OSCARS NEWSLETTER by Rachel Deutsch: AKA - A guide to the 2024 Oscars
An extremely biased, opinionated, detailed, and DUMB breakdown of this year’s awards by Rachel Deutsch!
WHAT’S AHEAD
· BACKGROUND ON THE OSCARS
· WHAT GIVES ME THE RIGHT TO WRITE THIS?
· A GUIDE TO THIS YEAR’S BIG MOVIES (In order of how much I care about them)
· NOMINEE TALK (In order of how much I care about them)
· A QUICK LIST OF SNUBS
· HOW TO WATCH
· HELPFUL LINKS
MY RELATIONSHIP TO THE OSCARS
It’s impossible to watch every movie ever. Unless you are Edgar Wright or the 18-year-old boy from my freshman year’s Writing the Essay class, who announced, “I watch a movie every day.” You changed my life with this one simple statement. I think about you at least once a week. What movie is he watching today? Has he ever given up on his movie streak? What happens if he’s on vacation — say he’s in Egypt exploring the great pyramids, climbing sand dunes, riding a camel — does he stop mid-day to watch a movie? Wind down at night with last year’s Emily The Criminal or Dicks The Musical? Has he found love this way? What does he think of Letterbox? Has this constant stream of story driven him mad? Renounce movies all together? Wherever he is, I just hope he’s happy.
It’s difficult to watch every movie ever. Somehow it feels as if no matter what movie you just finished, you’re never watching the right one! “Quick, what’s your opinion on Past Lives?” aka every social gathering I attended in 2023. Especially during Oscar season, when everywhere (“everywhere” meaning New York City and Los Angeles) is buzzing with hard hitting pop culture politics.
This year in Los Angeles was especially hard, with 9 months of strikes with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA. Many creatives were out of a job, which rippled to our economy. As an actor myself, the only upside to the strikes was seeing less self-promotion on my Instagram Feed. My depression lifted because of the dried-up Deadline articles of my acquaintances’ latest movie role. Do my friends who are doctors have a publication to announce their every promotion? I think as I scroll.
One of the many results of the strike was the amount of award shows pushed to 2024. All within a few months the Golden Globes, Emmys, Producers Guild Awards, SAG Awards, Independent Spirit Awards and more occurred; all culminating to a grand finale of The Oscars on March 10th.
For as long as I can remember (my sophomore year of college) I have been obsessed with The Oscars. I can only relate it to how I imagine football people feel about The Super Bowl. There is a practical event that happens (FOOTBALL), and you watch it (AS A FAN), then it all accumulates into one big final thing (AND SOMEONE WINS.) The only difference between the Super Bowl and The Oscars is that during The Super Bowl a game is played for points, and it happens right then and there. Whereas during the Oscars, movies are voted on by The Academy and someone wins after the fact. The winning can feel arbitrary to an audience because the rules of the event itself are confusing. There is no score, no helmets, no overtime, and ultimately a movie that may have changed your life could mean nothing to everyone else.
The Oscars are a combination of all my favorite things: Important fashion designers partnering with influential people to wear their gowns. An event which somehow gathers thousands of important people — (the coordination and schedule clearing it must take!) Sharing unique stories! Bringing creative teams together! Celebrating movies that encapsulate what it means to feel alive! Nervous celebrities. Meryl Streep in glasses. A comedian trying their best. Ultimately, my favorite part is watching someone have the best day of their life. (The same reason I love America’s Got Talent!) Watching an actor, director, composer, editor, costume designer, producer, etc. be celebrated for dedicating their life to art is so moving to me. Tears fall as I cling to every word in their speech. I wonder how they will celebrate afterward. Drinking? Drugs? In-and-out?
I love The Oscars because how often do you get to observe someone’s life changing while they’re in a Christian Siriano gown? It’s the same reason I love The Super Bowl.
WHAT GIVES ME THE RIGHT TO WRITE THIS?
· I watched most movies nominated this year!
· I was only on Xanax for ONE of the movies I watched! For the others I was coherent!
· I am an actor, director, producer — for hire! Please hire me! You can see my work at my website: RachelDeutsch.com
· My boyfriend will probably break up with me if I continue to talk about The Oscars, I need an outlet for these relentless thoughts.
· Somehow my special skill has become memorizing random celebrity facts. Jennifer Lawrence was dating Darren Aronofsky while shooting Mother! Obviously, this affected the making of the movie. I can’t believe Kristen Wiig was in that one scene.
· I am just a girl!
· Being just a girl, my opinions simply do not matter!
· I have never ever once been able to embody the classic saying of “It’s not that deep.” It is, to me… always that deep.
· I interviewed for a masters in directing at the top film school this year. This could mean nothing or everything!! Only time will tell!
· Ultimately, I found it a very good year for movies. I live by the quote,“All movies are good because someone worked very hard on them.” That is what these movies mean to me. For a movie to be made, many people give their time, money, and most importantly vulnerability to it. A movie can’t be made alone. Many emails must be sent! Many personalities must jive! It is an artistic experience that I believe can be referred to as magic. (Hello, Nicole Kidman!) Magic of the perfect time, place, people, feelings, truths, lies, deaths… I love movies because there is something unspoken about them. There is something true and false at the same time. A movie can speak to everyone differently. A movie can reveal yourself to you. A movie can connect. The movies this year connected me to those around me — and hopefully to you reading this! (Hello, Nicole Kidman!)
· Disclaimer: these are just my opinions — they are meant to be a fun read. I am not a journalist (see: just a girl) my goal is to share what I felt watching movies this year.
I thought about a lot: This amazing New Yorker piece: CAN YOU REALLY WANT AN OSCAR TOO MUCH?
ON THIS: My best friend was visiting Los Angeles from Colorado. As we drove down Sunset Boulevard, I noted the obscene number of posters plastered everywhere. Everyone is campaigning right now. She replied that there is also a lot of campaigns for local elections going on in Denver. I realized she thought I was talking about politics. Politics politics — not celebrity politics. A different thing than the billboard of Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood I was referring to. I reflect on this moment often, when reminding myself that the world is much bigger than who wins or loses an Oscar, and the bubble of LA is not the same as the rest of America and the rest of the world. To quote Bong Joon-Ho when he was up for his 2020 Oscar for Parasite, “it’s a very local award show.”
AGUIDE TO THIS YEAR’S BIG MOVIES
(In order of how much I care about them)
ANATOMY OF A FALL
Did she do it? Is how the conversation over appetizers begins and by the main course you’ve already moved on to “I truly don’t care if she did it!” I regret so badly not paying an extra $1.29 to buy this movie in instead of rent it on my Amazon Prime. An even bigger regret to not see it in a theater. And the biggest regret of all, not knowing the star of the movie (an awards season first for me) Sandra Huller sooner.
In Anatomy of a Fall a woman is put on trial after her husband has fallen to his death in their secluded French chalet. (Chic!)
The ways you’ll hear this movie described:
- A court room drama
- That dog is insane!!!
- A marital dispute
- A thriller
- Funny
- I can’t believe the French court system works that way!!! I am dying to get arrested in France now!!
Recently at my local coffee shop, I was chatting with my barista and another customer I hadn’t met before. (Yes this is a real sentence.) The customer said my dog looks like the dog from Anatomy of a Fall (sir, I have a purebred husky and that dog is clearly a border collie — but I love to people please, so I said, “yes, totally!”) The customer got out his phone to show me that he had just attended an event for the movie (Go off LA!), where the napkins at the event were photos of the dog captioned “I know all the secrets.” This brought me and this customer (and my dog) much closer. A moment shared, a knowingness that we enjoyed our time watching Anatomy of a Fall and unknowingness of what is true about the movie to this day! This napkin provided us with another clue to this amazing film.
Freya in a commercial. Maybe one day she’ll make her way to The Oscar Stage!
My favorite effect of Anatomy of a Fall was the conversation around language. The movie floats between French, English, and German — depicting how not understanding one another through words and intentions can change our entire view on a situation. At the end, I never know what’s true, and I don’t need to know.
THE ZONE OF INTEREST
Anecdote #1: I bore witness to the greatness that is The Zone of Interest the week of my *Big Film School Interview.* There is no way to say it lightly, The Zone of Interest is about the Holocaust. (Also worth noting the movie does not want you to feel lightly about The Holocaust in anyway. Watching this movie was one of the most uncomfortable and unforgettable experiences of my life.) The movie stuck with me so deeply I could not stop referencing it in almost every aspect of my life. When I was practicing for my interview, I would continue to bring up The Zone of Interest by accident. Maybe don’t talk about the Holocaust in your interview, my boyfriend would remind me. I can see why he would give me this advice, as the films I have previously made and were interviewing about do not refer to the Holocaust in any way. Therefore, it would seem random to the interviewers for me to suddenly bring it up. My mind was unable to leave the subject matter and artistic expression of this film. Even now, I can feel the movie viscerally.
Anecdote #2: When my boyfriend Ismael and I went to see The Zone of Interest, the moving going experience itself was uncomfortable. (As if the atmosphere was foreboding what was to come). The theater was small and packed. I sat in the wrong seat twice and got reprimanded twice by audience members. (I must say this was entirely my fault. I hate rules. I hate an assigned seating. I believe I should be able to feel the vibe when I get there. As in, if my assigned seat is right next to a couple, I should put one seat of space between us just for safety and privacy concerns. Sometimes you do not know they bought a ticket beforehand, so scooting over one seat shouldn’t be an issue. That is until another couple says you are “in their seat, they had 15!! Give me 15!!” I moved back to the original seat I had booked only to be sandwiched between two couples, unsafely.)
Ismael refuses to watch movie trailers or know any precursors of a movie. (True,“ignorance is bliss” vibes.) So, when the movies started and was in another language (German) then was about intense subject matter (The Holocaust) he was… surprised! I find it important to mention The Zone of Interest is in German and about The Holocaust.
The Zone of Interest follows the commander of Auschwitz, his wife, and children as they build their dream life in their dream home, right next to the camp.
I have a feeling The Zone of Interest could win best picture this year.
In a year of fantastic movies, I believe The Zone of Interest is pulling through in the final hour of awards season as a sneaky winner. Something I often ask: Why this? Why now? The Zone of Interest reflects a society’s complicity in genocide. A movie that is meant to make the audience uncomfortable. The brilliance of this movie is portrayed through its commitment to truth of those on screen. Following a Nazi family for two hours is uncomfortable to say the least. While watching this movie you are constantly listening to a completely different movie at the same time — the sound of the concentration camp. The feeling I have of “we get it oh my god! Please we get it!” overwhelms me when referring to this movie. My biggest fear is that someone doesn’t get it. Doesn’t get what it’s trying to say. The words come out messy and overly simple when referring to the millions of lives lost. LOOK at what happened. Look at how you are a part of it whether you want to be or not you are! I walked away aghast.
Anecdote #3: “I don’t think you’re allowed to say you loved it.” A friend scolded me.
Some notes on the filmmaking (good)
- To look at something so beautiful, a family in a German garden countryside, while something so horrible is happening, they are murdering innocent Jewish lives, is a paradoxical tragedy one is forced to confront during the entire film.
- The film was shot with HIDDEN CAMERAS!!! Are you kidding me!?!?! This blows me away on a technical planning level alone.
- The score of this film is on another level entirely. You feel as if you are watching a horror movie yet looking at a Monet. The sound forces you to itch, squirm, and lean in. There is no detail unheard when it comes to the sound design and score of this film. (My new answer to who would you most like to have dinner with is The Zone of Interest sound designer Johnnie Burn — who also designed Poor Things this year, and last year’s Nope!) More on him here!
- The commitment the entire creative team and actors had to telling the truth, as difficult as the truth is to tell on a person level, deeply moves me emotionally.
- To trust an audience to feel uncomfortable shows pure confidence as a director. From the second this film begins, you are literally unsure what is happening. A spoiler: this movie starts with two minutes of a black screen and an ominous score. You are looking at nothing for TWO MINUTES. Is this really happening — did they forget to turn it on? A choice which sets the stage for the horror to come, and ultimately pays off. Director Johnathan Glazer forces you to enter this world and immediately feel what the subject matter demands.
BARBIE
I saw Barbie opening week at my AMC surrounded by people covered in pink. I am embarrassed to say I was shocked! I somehow missed the memo to dress up! I had on my movie going uniform — Uggs, sweats, turtleneck, sweater, jacket. (Yes, this was in June in Los Angeles, my biggest fear in life is being too cold even for a second.) I was transported back to waiting in line to see Twilight in middle school at 12am decked out in vampire gear. After two years of watching movies at home, seeing movie goers pink-ed out, taking photos in the life-sized Barbie box, and genuinely thrilled to be there, had me stoked!!
Barbie is a movie about the famous doll — Barbie. Ken is there! She goes to the real world to see what humans are up to.
I laughed. I cried. I gasped with a packed audience. I had one of the best movie going experiences I can remember — and I was sitting in the front!!! (A famously terrible seat!) This says a lot!
I have found myself repeatedly defending Barbie. I think there is so much implicit bias of hating women that is hurled at this movie. It has become taboo to point out sexism in the face of feminism, in the sense of — no one wants to believe that they hate women. We’re past that! I do believe hating women is out. But I don’t believe hating funny women is out. (See Ali Wong winning every award ever this year for Beef, one of my favorite tv shows of last year. A dramatic acting role for her. I believe she is great at being a dramatic actor because she is such a funny woman. Did we not learn from Shakespeare that all humor is rooted in tragedy?!?!) Whenever a woman is hot, funny, and insanely talented, an audience is inherently against her. See this year’s OSCAR NOMINATED MOVIE BARBIE: DIRECTED BY GRETA GERWIG PRODUCED BY AND STARRING MARGOT ROBBIE.
Statements I’ve heard people say to me about Barbie that have annoyed me:
- The production design was the best part.
Sure yes, but who do you think made all this happen and designed Barbie world!! It was a collaboration!!!
- It was a just an ad.
Yes! It was! Why do we celebrate some ads and not others. Famously The Super Bowl is an ad. And we are cool with this.
- It wasn’t inclusive enough.
The Barbies included Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Simu Liu — we didn’t have time to explore each one of these stories. Let’s do a Barbie Limited Series!! Call HBO!!!
- America is mean in real life.
I truly couldn’t care less if she was mean to one person one time, I too am such a bitch! Justice for bitchy people!
- Greta can’t be nominated for directing because Juliet Triet was already nominated for Anatomy of a Fall.
Yes, historically only one woman at a time can ever be nominated. Thank you for reminding me of this rule. Maybe one day it can change.
The thing I didn’t like about Barbie:
- The Billie Eilish song. It wasn’t for me. Billie Eilish songs should always have a rock breakdown like Happier Than Ever, that’s what really gets me going.
Barbie was so fun, unique, funny, and thoughtful. Afterward, I listened to Matchbox Twenty on repeat for weeks.
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON
Is this film three and a half hours long? True. Did I watch three and a half hours of Love Is Blind Season 6 in one sitting this week? Also, True.
My honest-vulnerable-can-I-say-this reaction: Why isn’t this movie getting the recognition it deserves??? Where is the conversation around it??? What happened? We’re we all tired from the length? Are we sick of Leo? Has Mr. Scorsese already gotten his due and has moved on to TikTok?!?! Killers of The Flower Moon is fantastic from start to end. Yes, the genre changes every half hour — go off, king, keep me on my toes. Yes, Leo is acting so weird and crazy! This man is one of our best and why don’t we just accept he’s an amazing actor and leave him alone! Let him do cocaine in peace. Yes there are some big creative swings taken — this man, Marty, is 81 years old and he is out here making masterpieces! We are watching a living legend!! Who recently said he has 3 movies left in him. Let’s. Think. About. This. I believe that if this movie were made by a different director and team, we would be over the moon with its storytelling accomplishments. Maybe the bar just gets too high at a certain point in one’s greatness.
Killers of the Flower Moon is a true story, of a spree of murders in the Osage Nation Community. As Mollie Burkhart experiences extreme betrayal in every aspect of her life.
I can relate the strengths of Killers of the Flower Moon to the elements of a good essay: information, example, style, opinion. The amount of impactful storytelling fit into this movie is astonishing. The movie’s repeated murders of Native American women are difficult to watch, it becomes numbing at certain point. As a viewer it’s frustrating to witness the genocide we have caused as a nation. I deeply admire the seriousness around this movie reflected in the press cycle from Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro, actors who have given so much time and respect to telling the story of Osage Nation.
I grew up in Oklahoma (my Mom read the book and saw the movie twice), I have been aware of the tragedy that affected my Native American neighbors my whole life. The state is steeped in a hodgepodge of culture; everyone trying to figure out what they’re owed now in 2024, and constantly navigating how we all can coincide. Growing up I had the opportunity to attend a Native Nation’s Land and a ceremony when my Dad had successfully prosecuted someone who had murdered a member of the nation. It’s a memory that comes in blurry pieces for me — but my Dad knew how important it was that I witness this experience. He pulled me out of school to attend the nation’s ceremony and experience their way of life for a day. They joyfully welcomed us and celebrated my Dad for helping them through their tragedy. I am grateful to Oklahoma for gifting me with such unique experiences. I believe it is a state that is continually figuring itself out. (Not unlike myself.) Killers of the Flower Moon brought light to a story that needed to be told and a nation that needs to be recognized.
Other Links:
Martin Scorsese on TikTok
Director Martin Scorsese on TikTok
Marty on TikTok
THE HOLDOVERS
I did not want to have as good of a time as I did watching this movie, something about Alexander Payne’s work just sticks with you (*AKA Sideways*) Watch this film with your family on Christmas, and if you don’t have a family or Christmas get one for the day just to watch this film with!
A mean instructor has to watch all the leftover kids on Christmas break at the boarding school he works at — presumably somewhere in the New England area — he has no friends or family (sad). He forms a bond with the worst kids and the nice lady cook! (You will cry!)
The whole time watching I was like “okaaayyy Secret History Vibes” (which is now two Donna Tartt shoutouts in this entire pieces. Matched with two Bong Joon Ho shoutouts. Now THAT would be a fun dinner party!)
The Holdovers seeped into my heart and deep into my soul since my first viewing of the movie. An INSTANT CLASSIC! Is that even a real thing anymore?! Can something besides The Bachelor become a reoccurring classic in culture in this day and age? All I know is I can’t wait to watch this again next year, and I will continue celebrating Christmas just to do so!
AMERICAN FICTION
This movie is funny!! Funny in a way that satire is difficult to pull off well, and Writer / Director Cord Jefferson’s talent and clear passion for this story allows the humor to shine. Oh yeah of course we need a movie starring Jeffery Wright, Sterling K. Brown, Issa Rae and Tracee Ellis Ross that is genuinely funny and heartful and should be nominated for an Oscar.
American Fiction follows the Black novelist Monk — played by Jeffery Wright — as he is frustrated with the entertainment industry benefiting from stories off Black tropes. He decides to lean into it and write his own Black trope story under a pen name, it goes well for him, which leads to the hilarity that is his nightmare.
Things this movie made me think about:
- In an interview, Cord spoke to the benefit of writing moments into his script for the “joy of them being there.” Every story point doesn’t have to pay off — it can just be a moment. Moments are okay. Moments are life. He was constantly faced with pushback from producers on moot story points. To me the world he built around Monk needed these moments. I found Cord striking and bold to stick to his own guns as a writer and have faith in the story he wanted to tell.
- Cord also wrote for Succession. This is an amazing fact to me.
Onbooks:
- A dream of mine is to adapt a book into a movie as a producer and director. (Hello, Reese Witherspoon.) American Fiction is adapted from the novel Erasure. How cool that Cord read this and knew he had to be the one to tell this story. I love how art feeds the feeling of this person gets me. How executing one’s story is essential. You’ll never know what it can bring to people, generations later.
- This month I read Seven Days in June and Black Friend — books I wonder if Monk would love or hate. Either way, I’d love to see these authors in conversation.
PAST LIVES
Did you see Past Lives?! If I had a dollar for every time this was said to me in the months of May 2023 to March 2024 I would probably have $20! I could buy another ticket at the Los Feliz 3 to see it again!!
In Past Lives two childhood sweethearts reconnect, decades later and languages a part.
Of course I loved Past Lives. I loved Past Lives because I love theater!!! Live theater!! Does this set me a part and make me cool, yes! Celine Song is a playwright and wrote and directed her first feature with Past Lives. Can I name one of her plays of the top of my head? Probably not. Did it make so much sense that she had a background in theater from watching this movie? Yes. Am I so jealous that she shot a beautiful film on film for her first feature?! Yes.
The behind the scenes of the film emotionally moves me as much as the film itself, and I wonder what this movie would’ve done for me if all these facts weren’t true. I love a story of truth. A movie based on the author’s personal history. Her life being so damn cool. Greta Lee being the underdog actor to root for, in her first leading role. Her story or relearning Korean and her connecting with her mother through playing this role. Like, Damn! Okay PR team!
Past Lives sparked joy in filmmakers. I had the opportunity to act in a film inspired by Past Lives. As a team, we bounced around the streets of Los Feliz shooting moments on film inspired by the movie. That’s all I could ever ask a film to do — inspire.
OPPENHEIMER
To be vulnerable with you all I didn’t know going into Oppenheimer what was going to happen. Oh you all had good grades in AP History, huh?!! If you can now explain to me who exactly Robert Downey Jr.’s character was and why he matters I will Venmo you $10! (Capped out at $20.) I did quite enjoy my history lesson watching this movie. I say it’s a movie for nerds everywhere (Hello, to my boyfriend!)
Direct quote from my boyfriend Ismael after viewing this movie at Hollywood’s famous Chinese Theater: “I think about Hiroshima everyday.” Folks, we’ve been together for seven years. You never really know those closest to you as much as you think you do.
The storytelling of Oppenheimer is beautiful. I feel like the government is keeping Christopher Nolan at a distance because we would soon find out he is a genius and has all the answers to something huge — like the Moon! (What do we need to know about the moon? I’m not really sure — but I bet Chris knows!!)
Things:
- The black and white is so smart.
- The sound design is relentless but necessary.
- The cutie guy who played Albert Einstein!!!
- Florence Pugh was important to this story right?
- Every actor ever was in this movie: Josh Peck, Alex Wolf, Ben Safdie… what was that after party like?!
- Maybe this year’s theme for movies is: “Could’ve been a documentary, but that was cool!”
- Ultimately what an important movie for Americans to watch and understand our role in the tragedy of Hiroshima.
POOR THINGS
I did not enjoy Poor Things. I think I am leaning into the un-enjoying of this movie so much it might not be a fun read for those who did enjoy it.
In Poor Things, Emma Stone is brought back to life by a scientist guy, Willem Defoe. She goes on to get married and have lots of sex and think about women’s liberation.
Some personal background / some truth:
- I love Yorgos
- I love Emma
- I watched this film after getting off a plane and taking 2 Xanax and 2 sleeping pills.
o Why so much? I have a deathly fear of flying and it’s better for those around me if I am sedated.
o Why did I have to watch it that day I got off the plane? Amazing question. I was flying home for Christmas, and my family and I had a tight movie watching schedule — two a day for 10 days. I needed to watch Poor Things first because of my excitement for the film, which meant it had to be done under these conditions.
o If you didn’t enjoy the movie because of your “condition” (as you call it), why not watch it again? I am relishing a bit in my dislike. I tend to come off as overly positive (my reasoning on this for a different time.) As I enjoyed so many movies this year, it is nice to have conflict within myself. As an artist, it is important I form “my opinion” on culture. What one doesn’t like is just as important as what one does.
o So, what did you not like? I have a thing against LED screens. They make me dizzy and confused. (Hello, Marvel fans!) which is how I felt during this movie. A bit bored and confused. What year is it? What accent is Mark Ruffalo doing? Is this really want women want? Oh there’s that LED screen again!
MAESTRO
This is a movie starring Bradley Cooper. It is also directed by Bradley Cooper. Bradly Copper also produced it. Carey Mulligan is great at acting. Bi rights!
In Maestro, Bradley Cooper plays conductor Leonard Bernstein (who wrote the music to West Side Story — a musical people like!) He also is married to a woman! And has a family! Sometimes he’s gay. Bradley Cooper directed this movie.
The cinematography is beautiful.
NOMINEE TALK
(In order of how much I care about them)
NOTE: When I am saying “The Award Will Go To” I mean based on what has happened thus far in awards season with the other award shows. Sometimes, not always, but most of the time: the person who has been winning the award so far will win at The Oscars. Simple — just like football.
Best Actor
PAUL GIAMATTI — The Holdovers
CILLIAN MURPHY — Oppenheimer
JEFFREY WRIGHT- American Fiction
COLMAN DOMINGO- Rustin
BRADLEY COOPER- Maestro
The Award Will Go To: CILLIAN MURPHY — Oppenheimer
The Person I Think The Award Should Go To: PAUL GIAMATTI — The Holdovers
PAUL GIAMATTI — The Holdovers
- Give Paul the Oscar!!! He is simply good. So talented. Such an ACT-TORRRR!
- I don’t care if this would be a “lifetime Oscar” vibe, he has lived a life and career that deserves it!
- The thought of Paul is so heartwarming to me — just the fact that he’s up and alive and working.
- If I was ten years old and writing this, the entire piece would’ve been about how Big Fat Liar deserves every Oscar in every category.
CILLIAN MURPHY — Oppenheimer
- Cillian seems humble as hell. Which makes me a bit suspicious of him. But only like 10% suspicious.
- I’d be happy if he won.
- Yet, he seems like the easy choice. The easy choice is never fun!!
- I do think he did a good job acting.
JEFFREY WRIGHT — American Fiction
- Here’s the deal — you do know Jeffrey Wright. He’s one of those GUYS! Ohhh that guy! We love actors who can be that guy! I hope he continues to be that guy for all of time.
- What sealed the deal for me on Jeffrey Wright is when he was cast in The Goldfinch— a horrible movie but amazing book. (Why wasn’t this movie good!!!) I never put a face to the character in my mind, and once he was cast, I felt at peace. Jeffrey Wright brings people peace.
COLMAN DOMINGO — Rustin
- Colman Domingo is fantastic in this movie. He encapsulates the time-period, voice, body, and emotional state of Rustin; it is as if the role were made for him. I became introduced to Colman via Zola, a movie which he also deserved award recognition for (see Barbie when referring to how good The Academy is at awarding funny and hot people for funny and hot movies.) You might also know him from Euphoria, a show which I purposely give no recognition.
- Rustin, an openly gay black man, is an advisor to Martin Luther King Jr, who led the organization of the 1963 March on Washington. As good as Colman is, his performance is the best thing about the movie which feels a bit lose in its direction and storytelling. The best parts of Rustin’s background seemed to happen off screen. Due to Colman’s talent this movie was hopefully an amazing vehicle to propel Colman’s career for roles to come.
- Biopics can be hard when I would gain so much more knowledge from watching a documentary of this story. Why is Hollywood obsessed with Biopics? Why is it so fun to see someone playing someone else? Have Biopics ever been done well? (Please email me your fav Biopic)
- Some final thoughts on Rustin:
1) Chris Rock this was not the role for you.
2) I loved the wide lens choice to tell this story — everyone looked stunning!
BRADLEY COOPER — Maestro
- Bradly Cooper acts in this movie.
The only redemption is if this could SOMEHOW happen again:
Best Supporting Actor
RYAN GOSLING — Barbie
STERLING K. BROWN — American Fiction
ROBERT DE NIRO — Killers of The Flower Moon
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. — Oppenheimer
MARK RUFFALO — Poor Things
The Person The Award Will Go To: ROBERT DOWNEY JR. — Oppenheimer
The Person I Think The Award Should Go To: RYAN GOSLING — Barbie
RYAN GOSLING — Barbie
- Remember the drama about Ryan Gosling being too old to play Ken?! The second the movie was realized there was not a peep of his age again. Why?!?! Because he was so good! He danced, he sang, he made us laugh!! Ryan was so funny in this role, and we always reward hot and funny men!
STERLING K. BROWN — American Fiction
- This man played gay, and no one cared!!! Award for him!! Sometimes when I watch Sterling K. Brown act, I feel embarrassed for how seriously he takes the role. Like does he know he’s acting and not having a private moment!?!?
- The thing I am most looking forward to in the future is watching this man continue to book amazing roles and have his real leading man Oscar campaign.
ROBERT DE NIRO — Killers of The Flower Moon
- Hot Take: Robert De Niro is really good at acting!
- The way he learned an entirely new language for this role was… impressive!
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. — Oppenheimer
- Hollywood loves a comeback, or they just love this man!!!
- I know he has a ton of llamas now and is like… so happy!
- Who is his publicist?! He better thank them in his acceptance speech for being the best PR of all time.
MARK RUFFALO — Poor Things
- Once I was covering a babysitting job for one night in New York City at the coolest East Village Loft I had ever seen. The job was to hang out with two 6-year-old girls for a few hours. The mother made sure to tell me Mark Ruffalo’s daughter is downstairs. That’s exactly how she said it Mark Ruffalo’s daughter is downstairs. The night was chill. If I remember correctly, we ordered pizza.
Best Actress
SANDRA HULLER — Anatomy of a Fall
LILY GLADSTONE — Killers of the Flower Moon
ANNETTE BENING — Nyad
EMMA STONE — Poor Things
CAREY MULLIGAN — Maestro
The Person The Award Will Go To: EMMA STONE — Poor Things
The Person I Think The Award Should Go To: SANDRA HULLER — Anatomy of a Fall
SANDRA HULLER — Anatomy of a Fall
- I can never tell what Sandra Huller is thinking. While watching her on screen, then later reflecting on her in my mind, then later retelling about her to anyone who will listen — I have no idea who she is or what she believes!
- She starred in two of this year’s biggest movies this year Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest. Her nomination feels like an award for both movies as well as an award for the American people for finally finding out who she is! In both films, she plays what in the simplest of terms one can define as “evil.” However, what she executes so well is the layers of meaning these characters hold. Meaning that has been projected on to them by others while they stand close with the pillar of truth within themselves. Layers! Her performances are so layered! I just know she would love Iago — and Shrek!
LILY GLADSTONE — Killers of the Flower Moon
- I have greatly enjoyed Lily’s press cycle this year! She always looks stunning and holds an equilibrium of peace I admire.
- Her performance was so subtle and strong in Killers of the Flower Moon. I didn’t walk away thinking it was life changing, but it was unforgettable. This could ultimately say more about me, what I need from a performance that lands somewhere between Lily Gladstone’s subtlety and Mark Ruffalo’s Poor Things extravaganza.
ANNETTE BENING — Nyad
- While listening to this episode of Slate’s Culture Gabfest, critic Sam Adams explains, “They make movies every year for an older white woman to win an Academy Award, and I wanted to watch that movie.” Nyad is the biopic of swimmer Diana Nyad as she attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida. Here’s the thing — Annette Bening is an amazing actress and does deserve an Academy Award!!! (But where was the hype for her when 20th Century Women came out!?! — “The Hype” of 2016 was of course directed at Brie Larson for Room, which she in fact deserved! Is the lesson here that everyone is good and deserving?! *stops writing immediately*)
- I had mixed expectations for Nyad, mostly low because of the episode critic above (yes, I listen before I watched, I LOVE a spoiler) and because there has been no press cycle supporting it. The redeeming factor going into the movie for me was that it was created by the team who made Free Solo (The Oscar winning documentary about professional rock climber Alex Honnold who attempts to climb a vertical rock with no safety support.) I’ve watched it three times.
- While I expected this to be a phone movie (a movie you watch while also shopping on the Urban Outfits app) I couldn’t look away! Will this crazy lady make the swim! Why does she want to swim for 52 hours straight! Why are they letting her!!
- Annette Bening is amazing in Nyad. Amazing for playing a true narcissist and making her watchable.
- Will she win this year? No. Will I watch every movie made for “an older white woman to win an Academy Award”? Yes.
EMMA STONE — Poor Things
- Emma Stone is a remarkable actress. She is funny and likeable and pretty and smart.
- She has won every award this season thus far, and she will probably take home the statue this year. I will probably love her speech and cry.
- Nothing is wrong here! I would prefer an award season surprise and rather watch the statue go to an Academy “newcomer” such as Sandra Huller or Lily Gladstone.
CAREY MULLIGAN — Maestro
- What a great actor! She was also in Saltburn this year (which is conveniently not mentioned.) Bradley Copper directed her in the movie Maestro!
Best Supporting Actress
DA’VINE JOY RANDOPLH — The Holdovers
AMERICA FERRERA — Barbie
DANIELLE BROOKS — The Color Purple
JODIE FOSTER — Nyad
EMILY BLUNT — Oppenheimer
The Person The Award Will Go To: DA’VINE JOY RANDOPLH — The Holdovers
The Person I Think The Award Should Go To: DA’VINE JOY RANDOPLH — The Holdovers
DA’VINE JOY RANDOPLH — The Holdovers
- The Actress to beat. She has won every award so far this awards season. She is jogging to home base.
- Her career highlights are astonishing, and it really does feel as if she’s only just beginning. In the last few years taking on supporting roles in Dolemite Is My Name, The Idol, and my personal favorite High Fidelity. (Justice for High Fidelity! High Fidelity, a perfect show that was sadly canceled after one season. I worked as a background actor on one episode. The scene was a rave we shot overnight in Brooklyn. The scene was of Zoe Kravitz walking up to a girl and kissing her in the middle of the dance floor. On a cut, Zoe told me “I looked cute” and it was an amazing moment for me. Besides being blatantly hit on by Zoe Kravitz, after I watched the show I was hooked by the detail and emotion this show provided, much of this attributed to Da’Vine’s character.)
- In The Holdovers Da’Vine plays Mary, a woman whose son has recently died in Vietnam. Her story is so raw and well defined, it could be the plot of its own movie.
- Her interview with Marc Maron was one of my favorites this awards season. She comes across as a true artist. Someone so invested in the work it consumes her. I can’t wait to see her win.
AMERICA FERRERA — Barbie
- Yes, she was good in Barbie!
DANIELLE BROOKS — The Color Purple
- I once saw Danielle Brooks perform Much Ado About Nothing and it was great!
JODIE FOSTER — Nyad
- Watching Jodie in Nyad, I was genuinely captured by the realness she provided to me via this movie. Let’s put her in the Sterling K. Brown camp of true actors (See his notes in Best Supporting Actor category)
- I see no reason why she wouldn’t accept this role. She plays the coach to swimmer Nyad. (See Nyad description under the Best Actress Category for Annette Bening) 1)She gets to play a lesbian and she is a lesbian! 2) She gets to hang out on a boat and act with her friend (presumably they’re friends) for a few months. 3) She wears a sports bra and shorts the whole movie!! She’s basically sunbathing for work! She looks amazing! Justice for hot older funny lesbians!
EMILY BLUNT — Oppenheimer
- Something about Mrs. Emily has been a bit ominous to me lately. All the rumors that her and husband John Krasinski were fighting at The Golden Globes.
- Maybe her career just isn’t my cup of tea — Marry Poppins never quite did it for me.
- I am wondering if this nomination is a one hit wonder of if she is here to stay.
Best Director
JONATHAN GLAZER — The Zone of Interest
JUSTINE TRIET — Anatomy of a Fall
MARTIN SCORSESE — Killers of the Flower Moon
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN — Oppenheimer
YORGOS LANTHIMOS — Poor Things
The Award Will Go To: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN — Oppenheimer
The Person I Think The Award Should Go To: JONATHAN GLAZER — The Zone of Interest
NOTE: What is a director and what do they do? Vibe!!!! I want to hang with all these mother fuckers!! I bet it would be a good time and we’d have lots to talk about!!!! Directors see the world, communicate with people, and wear Hokas on set!!
JONATHAN GLAZER — The Zone of Interest
- Maybe I long after him because I know the least about him of all. His movie told me so much about who he is, what he believes, what he thinks is beautiful — I prefer to live in the understanding of him I’ve created in my mind.
JUSTINE TRIET — Anatomy of a Fall
- What a fun win this would be!
- Why wouldn’t they let this woman use Jolene!!
- Why was this song so perfect?!?!
MARTIN SCORSESE — Killers of the Flower Moon
- This man has only won one Oscar (Best Director for 2005’s The Departed.) That doesn’t feel right — let’s get him some more!!
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN — Oppenheimer
- I believe he will take home the trophy this year! Feels like a good choice? Right?
- My favorite fact from the movie was Chris’s use of practical effects!
YORGOS LANTHIMOS — Poor Things
- Our fisheye king!! The weirdest boy of them all! I can’t wait to see what he makes next!
Writing (Original Screenplay)
MAY DECEMBER — Sammy Burch & Alex Mechanik
ANATOMY OF A FALL — Justine Triet & Arthur Harari
PAST LIVES — Celine Song
THE HOLDOVERS — David Hemingson
MAESTRO — Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer
The Award Will Go To: MAY DECEMBER — Sammy Burch & Alex Mechanik
The Person I Think The Award Should Go To: MAY DECEMBER — Sammy Burch & Alex Mechanik
MAY DECEMBER
May December, Todd Haynes, Natalie Portman, Juliane Moore, and Charles Melton are the snubs of the year! I had the honor of watching this at a DGA screening with a talk back of director Todd Haynes. May December is the story of a couple twenty years after their illegal tabloid romance, as their lives become infiltrated with a Hollywood Actress’s research for a film about them I grew up watching the Lifetime documentary of this true story — the turn of this known story into a more interesting fictional depiction is genius. (A statement that is rarely said about true stories being turned into films!) May December is weird, specific, interesting, amazingly acted, and directorially peculiar. The tone conversations this team had to have!!! I can’t wait to watch Sammy take home the Original Screenplay award.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
BARBIE — Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach
THE ZONE OF INTEREST — Jonathan Glazer
AMERICAN FICTION — Cord Jefferson
OPPENHEIMER — Christopher Nolan
POOR THINGS — Tony McNamra
The Award Will Go To: ???
The Person I Think The Award Should Go To: BARBIE — Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach
Barbie is up for eight Oscars, including best adapted screenplay and best picture. “A friend’s mom said to me, ‘I can’t believe you didn’t get nominated,” recalled Gerwig. “I said, ‘But I did. I got an Oscar nomination.’ She was like, ‘Oh, that’s wonderful for you!’ I was like, ‘I know!’”
Live Action Short Film
THE AFTER — Misan Harriman & Nicky Bentham
INVINCIBLE — Vincent Rene-Lortie & Samual Caron
KNIGHT OF FORTUNE — Lasse Lyskjaer Noer & Christian Norlyk
RED, WHITE AND BLUE — Nazrin Choudhury & Sara McFarlane
THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR — Wes Anderson & Steven Rales
Did you know you can go and watch these films at your local theater*? (*I do not know where you live and have done no research on this!) One of my favorite outings of the year is going to the movie theater to watch The Oscar Shorts! (Except for one year when every single short was about a child dying!!! I must say, I have never forgotten this movie experience: short after short, language after language, a different child died. I was in shock for weeks.) If The Oscar Shorts aren’t showing at a theater or you’re addicted to being inside your own home, you can watch most of these shorts online/Netflix.
A great breakdown of the shorts this year!
The Award Will Go To:
THE WONDERFUL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR — Wes Anderson & Steven Rales
- It is unfair to stack all these shorts against Wes Anderson’s Henry Sugar. I watched this film three times and referenced it in every creative conversation I’ve had thus far this year!
The Person I Think The Award Should Go To:
KNIGHT OF FORTUNE — Lasse Lyskjaer Noer & Christian Norlyk
- Knight Of Fortune lived up to all my expectations of a short film! A short film should be about one event, or one feeling, or one moment. In this case it’s the moment of a man paying respects at a mortuary to his late wife. This film surprisingly made me laugh, cry, and adore the characters in such a short amount of time.
A Quick List Of Snubs
Zac Efron’s body in Iron Claw. I feel he would be honored by this. He must’ve only eaten boiled chicken for YEARS!! Did they shoot all his shirtless scenes first?? Did he even give up water? How did the 1st AD schedule this? I believe they deserve an Oscar for the coordination of body and schedule alone.
Zac effort crying. Basically he did a good job!!
The Bar in Past Lives. I feel we aren’t talking enough about how beautiful this bar is. A perfect three shot of your husband and your childhood love in a gorgeous UES bar. Give me the name of it. I’ll learn to like olives to drink a martini here.
Margo. I said it and I’ll say it again. You cry on cue!!!! You smile and not make your eyes look uneven!!! You play BARBIE!!!! No one respects this woman’s comedic timing. People hate when you’re hot and funny. Margo is punished for being HOT!!
Natalie Portman in May December
Julianna Moore in May December
Charles Melton in May December
Todd Haynes Directing May December
May December
Nicolas Cage. We should give him some type of award every year for just existing — but he was also excellent in Dream Scenario.
Jacob Elrodi’s and Caliee Spaeny’s height difference in Pricilla.
The Alien in Astroid City
HOW TO WATCH
My ideal watching situation:
- I prefer to watch The Oscars in solitude.
o (With my boyfriend, cat, and dog of course — but can you ever really be alone in your house when another person and two animals live there too.) So, almost in solitude.
o You must experience important things alone as to not clog your thoughts with other people’s opinions. I like to formulate my own ideas. THEN I go online and change them based on what everyone else says.
o And finally, when you watch with other people, or watch with people you don’t feel comfortable telling to shut the fuck up, they talk!!! Talk, talk, talk when I’m here to witness Joaquin Phoenix thank cows and John Travolta announce the wickedly talented Adele Dazeem. You. Can’t. Talk. Or. You’ll. Miss. It.
- With a meal that involves cheese and carbs.
- One, maybe two, glasses of wine — I do not wish to be too drunk.
o One year, my friend from New York flew to LA to watch The Oscars with me. (See above: only watch with people you can tell to shut the fuck up, and I felt safe with him.) We drank and drank through the ceremony, giddy on hot celebs. Being that we were in LA, the ceremony ended at a reasonable hour. And being that we were indeed very drunk, we decided to walk up my block to do the only logical thing: drink more. All was fair in love in war. Until I was back home in my living room an hour later, I realized I didn’t have my phone. I must’ve dropped it on the walk home. I was so drunk on Oscar night that I have lost my phone. Now I think a glass or two is the way to go.
If you are going to watch with friends or enemies:
o Who/What/Where: Tune in to the 96th Oscars at the new time of 7:00pm EDT / 4:00pm PDT / 11:00pm GMT / 7:00am CST. https://www.oscars.org/how-to-watch/
THANK YOU TO
Slate Media! Writing this would not have been possible for me without you, Slate Media. I am addicted to knowing your every thought. The seriousness in which you discuss culture makes me feel less alone in my obsession.
Jazz In The Background! I truly don’t know myself without you, Jazz In The Background. There is no me without Jazz In The Background — I listen to you anytime I read or write. You are the white noise I long for.
My depression! Thank you for making me feel that I have nothing, and I am nothing! Thank you for convincing me to give up. By giving up I was able to dissociate from reality and realize that nothing is real or truly means anything, which allows me to freely write words down with no fear behind them because ultimately… everything is meaningless! A long, round about road to get to this place of freedom — but you know what they say: It’s About The Destination, Not The Journey.
You reading this! You are probably a very cool person with cool thoughts and ideas. I would say please share what you thought about the movies with me as well — but I don’t really feel that way! I am a grown-up, who has paid thousands of dollars in therapy to learn “not everyone likes to argue” (still insane to me, but I oblige!) Please respect me and the money I have spent and don’t argue with me, or I will cry! If you want to share your thoughts on any of these movies, please do it one of three ways:
1) DM me a Meme about them and don’t expect me to reply.
2) Post an Instagram story with your review I will glance at.
3) Write a newsletter and I will read it!
HELPFUL LINKS
· For the crossover of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Fans and Best Picture Nominee Anatomy of a Fall Fans
· FASHION:– Breakdown of award season’s fashion so far and hopefully what the carpet will bring
· The video that defines my movie watching experience of 2024 so far
· If you watched Anatomy of a Fall you know
· Edgar Wright’s movies he loved that didn’t get nominated
· Wholesome Oscar Nomination reactions
· This Julianne Moore photo shoot
· The Playlist I can’t stop listening to: The Holdovers Soundtrack
· This insane Christopher Nolan take
· A PODCAST: A conversation about “What Makes A Good Director Anyway”