KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There are a wide variety of films nominated this year, everything from masterworks of cinema to overrated films that don’t live up to the hype they have received. Here is a guide to which films to see and which ones to skip.
JoJo Rabbit
1917
Little Women
Parasite
Marriage Story
Ford vs Ferrari
Joker
The Irishman
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
1917
What it’s about:
During World War 1, two young soldiers are given a mission to enter enemy territory, cross a no-man’s land and give a message to a battalion marching into an ambush at dawn. If they fail, 1,600 soldiers, including the brother of one of our heroes, will perish. Their journey becomes an odyssey through a wasteland of abandoned trenches and burned out ruins, with danger lurking behind every shadow.
See it:
Director Sam Mendes (“Skyfall”) shot this entire film to look as though it is one continuous shot, which is an impressive technical achievement. Roger Deakins, who is widely thought of as one of our greatest cinematographers (“Fargo”, “Sicario”, “Blade Runner 2049”), creates beautiful, haunting images that elevate the film beyond its simplistic plot. Unlike most war movies, “1917” lives in the quiet moments before the battle, far behind the frontline, showcasing the bravery and terror of the soldiers waiting to meet their fate.
Skip it:
Although the exclusive use of long unedited takes is intriguing, it is also a bit gimmicky and doesn’t always make sense narratively. There is a great deal of walking and talking for long periods, and unfortunately, the dialog is one of the film’s weaknesses, which makes the film drag in places. The two leads are relative unknowns, which works well considering they are portraying nameless soldiers. The overabundance of famous actors making cameos though- Andrew Scott (Hot Priest, “Fleabag”), Richard Madden (Robb Stark, “Game of Thrones”), Benedict Cumberbatch (“Doctor Strange”) and Colin Firth (“Kingsman”)- becomes more of a distraction than a benefit.
Oscar chances:
Right now, “1917” is the front runner for Best Picture, Best Director and most likely Best Cinematography.
Oscar Results:
"1917" won for Best Cinematography, Achievement in Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects.
