Continued from page 15 Because itu2019s hard to match the film- making flourish of Sam Mendes in 1917, that remains the most anti- war film, in the history of war films. And God knows we could do with that statement too u2014 now, more than at any time in the recent past. That said, just look at the competition u2014 what a year itu2019s been for Hollywood; or the Oscars, as it were.
In any other year, Todd Phillipsu2019s dark, deep Joker wouldu2019ve hoped to gobble up all the top trophies on its own.
Probably wonu2019t. Even James Mangoldu2019s Ford v Ferrari couldu2019ve been a front- runner, for all you know. Says a lot that the only Best Picture nominee that bored the crap outta me was Greta Gerwigu2019s period piece Little Women ( and that too because it just seemed too irrelevant in my buzzing head, thatu2019s all).
For a simple example, you only have to compare Guy Ritchieu2019s pure gangster thriller The Gentlemen this year, which is in the sort of domain Quentin Tarantino could lord over in the u2019 90s. Look at where Tarantino is, at present, as an auteur, at the top of his game, with the semi- fictional Once Upon a Time in Hollywood! Speaking of which, those few who vaguely dismissed Martin Scorseseu2019s The Irishman, because they found it long, or slow or whatever, Iu2019m pretty sure, years down the line, will wonder what the hell they were thinking when the Master delivered his masterpiece.
No, itu2019s not Goodfellas or Casino. Mull over the final 30 minutes of The Irishman, and youu2019ll see in it a genre being lifted to meditation on life itself.
No Hollywood studio was willing to touch The Irishman.
Netflix pumped money into it. As producer, Netflix has the most nominations at the Oscars this year u2014 Noah Baumbachu2019s gut- wrenching Marriage Story, and Fernando Meirelleu2019s unusually cinematic The Two Popes, being the other toasts for web as the new cinema! Academy ought to reflect this change on its prize- winnersu2019 roster.
Will they? Well, the only Oscar that Scorsese ever received was for the Hong Kong adaptation, The Departed ( 2006). Come on! And I donu2019t even want to go into history and pluck out Orson Wellesu2019s Citizen Kane ( 1941), almost indisputably considered the greatest film in Hollywood history. It didnu2019t win an Oscar.
Which film did? How Green Was My Valley. Whatu2019s that? Never mind. Just feeling better about listing films that should pick up the top awards this year. Wonu2019t feel terrible if they donu2019t.
Johansson in Marriage Story; ( below) Phoenix in Joker Oscar Predictions Best Director: Sam Mendes ( 1917) If not, then? Bong Joon- ho ( Parasite) Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix ( Joker) If not, then? Adam Driver ( Marriage Story)' Best Supporting Actor: Joe Pesci ( The Irishman) If not, then? Anthony Hopkins ( The Two Popes) Best Actress: Scarlett Johansson ( Marriage Story) If not, then? Charlize Theron ( Bombshell)' Best Supporting Actress: Margot Robbie ( Bombshell) If not, then? Laura Dern ( Marriage Story) Best Original Screenplay: Bong Joon- ho ( Parasite) If not, then? Quentin Tarantino ( Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) Best Adapted Screenplay: Todd Phillips ( Joker) If not, then? Anthony McCarten ( The Two Popes) Recognising web as new cinema? With Netflix leading nominations with 24 nods, it is to be seen if Academyu2019s prize- winnersu2019 roster reflects change in medium Best Film: 1917 If not, then? Parasite Those few who vaguely dismissed Martin Scorseseu2019s The Irishman, because they found it long, or slow or whatever, Iu2019m pretty sure, years down the line, will wonder what the hell they were thinking when the Master delivered his masterpiece Not seen Antonio Banderas ( in Pain and Glory), and Renu00e9e Zellweger ( in Judy), yet
