Best Picture: “Nomadland” of 2020

NOMADLAND

Rating: 8/10

Best Picture: 2020 Nominations in Review

What a strange turn of events. (Thanks, Corona.) This year I was actually able to watch all the nominees in a span of a week. Once the titles were announced, I made it my mission to watch all the films on their respective streaming services, and, if I couldn’t do that, I rented them. In two cases, I went to the movie theater to view them. So, here’s my worst-to-best ranking of this year’s nominations:

8. Mank

This film was black-and-white, which wouldn’t be a problem normally, but it was almost like someone decided to nominate this film because it’d make the viewer feel like they’re part of the boys’ club of classic film viewing. It almost seemed to say, “Hey, voters, we know that you like to watch old films and probably know a lot about Hollywood, so this one’s for you. Wink.” You may be aware that I’ve viewed every Best Picture winner since the very beginning, so you might think I’d enjoy that. But honestly, it made me want to throw up. The script was so full of itself. And quite frankly it was a boring film. If it wins, I’m flipping a table.

7. Nomadland

While artistically beautiful, the story left a stagnant after-taste upon my emotional tastebuds. Great, we got to see the wonders of this life through the eyes of a modern day American gypsy. And we got to see how vast and wonderful the opportunities can be in this country. But the sad truth, in juxtaposition, is that this country is ruthless, and anyone can be thrust to the bottom of the totem pole at any moment; life moves forward. But then why should I be forced to feel that emptiness while looking at something so gorgeous. The acting was pure. The story was important to tell. But there is something missing, something I can’t quite touch. It just doesn’t scream winner to me.

6. Promising Young Woman

When I watched this film, I was impressed by the colors, by the lighting, by the sets, and, most importantly, by how everything worked seamlessly together in this cookie-cutter, gingerbread-house universe. The actress (a powerfully gorgeous person) brought a raw edginess in contrast to the vibrancy, as well. This film had mystery, curiosity, and a strong, current message to tell. The cast was gorgeous, and the script was cheeky. I don’t know of any other film out of the nominations that truly represents our culture – here and now. However, while technologically relevant and challenging, the topic is still a tough one to swallow. Even today. And that is the only reason I can’t see this film winning.

5. Sound of Metal

This movie was everything you could want in a redemption lesson. I was mostly impressed by the sound-mixing. (Of course, the first word in the title is “Sound,” so why shouldn’t I be impressed by that element alone?) The story was close to my heart, following an artist and his addiction… The raw acting did so much justice to this story. I felt so many different emotions – joy, fear, confusion, terror. In fact, the coupling of the lead actor’s sincerity and the genius sound editing alone should be the reason this film wins, but about eighty percent of the way into the film, it became, as I said earlier, a lesson. Be careful what you wish for (or something like that). Despite the representation of deaf individuals and the power of overcoming addictions, the aforementioned cliché is why I don’t believe this film will win.

4. The Father

When I walked into the theater to watch this film, I didn’t know what to expect, but my standards were already set pretty high since this was the last one I viewed that week. I saw an old man walking down his hallway. I believed the first scene, and then BAM. I had to reorient my understanding of what was happening. I gripped my boyfriend’s thigh so many times throughout this movie. Thematically it was a mind-masher. I didn’t know if up was up or if down was down. The acting was powerful; the script was more powerful. The costumes, characters, and minute set details overwhelmed me to a psychologically dangerous degree, and, despite myself, I loved the distress in my heart because, along the way, the audience must begin to realize, “Oh, this is what it’s like to have dementia!” But that new and fresh lingering distraction is exactly why this film may fail to win. Once you see the point of the film, you don’t see the film.

3. Judas and The Black Messiah

Point blank: I cried. Point blank: I was immediately invested. Point blank: I was uncomfortable. Wow, the acting. By the end of the movie, I was the only white person left in the theater. This film was heart wrenching. I had to ask myself several times: was I viewing last summer’s call-to-action in racial inequity? This artistic medley left much to digest, and, honestly, that made it an immediate and impactful classic. But the heaviness itself may be the very reason people will continue time and time again to turn back to this film – despite its likelihood not to win. (And I type this with sorrow, knowing its power to open people’s eyes to the realities still prevalent in our nation.)

2. The Trial of the Chicago Seven

Like my number three, I had to ask myself while viewing, “Am I watching last year’s protests?” Unlike my number three, this script was fully loaded with twists, turns, innuendos, winks, nudges, and hopefulness. While both these films seem to rest in the same time period, this lighter look at the events of the time created a more relatable introspection on the corrupt nature of our justice system. But quite frankly, it made me want to watch it again immediately – not because I needed to digest and review but simply because I felt I could watch it again without finding it boring or laborious. The scene cuts were quick and witty enough to keep the action rolling forward without overwhelming me. The ensemble cast brought this script together, knit quite tightly. But I shrug. This isn’t a winner, per se.

1. Minari

I didn’t expect to like this film as much as I did. Asian Americans? In the eighties? Oh, great, the parents fight? Suddenly my heart was reaching out toward this family. As every scene passed, I became more like a member of the family. I wanted to go to work with Dad. I wanted to be home with Mom. I wanted to go on adventures with the little brother, and I needed him to be okay. I wanted the sister to make friends. I wanted the grandma to feel loved. I wanted everyone to come together and to love. I wanted to learn the lessons that each one of them could teach me. The realistic events were just right, like Goldilocks finding the right story to share. Heavy, heavy applause to the writers for making the symbolism of minari both subtle and powerful. Needless to say, this one just feels like a winner.

Best Picture: Ranked Best to Worst

BEST PICTURE

(to worst)

1. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

2. PARASITE

3. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

4. THE ARTIST

5. THE LAST EMPEROR

6. GONE WITH THE WIND

7. MY FAIR LADY

8. THE GREAT ZIEGFELD

9. CHICAGO

10. ROCKY

11. OPPENHEIMER

12. THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING

13. FORREST GUMP

14. IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT

15. MIDNIGHT COWBOY

16. THE SHAPE OF WATER

17. THE KING’S SPEECH

18. SCHINDLER’S LIST

19. ANNIE HALL

20. THE GODFATHER

21. BRAVEHEART

22. GANDHI

23. ARGO

24. 12 YEARS A SLAVE

25. AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

26. THE SOUND OF MUSIC

27. BEN-HUR

28. GRAND HOTEL

29. UNFORGIVEN

30. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT

31. GREEN BOOK

32. MILLION DOLLAR BABY

33. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

34. CIMARRON

35. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY

36. GOING MY WAY

37. MOONLIGHT

38. SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE

39. CODA

40. A BEAUTIFUL MIND

41. AMADEUS

42. RAIN MAN

43. AMERICAN BEAUTY

44. CRASH

45. REBECCA

46. GIGI

47. DRIVING MISS DAISY

48. NOMADLAND

49. THE GODFATHER PART II

50. ON THE WATERFRONT

51. THE LOST WEEKEND

52. MARTY

53. YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU

54. THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH

55. PLATOON

56. BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)

57. WEST SIDE STORY

58. TITANIC

59. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

60. SPOTLIGHT

61. GLADIATOR

62. TERMS OF ENDEARMENT

63. CASABLANCA

64. THE APARTMENT

65. PATTON

66. WINGS

67. HAMLET

68. ALL ABOUT EVE

69. KRAMER VS. KRAMER

70. THE HURT LOCKER

71. THE DEER HUNTER

72. TOM JONES

73. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES

74. GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT

75. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST

76. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

77. ALL THE KING’S MEN

78. DANCES WITH WOLVES

79. ORDINARY PEOPLE

80. MRS. MINIVER

81. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY

82. OLIVER!

83. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

84. THE STING

85. HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY

86. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI

87. THE ENGLISH PATIENT

88. THE LIFE OF EMILE ZOLA

89. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA

90. THE DEPARTED

91. CHARIOTS OF FIRE

92. THE FRENCH CONNECTION

93. THE BROADWAY MELODY

94. A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

95. CAVALCADE

96. OUT OF AFRICA