If I Were an Academy Member: Kim Hollis

By Kim Hollis

February 27, 2016

Why is all this paperwork piled up in front of me?

New at BOP:
Share & Save
Digg Button  
Print this column
2015 was a fabulous year for movies, and this is a rare year where I could agree with every movie the Academy nominated for Best Picture. Seven of the eight would actually be in my own top 10 for 2015. For once, ranking the Best Picture nominees was a fun exercise!

Note: There are spoilers below. If you've missed a particular movie, you might want to skip my commentary for that particular film.

8) The Revenant

Even my “least favorite” film on this list is pretty amazing. In many years, it might even appear in my list of top 10 films. The film is gorgeously directed, with lingering shots that simply take your breath away. Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy and Domhnall Gleeson all turn in impeccable performances. The stark scenery and set pieces are so striking that I shivered a little watching the film.

And yet, The Revenant left me nonplussed. Despite the fact that it’s technically brilliant and checks off virtually every box, the film didn’t move me. I wasn’t actively engaged in the protagonist’s plight, perhaps because there was no real reason for me to be. Yes, we get some small glimpses of his back story, but ultimately those snippets aren’t enough to make me feel invested in what happens to him. I also wished for a few more shades of gray in the John Fitzgerald character.




Advertisement



7) The Martian

There’s no shame in being #7, because every film from this point on is one that I genuinely loved. This is the rare year when I have absolutely no problem with any of the Academy’s nominations for Best Picture.

My favorite quality about The Martian is its exuberant celebration of human ingenuity. Yes, Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is able to MacGyver his own surroundings on Mars in a way that allows him to survive long past any expectation (go science!), but the roles of the supporting performers in the film are equally important. We have the satellite planner who realizes Watney is still alive. The crew of the Ares III has to make adjustments to their own ship and plan his rescue down to the exact pinpoint spot (or as close to it as they can reasonably get). NASA’s mission director establishes contact with Watney and provides assistance in altering equipment for survival and escape. Others who contribute to the daring rescue are employees at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA administration, and members of China’s National Space Administration.

Perhaps the best moment in the film is watching people around the world be emotionally invested in what happens to Watney. He’s a single man out in the universe, yet the entire world holds its breath as they wait to see whether he will be saved. It’s a reminder that despite our differences, we can join together for common goals. I’m not sure that the message could be more timely.



Continued:       1       2       3

     


 
 

Need to contact us? E-mail a Box Office Prophet.
Thursday, March 28, 2024
© 2024 Box Office Prophets, a division of One Of Us, Inc.