives beginning Wednesday.

The categories are documentary feature, documentary short subject, live action short film, and animated short film.

Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and saving seats is prohibited.  Reservations are not taken.  You must be present to receive a ticket which will be distributed an hour before show times at the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue.  Doors open a half hour before start time. Alert:  Not every film is rated "G," and the schedule may change.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in partnership with the Charles Guggenheim Center for the Documentary Film and the Foundation for the National Archives have made the showings possible.

National Archives is located on Constitution Avenue between Seventh and Ninth Streets, N.W.  For more information, call 202-357-5000.  The closest Metro station is Archives-Navy Memorial.

 

David France and Howard Gertler, 2012, How to Survive a Plague

Documentary Feature Nominees

Wednesday, February 20, at 7 p.m.
Searching for Sugar Man
Malik Bendjelloul and Simon Chinn
(85 minutes)

Thursday, February 21, at 7 p.m.
The Gatekeepers
Dror Moreh, Philippa Kowarsky, and Estelle Fialon
(97 minutes)

Friday, February 22, at 7 p.m.
How to Survive a Plague
David France and Howard Gertler
(110 minutes)

Saturday, February 23, at 7 p.m.
The Invisible War
Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering
(97 minutes)

Sunday, February 24, at 4 p.m.
5 Broken Cameras
Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi
(90 minutes)


Live Action Short Film Nominees

Saturday, February 23, at noon
Asad
Bryan Buckley and Mino Jarjoura
(17 minutes)

Buzkashi Boys
Sam French and Ariel Nasr
(30 minutes)

Curfew
Shawn Christensen
(20 minutes)

Death of a Shadow (Dood van een Schaduw)
Tom Van Avermaet and Ellen De Waele
(20 minutes)

Henry
Yan England
(21 minutes)

Total Running time: 108 minutes.

Animated Short Film Nominees

Saturday, February 23, at 3:30 p.m. & 5 p.m.
Adam and Dog
Minkyu Lee
(16 minutes)

Fresh Guacamole
PES
(2 minutes)

Head over Heels
Timothy Reckart and Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly
(10 minutes)

Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare"
David Silverman
(5 minutes)

*Please note: Although submitted and nominated in 3-D; due to technical limitations we will present Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare" in 2-D.

Paperman
John Kahrs
(7 minutes)

Total Running Time: 40 minutes.

Documentary Short Subject Nominees

Sunday, February 24, at 11 a.m.
Inocente
Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine
(40 minutes)

Kings Point
Sari Gilman and Jedd Wider
(31 minutes)

Mondays at Racine
Cynthia Wade and Robin Honan
(39 minutes)

Open Heart
Kief Davidson and Cori Shepherd Stern
(39 minutes)

Redemption
Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill
(35 minutes)

Total Running Time: 184 minutes

TCM Sale Section, up to 40% off!

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