Well, the list of Oscar nominations has been released, and
now the Oscar buzz really begins. As usual, I was happy and disappointed by the
choices. Happy that so many good films are being recognized. Disappointed that
such a good one as Lee Daniels’ The Butler didn’t make the cut for “Best
Picture,” or that the Saudi Arabian Wadjda and British-South African Mandela:
Long Walk to Freedom were not honored. I suspect that we still are living
in a time when the inclusion of a “black” film is a token gesture, so that
there is room for just one such film on the list.
The Academy’s list differs greatly from my Top Ten List for
Visual Parables because their criteria are centered more on aesthetics and box
office success than spiritual or moral content. To see the list and also reviews of the various films available on visualparables.org click onto the title.
Best Picture
It
is good that so many films are again included, though I wish that there were
the full possible contingent of 10 so as to include either the Coen Brothers’
wonderful Inside Llewyn Davis or Lee Daniels’ The Butler. Despite
the quality of such films as American Hustle and The Wolf of Wall
Street, I don’t think either is equal to the two omitted films.
American Hustle
David O. Russell’s “based on a true story” film features
some wonderful performances, but the subject of the rise and fall of scam
artists isn’t nearly as important as that of several of the other films on the
list.
Captain Phillips
This is a good parable of courage and resourcefulness, with
another fine performance by Tom Hanks. Another plus factor is the all too brief
depiction of the plight of the Somali peasants who are forced by world economic
circumstances beyond their control (or understanding) to choose between starving
or stealing. I find it remarkable that the Academy members seem to understand
this by nominating the nonprofessional Barkhad Abdi for a “Best Supporting
Actor” award for his excellent performance as the pirate leader.
Dallas Buyers Club
It is no surprise that Matthew McConaughey was nominated as
“Best Actor” in this character transformation film. We move from intense
disapproval of his philandering, gay bashing, and drug ingesting early in the
film to a grudging admiration for the way he emerges from total self-absorption
to championing the underdog gay community later on. That the film is based on a
“true story” makes it even moe compelling.
Gravity
Technically perhaps the most complicated of the films, and
aesthetically perhaps the most beautiful, this tale of pluck and survival
certainly deserves to be on the list, even though I did not include it on
Visual Parables Top Ten list. Beyond the mere technical aspect is Sandra
Bullock’s great performance as the heroine for whom our daughters can look up
to.
Her
Spike Jonze’s truly great film
cautionary film about our relationship to our digital devices and r
relationship to each other bumped the wonderful Wadjda from the Top Ten
list for Presbyterian News Service because of its late arrival in the Cincinnati
area. The last shot of the two friends sitting together on the roof of their
apartment building is the perfect ending, designed to make us think about how
we are involved with social media and friends and neighbors.
Nebraska
This reversal of the Prodigal Son
parable confirms that Alexander
Payne is one of the best directors in Hollywood. Seldom has unconditional love
been presented as effectively as in what the son does for his father through
the course of their trip from Montana to Nebraska and back.
Philomena
Both a social problem film (the mistreatment of out of
wedlock mothers by the Irish Catholic Church) and a personal memoir, this is a
moving story of a woman of faith so strong that she can forgive the nuns who
sorely abused her 50 years earlier.
The Wolf of Wall Street
I think this “true story” is way too over the top to be on
this list, as entertaining as it is. It is the name of its director Martin
Scorsese and the performances of Leonardo De Caprio and Jonah Hill that swayed
the Academy voters to nominate the film.
12 Years a Slave
This is my favorite candidate both because of the light it
sheds on our dark past and the skill of
director Steve McQueen and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s truly magnificent
performance as the runaway who moves from total despair to acceptance to hope.
I believe that it would be good for the country if this film were so honored,
hopefully convincing more people to go and see it. Already the possibility of
it being nominated has moved the studio to re-release it. I hope those who have
seen the film will talk it up, maybe organizing a discussion group to explore
the film’s relevance for today.
Best Actor
I
am torn between three of the excellent nominees.
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Very good as a guy who scams the gullible, yet who still has
a touch of decency so that he tries to protect a good-hearted politician who
unwisely attempts to use underhanded means to achieve public good.
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
This may be the last chance that this fine second tier actor
for this award, so I would be happy if it he is chosen, even though my favorite
is the star of 12 Years a Slave.
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
One of our finest actors, but I think this should not be his
year in a film that is not as important as some others.
Matthew McConaughy, Dallas Buyers Club
He is deserving of the title because of the incredible
preparation involving weight loss, as well as his on-screen performance. He
convincingly moves us from repulsion to acceptance.
Chiwetel Ojiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Both because of the importance of the film and because of
his on-screen performance, I hope he wins. When I watched that scene at the
slave cemetery wherein we see his face change from despair to hope as his
friends sang “Roll, Jordan Roll,” I felt that he had at least a nomination
clenched, if not the award itself.
Best Actress
Amy Adams, American Hustle
A wonderful performance, but…
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
It is good to see Woody Allen back
in great form, as well as Ms. Blanchett’s fine performance as a woman who is
her own worst enemy.
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
A very good performance to place along the one in Blindside.
Judi Dench, Philomena
My favorite to win because of the
importance of the film’s theme of discovery and forgiveness, as well as her
delightful performance.
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County
Still another great performance by this phenomenal actress,
I would not be too disappointed if she noses out Ms. Dench. What a portrait of
a woman so shaped by her own sad childhood that she is making everyone else as
miserable as herself!
This probably enough for now, though I do want to add that I
have seen but one of the foreign films nominated--part of the penalty for
living in “fly over country” is that we often are weeks or months late in
seeing films available much earlier on the West and East coasts. Still, because
of the great way that the themes of unjust persecution and reconciliation are
tied in with the celebration of the Nativity, I am rooting for The Hunt.
Other nominations worth thinking about, but not now:
Best Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Best supporting actress
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska
Best director
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
David O. Russell, American Hustle
Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street
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