I have to say, I'm used to crushing disappointments during Oscar season. And while this year has its share of sad omissions—Silence shut out from every major category? No love for Amy Adams in Arrival? Viggo Mortensen over Joel Edgerton's Loving perf? Nothing at all for Love & Friendship?—I have to say that I'm ... strangely psyched about this year's Oscar nominations?
I mean, the nine-film best picture lineup includes my two favorite films of the year (Arrival and Hell or High Water) and two others from my top ten (La La Land and Hacksaw Ridge). The only real dud is Lion, a Harvey Weinstein special.* I wouldn't have voted for Manchester by the Sea, Moonlight, Fences, or Hidden Figures, but I do think they're all solid, three-star flicks with some A-plus performances. Eight for nine is a pretty good batting average!
I'll be writing more about Hacksaw Ridge elsewhere a bit later, but I do think it's worth noting that Mel Gibson's days as a pariah seem to be over: despite minimal box office and solid-but-not-overwhelming reviews, it scored best pic, director, actor, and a handful of other awards. Personally, I think Garfield's doubt-riddled priest in Silence was a better bit of acting than his aw-shucks can-do medic in Hacksaw Ridge, but this is a quibble.
My favorite nomination has to be Taylor Sheridan snagging a nod for Hell or High Water, a taut little comedy-thriller about the denizens of Donald Trump's America. Sheridan, who also wrote the screenplay for Sicario, is easily one of the best writers working in Hollywood today, and I hope his awards-season recognition lets him keep doing work that is thought-provoking and pulse-pounding.
Anyway! I'm looking forward to the show. And I strongly recommend checking out Hell or High Water, Arrival, and Hacksaw Ridge if you've yet to do so. There's a reason they picked up so many awards.
*I appreciate the animus against the phrase "Oscar bait," but, like pornography, we know it when we see it—and when we see a Weinstein-backed flick racking up dubious numbers of awards and Oscar nominations, well, we know it. Oh, do we know it.