The next set of reviews we’ll be publishing are some of the ones Roger Thomas has done exclusively for The Stanly News & Press. Roger has written movie reviews for The Stanly News & Press and other outlets for years, long before starting this blog. So we decided it would be good to give readers a sample of his previous work, in addition to posts of reviews of current films. Other reviews will run daily.
Wow, what a year for Oscar!
By now, I think most of my three or four readers know that I love this time of year. People often say to me, “You love the Oscars!” And I always replay, “No, I love movies and the Academy Awards celebrate good and often great movies.” My Oscar predictions, along with those of my editor B. J. Drye, will appear in the SNAP, but in this column, I only want to mention some interesting things about this year with Oscar.
Argo
First, assuming that “Argo” wins Best Picture (and most wise people are predicting it will win) this will be the first year I have agreed with the Academy since “Slumdog Millionaire” four years ago. No, I did not think “The Artist” should have beat “The Descendants” last year. Nor did I believe that “The Hurt Locker” should have beaten “Up In the Air” three years ago. And I have a list of films that should have won over “The King’s Speech,” but I will not name them all now. For me, I am just excited that the Academy is probably going to get it right, again.
If “Argo” does win, not only will it be the first film since “Driving Miss Daisy” in 1989 to win without a Director Nomination, “Argo” and “Daisy” will be the only two films to have achieved this since 1932. As for the number of nominations the film received, four others received more nominations than “Argo.” The fifth most nominated film has never won the Oscar for Best Picture. “Chariots of Fire,” 31 years ago, ranked fourth for nominations (behind “On Golden Pond,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Reds”) and was able to still win Best Picture. “Argo” will make history in many ways if it wins Oscar night.
Silver Linings Playbook
There are other interesting things about this year. This is the first time in 31 years that a film, “Silver Linings Playbook,” received an acting nomination in each of the four categories. “(Reds” was the last film to achieve this, again in 1981.)
Steven Spielberg
Since Ben Affleck is not up for director, Steven Spielberg could win the Oscar for directing, making it his third win in this category. He would be tied with Frank Capra and William Wyler who each won three directing Oscars. Only John Ford won more with four wins for direction.
Daniel Day-Lewis
If Daniel Day-Lewis wins for “Lincoln,” and he will, this will be his third for Best Actor (following “My Left Foot” in 1989 and “There Will Be Blood in 2007).” No male has ever won three lead acting Oscars. Jack Nicholson has three Oscars for acting but one is for a supporting role in “Terms of Endearment.” Walter Brennan also has three Oscars for acting (all supporting) and Robert De Niro may get his third for acting on Oscar night. (De Niro has one lead and one supporting right now.) Another interesting point about Day-Lewis winning is that he will be the first actor to win for playing an American president; many have been nominated for playing real or fictional presidents but no one has won for such a role.
Amour
Other odd things could, but probably will not happen. A foreign film, “Amour,” could finally win Best Picture. A 9-year-old or an 85-year-old could break a record by winning Best Actress. A James Bond movie could win four Oscars. Naomi Watts’ extraordinary performance in “The Impossible” could surprise everyone with a win for Best Actress. Someone other than Anne Hathaway could win Best Supporting Actress. “Anna Karenina’s” amazing production design and cinematography could both be recognized along with the film’s costumes which seem to be a sure win. But I doubt any of these things will happen.
Here is what I know for sure. It will a fun night, with a few surprises, but do not expect a lot of upsets. The real surprise came earlier when “Argo” starting winning all the “guild awards.”
And one quick note about next year’s ceremony. Watch out for John Goodman. If “Argo” wins, Goodman will have a major supporting role in the last two Best Picture winners. Can he make it three? The former TV star has six films coming out in 2013, so anything could happen.
Finally, if “Argo” does win Best Picture, how many other Oscars will it receive? Many are predicting two or maybe three others. If “Argo” wins only three Oscars including Best Picture, it will be in good company joining “Crash,” “Rocky,” “The Godfather,” “Midnight Cowboy,” “All the King’s Men” and “Casablanca.” Quite a list of underachievers.
But regardless of who or what wins the Awards, my 24th Annual Oscar Party will be a great evening because those gathered in my home and those watching around the world will spend an evening celebrating a great year at the cinema.
And the winner was …
All the nominees
Cinema Corner 