The high-minded drama historically has dominated best picture nominations. But I’m not sure those are the movies that last (a simple definition of “best”).
Example: 1994 Oscar nominees for best picture: Schindler’s List, The Fugitive, In the Name of the Father, The Piano, The Remains of the Day. Three high-minded dramas, one almost an action picture, one just very weird; three based on books, one based on an old TV series, one an original screenplay; three European stories, one American story, one New Zealand story.
Only The Piano sticks in my head after all these years, probably because it’s the weird one from an original screenplay and with the exotic setting, and it’s the only one I would consider watching today.
There’s also a movie that got zero Oscar nominations that year but is still clear in my mind, probably because I’ve watched it a couple times since and because it influenced countless other movies. I’m talking about Groundhog Day, of course.
So which of this year’s movies are the sort that people will still watch without coercion even three years from now, never mind thirty? Probably not Whale or Banshees. If it’s the Michelle Yeoh movie, then that probably indicates a shift away from old-style nominations.
And if someone offered you 1994’s nominees plus Groundhog to choose from, be honest, which one would you want to watch right now?
Mar 9, 2023·edited Mar 9, 2023Liked by <Mary L. Tabor>
Great essay! Banshees and The Whale stand far above all the other nominees. In Tar we get a superb performance by Blanchett in a film with no narrative core or arc. And in the odds-on favorite (EEAAO) we have a film that no one knows what it's about (because it isn't about anything) and which in the end tries to salvage a message by resorting to a pedantic tell-not-show lecture from... a rock! Thanks, Mary, for providing one of the few sane and wise perspectives among all the silliness around this year's awards season.
Banshees is my favorite film of the years. It's my favorite film in many years. And I would argue that the Marvel Movie Effect has made its way into independent films. These indie films also feature lightly-flawed heroes who her defeat one- or two-note villains.
A fascinating read, Mary - thank you for such a detailed exploration of two fascinating-sounding films! I haven’t been to the cinema for YEARS, but I’m looking forward to watching both of these when they hit a home streaming service.
In which order would you recommend viewing? Given that they’re both independent entities I’d say it doesn’t matter, but I’d still be interested to know which way you watched them!
Great post - thank you for the reminder that I need to include more films in my life these days :) Both sound terrific.
You have to go back all the way to What's Eating Gilbert Grape to find a film that presents morbid obesity with humanity.
The Whale is grotesque, conceptually and in execution.
I was not at all happy with Jenny's story arc. Too sad 😭
The high-minded drama historically has dominated best picture nominations. But I’m not sure those are the movies that last (a simple definition of “best”).
Example: 1994 Oscar nominees for best picture: Schindler’s List, The Fugitive, In the Name of the Father, The Piano, The Remains of the Day. Three high-minded dramas, one almost an action picture, one just very weird; three based on books, one based on an old TV series, one an original screenplay; three European stories, one American story, one New Zealand story.
Only The Piano sticks in my head after all these years, probably because it’s the weird one from an original screenplay and with the exotic setting, and it’s the only one I would consider watching today.
There’s also a movie that got zero Oscar nominations that year but is still clear in my mind, probably because I’ve watched it a couple times since and because it influenced countless other movies. I’m talking about Groundhog Day, of course.
So which of this year’s movies are the sort that people will still watch without coercion even three years from now, never mind thirty? Probably not Whale or Banshees. If it’s the Michelle Yeoh movie, then that probably indicates a shift away from old-style nominations.
And if someone offered you 1994’s nominees plus Groundhog to choose from, be honest, which one would you want to watch right now?
Great essay! Banshees and The Whale stand far above all the other nominees. In Tar we get a superb performance by Blanchett in a film with no narrative core or arc. And in the odds-on favorite (EEAAO) we have a film that no one knows what it's about (because it isn't about anything) and which in the end tries to salvage a message by resorting to a pedantic tell-not-show lecture from... a rock! Thanks, Mary, for providing one of the few sane and wise perspectives among all the silliness around this year's awards season.
Banshees is my favorite film of the years. It's my favorite film in many years. And I would argue that the Marvel Movie Effect has made its way into independent films. These indie films also feature lightly-flawed heroes who her defeat one- or two-note villains.
A fascinating read, Mary - thank you for such a detailed exploration of two fascinating-sounding films! I haven’t been to the cinema for YEARS, but I’m looking forward to watching both of these when they hit a home streaming service.
In which order would you recommend viewing? Given that they’re both independent entities I’d say it doesn’t matter, but I’d still be interested to know which way you watched them!
I love when you write about film. Thank you for sharing and reminding me I need to watch some movies!