Keeper of the Clown Bell

The 87th is here and this year they’ve got a pretty good crop of movies to choose from. There’s a unique symmetry to the choices and, weather by design or by accident, it makes for a fun competition (see below).

American Sniper – There are Wolves (al-Zarqawi), Sheep (Seth Rogan) and Sheepdogs (Chris Kyle) and fortunately the USA has A LOT of sheepdogs. Plenty has been written about this movie, but the “message” is crystallized in the eyes of young Chris when his Father, after giving the Sheepdog talk, asks him if he “finished it.” Yes, he did.
Birdman – If you cross “Russian Arch” with “The Dresser” you’ll realize “The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance” which is a long way of saying that thespians are batshit birdshit crazy. Makes you wonder how any movie or play ever gets made.
Boyhood – “American Shotgun” this movie is Linklater’s  bookend to Clint’s sharp shooter tale. Shot in the same “matter of fact” no frills style, covering roughly the same time period this movie explores the cowardly, narcissistic side of Texas. Hard to believe that Navy SEALS fought and died to preserve this inverse/upside down version of America, but they did.
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Another original, meticulously detailed, dollhouse conjured by Wes Anderson and the usual crew + R. Fiennes. What can one say but that there’s a lot of theater in the hospitality business and it’s pretty darn funny in a disappointing way.
The Imitation Game – Computers are gay. You want to talk about imitation game how about Weinstein promoting this as a romance between Cummerbund and Knightley in the trailer?
Selma – I love how many “liberal” critics claim this story is 100% true except the portrayal of LBJ. Right. If Oprah really wanted this movie to take off she would have insisted that LBJ be portrayed as a gentleman and George Wallace a Republican, but she decided to tell the truth instead – so it will never win. Just like last years slave movie I’m still wondering why it takes British actors to tell this story?
The Theory of Everything – There’s something creepy about Stephen Hawking with his steel wheels and computer voice telling everyone there is only science and nothing else – but this movie makes the unscientific proposition that everything, in theory, is about his ex-wife Jane.
Whiplash – Birdland!!! They loved it at Sundance and for good reason – it’s great.

This years Awards gives me an excellent opportunity to score the Academy on their loyalty to America and I’ll tally up the points* when it’s over. Best Picture = 5, Best Director/Screenplay = 4, Best Actor/Actress = 3, Best Supporting Actor/Actress = 2, All the rest (DP, Costume, Music, etc) =1.

* The results are in – not a good night for the Loves America crowd but they were probably watching Netflix anyway so…