Not that I didn’t watch the Oscars before, but now that I work in the film and TV industry it’s so much more fun and relevant. Your takes are so good! I appreciate the commentary and honestly wish we got a summary of sorts from the Academy voters!
I love this post! So fun and light; I really needed that. Thank you! Also, I didn't see the Oscars this year so now I feel like I have some movie rec's. :)
The question that always pops into my head around the time the Oscars comes each year is … What is a “great” or even “good” movie? While I never get around to seeing all the nominated pictures before the awards show each April, I do watch at least one or two a month. When I do get around to watching the “Best Motion Picture”, I usually disagree with the Academy selection. I think that is because the purpose of motion pictures as a work of entertainment is different than one of art. I won’t get into what genre of movies I enjoy, because that is not the point here. I define a truly great film as one that transcends the viewer, momentarily lifting us from our present reality into the world of the film. If it does that, I consider that movie to be worthy of any award. This comes from growing up in the hot and humid summers of the mid-South, where an air conditioned theater was in itself a respite from sweltering Saturday summer afternoons. But if any film has good story telling and emotional impact, then I won’t watch just once, I will watch it again and again. Not to just watch the movie itself, but to recapture that transcendental feeling. It is that artistic ability to make us feel and think differently; creating a lasting impression of our time eating popcorn in the dark, and answering our prayer to be taken away somehow else.
Love this post. SO much fun! I totally agree about Train Dreams. It was so gorgeous and it stayed with me long after it was over. I didn't realize at the time that it was shot in almost all natural light, but I knew something about it felt special. Also, THANK YOU, about Weapons. I had hoped it would be fun and scary but I just thought it was creepy and dumb. The KnOscars are fun and I hope they become an annual thing! 🥰
I haven’t gotten around to watching most of these yet. Train Dreams has been on my list for a while now. I keep looking at One Battle After Another but it’s hard to carve out the almost 3 hours I need. I’m glad you brought up Weapons. I felt the same way. I don’t know if I spaced out but I don’t remember the gun thing. Everything I heard about led me to believe it would be a great suspense/horror film. I just thought the whole thing was ridiculous.
I love your picks and agree on most of them! I so wanted Life of Chuck to win something. It and Hamnet were my two top movies of 2025. I don't usually do scary movies, but I enjoyed 28 Years Later. Probably because I enjoyed the first one. I never bothered to watch Weapons, as it just didn't appeal to me.
I've already picked my top for 2026 ... Project Hail Mary! It is a MUST-SEE!
I DID TOO! It sounds like we really, really line up on movie taste, and that's f'ing RAD. Sarah and I MIGHT go to the theater for the first time in YEARS to see project hail mary :)
I don't watch the Oscars. Have not for quite some time now. They get it wrong a lot and pick commercially neutral things too much. All of these movies I have not seen. It's hard to get my family to watch a movie, let alone sit through it for two hours without a break [my daughter]. So, I think I'm going to watch them by myself, which is no fun, and just can't find the time usually.
I will see them, though. Really want to see Thunderbolts, but to see any of them will be a treat for me. I love getting lost in a movie. I often 'become' one of the characters and really need to offload when it's over.
One movie I am looking forward to is Ballerina from the John Wick franchise. I happen to love martial art fight scenes simply because they are over the top fun. Since I am not a horror movie fan, this is my vice. ... even if I find I could write the scripts for them. They are definite tropes.
I agree wholeheartedly with the first two. Train Dreams is the kind of film that will always deserve more recognition but will never get it because of how we define "Oscar worthy" movies. But it's stunning-ness comes from its simplicity and how painstakingly it felt like true art.
And ALL THE AWARDS to freaking Jessie. She is the definition of Best Actress and that was probably the most satisfying win. Hands down.
Not that I didn’t watch the Oscars before, but now that I work in the film and TV industry it’s so much more fun and relevant. Your takes are so good! I appreciate the commentary and honestly wish we got a summary of sorts from the Academy voters!
I DO TOO!!!! I always wanna know the WHY behind the Win. Also, we HAVE to work together in some capacity again.
I would LOVE to work together again soon! Let’s meet up sometime to catch up and chat!
I love this post! So fun and light; I really needed that. Thank you! Also, I didn't see the Oscars this year so now I feel like I have some movie rec's. :)
The question that always pops into my head around the time the Oscars comes each year is … What is a “great” or even “good” movie? While I never get around to seeing all the nominated pictures before the awards show each April, I do watch at least one or two a month. When I do get around to watching the “Best Motion Picture”, I usually disagree with the Academy selection. I think that is because the purpose of motion pictures as a work of entertainment is different than one of art. I won’t get into what genre of movies I enjoy, because that is not the point here. I define a truly great film as one that transcends the viewer, momentarily lifting us from our present reality into the world of the film. If it does that, I consider that movie to be worthy of any award. This comes from growing up in the hot and humid summers of the mid-South, where an air conditioned theater was in itself a respite from sweltering Saturday summer afternoons. But if any film has good story telling and emotional impact, then I won’t watch just once, I will watch it again and again. Not to just watch the movie itself, but to recapture that transcendental feeling. It is that artistic ability to make us feel and think differently; creating a lasting impression of our time eating popcorn in the dark, and answering our prayer to be taken away somehow else.
Love this post. SO much fun! I totally agree about Train Dreams. It was so gorgeous and it stayed with me long after it was over. I didn't realize at the time that it was shot in almost all natural light, but I knew something about it felt special. Also, THANK YOU, about Weapons. I had hoped it would be fun and scary but I just thought it was creepy and dumb. The KnOscars are fun and I hope they become an annual thing! 🥰
I haven’t gotten around to watching most of these yet. Train Dreams has been on my list for a while now. I keep looking at One Battle After Another but it’s hard to carve out the almost 3 hours I need. I’m glad you brought up Weapons. I felt the same way. I don’t know if I spaced out but I don’t remember the gun thing. Everything I heard about led me to believe it would be a great suspense/horror film. I just thought the whole thing was ridiculous.
I love your picks and agree on most of them! I so wanted Life of Chuck to win something. It and Hamnet were my two top movies of 2025. I don't usually do scary movies, but I enjoyed 28 Years Later. Probably because I enjoyed the first one. I never bothered to watch Weapons, as it just didn't appeal to me.
I've already picked my top for 2026 ... Project Hail Mary! It is a MUST-SEE!
I DID TOO! It sounds like we really, really line up on movie taste, and that's f'ing RAD. Sarah and I MIGHT go to the theater for the first time in YEARS to see project hail mary :)
I don't watch the Oscars. Have not for quite some time now. They get it wrong a lot and pick commercially neutral things too much. All of these movies I have not seen. It's hard to get my family to watch a movie, let alone sit through it for two hours without a break [my daughter]. So, I think I'm going to watch them by myself, which is no fun, and just can't find the time usually.
I will see them, though. Really want to see Thunderbolts, but to see any of them will be a treat for me. I love getting lost in a movie. I often 'become' one of the characters and really need to offload when it's over.
One movie I am looking forward to is Ballerina from the John Wick franchise. I happen to love martial art fight scenes simply because they are over the top fun. Since I am not a horror movie fan, this is my vice. ... even if I find I could write the scripts for them. They are definite tropes.
I agree wholeheartedly with the first two. Train Dreams is the kind of film that will always deserve more recognition but will never get it because of how we define "Oscar worthy" movies. But it's stunning-ness comes from its simplicity and how painstakingly it felt like true art.
And ALL THE AWARDS to freaking Jessie. She is the definition of Best Actress and that was probably the most satisfying win. Hands down.