Monday, March 13, 2023

Oscars Wrap Up 2023

Another year, another Oscars! I thoroughly enjoyed the show and I thought Jimmy Kimmel was a fantastic host.  I hope he is back next year.  Some general observations:

More of the speeches were about something inspiring rather than lists of thank you's. I cried over and over again! So many beautiful thoughts about believing in your dreams, about storytelling, and even about animation as true cinema.

I renew my objection to the In Memoriam segment (known to my family as the Necrology Report) and the Director moving the camera around so much so that we can't see the name and picture of the person on the screen. I get it, nobody wants viewers to check out and get bored, but that's going to happen no matter what the camera shot looks like, and surely there is a way to produce movement without making it harder to see what's on the screen. Have we considered putting the screens on a rotating display, and the movement of the display could supplant the moving of the camera so much?

Finally, I'd like to renew my advice to the nominees, especially those with multiple people accepting the awards. Write something down. Practice and time it. There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing someone approach the microphone only to be played off the stage. There are 5 nominees on the whole earth and you know you're one of them, and everybody's mom wants to be thanked. There's nothing worse than the microphone hog taking up 94% of the time and then another person losing their (perhaps) only chance to accept the award publicly. While I'm on a rant, there was one team who appointed a spokesperson, and that person thanked everyone's children and mothers and dogs on the whole team by name.  That's how you do it.

Best Picture
Everything Everywhere All at Once
I was thrilled to see this film win, and though the Daniels didn't seem to be prepared for more than one speech, I just loved seeing Harrison Ford and Ke Huy Quan hug.  

Director
"The Daniels" - Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once
I loved that they took every opportunity to talk about something lofty, and to thank their teachers!

Actress
Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once
It's a historic win with Yeoh being the first Asian woman to win this award. Her speech was magnificent and she is definitely not past her prime!

Actor
Brendan Fraser, The Whale
Ok for the record, I'm utterly thrilled but I was a little bit worried about him last night! He seemed like he was about to hyperventilate. I know there are a lot of big feelings about this film, but there is no denying that Fraser gave a gut wrenching and beautiful performance.

Supporting Actress
SHUT UP! she says as her name is announced, and I'm pretty sure we all just won that Oscar.  Isn't it nice how many long time actors with their first nominations have also won the big award.  Go Jamie Lee.  You've never seen anyone so happy for others, as happy as she was for herself.

Supporting Actor
Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once
This guy has been on incredible run, and to win this award with Harrison Ford and Stephen Spielberg right there in the audience, I mean hello tears-fest 2023. I hope his phone is ringing with numerous projects and that this wasn't just a one-off. Is there anyone who seems to appreciate his career more? (and for an extra plug, listen to his interview on WTF, Marc Maron's podcast.)

Adapted Screenplay
Women Talking
Sarah Polley's got jokes! Yes, I was thrilled to see the words "Women" and "Talking" so close to each other, and this film was one of my favorites of the year. She owned that room and I can't wait to see more more more from Polley.

Original Screenplay
Everything Everywhere All at Once
It's not often that the Best Picture winner will win this category, but the exception proves the rule. This was a wild, wacky ride and I loved every minute of it.

Cinematography
All Quiet on the Western Front
I don't have much to say except that I appreciated how the film makers have acknowledged the key role that Cinematography played in their success.

Costume Design
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 
It's rare that a sequel will win the same award twice, but you can't argue with Ruth Carter and her spectacular costumes that somehow outdid the first film. (I still think that teddy bear shirt in Everything Everywhere needs its own award.) Those costumes were transcendent in so many ways.  Thrilled for Ruth Carter and her double win.

Film Editing
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Funnily enough, when I was counting my list, I had forgotten that I chose correctly and so I have updated my tally to 19/23. Not too shabby! This movie owes everything to the technical categories, as much as the performances and the writing. There's a scene which quick cuts through a bunch of multiverses that is unforgettable (and uncountable... I was trying to see how many multiverses were presented in the film, and I gave up the ghost after that scene.)

Makeup and Hairstyling
The Whale
I didn't realize how incredible the production of that makeup was, over and above the fat suit.  I still think that Elvis should have taken this one.

Production Design
All Quiet on the Western Front
I'm still in shock that Everything Everywhere wasn't nominated in this category and I think several people started getting nervous when All Quiet took this category.  Would All Quiet be the Parasite of 2023 and sneak into Best Picture? Nope.

Original Score
All Quiet on the Western Front
I would still like to have seen Banshees take this category, but those strong, low banging notes make this anti war film anything but quiet.

Original Song
Naatu Naatu, RRR
You know it baby! If you haven't see the film, see it. If you refuse to see the film, at least watch the YouTube clip of the scene in the film.  They couldn't nearly reproduce how thrilling it was on that stage and the song is a banger. BUT, I have to talk about Lady Gaga's performance of Hold my Hand. The woman arrived in a ball gown and gorgeous makeup, and removed all of that and gave the performance of a lifetime.

Sound
Top Gun Maverick
War films, sci fi films, and musicals always do well in this category, and I guess you could call Maverick war film adjacent.  Close your eyes and listen to those fighter jets flying and you'll know why this is the winner.

Visual Effects
Avatar: The Way of Water
James Cameron productions continue to dominate. This is a guy who has invented so much tech for the movies, he's even discovered new species living in the ocean during deep dives. He is the reigning king of all that is visual effects.

Animated Feature
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Ok, I've done all my complaining about Pinocchio and I'll just say nice things about del Toro's advocacy on behalf of animation. But still, MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON should have won.

Documentary
Navalny
Folks, this is about the fight for democracy. Could we try to keep ours, at least? Seeing Julia Navalny there and speaking on behalf of her husband, well, let's just hope this keeps Alexei alive, even if he is never getting out of jail.

International Film
All Quiet on the Western Front
This year's crops of International films were excellent (though EO was especially difficult to watch), and with 9 noms, there's no way this wasn't going to win.

Animated Short
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse
This was their first film! Whaaaaaat?

Live Action Short
An Irish Goodbye
You gotta love the live action category. They so often go with the funny and heartwarming over the more serious, and I'm here for it (as the kids say).

Documentary Short
The Elephant Whisperers
I really hope you take the time to watch this film which I believe is streaming on Netflix. I love elephants and this one got me. What a sweet one.

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Who Should Win? Who Will Win?

 


I will warn you, while some categories seems to be shoo-ins, there's no chance I'll predict as well as I did last year (21 out 23!) but I'll do my best for you.  

Best Picture
Should Win: Everything Everywhere All at Once (because She Said isn't even nominated)
Will Win: Everything Everywhere All at Once
There isn't a single expert in the crowd who is predicting another film.  It has pretty much swept awards season all over the place, its leads are winning the vast majority of the awards, and so are the directors.

Director
Should Win: Literally anybody but Stephen Spielberg (nice movie, nothing new)
Will Win: "The Daniels" - Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Everything Everywhere All at Once
The film was brilliant and quirky and different than anything you've seen before. And the group of artisans they put together to make this film shows the leadership that directing is really about... making the right choices.

Actress
Should Win: Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Will Win: Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once
It's a two woman race here with Cate Blanchett for Tar. Here are my two reasons for picking Yeoh. First, she won the SAG award, and the SAG/Oscars crossover is 75% for 3 out of 4 acting categories. While Yeoh and Blanchett have been trading wins through awards season, Tar features a lesbian sexual predator which aging voters may not care for (they failed to nominate a film about a sexual predator in Hollywood) and Yeoh authentically plays about 17 jillion characters in that film.

Actor
Should Win: Brendan Fraser, The Whale
Will Win: My heart says Brendan Fraser, my mind says Austin Butler, Elvis
Let's unpack this two-man really three-man race, if you add in a possible Colin Farrell. Fraser won the SAG award, which means he is really in it. Butler and Farrell are in films that are up for Best Picture, and the winner of the acting awards often go to them. Make no mistake, the experts do not agree and are about evenly split between Butler and Fraser.  In the category of "who you know," Fraser has been in the industry for 32 years and that gives a person a lot of time to build relationships with fellow voters. Hollywood loves a come back story. I'm going to pick Fraser and cross my fingers!

Supporting Actress
Should Win: Angela Bassett, Wakanda Forever
Will Win: Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once
This is a three woman race again, with Kerry Condon. Jamie Lee Curtis won the SAG award and has been in the industry for over 40 years with no other nominations and wins. She is the daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, which means she has relationships with EVERYBODY in the voting bloc. I think this award will be as much of a lifetime achievement award as a competitive one.

Supporting Actor
Should Win: Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once (with a slight edge over Brendan Gleeson, Banshees of Inishirin)
Will Win: Ke Huy Quan, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Quan has won just about every single award on the path to the Oscars. This is the ONLY no brainer in the bunch. Go Data Go!

Adapted Screenplay
Should Win: Women Talking
Will Win: Women Talking
I refer to the screenplay awards as the consolation prize. "We know you really should win Best Picture, but you're not going to so have this." While there are a handful of critics picking All Quiet on the Western Front, the smart money is going to Women Talking (which is now streaming and I'm going to watch it again.)

Original Screenplay
Should Win: Banshees of Inishirin
Will Win: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Remember a moment ago I referred to the screenplay awards as the consolation prize? That has one exception and that is if the predicted Best Pic winner is so off the wall and original that you can't deny it.  Still a handful of experts are calling it for Banshees.  And, the most original of the pack is Triangle of Sadness.  Yikes! I don't even know what I think for this category... I'd love to see Banshees get it as the consolation prize.

Cinematography
Should Win: All Quiet on the Western Front
Will Win: All Quiet on the Western Front
War movies do well in this category. One note, Elvis won the ACS award, but All Quiet wasn't even nominated. All Quiet has 9 Oscar Noms and I think it is a fan favorite among Academy voters.

Costume Design
Should Win: Wakanda Forever for gorgeous, Everything Everywhere All at Once for the shirt made out of teddy bears and other wacky costumes
Will Win: Elvis appears to be the front runner
When I saw EEAAO I immediately called the Costume nomination for the creativity and incredible designs! I really really really want it to win. But this is one of those times when historical accuracy seems to be inching out what I consider to be the most original costumes since Priscilla Queen of the Desert (which did win, actually).

Film Editing
Should Win: Top Gun Maverick
Will Win: Everything Everywhere All at Once
EEAAO has the momentum, but seriously folks, the quick cuts in Maverick were just incredible. Action and sci fi films do well in this category, but I'm predicting a near sweep for EEAAO, inching Maverick out just one tiny bit.  I'll be happy to see either win.

Makeup and Hairstyling
Should Win: Elvis
Will Win: Elvis
The Whale has some buzz, but honestly, I still think Austin Butler looks like Elvis now with his regular face and that is just the lingering effect of the makeup and hairstyling that allowed Butler to age, to look like early and late career Elvis. Frankly, though I thought Butler did a great job in an okay movie, one of the reasons we are all so impressed by his performance has to be credited to the makeup and hairstyling.

Production Design
Should Win: Babylon (but also not nominated Everything Everywhere All at Once)
Will Win: Babylon
There are those who are also touting Elvis, but frankly, you can't see the opening party scene in Babylon and think that anything else is going to win.

Original Score
Should Win: The Banshees of Inishirin
Will Win: All Quiet on the Western Front
This is a hard one to predict and Babylon has some heat in this category. My rule of thumb is, Best Picture nominees do better in the "below the line" categories. As it happens, John Williams is nominated for his 53rd time for The Fabelmans and people love him, but he hasn't won 53 times so I think it will ultimately go to All Quiet.

Original Song
Should Win: Naatu Naatu, RRR
Will Win: Naatu Naatu, RRR
If you haven't seen this film, see it. If you haven't heard the song, go on YouTube right now and watch it. While my heart wants Diane Warren to finally win a competitive Oscar (for Tell it Like a Woman), that song just doesn't compare at all to this one.

Sound:
Should Win: Top Gun Maverick
Will Win: Top Gun Maverick
This should be Top Gun's single win at the Oscars this year. War films, sci fi films, and musicals always do well in this category, and I guess you could call Maverick war film adjacent.  Still, close your eyes and listen to those fighter jets flying and you'll know why this is the presumptive winner.

Visual Effects
Should Win: Avatar: The Way of Water
Will Win: Avatar: The Way of Water
Can we agree that anytime James Cameron is nominated in this category, he is just going to win? Way of Water was a beautiful film, and the effects are so good that you forget that they are effects!

Animated Feature
Should Win: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (my favorite film of 2022)
Will Win: And I say this HOLDING MY NOSE, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
And may I just say, if this film wins, can we all agree that no more Pinocchio films are necessary ever again? Let's call this the Pinocchio-est Pinocchio that ever Pinocchioed and move on. Blech.

Documentary
Should Win: Navalny (close second with A House Made of Splinters)
Will Win: Navalny
There's a single scene in this documentary that clinched the Oscar (if you haven't seen it, see it and you'll know which one I mean... Alexei is on the phone) but this one man's heroic stand again corruption and tyranny earns this film the gold statue.

International Film
Should Win: Argentina, 1985
Will Win: All Quiet on the Western Front
It's nominated for 9 Oscars, it's going to handily take this category. But please see Argentina, 1985. Actually, please see all of these wonderful films (except EO, unless you can take watching animal abuse).

Animated Short
Should Win: My Year of Dicks, seriously
Will Win: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse
The experts all agree on the The Boy et al, but I thought that My Year of Dicks was hilariously funny and had amazing animation. What a great short film (which is now streaming!) This category tends to go "heartwarming" and this is for sure the most heartwarming of a so so crop of films.

Live Action Short
Should Win: An Irish Goodbye
Will Win: An Irish Goodbye
This is an especially hard one to pick and I really loved this year's batch of Live Action shorts. In the past, Live Action has chosen the funny and charming films over the more serious ones. An Irish Goodbye was really the best of the lot.  Many people think the star power that Alfonso Cuaron brings to Le Pupille puts it at the top. There is also The Red Suitcase that has an incredible story of a girl fighting not to be a child bride. But I'm going with my heart on this one - An Irish Goodbye meets the funny and heartwarming requirements for this category, and I'm sticking with my heart.

Documentary Short
Should Win: Stranger at the Gate
Will Win: Stranger at the Gate
The experts are pretty split on this one, with The Elephant Whisperers close behind Stranger at the Gate. I think Hollywood types will have loved watching a MAGA Islamophobe almost-domestic terrorist have a change of heart because of how the local Islamic community welcomed him, and ultimately led to him converting to Islam. It's a political choice. It's changing your heart with personal experience IF you are open to what your eyes are showing you. That's a pretty strong message and one terrific short.

Ok, there you go! This is a hard year of close calls and I would love nothing more than for you to win your Oscar pool. Just let me know if you do!








Saturday, March 11, 2023

The Batman - 3 nominations

 


Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling
Michael Fontaine 
Naomi Donne 
Michael Marino 
Best Sound
Stuart Wilson 
Will Files 
Douglas Murray 
Andy Nelson 
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Dan Lemmon 
Russell Earl 
Anders Langlands 
Dominic Tuohy 

The Riddler is murdering Gotham's high profile politicians and leaving notes behind for Batman, the masked superhero providing vigilante justice in Gotham City. He discovers that the Riddler is leaving a trail of clues behind, including a thumb drive showing the now dead Mayor with a woman from the Penguin's club, so they go there to ask questions.  This is where Batman meets Catwoman, who is the roommate of the woman whose image is shown on the drive. The Riddler then kidnaps the District Attorney and delivers him with a bomb strapped to his neck, and the Riddler threatening to detonate the bomb if he won't answer three riddles, including the name of a police informant. More very complicated hi-jinx ensue and Batman discovers that this villain's personal history can be traced back to the orphanage that his own parents funded, and the Riddler holds a deep grudge against the Wayne family that is driving some of his terrible behavior. Ultimately, Batman discovers that Riddler has a plan to destroy the seawall protecting the city, and while he is unable to prevent that tragedy, he finally overpowers the Riddler and saves the city. Catwoman takes off deeming the city unworthy of saving, and Batman stays to help with the recovery efforts and restore a sense of hope to the denizens.

And truly, that is just some of the story... I've left out so many details which only shows how complicated this story was.  While I loved the movie and I thought Robert Pattinson might be the quintessential Batman (after Michael Keaton, of course), it's not one that you can watch while playing games on your phone.  While The Batman is not going to take home any awards tomorrow night, it's still a fantastic popcorn movie that is worth your while.

And that takes us to our very last Oscars review of 2023.  Tomorrow, I'll post my picks for who should win and who I predict will win.  Thank you for going on this journey with me, it's my favorite time of year!



Friday, March 10, 2023

Live Action Shorts - All nominees

 


An Irish Goodbye
Tom Berkeley 
Ross White 

A sweet and lovely film in which a brother comes home to help bury his mother.  His brother lives on the farm where they grew up, but can't live on his own because of his developmental disability. Ultimately, they agree that if the brothers can complete their mother's bucket list, then the brother who needs more care will agree to go to a care home. And the list is incredible! Finally the list brings the men together in the loveliest of ways, and this one is my pick to win.


Ivalu's has gone missing and her younger sister is determined to find her. The sister follows a black crow around her village with a secret suspicion that the crow is Ivalu. We learn slowly that Ivalu is being attacked by her own father, and that her disappearance is more of an escape.


It's war time and this is a school for young girls in Italy. They are rebellious and wild, and the nuns aren't having it. When a wealthy woman brings a magnificent cake to the kids so that they will pray for her family, the nuns try to wrestle it from the girls' hands... except one little girl who wants a slice of cake! It was a cute little one and is favored to win due to Alfonso Cuaron's involvement, but this one was nothing so special that it should.


Ebba is waiting at the tram station in freezing cold weather.  When the tram finally arrives, the driver insists that it is time for his break and that the tram will leave in 30 minutes, though he will not allow her to come inside. She notices that the tram's doors are not locked and she climbs aboard. She can't resist! She tries the tram's levers and buttons and before she knows it, she's driving the tram. When she arrives at the next stop, she doesn't totally know what to do, so she stops and allows passengers to board. When some of those passengers begin to harass a young trans teenager, she steps in and rescues them (apologies, the film didn't make clear the teenager's pronouns, so I am using the generic "them.") and together they leave the tram. Which leaves the attackers to drive the tram and to be at the helm when... the police arrive. Great, funny, adorable ending.


Best Live Action Short Film
Cyrus Neshvad 

Oy, a tough one. A young teenager from Iran has been sent to Luxembourg to become the child bride of an older man. She does everything in her power to delay her departure from the airport, and when there is nothing left for her to do, she uses what little money she has to purchase a bus ticket. Her betrothed is furious and her father keeps trying to get her on the phone. Through a little bit of smarts and a little bit of courage, she finds a way to escape her fate.
























Thursday, March 9, 2023

Tell It Like a Woman/RRR - 1 song nomination each

 


Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
Diane Warren 
For song "Applause"

Tell it Like a Woman is an anthology film which features 7 stories by 7 women featuring 7 women protagonists facing a challenge. The vignettes come in different languages, some with well known stars like Eva Longoria, and some with actors new to at least me.  There's the woman whose sister has died and she is now charged with caring for her Italian niece, there's the Japanese single mother who is too busy to braid her daughter's hair, there is the Indian high powered executive who looks for a life with some fun; some heart warming some heart breaking. I loved the film and I loved the song. (and I don't generally like anthologies!)

It's important to note that this is Diane Warren's 14th competitive Oscars nomination with no wins, and though her streak as a bridesmaid but not the bride will most certainly continue this year, there is no doubt that Warren's talent as a song writer is nearly unparalleled.  I'm rooting for her to win someday soon, even if she goes home empty handed once again.



Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
M.M. Keeravani 
Chandrabose 
For song "Naatu Naatu"

RRR is the greatest action movie of all time. (Fight me.) A young girl from a remote village is taken from her family by the evil British occupiers and unleashes one of the most deadly men who is determined to steal her back and take her home to her mother. Meanwhile, an Indian member of the British police force (and the other of the most deadly men) is charged with finding the villager and keeping him from taking his revenge. The police officer poses as a young revolutionary in order to sniff out this man coming for his family member, and has a most unexpected back story. In an ironic twist, the two unite to rescue a child and become instant best friends. There are two scenes in this film that are unforgettable (the police officer against a crowd of thousands, and a scene with animals jumping out of cages but in a unique way), and the song is the highest energy dance scene you've ever scene. I mean it, you have to see this movie - it's worth every minute of the 3 hours you'll spend and perhaps you'll become an evangelist for it, like me.  I had seen this film prior to it being nominated, which is the only reason it didn't win my Hidden Gem award.  Even thinking about it now, I'm utterly enthralled.  It's one you do not want to miss... even if you hate action movies.








Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Navalny - 1 nomination

 


Isn't amazing that Vladimir Putin always wins elections to the tune of 99% of the voters? One might assume that he never has any opposition nor anyone else even running for office.  Enter Alexei Navalny. This is a guy who cares about Russia and seeks the overturn of Putin's corrupt government. In 2020 while traveling, he was hospitalized in Germany for poisoning by a nerve agent. While the Russian government did everything they could to prevent Alexei's wife from seeing him, and waiting until the poison had cleared his system to even allow for testing, his wife brought the attention of the world to this abhorrent situation. Once the poisoning was confirmed, a team of journalists went to work to confirm that Putin was the one who ordered it and that Russian scientists were involved.  In one of the greatest scenes in movie history, a scientist is caught on tape confessing to the crime (and never heard from again...) and even the team can't believe it. The thing that is so compelling about this story is how Navalny never gives up. Even when he knows for sure that his personal freedoms are threatened, he returns to Russia again and again. He fully expects to be assassinated, and his message to Russians continues to be that old Edmund Burke line, "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing."  He, and his family who are along for the ride, are truly modern day heroes. What an incredible film.



Monday, March 6, 2023

A House Made of Splinters - 1 nomination



Children in Eastern Ukraine are living along the 20 mile line where there is not yet fighting with Russia, and the war hasn't officially begun.  They live in a group home while their parents, mostly raging alcoholics, are working with the courts to determine if the children will be returned to their homes, or moved to a foster home or orphanage.  It appears that most of these kids don't have parents who ever show up even to visit.  The social workers and teachers at the home are amazing, they provide so much love and care, but each child has only 9 months to live at this home at which point they will leave for a different destination. We follow a number of children and their stories, most heartbreaking among them is a child whose two younger siblings are also in the home and at maybe 11 years old, he must take care of them both.  The prospect of separating the three kids is devastating. 

One of the most difficult parts of this film is that these children are seemingly caught in a terrible cycle in which they live without caring parents (or without parents who have the capacity to show their care), then they themselves vow to be better parents or to not have children at all, they themselves become alcoholics, they have kids, and their kids end up in this same group home. And, to finally finish off your tender heart, just as the film is ending, the war is beginning in earnest and all of these children must be evacuated, but as the movie notes, there is no safe place anywhere in Ukraine to take them.

For the first time ever, I'll note how truly perfect the name of this film is. It would be nice to be lulled into the belief that these kids are finally, for the first time, in a stable and joyful home where adults take care of them. But no, this home - this seemingly better home - is one that is made of splinters.  These children don't die and there are no stab wounds.  There are just 1000 tiny cuts, each one damages their souls, if not their skins.



Sunday, March 5, 2023

Fire of Love - 1 nomination

 


Best Documentary Feature
Sara Dosa
Shane Boris
Ina Fichman

Katia and Maurice Krafft have one hot marriage! The only husband and wife volcanologists in the business, they spend their lives researching and chasing volcano eruptions, and hopefully this helps them identify warning signs and the things that devastate communities who live nearby.  There's a lot to learn in this film about volcanos, including the fact that there are two types - the red version that has very slow moving lava and can be approached by humans; the other a more grey type that is much more deadly because it moves fast and unpredictably. Katia and Maurice have been everywhere and their adventures are not only fascinating, they produce the most exquisite footage of volcanos that we get to see in the movie - Maurice took years of footage, and most of the film that humans have of volcanos was taken by him at some time.  He was the "official photographer and videographer" of the volcanic world. Watching the film, you almost relax watching these researchers go so close to the raging lava, but ultimately and tragically, the pair is killed doing what they love at the Mount Unzen eruption.




Saturday, March 4, 2023

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed - 1 nomination

 



Nan Goldin is a famous photographer with an incredible life story. She's a true Bohemian who has done all the drugs, had all the sex, and had all the fabulous gay best friends anyone could want. She's had every experience in the book, and her biopic is outrageous enough without the addition of her courageous activism. That is, without the true story of the film, there's more than enough for a compelling and outrageous life. But Nan Goldin is not one to rest on her fame and her fortune - having been addicted to Oxycontin herself, she takes up the crusade to hold the Sackler family accountable, and to get others to do so, as well. In particular, she has targeted the prestigious art museums that have received money from the Sacklers, and campaigns ruthlessly with die-ins to remind these high profile places that their donor walls are drenched with the blood of those who died because of the lies Purdue Pharma told about their product not being addictive. Nan and her crew formed P.A.I.N. (Prescription Addiction Intervention Now), and they continue to crusade in favor of holding the family responsible, raising awareness, and especially supporting those who are suffering from this terrible addiction. Nan takes serious personal risk by going up against the art museums which display her pieces, but this woman is not deterred by anything. What an incredible film.