{"id":12677,"date":"2021-03-15T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonic-cinema.com\/?p=12677"},"modified":"2021-03-15T08:14:58","modified_gmt":"2021-03-15T13:14:58","slug":"oscars-2020-just-when-i-think-im-out-they-pull-me-back-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonic-cinema.com\/wordpress\/2021\/03\/oscars-2020-just-when-i-think-im-out-they-pull-me-back-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Oscars 2020 – Just When I Think I’m Out They Pull Me Back In"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the past few years, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve gotten away from my traditional Oscar coverage, starting with a reaction to the nominations, then with a predictions blog and a wrap-up post awards. Since I have started the podcast, and honestly, become less invested in the Oscars over the years, I’ve basically limited my coverage to an Oscar predictions podcast (where I also unveil my official Top 10 of the year), with individual category discussions going to my Patreon<\/a>. This year, I’m going to start a new awards coverage blog, to go with the podcast and Patreon coverage, and it has to do with why I’ve become a bit more interested in the Oscars again.<\/p>\n

In 2018- on my wedding anniversary, no less- I learned that I had been accepted to join the Georgia Film Critics Association<\/a>, and to vote in their annual awards. This was a big step for me, and is part of the reason why I had the confidence to begin applying to cover film festivals starting in 2019. It also meant that I was thinking about not just the Oscars, but what my best in various categories were again. I needed to if I was going to be able to vote in these awards. This was something I started to get away from, to a large extent, as my investment in the Oscars waned, but now, I had to start thinking about it again, and best of all, I would be able to make my voice heard beyond just saying, “these are my choices”- I had a vested interest in championing what I loved in a given year, even if they wouldn’t make the cut, in the end.<\/p>\n

Don’t get me wrong- the Oscars are still not worth being completely invested in as a critic and film lover; as I discuss in a future episode of the Sonic Cinema Podcast (dropping on April 13), what wins is not necessarily what endures, and what isn’t acknowledged isn’t always forgotten. There’s a kick in watching something like “The Shape of Water” or “Parasite” win Best Picture, or Spike Lee finally winning an Oscar, but the Academy Awards are not the last word on great cinema or great filmmakers. That’s what I realized, and once I stopped expelling my energies on ultimately caring what won, it became more relaxing to pay attention to them out of the corner of my eye.<\/p>\n

With Oscar nominations coming out today, I would- in the past- break down my thoughts on those, but I will save those for my podcast right before the ceremony on Sunday, April 25. (You can check out the nominees here<\/a>.) Instead, I will start to actually write about the awards I do have a voice in, the Georgia Film Critics Association<\/b>, as I share my thoughts on the winners below. I hope you enjoy!<\/p>\n

2020 Georgia Film Critics Association Awards<\/b><\/u><\/p>\n

Best Picture<\/u>
\n“The Father\u201d<\/i><\/a>
\n\u201cI\u2019m Thinking of Ending Things\u201d<\/i><\/a>
\n\u201cMank\u201d<\/i><\/a>
\n\u201cMinari\u201d<\/i><\/a>
\n\u201cNomadland\u201d<\/i><\/a>– Winner<\/b>
\n\u201cOne Night in Miami\u201d<\/i><\/a>
\n\u201cPromising Young Woman\u201d<\/i><\/a>
\n\u201cSoul\u201d<\/i><\/a>
\n\u201cSound of Metal\u201d<\/i><\/a>
\n\u201cTime\u201d<\/i>
\n\u201cThe Trial of the Chicago 7\u201d<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Thoughts: I love the variety of this list, which includes one animated film (“Soul”) and one documentary (“Time”). The winner is not a surprise, although I thought “Minari” might take it given the across-the-board support.<\/p>\n

Best Director<\/u>
\n“Mank\u201d<\/i> – David Fincher
\n\u201cNomadland\u201d<\/i> – Chlo\u00e9 Zhao – Winner<\/b>
\n\u201cOne Night in Miami\u201d<\/i> – Regina King
\n\u201cPromising Young Woman\u201d<\/i> – Emerald Fennell
\n\u201cSound of Metal\u201d<\/i> – Darius Marder<\/p>\n

Thoughts: Again, I love these nominees. All of them are completely worthy of the honors, but Zhao is, at this point, the odds-on favorite for the Oscar. And she deserves it.<\/p>\n

Best Actor<\/u>
\nRiz Ahmed (“Sound of Metal”<\/i>) – Winner<\/b>
\nChadwick Boseman (\u201cMa Rainey\u2019s Black Bottom\u201d<\/i><\/a>)
\nAnthony Hopkins (\u201cThe Father\u201d<\/i>)
\nDev Patel (\u201cThe Personal History of David Copperfield\u201d<\/i>)
\nSteven Yeun (\u201cMinari\u201d<\/i>)<\/p>\n

Thoughts: I was genuinely surprised by Patel being in here, but I couldn’t be happier for Ahmed to get the win; his was the male performance of the year for me.<\/p>\n

Best Actress<\/u>
\nViola Davis (“Ma Rainey\u2019s Black Bottom”<\/i>)
\nSidney Flanigan (\u201cNever Rarely Sometimes Always\u201d<\/i>)
\nVanessa Kirby (\u201cPieces of a Woman\u201d<\/i><\/a>)
\nFrances McDormand (\u201cNomadland\u201d<\/i>)
\nCarey Mulligan (\u201cPromising Young Woman\u201d<\/i>) – Winner<\/b><\/p>\n

Thoughts: It’s basically been Mulligan vs. McDormand all awards season, but I’m glad Mulligan won in our group, although any of these women were deserving.<\/p>\n

Best Supporting Actor<\/u>
\nSacha Baron Cohen (\u201cThe Trial of the Chicago 7\u201d<\/i>)
\nDaniel Kaluuya (\u201cJudas and the Black Messiah\u201d<\/i><\/a>)
\nOrion Lee (\u201cFirst Cow\u201d<\/i>)
\nLeslie Odom, Jr. (\u201cOne Night in Miami\u201d<\/i>)
\nPaul Raci (\u201cSound of Metal\u201d<\/i>) – Winner<\/b><\/p>\n

Thoughts: “Sound of Metal” is my horse in the Oscar race this year, so seeing both Ahmed and Raci win in the awards I vote for was special, even if neither of them win the Oscars.<\/p>\n