So many great films! I enjoy your comments here, Mike. With Complete Unknown, I think the only catch is that since the Academy expanded to include many more international members that shifts which films win. Dylan is well known but not quite the phenomenon overseas that he is here.
I think Mangold is stuck making whatever he can get funding for, a perennial problem in Hollywood.
You’re totally right; I didn’t think about that. Well, “Anora” won, which completely surprised me. I still haven’t seen it, but I’m sure that’ll change soon!
Really enjoyed your show; you made me realize how little I went to the movies last year.
I enjoyed "The Brutalist", but like you with "Conclave", haven't thought about it almost at all since I saw it. Loved the grandeur of it and can't believe it was so low budget, but I don't know, I just don't think it had much under the hood. However, I did, also like you, LOVE the Intermission. I didn't leave the theater during that 15 minutes, but just sat there with my friend, talking about the first half. Please bring back Intermissions!
I think Best Pic will be "A Complete Unknown" because it's the most traditional/safe, which is ironic for a movie about Bob Dylan. Biopics are Oscar faves, and at the very least, Timmy C. will go Best Actor. Above all, it is a pretty good movie. And, yes, every time Ed Norton is onscreen as Pete Seger, it's like a warm hug. I've liked James Mangold since "Copland", and have been kind of disappointed in the way his career's gone. He's turned into a sort of director-for-hire for big studio movies, rather than continuing to do small indies like "Heavy". Still, I think he's really good at what he does.
I'll definitely check out "I'm Still Here" and "Anora". Been wanting to see "Anora" for months because I liked Baker's other movies -- especially "The Florida Project". He's the modern equivalent of Preston Sturges or Hal Ashby, just a guy who makes movies about the world we live in. (I can't believe you remember "Better Things"! My wife and I were watching that show again recently and also realized that was Mikey Madison. She was also great as one of the Manson girls in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood".)
I loved "A Real Pain" so much -- my favorite movie of last year along with "Saturday Night". Somehow it's not up for best picture; that movie, above all the movies I saw last year, had some serious things to say in its short run time. Culkin was so good and will definitely win, not that it's really all that important.
Anyway, hope you don't mind my long comment. I just found you here on Substack because I adjunct at UAB and saw you'll be there next week! I have a class at 5, but will do my best to come after.
So many great films! I enjoy your comments here, Mike. With Complete Unknown, I think the only catch is that since the Academy expanded to include many more international members that shifts which films win. Dylan is well known but not quite the phenomenon overseas that he is here.
I think Mangold is stuck making whatever he can get funding for, a perennial problem in Hollywood.
You’re totally right; I didn’t think about that. Well, “Anora” won, which completely surprised me. I still haven’t seen it, but I’m sure that’ll change soon!
Really enjoyed your show; you made me realize how little I went to the movies last year.
I enjoyed "The Brutalist", but like you with "Conclave", haven't thought about it almost at all since I saw it. Loved the grandeur of it and can't believe it was so low budget, but I don't know, I just don't think it had much under the hood. However, I did, also like you, LOVE the Intermission. I didn't leave the theater during that 15 minutes, but just sat there with my friend, talking about the first half. Please bring back Intermissions!
I think Best Pic will be "A Complete Unknown" because it's the most traditional/safe, which is ironic for a movie about Bob Dylan. Biopics are Oscar faves, and at the very least, Timmy C. will go Best Actor. Above all, it is a pretty good movie. And, yes, every time Ed Norton is onscreen as Pete Seger, it's like a warm hug. I've liked James Mangold since "Copland", and have been kind of disappointed in the way his career's gone. He's turned into a sort of director-for-hire for big studio movies, rather than continuing to do small indies like "Heavy". Still, I think he's really good at what he does.
I'll definitely check out "I'm Still Here" and "Anora". Been wanting to see "Anora" for months because I liked Baker's other movies -- especially "The Florida Project". He's the modern equivalent of Preston Sturges or Hal Ashby, just a guy who makes movies about the world we live in. (I can't believe you remember "Better Things"! My wife and I were watching that show again recently and also realized that was Mikey Madison. She was also great as one of the Manson girls in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood".)
I loved "A Real Pain" so much -- my favorite movie of last year along with "Saturday Night". Somehow it's not up for best picture; that movie, above all the movies I saw last year, had some serious things to say in its short run time. Culkin was so good and will definitely win, not that it's really all that important.
Anyway, hope you don't mind my long comment. I just found you here on Substack because I adjunct at UAB and saw you'll be there next week! I have a class at 5, but will do my best to come after.