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Oscars 2017 Movie Reviews

This is a collection of short reviews of the Best Picture nominated movies for the 2017 Oscars


Lion (Directed by Garth Davis) is a true story about a boy, Saroo (Sunny Pawar), from rural India that is separated from his family when he is 5 years old. Thousands of miles away from his hometown, Saroo lives off the streets until he is sent to an orphanage, where he is later adopted by an Australian couple. Saroo transitions from a childhood in a third-world country to a new upper-class lifestyle with couple, Sue (Nicole Kidman) and John Brierley (David Wenham). 25 years later, Saroo (Dev Patel) decides to find his long-lost biological family with the few memories he still has and the technology of Google Earth.

The drama is nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Original Music Score, Best Writing Adapted Screenplay, and Best Cinematography, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Dev Patel), and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Nicole Kidman).

While the film is not filled with action, Saroo’s story and determination is inspiring. The whole first half is in Hindi with English subtitles, but makes the story feel authentic. When the second part, featuring Dev Patel, begins, the contrast between Saroo’s old and new life in Australia is contrasted, and provides a basis for understanding his struggle. Patel’s performance, while very well executed, lacks the amount of intensity that other nominations had. However, Kidman brought on the role of a struggling mother and is well deserving of an Academy Award. Overall, Lion is a heartwarming, feel-good, type of movie, but is unlikely to bring home Best Picture.

 

Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins, poetically follows a shy, gay African American boy, Chiron (Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, and Trevante Rhodes) in three parts of his life. Chiron and his family live in an impoverished and corrupt town in Florida with an abundance of violence and drugs. But the film focusses more on smaller, less traditional parts of Chiron’s life, for example, the being at the beach in the night, making a new friend, and learning to swim.

This thought provoking portrait grabbed the attention of the Academy and snagged nominations for Best Picture, Best Director (Barry Jenkins), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Mahershala Ali), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Naomie Harris), Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Scene.

The majority Moonlight is long and quiet, but personal and graceful. Moonlight is better geared for people that can tolerate 2 hours of slow-paced cinema, and understand the complexity and symbolism of every scene. Try not to look at Moonlight for just the plot, but rather to learn Chiron’s story. Ali’s role as a local crack dealer, and caretaker of Chiron shined brightly and shaped much of Chiron’s life. His performance on screen, although brief, is what makes his scenes memorable and influential. Sanders though, who plays Chiron in high school, is very deserving of a nomination. His silent power is breathtaking, and the 21 year old knew how to communicate to the audience without words. Moonlight is overall a new and fascinating look at the lives of the underprivileged. It will be tough competition against the other nominations for Best Picture.

 

Directed by Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge is the true story of conscientious objector, Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), who joins the US army as a medic during the second World War. Doss grew up in rural Virginia with an alcoholic father (Hugo Weaving), who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to his experience in WWI. The film revolves around Doss’ struggle as a pacifist in the midst of cruelty and violence.

Nominated for Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Actor (Andrew Garfield), and Best Director (Mel Gibson).

A thrilling and patriotic movie, Hacksaw Ridge is an intense feature of Desmond Doss’ true story. The action-heavy scenes are violent, gory, intense, and not suited for everyone, but still climactic and intriguing. Garfield does a phenomenal job playing the determined and moral protagonist with an unwavering stamina, and is deserving of the nomination. Mel Gibson does not stray from his norm in this film, and didn’t make a mistake either. The plot is predictable, but suspenseful at the same time. There are parts when Doss’ stubbornness is hated, and others when it can be admired. The entire second half is in battle, and will keep heart rates elevated, but it manages to go on to be more than another war movie.

 

La La Land, directed by Damien Chazelle, is the story of a young, struggling actress, Mia (Emma Stone) and a jazz musician, Sebastian (Ryan Gosling). The couple ends up together despite unlikely odds, and tackle their separate dreams. Taking place in modern Los Angeles, with a mid-twentieth century influence, the whimsical film has singing, dancing, and complex themes that provoke a myriad of emotions. However, Mia and Sebastian quickly learn that maintaining their relationship might be just as difficult as accomplishing their dreams.

Tied for the most Oscar Nominations with Titanic and All About Eve for Best Picture, Best Actor (Ryan Gosling), Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Director (Damien Chazelle), Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Music Score, two Best Original Song nominations for “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)”  and  “City of Stars”, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Sound Mixing.

Both lead actors, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are very deserving and capable of winning an Oscar for the amount of passion and intensity brought on screen. The actors’ skill and dedication for their roles are proven to have paid off on screen. La La Land doesn’t feel like a musical when watching it, but much more. It carries complex themes and emotion throughout the entire film with the score, production design, cinematography, and even costume design. If any of these nominations are go down in history, La La Land will definitely be one.

 

Hidden Figures (Directed by Theodore Melfi) is the true story of three African-American women who contributed to the calculations to get the first man in space from the US. In the midst of the Cold War, and leading up to the Civil Rights Movement, Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) must face racism and sexism while working for NASA with friends, Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe). Not only does the movie show the women’s work lives and battle with discrimination, but it highlights the importance of friendship, family, and love.

Nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Octavia Spencer), and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Hidden Figures is an inspiring and empowering movie that brings attention to the obstacles African American Women had to face in the 1960’s. While Henson didn’t get a nomination, her performance as lead was exciting and well executed, and a surprise when not nominated. Spencer’s part, on the other hand, could have been easily overlooked without the passion and depth she brought onto screen. Hidden Figures will be a movie to remember, and does a great job of encapsulating the time period, but is unlikely to win Best Picture.

 

Directed by David Mackenzie, Hell or Highwater is about two Texan brothers, Toby Howard (Chris Pine), a modest, divorced father; and Tanner Howard (Ben Foster), a driven ex-con. In a desperate effort to save their family from poverty, the brothers rob local banks. The majority of the film is a race between the brothers and local ranger (Jeff Bridges) triggered by the struggle of a rural American family.

Nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Jeff Bridges), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

Hell or Highwater has an interesting concept, and great acting; however, it doesn’t feel original or worth a nomination for Best Picture. The way it was executed felt repetitive, and too much time was spent in car rides or of aerial shots of Texas highways. It lacks any action except for the opening scenes and climax. Hell or Highwater does bring attention to the struggling lives of rural Americans, but seems like cowboy-Robin-Hood without any sort of powerful, new message.

 

 

Manchester by the Sea, directed by Kenneth Lonergan and produced by Matt Damon, is the story of divorced, lonely handiman, Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck). When his brother, Joe (Kyle Chandler), suddenly passes away, Lee is named the guardian of his 16-year-old nephew, Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Lee temporarily moves back to his hometown in Massachusetts to watch over Patrick while they both grieve the loss of Joe, and to learn life as Patrick’s new guardian. While Patrick reconnects with his formerly alcoholic mother, and Lee bumps into his ex-wife, Randi (Michelle Williams), the two struggle to get along and figure out life after the death of Joe.

Nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor (Casey Affleck), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Lucas Hedges), Best Director (Kenneth Lonergan), and Best Original Screenplay.

Manchester by the Sea is an emotional, well produced movie that highlights the themes of trauma and loss. Casey Affleck’s performance is stellar, and may prove to be tough competition against Ryan Gosling for La La Land. Because of its depth and originality, the film could easily bring home Best Picture. All over, Manchester by the Sea is uncommon, and can push the film industry to conquer new territories.

 

This sci-fi mystery directed by Denis Villeneuve is about extraterrestrial creatures coming to earth in the modern day.  When 12 different ships land on random parts of the globe, Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is called by the US government to translate and communicate with whoever is on the ships. While the world turns to mayhem and panic because of the vague appearance, Louise must quickly figure out the language of the aliens before mass destruction occurs.

Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Sound Mixing.

Arrival is a marvelously filmed philosophical movie, sharing similar ideas with Inception or Interstellar. It captures the behavior of people in the modern day world, as well as a spectrum of themes, without being overly complicated. Although the film is slower than a typical sci-fi, it remains intriguing and inspiring. Adams did a spectacular job on screen, and brought her character’s acumen and morals to life. The score for the film sets an eerie and mysterious tone in dense scenes,and should have earned a nomination. Despite some confusing parts, Arrival is a complex story that brings light to the mindset and realities of the modern world.

 

 

Set in the 1950’s, Fences is the story of a man, Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington), who once had the talent to become a major league baseball player before African Americans were allowed to play in the MLB. The film, originally adapted from the play Fences, by August Wilson, takes place when Troy has been with his wife, Rose (Viola Davis), and his son, Cory (Jovan Adepo), for 18 years. Suddenly, Troy is faced with a choice resulting from his unwise actions that may tear his family apart.

Nominated for Best Film, Best Actor (Denzel Washington), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Viola Davis), and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The film begins with conversations with Washington’s character, Troy, and other characters, and seems jovial and light hearted. However, the pace quickly picks up once Troy’s wicked side shows and the plot becomes much more intense and addicting. Denzel made Troy likeable and sage at one moment, and then destructive and bitter the next, making his nomination well deserved. Viola Davis, on the other hand, has stepped up and taken on the role of a distraught wife, and turned it into something much more powerful and emotional. She could easily win Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The movie feels a bit stagey, since the characters seem to stay in one central location for the majority of the film, and some scenes felt completely untouched from the original script. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony winning original play was a solid foundation for the rest of the film to be built upon, and could have gone farther if the screenplay was better suited for the actors and movie screen.

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