I really need a distraction. Maybe it’s time to talk about the Oscars. I haven’t seen many of the nominated films. I need to get started.
Any surprises? Anyone snubbed? Any predictions?
I am really disappointed that Joel Egerton wasn’t nominated for Loving. I thought that his performance was remarkable, playing a type of man we don’t see much on screen.
Here’s a link to the nominees for easy reference: http://oscar.go.com/nominees
I still need to see a lot of the movies. Many didn’t make it in my less than urban area or they swung through quickly so I am hoping to see them as they come through due to nominations.
I thought last year was a strong year. Do folks feel the movies are as strong as last year?
I’ve seen Manchester by the Sea which I loved. Casey Affleck should win for that.
I’ve seen Captain Fantastic which is out on DVD/streaming. Great movie. Love Viggo but not a performance/role in the same caliber as Affleck’s.
I’ve seen Arrival and thought it okay. Not worthy of Best Picture. I’ve seen Hell or High Water. Liked it but not as much as Manchester by the Sea.
I’ve got some viewing to do. 
I find it irritating that 9 movies are nominated for best picture. Obviously a Hollywood tactic to get people out to see those movies. I don’t get to the movies much, but I always use to try to see the 5 nominees. I don’t bother any more.
Loved the SNL skit about the guy who didn’t enjoy La La Land.
There is a grand piano in the atrium of my daughter’s school and one of her friends sits and plays songs from La La Land and sings with her boyfriend. It is just too cute for words. I really did like the film a lot and it’s a great distraction if anyone wants 2 hours away from politics or outrage.
I wasn’t expecting to like Hidden Figures as much as I did. I thought it would be one of those films that was important to see but might provoke righteous indignation and I’m running on empty in that department. But it was really well done, entertaining, funny. Loved!
I haven’t seen the others but I do plan to get to a few of them, particularly Moonlight. Manchester by the Sea just seems like such a sad sack slog–is it not, @doschicos ? Maybe I’ll see it.
That was my thought, too, when I saw the list, @STEM2017. Why so many Best Pic nominees? I think your theory is spot on.
@petramc I’ll have to go watch that skit. Haven’t seen it yet. See, I have little interest in seeing La La Land absent the fact it won so many Golden Globes and has been nominated for so many Oscars that I feel I need to. Maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised (or disappointed after all the hype 
). I LOVED Manchester by the Sea but 1) I live in New England and could relate to much of the setting, characters, language, etc. 2) I really don’t mind sad movies if they are well done and make me think and aren’t the type that try to toy with emotions in some pat, manipulative way. Manchester by the Sea was sad but it had witty dialogue in many spots, original writing, and top notch acting across the board. It made me laugh many times and made me cry. To me, that’s a sign of a good movie. I don’t always need to leave the theater feeling happy as long as I leave feeling something. I think Manchester was very layered and I found myself thinking about it for awhile after I saw it. It’s a movie that sticks with you in the way a great book does.
Of course the point of the Oscars is to get people to see movies, and has been since their inception.
The first year the awards were given (1927-8), there were 3 Best Picture nominees. From 1928-1931, there were 5 nominees for Best Picture each year. From 1932-1943, the number of nominated films ranged from 8 to 12. From 1944-2008, the nominees were limited to 5. Since 2009, the number of nominated films has ranged from 8 to 10.
I’d like to see more nominees in all the categories.
Here’s the SNL skit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abn6cPxrc5w
“Not everything has to be plot!”
I guess I need to go see it more now to relate. 
Lazy voters gave Meryl another nomination.
Boo.
Natalie Portman, Cookie are 2 that should have gotten a nom.
“Lazy voters gave Meryl another nomination.
Boo.”
Maybe because she’s a GREAT actress? Have you seen the movie she’s been nominated for and have an actual opinion on her acting in that particular film or are you trying to make a politically tinged comment in a thread about movies? Just don’t.
Moving on…
Saw the movie… just liked the other actors’ work better.
Her political stance didn’t factor in my comment.
I really, really hope Barry Jenkins wins for Best Director for Moonlight. If forced to put money down, I’d say La La Land will win instead.
I thought 20th Century Women was released in 2016 and would be eligible. If so, I’m surprised Annette Bening isn’t up for Best Actress.
^^ Annette Benning is being listed by many (including the NYT) as a being a major “snub.”
Thank you. I was doubting the release date because she was not listed. Then, I’m in agreement re: a major snub.
@doschicos
agree with you 110% about Manchester by the Sea. The writing and acting were superb. Felt very real. Glad that the kid got an acting nomination as well.
Re: Meryl Streep - thought she was great in Florence Foster Jenkins and very deserving of a nomination. Could have turned campy with another actress, but she pulled it off. I actually liked that movie more than some of the others that were nominated for best picture.
Wish Viola and Michelle could tie and both win best supporting actress. Both were phenomenal and both deserve to win.
Even though i thought Manchester by the Sea was a downer, the acting was superb. Also glad the kid got a nod.
I’ve already posted about how much I liked La La Land, but I had really low expectations. Ryan Gosling is my age-inappropriate crush. I love him so much that, like George Clooney, I try not to see things in which I think he’ll only be mediocre. He didn’t disappoint in La La Land. It was surprisingly delightful to me.
Natalie Portman did get nominated. Amy Adams didn’t.
I’m sure Manchester is wonderful, but the last thing I want to do now is see a depressing movie. Reality is depressing enough.
I hope Hollywood doesn’t go all narcissistic and anoint La La Land the winner. Moonlight and Hidden Figures were better. I’m rooting for Hidden Figures for best picture and Barry Jenkins for director.
Last year the Oscars came under intense criticism for #OscarsSoWhite. By expanding the number of best picture nominations, they were able to make sure Hidden Figures, Moonlight and Fences were nominated.
My daughter and I loved La La Land. She is playing jazz piano in college and couldn’t believe how good the pianist was in the movie. She thought there was no way Ryan Gosling could have done his own playing, so we googled it as soon as we left the theater. He did! Her reaction was so funny - “That’s not fair!’” followed by an expletive, which hardly ever comes out of my D’s mouth, at least in front of me. I told her it made sense - a lot of actors were musicians or singers, too. 
Liked La la land but didn’t love it. Really didn’t like Arrival - never understood the hype. Found it silly but I’m obviously in the minority on that one. Loved Fences and want to see the others.
I haven’t seen Arrival, Hell or High Water or Lion.
So far, my top three contenders are La La Land, Manchester by the Sea, and Moonlight. My #4 would be Fences.
MBTS, Moonlight and Fences are especially gritty. Hidden Figures is happy and gratifying, though not (for me) especially nuanced. Hacksaw Ridge is a different kind of heroic military movie. La La Land is a fun, funny love story whose ending I didn’t particularly like, but whose overall entertainment value was tops on my list.
Best? Hmmm… depends on my mood. If I am in a happy musical or romantic mood, it’s La La Land all day; if reflective/nostalgic/somber, probably MBTS. I can’t remember feeling more sorry for a lead character than I felt for the leads in MBTS and Moonlight – just, dude! How do you keep going?!