A Letter to the Academy
Dear Academy,
I write this knowing full well that voting is probably finished considering nominations will be announced in just a few days. I also acknowledge that there is virtually no way in Hell any Academy member will be reading this at this moment. Still, I’d like to argue my case for several films and their nominations
Avengers: Endgame
The first film is the largest film of the year and possibly the decade: Avengers: Endgame. 12 years ago we were introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and though an exciting experiment, it wildly surpassed expectations. The culmination of 22 films led to an emotional finale that resonated with both audiences and critics. There may be decriers and critics of superhero movies, but the fact is Avengers: Endgame is a massive cinematic feat. It neatly wraps up several over arching storylines in satisfying way while offering dramatic character growth.
We see several characters move towards path of redemption that pay off each one’s beginnings in the MCU, but also feel organic within the contained story of Endgame. Thor failing a falling into a depression that at times feels comical, but is all tied to his failure at the films beginning is a heartbreaking turn for this character. Chris Hemsworth has always portrayed Thor as overly proud, boisterous, and oftentimes the comic relief within the Avengers, but Endgame takes most of that away. Through the journey, Thor manages to face his demons and prove his worth to himself for the first time.
Captain America is perpetually virtuous in these films, but Chris Evans has always played him with inner conflict and a silent guilt. Endgame makes no exception of this and though it seems as if Cap is more or less the same, he still shows deep complexity as he continues trying to help others. After the final battle, he finally makes a move for himself and stays with the woman he loves, passing over his iconic shield. Robert Downey Jr. also gives a remarkable portrayal of Tony Stark, trying to once again live with the guilt of trauma of past events. At the very end, the man who started the MCU as a selfish rich boy, saves the world by sacrificing himself.
Along with that there may be some moments of fan service, but it is all done with taste. Everything feels calculated, but organic, catering to those champions of the series while never really sacrificing important story beats.
Us
Not long ago the comedy actor Jordan Peele made his directorial debut with Get Out. That low budget horror movie went on to gather awards including an Oscar, so Peele had a lot of pressure on him for his sophomore feature: Us. Us may not be as good as Get Out, but it doesn’t need to be. On it’s own it brings up many issues of class warfare and the struggles between the haves and have-nots. It isn’t limited by the race of its lead, and it is a nice change of pace from a slasher film filled with privileged, white, horny teens.
The story is great, although exposition and execution are at times muddled, but the true elements deserving of awards are Lupita Nyong’o and the cinematography. The bright and vibrant crimsons pop against the heavy shadows. The color contrast is absolutely striking and adds to the tension of the film. It does exactly what cinematography is supposed to do, create mood and evoke emotion.
As for Lupita Nyong’o, she is giving it her all. Everyone talks about Joaquin Phoenix’s performance in Joker which is truly trans-formative, but Us has possibly the only rival and compliment to that performance. Lupita is given two roles, Adelaide and Red. Red is the vindictive doppelgänger out to kill Adelaide, the mother with a well off family. Despite being “twins”, both are played as completely different. Body movements are completely different, even simple things like footsteps are done completely different. Then of course there’s the subtle hints that Lupita puts in her characters by having the voices change minutely during times off stress among other things. Then of course, there’s Red’s speech. Lupita worked with a vocal coach to give Red the sound of spasmodic dysphonia, a speech condition brought on after severe emotional or physical trauma. Ultimately the performance is a revelation and some of Nyong’o’s best work. If anyone deserves Best Actress…it’s her.
Midsommar
Ari Aster, like Jordan Peele, had big shoes to follow after his film Hereditary gained near universal applause. Aiming for something different than a dark story of family haunted by grief and suffering, Midsommar takes place where the sun never sets. The premise is reminiscent of The Wicker Man, but it does have its own psychedelic spin. The story itself leaves a bit to be desired and the characters are mostly unsympathetic, but it is beautiful to look at and Florence Pugh gives a remarkable performance. The other performance, most notably Jack Reynor, are well done as well, but they aren’t at the same caliber as Pugh.
Like Us, the cinematography in Midsommar sets the mood perfectly. The harsh light and bright whites create an almost halo effect on the film, making it seem like a dreamscape. This proves incredibly effective during the various drug hallucination scenes as the brightness brings out the color in the various flowers and sprawling hills.
Florence Pugh makes use of the landscape in her performance, oftentimes looking out into the distance or interacting with the plants and flowers. Along with that, she gives a full range of emotion. As a woman going through grief, she is more than just sad, she’s hurting on a deep level. When she’s tripping, she looks as if she’s been transported to another world. In the scene with the group crying, she pours out every emotion in a loud, pained wail. She’s fantastic and deserving of recognition.
Ultimately, the Oscar nominations will forgo a lot of talent. There are plenty of expected snubs and among them I’ve named the three films I fear won’t receive the appropriate recognition.Regardless, there’s still a chance, but as awards season nears its close, the case is mostly clear. Still, this doesn’t determine the true values of these films, and so I say give them a chance if you haven’t. They are worthy of your time and recognition.
Sincerely,
Joseph Ruiz