The Oscar Nods...for 2024 Movie Year

I should talk about the Oscar nominations. Okay, should is not the right term here - but I will talk about them anyhow.

Prior to the Oscar nods, Vulture (section of NY Magazine) provide various nominations that "scared" them. The Five Oscar Nods that Scare Vulture Editors. (It's behind a paywall - although it does grant up to one or two free articles a month.) And wouldn't you know..only one got a nod - Sebstain Stan for The Apprentice. (Yes, it's the bio-pick about the Doofus, with Stan starring as the Doofus, in a pic that was definitely not endorsed by the Doofus. I won't watch it - because I can't watch the Doofus, anyone satirizing him, or anything about him. I'm blatantly pretending he doesn't matter or exist and/or will soon disappear - in the somewhat futile hope that I can self-actualize this into being. I said futile. But it's making me happy. I wonder if that logarithm that turns anything with his name or photo into kittens, still exists?)

The other nominations are interesting. I may have to check out some of the films - although I can't watch Demi Moore's The Substance - it's body horror and I can't watch body horror. It's a horror trope that I have issues with.

I've seen Emile Perez - it's excellent. But possibly not for everyone? It's a Spanish Opera about a Mob Boss who hires a lawyer to aid him in finding a surgeon and legally transitioning to a woman. Note - Opera not musical.
Directed by a French director. It's also among the few films that have been nominated in both -Best International Film and Best Picture categories. Although the animated film "Flow" is for both Best Animated Film and Best International Film.

Good news? A trans-woman was nominated in the best actress category. They had a transgender actor portray the transgender role as opposed to a non-trans actor. (Although I think actors should be permitted to portray any role - it's called "acting" for a reason but folks mileage as in all things under the sun, moon, and stars - varies.)

Here's the Oscar Nods for the remotely curious

List of the top ones...I've checked which ones I've seen.

Best picture

Anora - AppleTV, Amazon, Fandango at Home

The Brutalist

A Complete Unknown - unfortunately only available in theaters.

Conclave - Peacock, AppleTv, Amazon, Fandango at Home

Dune: Part Two - available on Max, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home

Emilia Pérez - SEEN - on Netflix US, free to subscribers.

I'm Still Here

Nickel Boys

The Substance - sorry can't watch, it's body horror. Also apparently has a high walk out audience ratio (possibly due to body horror and subject matter - it's about someone hunting eternal youthful looks and finds what they believe to be a cure to aging...) ( summary of what the movie is about )

- available on MUBI, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home. (I'm beginning to think they are only available to rent or buy at this point?)

Wicked - AppleTV (apparently available on AppleTV - free to subscribers?? Will have to check that one out this weekend), Amazon, and Fandango at Home (all rentals or buy for approximately $19.99. (Although that's basically a NYC ticket price right there.)

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Adrien Brody, The Brutalist

Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown - really want to see

Colman Domingo, Sing Sing

Ralph Fiennes, Conclave - really want to see

Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice - won't watch, dark biopic on what's his face, but basically Hollywood's way of sticking the finger to what's his face. (What's his face per Mother hired Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and I can't remember the third guy's name at all (which probably tells you everything you need to know about him) - to be ambassadors to Hollywood and beat it into shape. ME: uhm good luck with that, considering no one wants to hire them, their films sink, they are all past their prime, and the audience no longer cares or knows who they are.)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Yura Borisov, Anora

Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain-Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home

Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown - he's been gone for a while.

Guy Pearce, The Brutalist -Only in Theaters

Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice - Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Cynthia Erivo, Wicked

Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez - seen, first transwoman!

Mikey Madison, Anora

Demi Moore, The Substance - can't watch, sorry Demi.

Fernanda Torres, I'm Still Here

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown

Ariana Grande, Wicked

Felicity Jones, The Brutalist

Isabella Rossellini, Conclave - about electing a pope

Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez - excellent performance.

Best animated feature film

Flow

Inside Out 2 - Disney + - saw half of, didn't like it. Might try again, could be a mood thing. First time - it just irritated me.

Memoir of a Snail

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl - NETFLIX US, and I think UK - found it uplifting but disappointing? I like the previous ones better? The Norberts were annoying.

The Wild Robot - curious about this one. Peacock (streaming Friday), Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home

Where to Stream Oscar Nominated Movies Online