Oscars

Davis & Boseman deserve to win for their performances in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.
Didn't particularly think Borat did anything interesting or nomination-worthy this time round but others have raved about it.

Yeah it's frustrating that loads of films aren't released here yet when there's been buzz around them in the US for half a year. I don't know why they're so adamant to push for cinema-exclusive releases in other parts of the world but are perfectly happy for streaming releases in the US, we're really not that far ahead of them when it comes to opening back up and surely the US is the bigger market to be targeting for cinema release anyway. These films are small enough that releasing them to rent probably wouldn't impact them too badly since the only people who would have seen them are likely those to stream them if it's available.

As for the nominations, there's not many surprises and nothing too egregious. The worst of it is probably that One Night in Miami and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom aren't best picture noms, Deleoy Lindo was snubbed and Lakeith Stanfield got a nom but for supporting (some of the worst category fudging I've ever seen - I guess Judas and the Black Messiah just had no lead then? Or maybe they're so bold as to convince us it was Jesse Plemons) but obviously no one wants to be up for lead against Chadwick Boseman which is understandable but it doesn't make it sound any less stupid.

Another Round is almost guaranteed its international film win - it's got so much hype behind it and I've not heard of any of the others (but that could very well be me being ignorant). The rest of the categories I'd say are more up in the air, even best actor - Boseman's still probably the front-runner but it feels less certain than it did a few months ago. I'm sure we'll all be up in arms over some decisions no matter what happens though, it's always the case and honestly a big part of the fun!

Well I hope that Carey Mulligan gets best Actress. Been a huge fan of hers since Doctor Who and from what I hear, Promising Young Woman is a barnstorming performance.

Amy Irving for Yentl and James Coco for Only When I Laugh

Interesting. Any particular reason? Boseman learnt to play the Trumpet specifically for that role, given everything going on behind the scenes his commitment to the role was outstanding, imo.

I struggled with Mank but have no allegiance to Citizen Kane or that particular period. Felt like I've seen other Hollywood periods do it better. Oldham's drunken monologue in the 2nd half was pretty intense and his plight throughout was convincing but all this film really served to do for me was confirm that Hollywood was and still is full of sh*tbags. If that's Oscar-winning then the irony is lost on a lot of people.

Intriguing. I wonder if that's a product of the screenplay being developed from the stage play and film direction channelling that energy.

Likewise, I'm sure many of the films I didn't enjoy others raved about, Mank included.

Just read that they want the actors to turn up in person and no zooms allowed. Isn’t that a bit counter productive. Surely better to have a winner express delight live on a zoom than someone accept in his or her place with a dim smile? And you can rely on actors to make a bit of an ‘entrance’ even on a zoom.

It’s like they can’t be bothered to do the techie work. They could have made something really good with people in their local parks cavorting etc. And if there are any pro bubbles then that would have been fun to see and good publicity. Oh well.

To be honest I hope people refuse to travel and the Oscars end up looking embarrassed. What a stupid stipulation, making people travel during a pandemic, especially when the technology is there. Also it opens us up to even more 'one rule for the rich and famous, another for us plebs who cannot travel'.

Yeah a bunch of rich people gathering to celebrate themselves while indulging in extravagance might have passed for escapism in the public's opinion before, but right now it's not good optics and I don't know why they'd want to encourage that kind of narrative after the backlash to stuff like the imagine song. They're essentially rubbing the fact that they've mostly been able to work, and in any case could easily have survived without work, in the face of millions who potentially haven't been working for a year or who have been slaving away every day putting themselves at risk. I should think they'd want to encourage the celebrities to look a little more modest and, you know, not totally detached from reality right now and this rule seems to go completely against that, but I suppose without the red carpets and the in-person speeches and performances what else is the Oscars but a bunch of colleagues awarding each other for a job well done that the public has no real stake in. Or maybe they are in fact just so detached that they don't realise how bad this will look.

They literally have no idea. There was a 'round table' (round camera?) interview with some of the actresses (Hollywood Reporter) - Glenn Close and Kate Winslet in particular were so beyond tone deaf in their interviews, I could not believe it. Winslet begging the general public to understand how hard they work (vomit). They have no clue what is going on. I think it would be a greater statement for most of these celebs to not bother attending, and having their awards accepted for them on their behalf. The whole thing is disgusting right at this moment for me anyway, and this is coming from a real awards nut queen. 

This was in answer to a question about public misperceptions about their job. I'm curious as to why it struck you as vomit-worthy.