*Update 2/3/20: I watched Ford v Ferrari and 1917 so my reviews for those have been added below.
It’s Oscars season! One of my favorite things to do is watch all the nominated films before the show airs so I can decide which one I’m going to root for. So while I haven’t watched all nine of the currently nominated movies, these are my opinions on the five I did see.
Parasite (R)
This movie is about a poor family that cons their way into the lives of a wealthy family’s home. One thing leads to another and things get very messy… literally. I’m not sure who put this in the “horror” category but I suppose it doesn’t neatly fit into any other box. Well, maybe “thriller?” But anyway, it’s a very intelligent and well-thought out film with no clear villains. I love movies like that! It is also well-layered with the social underpinnings of classism.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Where to watch:
Trailer:
Jojo Rabbit (PG-13)
This movie is absurd, hilarious, and touching. We’ve had WWII-themed movies beat into our heads for decades but I don’t think any of them have captured the perspective of a ten year old boy living in Germany during World War II who has Hitler as his imaginary friend. Very well done and very refreshing!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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*Available to stream on all platforms Feb. 4th
Joker (R)
In my opinion, this is a psychological thriller and maybe that’s how everyone else classifies it but I don’t know because I didn’t really read up on it. Maybe you’re into comic book characters, maybe you’re not. I kind of ride the fence where that’s concerned. But this movie elevates this character above all of that and you definitely do not get any sort of a comic book feel to the film. There are no superheroes coming to save the day. It’s not cheesy. It is a super gritty delve into his very complex personality. If you bring your little ones out to watch this, I’m side-eying you because this is most definitely not for them. He’s a villain. He’s definitely a villain and there’s no question about that. But this movie made me feel bad for him. Totally worth checking out.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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The Irishman (R)
I heard whispering about this movie but didn’t know the plot and didn’t know who was in it. Once I heard that it was three hours long, I was like HELL NO! The way my ADHD is set up, there’s only a few circumstances where I can sit through three hours worth of a movie. but when I found out that this movie is starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and is directed by Martin Scorsese there was no way I could skip this movie! This is basically Casino part two as far as I’m concerned. Some folks’ criticism is that Martin Scorsese makes the same mob movie over and over again. However, he has directed so many other amazing movies that have nothing to do with the mob. I think the bottom line is that mob movies are his bread and butter. They are what he is best known for and they what he is best remembered for. However, in his body of work, they are really only a fraction of the films that he’s created. So, If you liked Casino, Goodfellas, The Godfather, or if you’re fascinated by the events surrounding Jimmy Hoffa’s mysterious disappearance, this is your film.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Marriage Story (R)
Bleh! It was an okay movie I guess but Best Picture? Nah fam. It could’ve been my mood at the time but I found this movie mostly boring. Two white people get divorced and nobody goes on welfare. Please. It really centered around her husband being the victim so the MGTOW crowd will probably love it! Don’t get me wrong, it is a good movie. I just think it’s more movie festival than Oscar Best Picture worthy.
⭐️⭐️
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Ford v Ferrari (PG-13)
Okay I totally didn’t want to watch this despite having some friends say it was really good. I just completely did not care at all… It’s a (probably loose) retelling of how and why the Shelby Mustang got built – including an apparent rivalry that started between Henry Ford II and Enzo Ferrari. Basically, Ford sent some execs over to Italy to try and buy the company but not only was Ferrari totally not having it, but he called Ford II a fat ass. Gully. Apparently, them’s fighting words because it was on like a pot of neckbones from there! This movie was good af! Like I really really enjoyed it! Quite a bit of it centered around racing since the goal was to beat Ferrari at Le Mans. I was at the edge of my seat stressed out! I really liked it a lot!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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1917 (R)
I now understand why mediocre white men have so much self-confidence. Over and over again, movies are created depicting their regular, timid asses as brave heroes who triumphed against all odds. Haven’t we had enough? How many war movies we gotta watch before everyone realizes that they gonna ‘fear for their lives’ when they see black children? Sure, this movie was good… but it was a typical ass war movie with the same old tropes about white male war heroes. Yawn.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
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And the winner is…
In my opinion, Parasite all day! But I would really not be mad if Jojo Rabbit or Joker won either. That being said, I still have yet to watch the other movies. If I’m being honest, I’m not even slightly interested in seeing Little Women, Call of Duty 1917, or a Tarantino movie (Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood). I may check out Ford vs Ferrari today and if I do watch it or any of these other movies, I’ll add them here. If you’ve seen any of the nine movies, let me know your thoughts.