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Abstract

and hysterical comment on how royally fucked up our society is right now. A third of the country will loathe it, which totally tracks. Lingering Questions: Why hasn’t Meryl played Donald on SNL? What do we do to avoid our own comet?<figure id="5329"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*hErN14cp4knakjSAkNwA8Q.jpeg"><figcaption>PC: Netflix</figcaption></figure>DRIVE MY CAR ☆☆☆☆☆ Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi Quickie: Sure it’s brilliant, but every executive I’ve ever met wants a 105-page script and I’m supposed to give up three hours? Not racist, annoyed. Lingering Questions: Nope.<figure id="0ae4"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*PEz3ceQ4suQZYLMvu7iRWg.png"><figcaption>Photo source: Cannes Film Festival</figcaption></figure>DUNE ★★★☆☆ Directed by Denis Villeneuve Quickie: As gorgeous as Timothée, but if you didn’t read the books it’s a dense PowerPoint about a desert in an interstellar future. Fans will love. Lingering Questions: So many.<figure id="db76"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*s49SNhDiSCOK2JdBX5Y-TA.jpeg"><figcaption>PC: Warner Brothers</figcaption></figure>KING RICHARD ★★★★☆ Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green Quickie: Venus and Serena’s dad teaches us all about goals, humility, grace, family, and rising above. And we’re here for it. Oscar belongs to Aunjanue Ellis. Lingering Questions: Was there no more tension between Venus and Serena their whole lives and career?<figure id="51d7"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*ki1aJSRkA49g0sYPIjAsgw.png"><figcaption>PC: Warner Brothers</figcaption></figure>LICORICE PIZZA ★★★☆☆ Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson Quickie: Reminded me of Forrest’s blind love of Jenny as Gary romps through well known memes of 1970s Hollywood. Nostalgic love story with bizarre racist bits. Lingering Questions: Racism aside, what exactly is funny — or

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supposed to be funny — about mocking an accent? Are child actors really that confident?<figure id="d07a"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*lI4TEItkqibklQZlepDJCA.png"><figcaption>PC: MGM</figcaption></figure>NIGHTMARE ALLEY ★★★★☆ Directed by Guillermo del Toro Quickie: Stunning 1940s remake as a circus man hits big-top and rock-bottom, warning us all to use our people powers wisely. Better than expected. Lingering Questions: Is Stan supposed to be evil enough to have killed Pete? How in the world did circuses get away with a geek act like that? I mean, I get it, but wow.<figure id="d6ca"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*qubfIJNEuWktHL8MYPbaJg.jpeg"><figcaption>PC: Searchlight Pictures</figcaption></figure>THE POWER OF THE DOG ★★☆☆☆ Directed by Jane Campion Quickie: Slow and boring “Western” is two hours of waiting for a brilliant British actor to master his accent, as femininity gets revenge on its bullies. Lingering Questions: So I’m supposed to believe — and somehow care about — Benedict Cumberbatch as an American cowboy in, um…New Zealand, who went to Yale but gets duped by bad cow hide? Why do we get so smitten with movies about closeted cowboys? Why did they cast Cumberbatch exactly?<figure id="e9ea"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*M9rFB_w5K1XRSFJ31obMFQ.png"><figcaption>PC: Netflix</figcaption></figure>WEST SIDE STORY ★★★☆☆ Directed by Steven Spielberg Quickie: Beautiful and captivating remake of the NYC street-gang musical, the star of which is the camera, costumes, and dancing. The American story never changes. Lingering Questions: Why can’t even Hollywood’s best-known director find White ballet dancers who might be believable as street thugs?<figure id="d577"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*yFJrUE_K_K62I6bc5tyZlQ.png"><figcaption>PC: 20th Century Studios</figcaption></figure></article></body>

Best Picture Noms — 25-Word Reviews and Lingering Questions

Sunday is the Oscars, and despite the controversy about not televising some very major craft awards, I am excited to watch — if for no other reason than it has been a long and depressing winter in New York and in the world. Here are some quickie reviews, from the gut. Agree, disagree. It’s art.

In alpha order… (Some spoilers. Look out.)

Download your printable Oscars ballot here from ABC

BELFAST ★★★★★ Directed by Kenneth Branagh Quickie: Charm and gravity mix for an incredibly moving portrait of how to save your family from war at your doorstep. Should and will win it. Lingering Questions: Why does Grandma stay at the end? Who is that little boy and why is he not the new face of every cereal in America? Is there anything Judi Dench cannot do?

CODA ★★★★☆ Directed by Sian Heder Quickie: Two parts after-school special and one part family love story somehow marry to rip your heart out and grow it. Watch if you haven’t. Lingering Questions: She never signed a song to her family before Act 3? Did the girlfriend learn sign and work on the boat? How do you create a climax of your Act 2 conflict without sound? They did it.

DON’T LOOK UP ★★★★☆ Directed by Adam McKay Quickie: Brilliant and hysterical comment on how royally fucked up our society is right now. A third of the country will loathe it, which totally tracks. Lingering Questions: Why hasn’t Meryl played Donald on SNL? What do we do to avoid our own comet?

DRIVE MY CAR ☆☆☆☆☆ Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi Quickie: Sure it’s brilliant, but every executive I’ve ever met wants a 105-page script and I’m supposed to give up three hours? Not racist, annoyed. Lingering Questions: Nope.

DUNE ★★★☆☆ Directed by Denis Villeneuve Quickie: As gorgeous as Timothée, but if you didn’t read the books it’s a dense PowerPoint about a desert in an interstellar future. Fans will love. Lingering Questions: So many.

KING RICHARD ★★★★☆ Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green Quickie: Venus and Serena’s dad teaches us all about goals, humility, grace, family, and rising above. And we’re here for it. Oscar belongs to Aunjanue Ellis. Lingering Questions: Was there no more tension between Venus and Serena their whole lives and career?

LICORICE PIZZA ★★★☆☆ Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson Quickie: Reminded me of Forrest’s blind love of Jenny as Gary romps through well known memes of 1970s Hollywood. Nostalgic love story with bizarre racist bits. Lingering Questions: Racism aside, what exactly is funny — or supposed to be funny — about mocking an accent? Are child actors really that confident?

NIGHTMARE ALLEY ★★★★☆ Directed by Guillermo del Toro Quickie: Stunning 1940s remake as a circus man hits big-top and rock-bottom, warning us all to use our people powers wisely. Better than expected. Lingering Questions: Is Stan supposed to be evil enough to have killed Pete? How in the world did circuses get away with a geek act like that? I mean, I get it, but wow.

THE POWER OF THE DOG ★★☆☆☆ Directed by Jane Campion Quickie: Slow and boring “Western” is two hours of waiting for a brilliant British actor to master his accent, as femininity gets revenge on its bullies. Lingering Questions: So I’m supposed to believe — and somehow care about — Benedict Cumberbatch as an American cowboy in, um…New Zealand, who went to Yale but gets duped by bad cow hide? Why do we get so smitten with movies about closeted cowboys? Why did they cast Cumberbatch exactly?

WEST SIDE STORY ★★★☆☆ Directed by Steven Spielberg Quickie: Beautiful and captivating remake of the NYC street-gang musical, the star of which is the camera, costumes, and dancing. The American story never changes. Lingering Questions: Why can’t even Hollywood’s best-known director find White ballet dancers who might be believable as street thugs?