OSCAR NOMINEES? YES. 1001 BOOK WORTHY? REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

In determining what films will make the updated edition of the 1001 Movie Book, it's a good idea to look at the Best Picture Nominees from the previous year. Usually at least half of them make the cut.
I'm assuming of course that there will be an updated edition this year. I've listed these movies in what I think is likely to make the updated book.

1. Parasite-Boon Joon-ho's film of the have and have nots took home the Best Picture and Best Foreign Language Oscar and even motivated people who don't normally watch Foreign language films to check it out. This is a sure thing to make the book. (Best Picture Winner, International Film Winner)

Parasite

2. Jojo Rabbit-This offbeat film of a kid in Nazi Germany coping with a Jewish girl hiding in his house while being shadowed by his imaginary friend named Adolph has enough laughs, drama and critical acclimation to make the book (Best Picture Nominee)

 Jojo Rabbit

3.1917-This one long shot story of two soldiers racing to the front during WW1 has a chance to make it for the technical achievement alone. It's also important that you care about the people in the story that he makes it and we (at least I) do. This one should get in. (Best Picture Nominee)

 

1917

4.Joker-The retelling of the Joker origin story through a different lens than we are used to seems to be broken down into camps of loving it and hating it. I do think most agree on the emotionally powerfull performance of Joqauin Phoenix. I think this one gets in. (Best Picture Nominee)

Joker

5. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood-Quentin Tarantino's tale of Hollywood during the time of the Tate/Labianca murders has everything but Charles Manson's kitchen sink in it. I think this one gets in. though Tarantino's The Hateful Eight did not. (Best Picture Nominee)

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

6.Marriage Story-Story about the breakup of a bi-coastal marriage is a strong family drama with stellar performances. I'm on the fence whether this one gets in the book. (Best Picture Nominee)

 Marriage Story

7. The Irishman-Long film about teamster Jimmy Hoffa has been criticized for being too long and not quite to the level of some of other Scorsese films. I liked it, but still don't think it gets in.

8. Ford v. Ferrari-60's racing biography of Ken Miles and Carroll Shelby is an fine film and I learned about a story I knew little about. I still don't see this one getting in the book. (Best Picture Nominee)

Ford v. Ferrari

9. Little Women-Nice, well-acted update of the classic even has sort of a meta-twist between the character of Jo and Louisa May Alcott. I still don't think it gets in the book. (Best Picture Nominee)

Little Women

10. Toy Story 4-The first two Toy Story movies have been in different versions of the book and you really should see all four. I'm pretty sure Part 4 won't make the book, but you've gone this far with the toys, so you might as well see it to the end! (Best Animated Feature winner)

Toy Story 4

11. American Factory-Fascinating story of a Detroit motor plant being taken over by Chinese management is definitely worth a watch. Documentaries have been slighted by the book in recent years and don't think this one gets in either. (Best Documentary winner)

American Factory

12. Judy-Renee Zellweger's great star turn as the older Judy Garland is work a look-especially fans on Hollywood bio's.Still very unlikely this makes the book. (Best Actress Winner)

Judy

LITTLE WOMEN (2019), LADY BIRD (2017)

Saoirse Ronan as Lady Bird

Nice coming of age film that I've actually seen twice now-and it does gain through a second viewing. Saoirse Ronan got a well deserved Oscar nomination for her role as the titular Lady Bird and it might be my favorite performance of all the nominees (from two years ago). This is director Greta Gerwig's first major motion picture as a director. But is she going to be a one-hit wonder???

Emma Watson (Meg), Florence Pugh (Amy),

Saoirse Ronan (Jo) and Eliza Scanlen (Beth)

are Little Women

The answer to that is obviously no. Gerwig's new adaptation of Little Women has been been praised greatly and many think it is the best film adaptation yet of Louisa May Alcott's famous novel. I did go with a friend who is an expert on all things Little Women and though she liked it, she still didn't like it as much as the 90's version with Wyonna Ryder.

I haven't read the book in awhile and did find the jumping around with the timeline a bit confusing at times. I did like the meta take in that the character of Jo is actually trying to write the book Little Women about their lives!

Gerwig did bring back a couple of her Lady Bird stars to be in Little Women: Saoirse Ronan (Jo) and Timothee Chalamet (Laurie).

Random Little Women question: Of the sisters, Jo is clearly the star, Amy is the one with all the emotional problems and Beth is the tragic figure. But what about Meg? I can't figure out her deal exactly. Is she basically the Zeppo of the Little Women quartet?

Little Women has been nominated for six Oscars, including: Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. Gerwig did not get a nomination for Best Director.

Timothee Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan
in Lady Bird

Saoirse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet
in Little Women

1001: A FILM ODYSSEY (2018 UPDATE)

It's that time of year for this blog to look at the new edition of the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Book and see what new movies have been added to the old list. And the results are in...and there are eleven new entries this year and they are...

1. The Shape of Water (Best Picture Winner)

The Shape of Water

Offbeat (to say the least) love story set during the cold war is and may have been my favorite among all the Best Picture nominees. We'll see how this one looks in a few years. Maybe we'll decide then that the winner should have been...

2. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (The Best Picture Runner Up)

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

...Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell won Oscars for their performances in this controversial drama that some may find sexist...or racist...at least it will make you feel something, which is more than you can say for a lot of movies out today.

3. Black Panther (The Audience Favorite)

Black Panther

Well done superhero fair that puts a twist on the usual tropes by actually having black actors and actresses in most of the prominent roles. Certain to get a Best Picture nomination next year-a rarity for a Marvel movie.

4. Call Me By Your Name (Bildungsroman: Male)

https://1001afilmodyssey.blogspot.com/2018/11/tongues-untied-1991-call-me-by-your.html

Call Me By Your Name

5. Lady Bird (Bildungsroman: Female)

Nice coming of age film that I've actually seen twice now-and it does gain through a second viewing. Saoirse Ronan got a well deserved Oscar nomination for her role and it might be my favorite performance of all the nominees. However, my controversial choice in the Best Actress category is the unnominated lead actress from the number 9 entry on this list.

Lady Bird

6. Lady Macbeth (The feminist film)

Don't piss off Katherine Lester, that's all I'm saying.

Lady Macbeth

7. Get Out (The horror/comedy/low budget/black film that is hard to label succinctly)

The fact that this film is hard to categorize and has a lot of layers is one of the things I like about it. I'll definitely look out for future Jordan Peele films.

Get Out

8. Blade Runner 2049 (The cerebral science fiction picture)

I didn't know we needed a sequel to Blade Runner! I probably wouldn't have watched this if it hadn't been on the list, but the film does a good job with story as well as the action scenes.

Blade Runner 2049

9. Mother! (The artsy-fartsy choice)

http://1001afilmodyssey.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-exterminating-angel-1962-mexico.html

Mother!

10. The Handmaiden (The offbeat foreign film)

I'll always expect surprises from the director of Oldboy and wasn't disappointed with The Handmaiden.

The Handmaiden

11. Dawson City: Frozen Time (The token documentary)

Dawson City: Frozen Time tells the history of a town put together chiefly through silent films unearthed in 1978. Fascinating and well done.

Dawson City: Frozen Time

For my last post of the year, I'll look at how many movies I have left to watch from the 1001 list. 

I'll break out the abacus if needed.