Anticipating the Academy Awards
It happens to me every year. No matter how much I try and organize, I’m woefully unprepared to enjoy the awards ceremony portion of the Oscars. I want to celebrate the Academy Awards, but I find myself zoning out through most of the broadcast.
I’m not a fashion person, per se, but I do love seeing what everyone is wearing to the star-studded event. I don’t however love it enough to stretch my four hour night into a six hour night by watching the red carpet pre-shows. I prefer to see the fabulous gowns or dapper tuxedos the way the movie star intended — sitting in an uncomfortable chair all night long. If that dress can withstand the test of time, it’s worthy of an induction into some Hall of Fame on the E! Network.
The same problem remains year after year. I rarely watch the movies nominated. Traditionally, there have been two or three that I have at least seen, but this year, I didn’t catch any of the nine films nominated for Best Picture.
Not one.
Would you like to read another staggering fact? Of the eight major categories, showcasing eighteen different movies, I’ve seen three of them.
I, Tonya (Margot Robbie nominated for Best Actress and Allison Janney nominated for Best Supporting Actress)
The Big Sick (Best Original Screenplay)
Molly’s Game (Best Adapted Screenplay)
Here’s a list of what I did not see:
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri
Dunkirk
Get Out
Call Me By Your Name
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
The Post
Darkest Hour
Roman J. Israel, Esq.
Mudbound
Logan
The Florida Project
All the Money in the World
The Disaster Artist
I had every intention of seeing Lady Bird, but I never got around to it. I was told The Shape of Water is like a live, reverse version of The Little Mermaid or Splash which sounds like it would be right up in my wheelhouse. Sadly, it didn’t interest me. Dunkirk felt sad. The Post came and left without me realizing it. Get Out was an unexpected nomination, but the fact that I thought it debuted last year was enough to having me scouring for it online. And the rest were completely off my radar.
The insecure part of my personality feels a bit like a loser for not being high-brow enough to invest in movies that may be a little bit more cerebral than what I’m mentally prepared for as I sit down in a darkened theater for a few hours. I want to be that person who delights in watching all the Best Picture nominations. I would like to be one whose input is valued because I’ve taken the time to contemplate and scrutinize the film’s direction, cinematography, and artistic ambition.
I’m just not that person. This year, I’ve decided to be okay with that fact and embrace the true movie-goer version of myself.
I am the one whose input is valued because I’ve taken the time to contemplate and scrutinize the film’s entertainment value, various levels of romance, musical or dance numbers, and a solid count of attractive people.
In the spirit of award season bliss, I have complied a list of recommendations that make sense in my brain, based on the qualifications above. I’d love for you to weigh in on the official unofficial Academy Award nominations according to Lincee Ray.
BEST PICTURE (Click to watch trailer)
Beauty and the Beast
Wonder Woman
Spider-Man Homecoming
Home Again
Thor:Ragnarok
The Greatest Showman
Molly’s Game
BEST ACTRESS
Gal Gadot — Wonder Woman
Daisy Ridley — Star Wars: Last Jedi
Reese Witherspoon — Home Again
Jessica Chastain — Molly’s Game
Margot Robbie — I, Tonya
BEST ACTOR
Charlie Hunnam — King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Ansel Elgort — Baby Driver
Tom Holland — Spider-Man Homecoming
Chris Hemsworth — Thor: Ragnarok
Chris Pratt — Guardians of the Galaxy 2
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Keala Settle — The Greatest Showman
Zendaya — The Greatest Showman
Coco’s Mamá — Coco
Tessa Thompson — Thor: Ragnarok
Anna Kendrick — Pitch Perfect 3
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Baby Groot — Guardians of the Galaxy 2
Chris Pine — Wonder Woman
The entire male cast — Home Again
Jacob Batalon — Spider-Man Homecoming
BB-8 — Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Interested in reading my reviews for some of these movies? Check them out below!
You’re not missing much. I’ve seen 4 of the best pic noms. And they were all underwhelming. I have more to say about them, but I’ll leave it at that.
If it makes you feel any better, I haven’t seen a single one of the 18 movies listed. I saw one movie in theaters in 2017, and that’s about average for me. A couple of things always stand in my way: 1. Movies are way too expensive for my taste. $12 for a matinee movie makes me wanna croak (yes, I’m cheap). 2. I don’t want to put that stuff in my brain. Whether it’s a boatload of profanity, sex, or violence, I just don’t want it. I know some people will say it doesn’t bother them to watch things that they would never partake in in real life, but I’m sensitive to profanity, and I don’t want it in my mind. That’s why I pretty much only see movies that started as books so that I know what the content is. I just don’t fit into the “cool” mold for these kinds of movies. 🙂
I LOVE the idea of creating a personal Oscar list! I’ve seen almost all of the nominated movies. I, Tonya and Molly’s Game were in my top 5 of this season. You’re not missing anything with Shape of Water – way overrated.
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