Holiday Catch-Up on Oscar Films, Part 2

We continue with the holiday catch-up on potential Oscar-nominated and other award-winning films.

Frederick Wiseman's 
Les Menus Plaisirs--Les Troisgros

Les Menus Plaisirs--Les Troisgros: The day after Christmas, I went to Film Forum for Frederick Wiseman's latest masterpiece Les Menus Plaisir--Les Troisgros. I knew it was four hours long and that would probably be the only chance I would have to see it. This 44th doc from the 93-year-old legendary filmmaker did not make the Oscar shortlist for Best Documentary Feature, but was named Best Nonfiction Film by the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Why did Oscar snub this fascinating portrait of a Michelin 3-star restaurant? Maybe it was the length?

I admit there were moments when I dozed off, but the overall effect was overwhelming, detailing every aspect of the three family-owned restaurants in the south of France. We watch the chefs buying produce at the local market, discussing whether or not to include rhubarb in the asparagus and whether the sauce should have shaved or whole almonds, preparation in the kitchen, lunch service at 350 Euros a head, visits to cheese caves, cattle ranches, and vegetable farms. In the past few years, I've been enraptured by Wiseman's take on the British Museum, Boston City Hall, the New York Public Library system and my own neighborhood of Jackson Heights. This film adds to the collection of comprehensive portrait of institutes.

Dominic Sessa, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and
Paul Giamatti in The Holdovers.
Credit: Focus Features

The Holdovers: Three days later on Friday Dec. 29, I went to a 12:20PM showing of The Holdovers at the Regal Union Square. I was surprised there were only single matinee screenings scattered across the city for this prime Oscar candidate for Best Picture, Best Actor (Paul Giamatti), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress (Da'Vine Joy Randolph who has won almost every critics' award). I was prepared not to like it because the trailer made it seem so cliched. How many times have we seen a group of misfits thrown together, fight at first and then become pals? But David Hemingson's screenplay is so natural and devoid of gimmicks, the relationships ring true. Giamatti hopefully will receive a Best Actor nomination. He was screwed out of one he deserved for another Alexander Payne film Sideways in 2004 when Clint Eastwood copped his rightful slot for Million Dollar Baby. Giamatti deserves to win, but his main rival is Bradley Cooper for Maestro because Academy voters love them some heavy make-up, prostethic noses and aging jobs. Randolph who was so good in Only Murders in the Building on Hulu and the Ghost musical on Broadway, appears to be a lock for Best Supporting Actress.

Sandra Huller in Anatomy of a Fall

Anatomy of a Fall: On Sat. Dec. 30, we watched Anatomy of a Fall on Amazon Prime and 20 Days in Mariupol on the PBS Passport app. (It was broadcast on Frontline.) The former is in the running for Best International Film and the latter is a frontrunner for Best Documentary Feature. Sandra Huller has won Best Actress from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (also for her performance in Zone of Interest which I haven't seen yet). Huller delivers a brilliant performance as a novelist accused of murdering her husband. She displays an incredible range of emotions from bereaved widow to loving, playful mother to calculating, manipulative schemer. Actresses in foreign language films rarely win the Oscar, but much of her dialogue is in English. But she's still a foreigner and not many take the top prize.

20 Days in Mariupol

20 Days in Mariupol: This harrowing, jagged documentary chronicles the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AP reporters bravely film the results of Russian assaults on civilian targets and search for Internet connections so they get the images out to the rest of the world. It was painful to watch this and horrifying to think Putin is waiting out the US will to supply Ukraine with military aid. If Trump is re-elected, he will abandon Ukraine and authoritarianism will win a victory.

Upcoming Film & TV Awards

Jan. 6: National Society of Film Critics Awards
Jan. 7: Golden Globes (CBS)
Jan. 10: SAG nominations
Jan. 14: Critics Choice Awards (The CW network)
Jan. 15: Emmy Awards (this was delayed because of the writers and actors strikes) (Fox)
Jan. 18: BAFTA nominations
Jan. 23: Oscar nominations
Feb. 18: BAFTA Awards (Britbox)

Feb. 24: SAG Awards (Netflix)

Feb. 25: Film Independent Spirit Awards (IMDb and Film Independent Spirit's YouTube channel)

March 10: Oscars (ABC)

2023 Potential Oscar Nominated Films Seen So Far
Oppenheimer (34th Street AMC)
Barbie (Regal Union Square)
Asteroid City (Angelika)
Golda (County Theater, Doylestown, PA)
Killers of the Flower Moon (Regal Kaufman Astoria)
Rustin (Netflix)
The Killer (Netflix)--Tilda Swinton could nab a Supporting Actress nod
Maestro (Paris Cinema mezzanine and again on Netflix)
May December (Netflix)
Past Lives (Amazon Prime)
Poor Things (Regal Kaufman Astoria)
The Holdovers (Regal Union Square)

Anatomy of a Fall (Amazon Prime)
Still: A Michael J. Fox Film (Apple TV +)
Les Menus Plaisir--Les Troisgros (Film Forum)

20 Days in Mariupol (Frontline/PBS/Watched on the Passport app)