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It’s that time again everyone, film’s biggest event! The Annual Apathetic Enthusiasm Oscars Special!
This year we run down each of the Best Picture Nods, talk a bit about the diversity in this year’s awards and finally run down selections for every category!
SHOW NOTES
We’re serious… there are so many categories we run down at the end… stay tuned here if you’re bored to find out whether Brandon or Travis are better at this Oscars thing than the other.
Also, if you’re interested in reading what Brandon read on the Wikipedia pages, check out his full comments and more below!
Moonlight – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonlight_(2016_film)
Directed by: Barry Jenkins
Based on a play: In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue
Plot: the hardships of a young kid, teen, and adult. Basically a story of finding ones self?
Wiki Thoughts: I was hooked from beginning to end. Broken into three parts, little, Chiron and Black… I felt the feels for this guy. Hopefully he ends up happy
Manchester by the Sea – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_by_the_Sea_(film)
Directed by: Kenneth Lonergan
Stars: Casey Affleck
Plot: Casey Affleck is a depressed dude who has to take care of his brother’s son
Wiki Thoughts: It seems like it’s pretty good from reading the wiki. I’m just thinking about Casey Affleck moping about for a majority of the movie, and I’m not sure I like my image of him moping. Also, he has controversy around him already, so that doesn’t help my already tainted image of him.
Fences – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fences_(film)
Directed by: Denzel Washington
Written by August Wilson based on his play (he’s dead)
Stars: Denzel and Viola Davis
Plot: I think it’s about a guy fighting the grim reaper?
Wiki Thoughts: So much happens in this wiki entry… but I did catch the part about sports, baseball and football and then Denzel fighting the grim reaper. Also, a fence? There’s a fence in there somewhere… maybe more than one?
Lion – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_(2016_film)
Directed by: Garth Davis
Written by: Luke Davies based on a book “A Long Way Home”
Stars: Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara
Plot: a child-man true story about getting lost and finding your home again
Wiki Thoughts: This is a true story, so of course it’s gonna be good. Some of the details about how Saroo made it through his childhood, was adopted, and eventually began a search again for his home village is pretty crazy. I feel for the guy. Nicole Kidman is in this somewhere. Also, the name of the movie is basically the punchline at the end, if you’re shooting to know its relevance.
Hacksaw Ridge – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacksaw_Ridge
Directed by: Mel Gibson
Written by: Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan
Stars: Andrew Garfield
Plot: A pacifist medic saves peoples lives during World War II
Wiki thoughts: The dude got arrested for insubordination and gets saved by an Act of Congress! Would that be a deus ex Congressma? It’s pretty amazing otherwise with his experiences in the war and saving so many people’s lives as a medic. That’s incredible and inspiring.
Hidden Figures – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidden_Figures
Directed by: Theodore Melfi
Written by Melfi and Allison Shroeder based on a book by Margot Lee Shetterly
Stars: Taraji P. Henson
Plot: Female African-American mathematicians!
Wiki thoughts: Pretty cool combination of themes. I get this way with the Twilight zone a bunch when things aren’t as progressive as I think they should be…. Like women and black women in NASA and the shit they had to deal with. I’m glad we’re in a new time…
La La Land – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_La_Land_(film)
Directed by: Damien Chazzelle
Stars: Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone
Plot: people fall in love and dance
Wiki thoughts: I saw this movie… it was good
Hell or High Water – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_or_High_Water_(film)
Directed by: David Mackenzie
Written by: Taylor Sheridan
Stars: Bridges, Pine and Foster
Plot: about two brothers who carry out a series of bank robberies to save a ranch
Wiki thoughts: oooohhhh boy, that’s an exciting movie. There’s a part in the wiki where it gets very “also this happened, and then this happened, and also this is revealed” but that doesn’t take away from this being the movie I wanted to see (and haven’t). Ben Foster always plays unhinged, Jeff Bridges is always cool. I still want to see it
Arrival – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrival_(film)
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Written by: Eric Heisserer based on a short story
Stars: Forest, Renner and Adams
Plot: A woman translates aliens
Wiki thoughts: I got teary eyed. I want to see this movie and I have to see this movie. Smart, well written scifi… deserves everything we have to give it. I’m a fan of Heisserer’s writing… Lights out, NoES, FD5, The Thing, and Arrival… pretty good.
SOCIAL
So, that’s it! Tell us what your thoughts are in the comments below or hit us up on Twitter @Apathusiast!
Until two weeks from now: we’ll be seeing YOU at the Oscars!