Roy’s front row reviews: 2020 Oscars highlight another year of diversity, but is it enough?
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It has been a diverse year in movies once again and many film makers and actors have seen their star rise quickly and brightly across the world stage. Sam Mendes, a previous winner in 1999 for "American Beauty," has burst back into cinemas this year with his breathtakingly made "1917" and now with two Golden Globe wins for best picture and best director, has become the clear front runner for Oscar glory. However, there is some stiff competition from a few other veteran film makers. Martin Scorsese has come back this year with his Netflix released masterpiece, "The Irishman," and with Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," sharing 10 nominations with both him and Mendes, Things are going to get interesting as Feb. 9 approaches.
However, there is a "Joker" in the pack that might just steal the show as Todd Phillips' brilliantly chilling story of how the Joker became what he was, has garnered 11 nominations (the most this year) with Joaquin Phoenix firmly placed as the favorite to win in the Best Actor category with his masterfully measured study of this iconic villain. Netflix has certainly changed the balance of power in Hollywood this year, something that many in the industry have said was inevitable.
The streaming company has had yet another huge year on the award circuit and, whilst also courting much criticism and debate regarding the rules as to what is a true theatrical movie, following on the heals of "Roma," (2018) the huge winner from last year, it seems that this year, with three movies all in high contention – "The Irishman" with 10 nominations, "Marriage Story" with 6 nominations and "The Two Popes" with 3 nominations – Netflix is here to stay and might just prove unstoppable on the night.
There has been some criticism with regard to the nominees in the four acting categories and many have noted the fact that with only one African American nominee, Cynthia Erivo for "Harriet," there seems to have been a step backwards in terms of diversity and inclusion. However, many have also stated that it simply is down to the fact that there have been so many powerful performances this year, many have been left out of the final five simply by the sheer volume of excellence which, yes, happens to have excluded many non white actors and actresses.
It is always a sensitive subject, especially as there was an uprising against the academy a few years ago with the #OscarSoWhite movement coming into being, but I have to admit, this year seems to have so many incredible performances and brilliant movies in general, that perhaps it has simply boiled down to the art in itself being the success rather than any other influence; I wonder if that could ever be agreed upon, one can only wait and see. Is a truly diverse stage ever going to be realized or is the very nature of movies themselves, by virtue of the egos involved, always going to be caught in the middle and never able to please everyone?
"Parasite" is a movie that seems to have come in under the radar and has become a kind of 'dark horse' of this year's Oscars. It has garnered much critical acclaim, indeed one review stated that it is the movie of the decade. Praise indeed, but equally notable is that it is a totally South Korean funded and made production that, just like Netflix, has not needed the weight of Hollywood to gain its acclaim, or box office status.
The one category to watch for with "Parasite" is in Best Original Screenplay where Bong Joon Ho is nominated (He also is nominated in the Best Director category too, quite a feat indeed) and here seems most likely to win. Although, he is up against Quentin Tarantino for 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," a favorite among Oscar voters, and Noah Baumbach for "Marriage Story," also a critically acclaimed and already multi award winning screenplay so far this award season. Watch for Greta Gerwig's adaptation of "Little Women" in the Best Adapted Screenplay category, a well received version of the classic Louisa May Alcott novel, now the seventh screen adaptation of this 1868 masterpiece. Many have been critical of the fact that Gerwig did not make the final five nominees for Best Director, but they do feel that her screenplay most certainly deserves its nomination.
The ones to watch in the four acting categories, for me, are Joaquin Phoenix for "Joker," Renee Zellweger for "Judy," Joe Pesci for "The Irishman" and Laura Dern for "Marriage Story," all main contenders this year but we will have to wait until Sunday evening on Feb. 9 to find out of I am right in my picks.
For Best Director, in one of the strongest years for a long time, I am picking Sam Mendes for his extraordinary work on "1917" and most certainly an Oscar win for legendary cinematographer, Roger Deakins. This is his fifteenth nomination for his incredibly ambitious camera work and lighting utilizing continuous, one shot sequences that took many months to bring to life.
One last nominee I want to mention is John Williams, now receiving his 53rd Oscar nomination (The most by any living person) in a career spanning some 60 years. Williams has created some of the most memorable music masterpieces of modern cinema, from "Star Wars," (1977) now again here with his nomination for "The Rise of Skywalker." to "Jaws," (1975) and from "E.T: The extra Terrestrial," (1982) to "Schindler's List," (1993) not to mention "Jurassic park," (1992) the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" Franchise, (1981-2008) and so many others. His legacy is unrivaled and his farewell to "Star Wars" will most likely be celebrated during the Oscar ceremony.
I am looking forward to the Oscars this year, more so than in previous years, as I think that there is going to be some truly well deserved winners but I am sure it will not be without some controversy too. Last year it was decided that there would be no main host and that seems to have gone down so well that they are doing the same this year. There will be some awesome performances too, especially from Elton John singing his nominated song from "Rocketman." '(I'm Gonna) Love me Again.' Although there was shock when Beyonce's song from "The Lion King" was not nominated thus robbing the ceremony of what, I am sure, would have been an amazing performance by her.
Whatever the outcome of the night, the sheer quality of the 53 nominated movies and documentaries from all over the world that are on display this year is testament to just how vibrant and vital the movie world still is as the range of human emotion and experience put out on film is, once again, shown off in all its glory – and the winners are…?
The nominees in the eight
main categories
Best Picture
1917
Ford Vs Ferarri
The Irishman
JoJo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite
Best Director
Bong Joon Ho – Parasite
Sam Mendez – 1917
Martin Scorsese – The Irishman
Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a
Time in Hollywood
Todd Phillips – Joker
Best Actor
Antonio Banderas – Pain & Glory
Leonardo DiCaprio – Once Upon
a Time in Hollywood
Adam Driver – Marriage Story
Joaquin Phoenix – Joker
Jonathan Pryce – The Two Popes
Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo – Harriet
Scarlett Johansson – Marriage Story
Charlize Theron – Bombshell
Renee Zellweger – Judy
Saoirse Ronan – Little Women
Best Supporting Actor
Tom Hanks – A Beautiful Day in
the Neighborhood
Anthony Hopkins – The Two Popes
Al Pacino – The Irishman
Joe Pesci – The Irishman
Brad Pitt – Ford V's Ferrari
Best Supporting Actress
Kathy Bates – Richard Jewell
Laura Dern – Marriage Story
Scarlett Johansson – JoJo Rabbit
Florence Pugh – Little Women
Margot Robbie – Bombshell
Best Original Screenplay
Knives Out – Rian Johnson
Marriage Story – Noah Baumbach
1917 – Sam Mendes &
Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Once Upon a Time in
Hollywood – Quentin Tarantino
Parasite – Boon Joon Ho & Han
Jin Won
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Irishman – Steve Zaillian
JoJo Rabbit – Taika Waititi
Joker – Todd Phillips & Scott Silver
Little Women – Greta Gerwig
The Two Popes – Anthony McCarten