分类: 2020 Oscars

2021 Best International Feature Nominees

3/18/2021

Next up in our series this week is the Best International Feature category. Previously known as Best Foreign Language Film, this category got a new name just last year in 2020 with Best Picture winner Parasite winning here as well.

This year, one of the international feature nominees is again nominated for Best Director (as was Bong Joon-ho last year) with Another Round's Thomas Vinterberg being recognized in that category.

As of this writing, I have not had a chance to watch any of these films, though they will be on my list as we approach the Academy Awards ceremony. As I am able to watch them, reviews will be posted on the site.

Another Round (Druk) (Denmark) - Four friends, all high school teachers, test a theory that they will improve their lives by maintaining a constant level of alcohol in their blood. This is the thirteenth nomination for a film submitted from Denmark. Available on Hulu.
Better Days (Hong Kong) - A bullied teenage girl forms an unlikely friendship with a mysterious young man who protects her from her assailants, all while she copes with the pressures of her final examinations. This is the third nomination for a film submitted from Hong Kong. Available on VOD.
Collective (Colectiv) (Romania) - Director Alexander Nanau follows a crack team of investigators at the Romanian newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor as they try to uncover a vast health-care fraud that enriched moguls and politicians and led to the deaths of innocent citizens. This is the first nomination for a film submitted from Romania. Available on VOD.
The Man Who Sold His Skin (Tunisia) - His own body turned into a living work of art and promptly exhibited in a museum, Sam, a Syrian refugee, will soon realize to have sold away more than just his skin. This is the first nomination for a film submitted from Tunisia.
Quo Vadis, Aida? (Bosnia and Herzegovina) - Aida is a translator for the UN in the small town of Srebrenica. When the Serbian army takes over the town, her family is among the thousands of citizens looking for shelter in the UN camp. This is the second nomination for a film submitted from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Available on VOD.

2021 Short Film Nominees | 2021 Best Documentary Feature Nominees

2021 Short Film Nominees

3/17/2021

I am starting off our deeper dive coverage of the films nominated for Oscars this year with a look at the three short film categories, Best Documentary Short Film, Best Animated Short Film, and Best Live Action Short Film.

I personally love these categories because you often get a wide range of stories all packed into small packages. Many of the films, especially in the animated category, are less than ten minutes long, so you can sit down and watch the entire category in less time than it takes to watch a full feature film, if you can find them that is.

That's the true struggle with these films. They rarely get released to theaters outside of film festivals, but with the rise of online streaming services and sites like Vimeo and YouTube, many of these are more accessible than ever. Out of the 15 nominees across the three short film categories, seven are readily available on YouTube, Netflix and Disney+. The remaining eight do not currently have distribution as of this writing, but may be released publicly prior to the Academy Award ceremony.

Best Documentary Short Film

With four of these five films available online, I was able to sit down and watch them back to back. I wish I could say these documentaries were uplifting and lighthearted, but with subjects ranging from anti-government protests in Hong Kong to the murder of a young girl to a WWII French Resistance fighter visiting the concentration camp where her brother died, you won't find much levity here. About the closest you'll come is the conversation between a grandfather and grandson on the eve of the younger man's concerto debut in concert.

These films are all fantastic. As I have some more time to digest them and think about them, I'm sure one or two may rise to the surface as my favorite to win the award, but right now they are all too fresh in my mind to make a pick.

"Colette" - Nazi occupied France. Resistance took courage. Seventy-five years later, Facing one's ghosts may take even more. Available on YouTube.
"A Concerto Is a Conversation" - A virtuoso jazz pianist and film composer tracks his family's lineage through his 91-year-old grandfather from Jim Crow Florida to the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Available on YouTube.
"Do Not Split" - In 2019 Hong Kong was rocked by the largest protests since Britain handed back the area to China in 1997. This is the story of the protests, told through a series of demonstrations by local protesters that escalate into conflict when highly armed police appear on the scene. Available on YouTube.
"Hunger Ward" - Filmed from inside two of the most active therapeutic feeding centers in Yemen, the film documents two female health care workers fighting to thwart the spread of starvation against the backdrop of a forgotten war.
"A Love Song for Latasha" - The injustice surrounding the shooting death of 15-year-old Latasha Harlins at a South Central Los Angeles store became a flashpoint for the city’s 1992 civil uprising. Available on Netflix.

Best Animated Short Film

The animated short film category is one that has been owned by Pixar shorts off and on for some time. However, as cute as "Burrow" is, I don't think it is strong enough to take home the prize this year. I say this having only seen that and "If Anything Happens I Love You," but already that film has my vote for the award. Fair warning, don't read anything about it before you watch, not even my summary below. The best way to watch that short is to go in blind.

I am hoping to get a chance to see the other three films, especially "Opera" which brings a very intriguing premise. As I am able to view them, I will update here with my thoughts as well as short reviews of each.

"Burrow" - A young rabbit tries to build the burrow of her dreams, becoming embarrassed each time she accidentally digs into a neighbor's home. Available on Disney+.
"Genius Loci" - One night, Reine, a young loner, sees the urban chaos as a mystical oneness that seems alive, like some sort of guide.
"If Anything Happens I Love You" - Two parents struggle to overcome their pain following a tragic event that changes their family forever. Available on Netflix.
"Opera" - Our society and history, which is filled with beauty and absurdity.
"Yes-People" - One morning, an eclectic mix of people face everyday battles of work, school, and dish-washing.

Best Live Action Short Film

As of this writing, I've only seen one film from this group but it is fantastic. The premise of "Feeling Through" is truly unique and once again, I went in knowing very little of what it was about.

I am also intrigued to see "The Letter Room" which stars Hollywood actor Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina, Star Wars, Inside Llewyn Davis) He has been seen in a number of big budget films over the last decade or so, that I look forward to seeing what he is able to do in a short film format.

Finally, I recently heard an interview with Lawrence Bender, the producer of "Two Distant Strangers" as well as Joey Bada$$ who stars in the film. The story sounds like an intriguing look at police brutality in America mixed with a concept familiar to anyone who has seen Palm Springs (review) or Groundhog Day.

"Feeling Through" - A late-night encounter on a New York City street leads to a profound connection between a teen-in-need and a deaf blind man. Available at feelingthrough.com or YouTube.
"The Letter Room" - When a corrections officer is transferred to the letter room, he soon finds himself enmeshed in a prisoner's deeply private life.
"The Present" - On his wedding anniversary, Yusef and his young daughter set out in the West Bank to buy his wife a gift. Between soldiers, segregated roads, and checkpoints, how easy would it be to go shopping?
"Two Distant Strangers" - Cartoonist Carter James' repeated attempts to get home to his dog are thwarted by a recurring deadly encounter that forces him to re-live the same awful day over and over again.
"White Eye" - A man finds his stolen bicycle, which now belongs to a stranger. While attempting to retrieve it, he struggles to remain human.

2021 Oscar Facts and Trivia | Best International Feature

2021 Nominee Watch – February 5th

2/5/2021

I have to say the best film releasing this weekend is likely one you've seen before. Peter Jackson's 2001 blockbuster The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring lands in a limited IMAX re-release this weekend so now is your chance to see it on the big screen if it's been a while.

Unfortunately, there are no major wide releases this weekend, yet there is plenty of star power hitting theaters and virtual releases including names like Viggo Mortensen (Green Book, The Lord of the Rings), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park, Event Horizon), Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean, Sleepy Hollow), and Kate Hudson (Almost Famous, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days).

Please support your local cinemas whenever possible as they continue to struggle throughout these difficult times.

Limited Releases

February 5th
Angelique's Isle - A married couple treks to a remote island in search of copper riches end up fighting for survival through a brutal winter.
Dara of Jasenovac - The story of life in a Nazi concentration camp told from the perspective of a young girl.
Falling - Lance Henriksen and Viggo Mortensen star in a father and son story which is also Mortensen's directorial debut.
A Glitch in the Matrix - A new documentary that explores the idea of simulation theory in our lives.
Little Fish - People wake up in a world overrun by a pandemic that causes people to lose their memory.
The Mimic - A man is followed by a sociopath that tries to do everything just like him.
Minamata - Johnny Depp stars in this drama about a photographer who travels to Japan to document a case of mercury poisoning in a remote town.
Payback - A man who has spent six years in prison seeks revenge on the man who set him up.
PVT Chat - Sexual thriller that explores the world of online fantasies that spill over into the non-digital world.
Rams - Sam Neill stars as a sheep farmer who struggles to keep some of his favorite livestock when a deadly virus threatens the regional sheep population.
The Reckoning - In 1665, a town deals with witches who have made their deals with the devil.

Reunion - A pregnant woman's return to her deceased grandparents home turns terrifying.
Sacrifice - A man and his pregnant wife try to claim an inheritance in a remote village only to face a terrifying evil entity called The Slumbering One.
Son of the South - A young white man confronts racism by joining protests for racial equality and civil rights.
Two of Us - Two elderly women struggle to deal with their love for each other that has remained hidden for many years. (Oscar Contender)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Peter Jackson's modern classic kicks off the incredible trilogy with the beginning of Frodo Baggins's journey to destroy the One Ring.

February 10th
Music - Kate Hudson stars as the older sister of a teenage autistic girl (Maddie Ziedler) who seek out the aid of a friendly neighbor (Leslie Odom, Jr.) in this musical film directed by pop star Sia.

February 11th
Irréversible - Inversion Intégrale - Reverse edit of Gaspar Noé's 2002 film Irréversible.

Virtual Releases

February 5th
Heartworn Highways - Re-release of the 1976 documentary about mid-1970s country and folk musicians.
M.C. Escher: Journey to Infinity - Documentary look at the life and work of visionary artist and mathematician M.C. Escher.

February 10th
Twilight's Kiss - Two secretly gay Korean men who have a chance meeting in a park begin to explore their suppressed desires.

2021 Nominee Watch – January 15th

1/14/2021

We officially have one wide release opening this weekend as Liam Neeson looks to dethrone Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman 1984 from the top spot at the box office with the western/drug cartel action thriller The Marksman.

Wide Release

Liam Neeson brings his very particular set of skills to the US Mexico border in Arizona where he play Jim Hanson, owner of a ranch property that is about to be repossessed by the bank. While performing his own personal patrols along the border fence, he comes across a young boy, Miquel, and his mother attempting to cross into the United States and is about to contact Border Patrol when an SUV full of cartel gangsters pulls up on the Mexico side, attempting to get the two back.

When Miguel's mother is killed in a firefight, Hanson takes it upon himself to get the boy to his family in Chicago even at the risk of repercussions from the cartel.

I use Neeson's line from Taken with a little humor here, but it does feel like he can't find his way out of those types of roles. Hanson himself is a former marine and it's clear that he has continued to hone his sharpshooting skills even after leaving the service.

What I hope for in this film is that the story and relationship between Hanson and Miguel is allowed to develop. Hanson is not someone who has any love for people crossing the border, so being able to connect with this boy would be a true character growth moment.

2021 Nominee Watch – January 8th

1/7/2021

Welcome to the first Nominee Watch of 2021. If you're a regular to this site, you know I used to do these (just about) every Thursday with a rundown of the films releasing to theaters that weekend in the U.S. With everything that happened in 2020, there weren't a lot of films releasing to theaters so I've taken this opportunity to reset and start fresh.

New Year, New Nominee Watch

The first big change here is separating out limited releases as well as virtual releases. This is something we didn't really see until just the last few months where big films are being released straight to digital platforms. This necessitated a new category for these posts and I have included the first iteration at the end of today's post.

Wide Releases

Normally you would see a handful of bigger name movies, the ones you're more apt to have heard about. Unfortunately, there are no major releases this week, so I can use this space to expand on the plan here. In previous formats, I typically provided a written summary about the film and a YouTube link to the trailer. I think I'm going to keep the YouTube trailer link, but will likely shorten the synopsis to keep things moving along, and honestly make a little less work on my end (which means I'll be able to keep up with these better for you!)

First 2020 Oscar Presenters Announced

1/21/2020

The first batch of presenters for the upcoming 2020 Oscars has been announced.

In keeping with the tradition of having the previous year's acting winners return to present the following, all four winners of the acting categories from 2019 are back. That means Best Actor Rami Malek, Best Actress Olivia Colman, Best Supporting Actress Regina King, and Best Supporting Actor Mahershala Ali will be presenting the awards to a new batch of winners in just a few weeks.

It is likely that each will present for the opposite sex and also for the opposite prize as has been the tradition for some time. In the past several years, Best Supporting Actor has been one of the first prizes awarded so look for Colman to grace the stage first out of this group.

The remaining presenters are yet to be announced, but look for a star studded group, especially since the Oscars will have no host for the second year in a row.

2020 Nominee Watch – January 17th

1/16/2020

Our two big releases this weekend are a remake (of a remake) and a second sequel. What's that about there not being any new ideas in Hollywood anymore?

2020 Nominee Watch – January 10th

1/9/2020

While my efforts over the last week and a half have been focused on getting the early episodes of The Oscar Project Podcast off the ground, I wanted to take a little time to present the films that are hitting theaters this week.

The good news about these releases is that a few of them may be up for Oscars when the nominees are announced on Monday, January 13th. I can almost guarantee several nominations for 1917 and perhaps one for Just Mercy as well. Click through the find out where the contenders are and which films may have to wait for next year.

2020 Nominee Watch – January 3rd

1/2/2020

So now that the holidays are over, it's time to slog our way through the films that didn't quite make the cut for a holiday release last year. Granted, there are some films I'm looking forward to over the next few weeks and months, but don't expect many of these to be in contention for Oscars around this time next year.

This first weekend of the year brings only one new wide release and a handful of limited releases. Check them out below.