I think it's the cinematic equivalent of comfort food. You have to go all the way back to the World War II years to find anything like it.Mister Tee wrote:Maybe it's the cumulative effect of seeing a few True Life Inspirational Stories in quick succession -- Hacksaw Ridge, Hidden Figures and now this -- but I'm coming to wonder why so many people seem to like going to movies where the premise pretty much eliminates the possibility of plot surprise.
Like then, we live in a world where there is too much bad news coming at us, all day, every day. People want escapism. To some, that may mean fantasy films and animation. To others, it may mean musicals and comedies. To many, it also means escaping to a world in which you know the people or people who are like the people you know. That also means espousing films that turn out the way we think they're supposed to.
I've bemoaned the fact that this year's awards don't hold many surprises, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I can't find fault with any of the nine films nominated for Best Picture. Nor can I find fault with many of the films nominated in other categories. I think everyone got it as right as can be, which after last year I wondered if they ever would again.
Of those films not nominated for Best Picture, I can only think of three that should have gotten more consideration - Jackie, Loving and The Light Between Oceans, yet I'm hard pressed to say which of the nine they should have nominated instead of. As of the moment, I'm thinking Jackie was the year's fifth best film behind Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight, La La Land and Arrival, but I haven't arrived at a final decision.
Of those nominated in other categories, only the insipid and wan umpteenth remake of The Jungle Book really annoys me. Well, that and Suicide Squad, which I haven't seen - the trailer was enough to drive me up the wall.
I was initially put off by The Lobster, but another viewing this past weekend convinced me of its merits . It's not a comfort food equivalent by any means, but it is deftly written and deserves its Original Screenplay nomination.
Of the acting awards, I only disagree with two. I think Joel Edgerton (Loving) should have nominated over Viggo Mortensen and Amy Adams (Arrival) should have been nominated over Meryl Streep.
Maybe it wasn't a great year for movies, but it in the end, it was a good one, emphasis on "in the end".