As you may know, it’s my favorite time of year – Oscar time!! This year, of the nine nominated films, I have seen seven. While I liked most of them, I am struggling with what Best Picture really means. None of them swept me off my feet or shook me to my core. Or is Best Picture the one that will hold up 20 years from now?  One we will still be talking about or have to watch every time we see it airing on television (or available on Netflix)? (Shawshank Redemption, cough.) I don’t know. Frankly, I’m flummoxed by how some even got the nomination, but that’s a whole other conversation. I’m not predicting winners here, but I will tell you a few movies I liked.

Of the seven I have seen, my top three are The Shape of Water, Call Me By Your Name and Lady Bird. The first two are, simply put, romances – exemplifying that you really can’t help with whom you fall in love. The performances are breathtaking. I thought it was going to be Sally Hawkins’s year; you really get and feel her character yet she barely utters a word. The emotion she puts behind everything she does is truly impressive. Unfortunately for her, I’m pretty positive it’s Frances McDormand’s year. She is a force – not an undeserving win at all for her turn in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, just bad luck for Sally. As for CMBYN, Timothee Chalamet is fantastic. You can’t take your eyes off of him. He plays guitar and piano, he speaks multiple languages and he acts pretty well, too. (You can also catch him in Lady Bird, by the way.) He won’t win either (early congrats to Gary Oldman who is unrecognizable in Darkest Hour) but I look forward to seeing his future work. I really enjoyed some of the soundtrack during the movie, too.

Lady Bird is a very realistic snapshot of a teenage girl itching to get of her town while fighting, loving, trying to please and pushing away her mother. Laurie Metcalf is remarkable. I thought she was a shoo-in, and then I saw I, Tonya. I love me some Allison Janney (“West Wing,” “Mom,” and The Way Way Back – she is something else.)

Quick plug for Molly’s Game – it only got a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination, but it was great. Jessica Chastain is terrific and the director/writer is Aaron Sorkin (“The West Wing,” “Sports Night,” A Few Good Men – you know the writing is going to be top-notch!) It won’t win but that’s ok, it’s definitely worth watching.

Oscar’s are on this Sunday night – love me some Jimmy Kimmel.  Enjoy!

 

Books

I have a belated Valentine’s Day book suggestion. I was going to recommend it earlier but the timing didn’t seem appropriate what with everything going on in the real world so I’m making it now. It does require some homework, however. If you haven’t read Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (first of all, how is that possible?!) then you must start there. And read it with tissues next to you. As you know, I try to keep it positive on this blog, but I’m about to throw some shade (sorry Ms. Moyes). Moyes wrote a sequel called Me After You. I told people not to read it. I didn’t like it. Instead, I directed friends to another of her books, One Plus One – so good! When I heard she wrote a third book in the series, I was not optimistic, but I took the plunge. It’s called Still Me and it’s….terrific. I really loved it. “Do I have to read the second book?” you may ask. Yes, you do. Maybe you’ll like it more since I’ve lowered your expectations? Let’s hope for that.

If you’re looking for a good mystery that you can read in a couple days, try The Dry by Jane Harper. You’ll feel parched as if you are experiencing the drought in the Outback along with the characters and you’ll have no idea what is going to happen.

If you like historical fiction, try Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate.   Unbelievably based on real-life events; poor children were stolen, neglected/abused and then sold to wealthy individuals. It was well written even though it hurt to read.

 

Song of the blog (Click on the link.)

In honor of Baby Driver’s three nominations, I’m going to plug its star, Ansel Elgort, and his song “Thief.”  It’s not new but it’s a favorite in our house.

 

Thanks for reading!