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

THE HATEFUL EIGHT (2015), ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD (2019)

Kurt Russell and Jennifer Jason Leigh

in The Hateful Eight

The Hateful Eight or maybe Agatha Christie's Kill Bill, but set in a Western setting?

A stagecoach with bounty hunter John Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his prisoner (Jennifer Jason Leigh) picks up another bounty hunter (Samuel L. Jackson) and a southern soldier from the war (Walter Goggins) on their trek to the city of Red Rock. Bad weather forces them to stay at a haberdashery who has as guests an assortment of characters, many of whom are not what they seem to be. Who and what these desperadoes are up to is the question of this film, which is well over three hours in the expanded version I saw on Netflix. You can say that Tarantino borrows liberally from other movies...hell!, I even recognized some rehashing of some of Tarantino's own movies like Inglorious Basterds and Reservoir Dogs...but...I found what was going on on the screen compelling enough and the characters interesting enough to never think the running time as being too long...

Brad Pitt, Leonardo Di Caprio and Al Pacino
in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

...This leads us to Tarantino's latest effort, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I originally heard about a year ago that Tarantino was making a film about Charles Manson, so it surprised me now that I've seen it that Manson as a character only has a walk on part here. The main plot of the film involves actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo Di Caprio), who is experiencing a similar career arc to Clint Eastwood and his loyal stunt man Cliff (Brad Pitt). The two get involved through being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the Manson family, which comes to a head on August 8, 1969...but not in the way you might think. Shraon Tate (Margot Robbie) is also featured prominently here. 

Tarantino certainly has an eye for detail and an intense nostalgia of the time and has created a most entertaining film. I am concerned that the The National Review gave this film such a positive review. I'm going to have to think on that one a bit.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has been nominated for ten Oscars, including: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

KILL BILL (2003-2004)

FILMS FROM THE 21st CENTURY

(Post 17 of 50)

Some quick takes on the most relatively recent listings from the
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die list

I'll say this for the Kill Bill films, director Quentin Tarantino puts everything he has into them. Tarantino is a renowned Asian action movie film buff and he gives us all the action we can handle in almost every conceivable way. An epic tale of revenge that spans the globe and takes two complete films to complete looks even better now than when it first came out.