Missed Opportunities and Surprises at the Oscars
At the end of the day, the only truly deserving award they didn’t give was for the best screenplay. September 5 had an ironclad script and was the perfect film to address something meaningful about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing that it always starts with a human perspective to rebuild something.
It’s not the first time the Academy has made questionable decisions, with many prestigious Oscar-winning films quickly fading into obscurity. Will Anora suffer the same fate after winning 5 Oscars last Sunday? It’s a good film, well-written, with a standout performance by Mikey Madison, but lacks the potential to become a classic or even the best film by Sean Baker.
This tragicomic tale of a sex worker who finds a mark to exploit but ends up on an absurd journey with Russian thugs of an oligarch is both hilarious and reminiscent of Tarantino. It has a devilish pace but also delves into the psychological depth of the protagonist, who may seem foolish and hedonistic but proves to be more complex.
The Fall of “Emilia Pérez”
The remarkable Emilia Pérez had a tougher, cohesive narrative and edgy direction, seemingly set to dominate in the name of inclusivity. However, it stumbled due to controversial statements by its lead, Karla Sofía Gascón, diverting attention from her talent to personal opinions. It’s a shame as Emilia Pérez is a powerful film that uses gender identity as a canvas to depict internal conflicts akin to the finale of Thelma and Louise. It deserved recognition for direction, screenplay, and the lead actress but settled for a consolation prize for Zoe Saldaña.
Deserving Wins and Missed Opportunities
The Brutalist (three Oscars: best actor, score, cinematography) stands out with Adrien Brody’s prominent nose in VistaVision, a film where Brody shines under apt direction. Io sono ancora qui remains a powerful and nuanced film, rightfully winning Best Foreign Film.
The major disappointment, A Complete Unknown, fell short at the Oscars. Timothée Chalamet has a bright future ahead despite not securing any wins. A Real Pain offers a tragicomic take on Israeli history but fails to impress, winning Best Supporting Actor for Kieran Culkin.
Another Major Disappointment
In the animation category, The Wild Robot stood out as a technically flawless humanist fable. However, Flow emerged victorious, despite being inferior to Inside Out 2, lacking significant dialogue.
Conclave, a mediocre film, won for non-original screenplay, overshadowing more complex contenders like I ragazzi della Nickel and Emilia Pérez. The Substance, while recognized for makeup, deserved more accolades, possibly for direction or Demi Moore’s standout performance.
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September 5 will be featured at the upcoming “Blind Date” event by Simone Fortunato and Tempi on Thursday, March 13th at Le Giraffe cinema in Paderno Dugnano (MI). Stay tuned for more details and grab your ticket for just 5 euros here.
