Finally Oscars are behind us. The
decisions have been made. I got carried away this year with seeing maybe too
many nominated films. In fact I have
seen many more films than I had intended. If I was not that enthusiastic I
perhaps would not have seen either The Spotlight or The Big Short. As it turned
out they had been two of my very favourite films. Then I saw 45 Years and now this
is my absolutely favourite film. Still I would have been surprised if it got an
Oscar. Maybe except for Charlotte Rampling. She was nominated for the best
actress, but I somehow would not have expected her to win. I will write about
the film in one of my future posts. The film moved me and made me think about
human nature, life and relationships in particular.
My personal approach to films is
hinged on their messages and psychological content. Aesthetics also have big value
to me. I like to learn from films and clarify some complex life issues. I like
to me moved, I appreciate subtle humour and enjoy sharp, intelligent dialogue. I do not
know much about technical aspects of making films. I could not appreciate the fact that The
Revenant was filmed only in natural light. After this year, however, I may
extend my observations to some technical issues. Who knows?
I made very clear in my previous
posts that I am not a fan of The Revenant. Just the opposite. I even do not
like Di Caprio. I do not think Oscars should be given to recognize actors’
physical tortures. It was Di Caprio’s personal choice to play horrifically hard
scenes. Was that dictated by his overgrown ambition? If so, this is not pretty.
Just at the beginning of the film we are faced with the tremendously brutal
scene of a bear mutilating the hero. This turned me off the whole film. I even
did not have a chance to get to know the film characters and identify with any
of them. I was not given a chance to like them or dislike them. I had to face
brutal physicality and I coped with it badly so I may have missed more
important aspects of the film.
I recently heard that The Revenant
is a spiritual film. Coelho and Garcia Marquez are mentioned as inspiration. Even if I missed
the whole point, I am not going to see the film again. It was too painful an experience
to repeat it.
I am very happy for recognition of
my two favourites The Spotlight (the best film award) and The Big Short (the
best adapted screen play). And of course
I am very happy that Morricone got his
Oscar for The Hateful Eight best original music score.
I have not seen The Mad Max or The
Martian. For some reason I do not like fantasy or science fiction as a genre of
literature or films. I tried to read some fantasy books and I even enjoyed it.
Then it became all too much for me. It seemed to be an exercise void of value
to me, waste of time really. Maybe time of appreciation will come later?
I have not seen The Trumbo or The
Room. At least not yet. This means that my opinion on Oscars for the best actor
and actress are not based on sufficient data. Nobody, in my mind, was really good
enough. Maybe Eddie Redmayne? Maybe Kate Blanchett?
There are views that Eddie
Redmayne played the role of Einar/Lili with only three facial expressions. A
sharp comment and, to some extent, I accept it. Except for the scene when Einar realizes that in
some way, deep down, he is a woman. This scene was played subtly and masterfully
without help of the criticized faces. Einar
was scared, surprised and confused. The playful cloth changes suddenly become
more… Great acting.
