Let's Talk Movies #36 - 2020 - Yep it is a new decade

Maybe - and it looks like Oppenheimer will as well. But we know what happened at the Oscars as recently as in 2019 (Parasite, favorite was 1917) and 2021 (CODA, I think the favorite was West Side Story).
I think The Power of the Dog was the fave for best picture in 2021
 
I finally saw Barbie. I thought it was a cute movie, but am really puzzled by all the critical accolades. It's cute, Margot Robbie is adorable as is Ryan Gosling, but best picture?
 
I finally saw Barbie. I thought it was a cute movie, but am really puzzled by all the critical accolades. It's cute, Margot Robbie is adorable as is Ryan Gosling, but best picture?
The category was expanded to 10 films a few years to encompass movies like 'Barbie'. I don't think it would have been nominated in years where the category only included 5 films.
 

Box Office Mojo has corrected the U.S. Domestic Box Office for last weekend.

Mean Girls was #1 with $32M. So….does anyone know if it’s actually good?

I finally saw Barbie. I thought it was a cute movie, but am really puzzled by all the critical accolades. It's cute, Margot Robbie is adorable as is Ryan Gosling, but best picture?

Yes - mainly because the Oscars now have more than five Best Picture nominees. IMHO, I think that Barbie has a good chance of winning Oscars for Production Design, Costume Design, and Best Song.
 
Bafta noms are out!! There was shocker in actress with no Gladstone.


Hmm. The Oscar nominations usually follow closely to what happens with BAFTA. I’m thinking Oppenheimer is going to win a bunch, but could Holdovers win a couple of surprises? Either Cillian Murphy or Paul Giamatti will win Best Actor.

I have mixed feelings about Martin Scorsese movies - some are clearly great (Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Departed), but his latest few have been at least an hour (and really more like an hour and a half) too long - and not needed. I felt like I aged ten years watching The Irishman, for example. I would be interested in seeing a movie like Killers of the Flower Moon - but how good it is for 3 hours and 28 minutes???
 
Hmm. The Oscar nominations usually follow closely to what happens with BAFTA. I’m thinking Oppenheimer is going to win a bunch, but could Holdovers win a couple of surprises? Either Cillian Murphy or Paul Giamatti will win Best Actor.

I have mixed feelings about Martin Scorsese movies - some are clearly great (Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Gangs of New York), but his latest few have been at least an hour (and really more like an hour and a half) too long - and not needed. I felt like I aged ten years watching The Irishman, for example. I would be interested in seeing a movie like Killers of the Flower Moon - but how good it is for 3 hours and 28 minutes???
I have been feeling same way. His movies are all like 3 hours or more because no one really edits him anymore! There are lots of scenes that I feel could be cut and are there for a glimpse at something that’s not really necessary. Fraser and Lithgow could have been cut out! Or just condensed in the writing stage.
 
Hmm. The Oscar nominations usually follow closely to what happens with BAFTA. I’m thinking Oppenheimer is going to win a bunch, but could Holdovers win a couple of surprises? Either Cillian Murphy or Paul Giamatti will win Best Actor.

I have mixed feelings about Martin Scorsese movies - some are clearly great (Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Departed), but his latest few have been at least an hour (and really more like an hour and a half) too long - and not needed. I felt like I aged ten years watching The Irishman, for example. I would be interested in seeing a movie like Killers of the Flower Moon - but how good it is for 3 hours and 28 minutes???
Since BAFTA changed how their nominations work they've varied a bit more from what the other awards shows do. There's frequently at least once major difference nomination wise. I am disappointed that the major difference this year was Lily Gladstone though.
 
"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" is a blast! It's got everything you'd expect: cool space battles, funny jokes, and awesome music. The Guardians are back, and this time their story gets kinda emotional, especially with Rocket's backstory. Groot's not a baby anymore, and he's funnier than ever.

The villain in this one is pretty intense, and there are some twists that I didn't see coming. But what really makes it great are the characters. They're like a weird space family that you just can't help but love.

It's not perfect, though. Some parts felt a bit dragged out, and if you haven't seen the other movies or the Marvel shows, you might be a bit lost.

All in all, it's a solid movie. Great for a night out with friends or just chilling at home. If you like space adventures and a good laugh, this one's for you.
 
I'm slowly catching up with all the big 2023 movies through streaming. :) Just finished The Holdovers. That is a quietly amazing film, with great writing and performances across the board.. I think it'll stay with me a long time.
A sort of Christmas movie worth watching: I like, that for this one holiday, the three of them were better together than they were if they lived separately. And I don't know where it was filmed but the scenery was lovely.
 
I went to the movies last night and watched 'All of Us Strangers', which deals w/ closure on past relationships. I am still affected by it as I type this post.

Paul Mescal and Claire Foy are amazing, as is the lead actor Andrew Scott.

The BAFTAs awarded it w/ 6 nominations. I would hope it would be up for an Academy Award but I'm not very hopeful. It seems to be lost in the momentum of other films.
 
Just finished watching “Blackberry” on Amazon Prime. I think it’s also available on AMC+.

O CANADA ??!!! It’s a shame this movie wasn’t pushed more than it was - I don’t think it made the box office in the U.S. I think this was one of the best movies in 2023, and it otherwise would be in the running for a Best Picture Oscar nomination on Tuesday. Why did they not debut it at Sundance instead of at Berlin? ? I think the acclaim from Sundance would have propelled it to make the box office in the U.S.

This movie is shot so well for the story and excellently explains the startup of BlackBerry, how the BlackBerry suddenly exploded in popularity, and also how it also quickly imploded. I give this movie a 9.2/10. Highly recommended - especially if you are a techie. ? ?
 
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O CANADA ??!!! It’s a shame this movie wasn’t pushed in more theaters - I don’t think it made the box office in the U.S. I think this was one of the best movies in 2023, and it otherwise would be in the running for a Best Picture Oscar nominated on Tuesday. Why did they not debut it at Sundance instead of at Berlin? ? I think the acclaim from Sundance would have propelled it to make the box office in the U.S.
I think because it was planned as a theatrical version, and an extended mini-series the idea of going wide into theatres wasn't really considered.
 
Just finished watching “Blackberry” on Amazon Prime. I think it’s also available on AMC+.

O CANADA ??!!! It’s a shame this movie wasn’t pushed more than it was - I don’t think it made the box office in the U.S. I think this was one of the best movies in 2023, and it otherwise would be in the running for a Best Picture Oscar nomination on Tuesday. Why did they not debut it at Sundance instead of at Berlin? ? I think the acclaim from Sundance would have propelled it to make the box office in the U.S.

This movie is shot so well for the story and excellently explains the startup of BlackBerry, how the BlackBerry suddenly exploded in popularity, and also how it also quickly imploded. I give this movie a 9.2/10. Highly recommended - especially if you are a techie. ? ?

There had been an early push for Glenn Howerton as Jim Balsillie to be nominated for Best Supporting, but perhaps there wasn't really the budget for a full fledged campaign.
 
If you want to watch a visually stunning movie, check out The Velvet Queen. It's a nature documentary about two men trying to get footage of the elusive snow leopard in Tibet. I swear the cinematography here is even better than Planet Earth and the Disney wildlife movies, all of which are beautiful to watch. I didn't find the story of the photographer and the writer to be outstanding, but maybe their keeping their own journey a bit subdued let the visuals overtake you in such a fantastic way. They also spend a bit of time with a Tibetan family who live literally in the middle of nowhere, and there's some nice moments of these foreigners spending time with a local family and their sweet children.

On rottentomatoes.com, The Velvet Queen has a 100% fresh rating from critics and 83% fresh from viewers. It won best documentary at France's equivalent of the Oscars and was nominated for two additional César Awards.
 
The Oscars nominations will be announced on Tuesday at 5:30amPT/8:30amET. The Oscars nominations livestream on YouTube will be here.

And here are the nominees!

“I’m Just Ken” got booed when it was announced for Best Song. Nice. ?

So…..Godzilla Minus One ? WHY OH WHY was it not submitted for Japan for Best International Film?!

Godzilla Minus One should have been included in the Best Picture nominees. It was only nominated for Best Visual Effects - and it’ll probably lose to Guardians Vol. 3 or Mission: Impossible - DR1.

So…..has anyone seen American Fiction?
 
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And here are the nominees!

“I’m Just Ken” got booed when it was announced for Best Song. Nice. ?

So…..Godzilla Minus One ? WHY OH WHY was it not submitted for Japan for Best International Film?!

Godzilla Minus One should have been included in the Best Picture nominees. It was only nominated for Best Visual Effects - and it’ll probably lose to Guardians Vol. 3 or Mission: Impossible - DR1.

So…..has anyone seen American Fiction?
I have to see American Fiction. My writer friends all say that's very true to life! Godzilla Minus One was an amazing film and deserves way more accolades.
 
Shocked that May-December got a best writing nomination.

They basically just copied Mary Kay Latoureau and Vili Fualaau’s predatory sexually abusive relationship and didn’t even consult with Vili about it. :(
 
Shocked that May-December got a best writing nomination.

They basically just copied Mary Kay Latoureau and Vili Fualaau’s predatory sexually abusive relationship and didn’t even consult with Vili about it. :(

Especially for Original Screenplay. ?

Robbie Robbed! Barbie Being depressed and falling down like a Barbie was funny moment of the year!

She got a Best Picture nod, though……I still can’t believe the reaction “I’m Just Ken” got when it was announced.

Greta Gerwig didn’t get a Best Director nomination but got one for Best Adapted Screenplay.
 
I was hoping Zac Efron would get in for The Iron Claw but I know that was a long shot. Such a wrenching performance. Also, disappointing that Greta Gerwig didn’t get a Best Director nomination. I liked Barbie (though I had some issues with it) and it would have been great to see more than one woman in the Best Director lineup.

On the plus side, thrilled for Sterling K. Brown. I’ve enjoyed his work for a long time.
 
Fun fact: I own Blackberry shares that are worth next to nothing. :lol:
Shouldn't that be a "Fun" fact then?

She got a Best Picture nod, though……I still can’t believe the reaction “I’m Just Ken” got when it was announced.
I can't either. That song actually made it onto some people's best music of 2023 lists. There is nothing to boo about here IMO.
 
And here are the nominees!

“I’m Just Ken” got booed when it was announced for Best Song. Nice. ?

So…..Godzilla Minus One ? WHY OH WHY was it not submitted for Japan for Best International Film?!

Godzilla Minus One should have been included in the Best Picture nominees. It was only nominated for Best Visual Effects - and it’ll probably lose to Guardians Vol. 3 or Mission: Impossible - DR1.

So…..has anyone seen American Fiction?
I loved American Fiction! I highly recommend.
 

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