American Sniper – Seth Rogan was right when he compared this to a propaganda film. It is highly manipulative and emphasises a pro-war stance throughout despite touching on PTSD. It’s main problem was that it offered so little that was new to the game. An inferior Hurt Locker doesn’t a great picture make. There are glaring issues with the film in addition to its representation like the reduction of the moral politics of war, the ridiculous characterisation of all or Iraq’s evil through one sniper, a forgotten villain who motivated the first two acts, the sidelining of secondary characters, and the really problematic ending which made me look for my vomit bag. Lastly, if this is biopic, then the Chris Ryan that boldly claims he shot 266 enemies in Iraq is not the protagonist of this film.
Predictions: Best Sound Editing
Birdman – This is cinematic originality and creativity at it’s finest. While Boyhood plays around with form, Birdman challenges so many assumptions about film. The daring one-take approach adds such superb kinetic energy adding to the vibrancy of the locations and intensity of the remarkable performances. The ambitiousness of the film extends to a challenging the audience with a certain sense of ambiguity in the narrative. But, the difference here, is while ambiguity often leads to frustration or a uneasy relationship between audience and filmmakers which requires some careful navigation, Birdman is so full of fun this simply doesn’t matter. It’s a super experience. It’s uniqueness might limit its appeal for Academy voters, but it’s clearly a masterpiece for the ages.
Predictions: Best Cinematography, Best Director
Boyhood – Upon my first viewing I wasn’t’ taken entirely by Boyhood. I went in aware of its 100 score on Metacritic, and came away wondering why – but only for a short time. It was in reflecting that I came to the conclusion that 100 was absolutely deserved. This is perhaps because the film is such a challenge to our expectations of narrative that this – for me – can detract from the immediacy of the experience, but becomes so rewarding as the subtlety is revealed. Aligning film form with time is just remarkable. I’m in awe of the incredible way this was pulled off. Like a mainstream extreme version of 52 Tuesdays, the realism created by the production approach is a marvel to behold. The film is like a time capsule – utterly unforgettable and such an important event for 2014.
Predictions: Best Picture, Patricia Arquette Best Supporting Actress; Best Editing
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Absolutely stoked that this film has managed to retain it’s buzz throughout the year. While I probably still hail Moonrise Kingdom as the Wes Anderson masterpiece, The Grand Budapest Hotel is still an exceptional film and deserves the accolades it is getting. The masterful Anderson style has become so distinctive and celebrated. With Moonrise Kingdom we were given a masterpiece that perhaps the Academy voters weren’t quite ready for, but Grand Budapest Hotel is in the same league and has more buzz – perhaps the Academy is finally ready to embrace Anderson. It won’t pick up the big awards, but it is such a worthy contender.
Predictions: Best Original Screenplay; Best Production Design; Best Costume Design; Best Make-Up and Hair Styling
The Imitation Game – I have already spoken at length about the problems I had with this film, largely with its gay representation and general dumbing down of the story to package it as a feel-good. That being said, it is a extremely well-packaged feel-good. It does what it does in a very thorough way and is extremely well made in terms of its audience pleasingness. I’m reluctantly coming around to admitting it is likely to pick up Best Adapted Screenplay.
Predictions: Best Adapted Screenplay
Selma – in 2014, Ellen DeGenres cracked the gag: “There are two outcomes to tonight’s Oscars, ‘12 Years a Slave‘ wins best picture or the Academy is racist”. In this instance, the Academy turned out to be not rascist, but for the masterpiece that is Selma the evidence points the other way. The lack of diversity in the nominations is a travesty, made all the more difficult to understand by the quality of Selma. Ava DuVernay has created an incredibly powerful film, that – unlike The Theory of Everything – does rise above the limitations of the biopic genre. The story is so focused and powerful, capturing an important moment in the civil rights movement. The story is appropriately intimate, but with enough scope to locate it powerfully in history. Stunning film.
Predictions: Best Song
The Theory of Everything – Adding yet another biopic to the mix (come on Hollywood, originality please), but this one hits only mediocre heights. I found it problematic in the sense that once again, the device of chronicling someone’s life presents narrative issues that can’t be easily solved. It is frustrating to see once again a film fall into the retelling mode where it doesn’t seem to have any tricks up its sleeve. The formal style of this film was boring to say the least, despite having endless visual possibilities to capitalize on. What elevates it to Academy Award season is the performances. Redmayne has been better in the past, but his incredible imitation is a marvel; it is the subtle moments within the character’s impersonation that deserve the attention. Felicity Jones too is magnificent is a much more understated way.
Predictions: Eddie Redmayne Best Actor; Best Score
Whiplash – The most incredibly raw and powerful experience of the best picture line-up. It is the performances that truly elevate this film, making it so engaging and delivering one hell of a symbol crash. With one of the most exceptional performance centred third acts I can remember, it’s a finale that does a lot to erase memory of some of the early bung notes. The film is at it’s best when it is defying cliches and examining the two central characters. For example, the worst scene in the film is the lawyer discussion which seems like it was extracted straight out of an inferior film, whereas the three-way drum off is an incredible experience challenging the audience to reconsider everything we’ve assumed about the dream of musical stardom.
Predictions: J K Simmons, Best Supporting Actor; Best Sound Mixing
Other Predictions: Best Actress: Juilanne Moore, Still Alice; Best Animated Film: How to Train Your Dragon 2; Best Documentary: Citizenfour; Best Foreign Film: Ida; Best Visual Effects; Interstellar.
Chicargill's Media Musings 