Let’s talk Oscar noms!

Last updated on: January 26, 2017 at 8:49 am by Chris Williams

Let’s talk Oscar noms! 2017-01-26T08:49:48-05:00 Chris Williams

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Some quick thoughts on the 2017 Academy Award nominations, which were announced earlier today. A full list of nominees is available here.

At first blush, my biggest surprise is that there isn’t a ton here I would bicker with. The list of nominees this year is really darn good, spread out over several movies. Maybe it’s because I saw fewer movies than normal this year or simply because so many of the nominated films are on my best-of list, but I can’t really find a bad choice among the films. Really, a fantastic list of fantastic films this year.
The big story, of course, is “La La Land” with 14 nominations, tying the Academy record for nominations with “Titanic” and “All About Eve.” I know there’s a backlash going on among some critics, but I’m thrilled to see Damien Chazelle’s musical getting so much love. It’s a fun, joyful movie that I’m sure required an immense amount of work. And for a night designed to celebrate movies, what better one to lavish attention on? Whether “La La Land” is truly the best film of the year is up for debate, of course, but few can deny that it’s the most MOVIE movie of the year, a celebration of the form and the dreams that fuel the Oscars. I’m rooting for it, and happy that the film has struck such a chord.
Probably the most heartening story, though, is the diversity in nearly every category. After two years of being an embarrassingly lily-white affair, this year saw six black actors receive nominates; three in the best supporting actress category alone. It’s a record, and it’s well-deserved. This is a year in which diverse casts made up some of the most acclaimed films of the year, from “Moonlight” to “Hidden Figures.” And can I just say how great it is to see that latter film getting so much love? I don’t know that it would have made my list from last year, but it’s really stuck with me as an inspiring, entertaining story and one that I’m glad has found so much love with audiences.
As I said earlier, I saw fewer films than usual this year, so there are a few I need to try and catch up on before the big day. Top of that list is “Moonlight,” a movie I tried to make time for before the end of the year but just couldn’t catch before it left theaters. I have a screener of “Fences” I’ve been meaning to get to for a weeks now. “Hacksaw Ridge” is one I just didn’t have much desire to see, but I guess I have to get around that now. And “Lion,” which seems to have come out of nowhere, is now on my radar.
I’m really thrilled by the genre love scattered among the best picture nominees. Sure, everyone expected “Manchester by the Sea,” “Moonlight” and “La La Land” to get some love. But also in there is a science fiction drama (“Arrival”) and one of the best Western/crime dramas in ages (“Hell or High Water”). In fact, the love for “Hell or High Water” might be my favorite thing about this year’s Oscar nominations. I’m sure the film doesn’t have a chance in hell (or high water) to win, but it’s great to see that this tense, smart little thrill ride wasn’t forgotten.
I’m not sure, but is this the first year that Pixar released a film and found itself shut out of the best animated picture category? And listen, I enjoyed “Finding Dory” quite a bit, but I’m not feeling too sad to see it left off the list. This was a fantastic year for animation, and Disney’s “Moana” and “Zootopia” were both better than what Pixar put out. But I have to admit that I’d love to see “Kubo and the Two Strings” get a surprise win, just to give Laika a boost to keep making these special, beautiful movies. Edit: A helpful comment below reminded me that Cars 2 in 2011 and Monsters University in 2013 both went un-nominated. Maybe the Academy just doesn’t like Pixar’s non-Toy Story sequels (although you’re not going to hear me mount a vigorous defense for either film).
Is the Mel Gibson comeback official? I’ve been hoping the actor/director would see a resurgence, but I have to admit I was surprised to see “Hacksaw Ridge” among the best picture nominees, along with a nod for Gibson’s direction and Andrew Garfield’s performance. I know the film has its supporters, but everything I heard on it was quite mixed. But I guess I can’t underestimate Gibson; he’s a solid director and I hope he’s getting his life and career back on track.
If there’s a chip on my shoulder with “Hacksaw Ridge,” I guess it’s because I really wanted Andrew Garfield’s other story of religious struggle to be noticed. But aside from a cinematography nod, Martin Scorsese’s “Silence” was completely shut out of the race. It’s a shame: as I’ve written, I think “Silence” is one of Scorsese’s late masterpieces, and one of the best films about faith ever made. I’m not saying it should have replaced “Hacksaw Ridge” (which, again, I haven’t seen), but I think it’s one of this year’s few snubs.
Other griping? Well, I feel like the annual give-Meryl-Streep-a-nomination tradition should have been suspended this year. Amy Adams carried “Arrival,” and is the reason that film’s mix of emotion and intelligence worked so well. It’s shocking she’s not listed among the best actress nominees. I would have loved to see “The Witch” get a cinematography nod for its bleak, oppressive atmosphere. My favorite film of 2016, “Sing Street,” was completely shut out of the awards. And while I didn’t expect a best picture nominee, surely a best song nod for “Drive it Like You Stole It” would have been appropriate, no? And while Lin-Manuel Miranda has a shot at an EGOT with “How Far I’ll Go,” we all know that the best song from “Moana” was actually “You’re Welcome,” right?
Jimmy Kimmel’s hosting this year’s Oscars. I like Kimmel; he strikes a nice balance between respect and a poke in the ribs, and I’m sure he’ll be a funny host. Can’t wait to see this year’s Oscars!

Chris Williams

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