Movie reviews

THE 2022 OSCARS GALA

I watched it all in real time, I'm just posting late, though with a different outlook on the ceremony than most since I wasn't preoccupied with the scandal and focused much more on other trivia.

The streaming from http://freetvstream.in/de/tv/pro7.php worked from the very beginning at 2 a.m. CET. About 2,5 hours in I had to move to brettygood.com. After a quarter there back to Pro7 to avoid the annoying replay of the slapping. The gala ended at 5:30 a.m. CET. 

Beyonce was announced and the ceremony opened with an exuberant performance of the nominated song from "King Richard". Plenty of inside jokes, e.g.: "This year the Academy hired 3 women to host because it's cheaper than hiring 1 man". Lady Gaga and Jared Leto were mentioned for "House of Random Accents". "Look at Timothee Chalamet" - the camera pointed at J.K. Simmons - as the 2 years of the pandemic exhausted everyone. One of the comedians introduced herself: "Amy Schumer or as they know me in Hollywood: Melissa McCarthy said no". "Leonardo Di Caprio made so much effort to fight climate change and leave a cleaner, greener planet for his girlfriends". And it was Amy Schumer's dream to stay until she blacks out. 

Actress in a Supporting Role was won by Ariana DeBose "West Side Story" (I would have much preferred Judi Dench "Belfast"). 

A joke by Regina Hall about Covid tests that got lost started fine but went gross and sexist. 

"Dune" deservedly got the award for Sound. Cinematography also went to Greig Fraser for "Dune" as I hoped.

Documentary Short Subject "The Queen of Basketball".

Visual Effects ("Free Guy", "Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings", "Dune" were my faves) - "Dune".

Next came "60 years of Bond", the nominated song from "Encanto" - "Dos Oruguitas" - probably my fave among the nominees in this category. 

Animated Feature ("Encanto", "Flee", "Raya And The Last Dragon" well all my hopes) - "Encanto" won.

Next came 5 "Most Cheer Worthy Movie Moments" - to me just one: the bullet dodging in "Matrix".

Animated Short Film "The Windshield Wiper" won, I saw none of the 5 nominees.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures was presented with "Have you been to Meryl Streep's house? Looks just like this" - a room with Oscar statues all around.

윤여정 (Yuh-Jung Youn) was upset about mispronouncing her name the year before - now she had to pronounce the nominees for Actor in the Supporting Role. I didn't root for anyone. Deaf actor Troy Kotsur from "Coda" won. The actress invited him signing his name. He spoke in sign language and mentioned deaf theatres that had let him play which felt like a scene taken out of "Drive My Car". Apparently a person speaking the language is called 'a signer'. 

International Movie - the Shang-Chi actor joked he came from the community since he came from the exotic country of Canada. I only didn't want ("The Worst Person in the World") to win - "Drive My Car" did. 

Mila Kunis announced another song, with hints at the war in Ukraine. Next followed a minute of Silence for the country with a call to support the nation.

Unfortunately "The Long Goodbye" won Live Action Short Film.

Costume Design - I hoped Jenny Beavan for "Cruella" would and she won. Lupita Nyong'o announced the category wearing a dress sparkling with gold. The winner said she had nearly turned down the job because they had so little time.

The Oscar statue was modelled on a Mexican American actor in 1928 "because the brown don't break down". Song "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from "Encanto" followed, mixed with an inserted piece about the Academy Award - all the singers and dancers dressed in vibrant colours.

A K-pop band commented on how they loved Disney.

The Tammy Faye parody was pathetic. As was Amy Schumer mocking Spider-Man.

Original Screenplay - "Don't Look Up", "King Richard" would be fine with me but at least "Belfast" beat dreadful "Verdens verste menneske" ("The Worst Person in the World").

Adapted Screenplay - I hoped for "Dune", alternatively "Drive My Car" but "Coda" won.

"5 Top Fan Favourite movies" followed - no idea what for.

Original Score - "Dune" beyond any competition also in my opinion.

Rami Malek announced the nominated song from latest James Bond "No Time To Die".

Film Editing - "Dune". Wonderful. The winner remarked an Oscar nomination in the mouth of a 17-year-old is an insult. He had heard one from his daughter.

Chris Rock came with some lame gags. One of them led to a scuffle with Will Smith.

Documentary - I've seen just "Flee" and "Summer of Soul" - both excellent. "Summer of Soul" made it.

A tribute to "Godfather" on its 50th anniversary was followed by the director and the two lead actors appearing on the stage. The director, in turn, paid a tribute to Ukraine. 

Next came In Memoriam. Apparently Ivan Reitman was 10 when his parents took him out of Czechoslovakia fleeing the country. 

Production Design - luckily "Dune" again.

Original Song - Billie Eilish for "No Time To Die".

Director - hoped for "Drive My Car" but Jane Campion won for "The Power of the Dog".

A "Pulp Fiction" reunion took place, the director with the two leads who danced on stage. The movie briefcase was opened to announce Actor in a Leading Role: I rooted for Will Smith in "King Richard" but, to be honest, didn't see any other nominee - Will Smith won and commented his character was a fierce defender of his family. Denzel Washington had warned him that when he's the highest that's when the devil comes for you. Next he apologized to the Academy. 

Makeup and Hairstyling - I liked all the nominees. "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" won.

Amy Schumer reappeared saying she had been getting out of the Spider-Man costume and asked if she had missed anything. Next she joked about seat-fillers asking an actor's wife out to go to the bathroom.

Lead Actress: Jessica Chastain for "The Eyes of Tammy Faye", Penelope Cruz for "Parallel Mothers", I didn't see Nicole Kidman's flick, Kristen Stewart for "Spencer" were my hopes, especially Kristen - Jessica Chastain won. Fine. She said they were living the time of isolation during the pandemic, mentioned suicide being the leading cause of death in the US and that it had affected her family. Her dress looked like cellophane.

Lady Gaga entered with Liza Minelli in a wheelchair as she celebrated the 50th anniversary of "Cabaret" and announced Best Picture. I rooted for: "Dune", "Don't Look Up", "Drive My Car" and "King Richard" but - unseen by me - "CODA" won. 

The three female comedians bade farewell to everyone in pyjamas.

DRGANIA SWIETLIKOW (FLICKERING FIREFLIES)

Watchable. Shot over 10 years. While the choice of the protagonist seems accidental, it's a very warm story about an actor, aged, with spine problems and bipolar disorder, who has a humble dream of creating a little wood theatre. It becomes a tale about acting, about artistic needs surpassing material ones. About being needed in life. And about how poor an artist can be. Lacking interested actors, he performs himself - skillfully yet with disappearing audience.  "Acting is the only profession in which you cut your mentality. All those roles live in us." Quite sad, yet engaging. Beautiful, loud but non-intrusive piano music. Very professionally produced, with superb sound and visual effects. Poetic passages in between the realistic depictions of his life are highlights. Director (and an actress herself) Hanna Brulińska clearly shares her protagonist's sensitivity. 

Q&A WITH ANDRZEJ GOLEJEWSKI

The "Drgania świetlików" ("Flickering Fireflies") protagonist acts because he finds the audience's reaction unpredictable so he's hooked on it and sees it worth acting for such little human circles.