For such a popular series – maybe even one of their most popular? – the Hollywood Reporter sure has taken to publishing their Brutally Honest Oscar Ballots kind of late. We talked about Ballot #1 last week, and it was the anonymous male director who stans Spike Lee. Ballot #2 is a “female member of the Academy’s 506-person sound branch.” Interesting diversity to include a sound-department Oscar voter, I think. This woman doesn’t really think like most of the Oscar voters – she seems immune to the way Oscar campaigns are run and she goes with her gut. And her gut loved The Favourite and A Star Is Born, which is weird. You can read the whole piece here. Some highlights:
She didn’t like Black Panther: “I did not care for Black Panther — I appreciate what the film represented to people, but I just thought it was pretty mediocre.”
Her thoughts on Green Book: “I’m not a fan of Green Book, either — it felt kind of retrograde and borderline offensive with all the cliches, and then I read what the family [of Don Shirley] was saying and that didn’t help. My son said to me, “That movie is trash”; I wouldn’t go that far.”
Roma was beautiful but boring: “I wanted to love Roma, but in the end I just thought it was boring, albeit beautiful to look at. I kept waiting for something to happen…There are so many people that liked it, and it’s winning everything, but for me it did not work.”
Her three picks for Best Film: My number three is Bohemian Rhapsody, which I liked a lot — I didn’t like how they handled Freddie Mercury’s homosexuality; they just more or less avoided it, but Rami Malek was terrific and I loved the concert scenes. I put A Star Is Born at number two — a really entertaining Hollywood movie; the acting was great and everything worked for me except the ending. I liked The Favourite a lot — not the cinematography, but everything else about it. I guess it was the one of the eight nominees that I liked the most, but I can’t say it was a favorite film of mine. There was no Phantom Thread for me this year.
Her pick for Best Director: “I know this is blasphemous, but I thought that [Roma’s Alfonso] Cuaron just borrowed a lot from Fellini — I guess you could call it an homage — and, hello, just because you can have a tracking shot that goes three blocks doesn’t mean you should. She [Yalitza Aparicio’s character] has got to get somewhere — at the end of it, something’s gotta happen! I thought the direction of BlacKkKlansman [Spike Lee] and The Favourite [Yorgos Lanthimos] were both great, but I just liked The Favourite more. My Vote: Yorgos Lanthimos.
She voted for Bradley Cooper for Best Actor: “Rami [Malek of Bohemian Rhapsody] was great, but — this is going to sound awful — he was so short, and Freddie Mercury was so tall, that it just kind of bothered me. I liked [A Star Is Born’s] Bradley [Cooper] the best — I totally bought him as a drunk rock-star, I believed every moment he was on screen and every moment of him was perfect. I mean, the fact that he sang and he played and he directed himself — I was just astounded by how good he was.
Glenn Close is a sure thing: “Glenn [Close of The Wife] is going to win, and I voted for her — because of [the 1988 film] Dangerous Liaisons. She was so great in that — I remember that scene where she’s staring into the mirror and has just that little bit of a shudder; she was just so wonderful in that. I thought The Wife was okay — I saw her on TV the other night, and even she has said she was kind of surprised at the attention this little movie has gotten her — but sometimes you do vote for an accumulation of work, and she’s of a certain age, and I think it’s just time. You know what I learned recently? All the gays love her. I have gay friends and members of my family, and they’re all on my case to vote for her — I never saw Glenn Close as a big gay icon, but they all love her! [A Star Is Born’s Lady] Gaga was really good. I loved [The Favourite’s] Olivia Colman and would have voted for her. But I just think it’s Glenn’s turn.
She also voted for Richard E. Grant and Regina King in the supporting categories, which makes me remember that the anonymous director also voted for Grant. Is there going to be a surprise in the Best Supporting Actor category? Richard would happy-sob if that happened, and I kind of think Mahershala would be happy with it too. Also: I too feel that there should be a JUSTICE 4 PHANTOM THREAD movement because holy god was that an incredible movie and it did next to nothing during last year’s awards season. What else? I’m shocked that this woman voted for Bradley Cooper. I’m also shocked that she didn’t know that Glenn Close is utterly beloved by the LGBTQ community.
Photos courtesy of IMDB.
Geez Rami can’t you just ACT taller?
LOL
Actors these days… lazy!
I’ve got to admit, there were quite a few scenes were Rami’s height took me out of the film. Freddie was only a little taller than Rami is, but he had very different proportions, and the film was really careless about that. They went to great lengths in some scenes to shoot Rami in a way that made him look just like Freddie, but then in the next scene they’d filmed from an angle that made him look about 4’9”. It’s just sloppy.
That’s not Rami’s problem, but it’s another reason why it’s insane this film picked up any filmmaking noms.
He did not look like Freddie , he copied the moves not the energy.
Love Grant and Glenn. Do not give an eff for Cooper.
She also thinks Freddie Mercury was tall, and he wasn’t. He was about an inch taller than Malek. Freddie did have long arms and legs which made him appear taller. If you look at pictures of Queen, for instance at the Radio Gaga shoot, Freddie is the shortest member of the group—or he and Roger Taylor were about the same. Just saying.
I agree 100%. If that woman is going to spend the rest of her life saying she didn’t like Rami because he was “so short”, her comments will fall on deaf ears to many people. He was blooming awesome in the role.
Thank you for the facts. I didn’t think Freddie was all that tall. He was just thin and lanky.
She meant Freddie Mercury’s ghost was tall. You know, the one who Malek said helped him not know about child rape allegations? Freddie Mercury’s ghost is very tall.
But seriously though this is how Oscars work. Highly subjective and more about campaigning. Another Honest Ballot said Malek will win because he was at all the events and seemed nice. Not because he was any good. Oscars aren’t about who gave a good performance. It’s about who kissed the most ass and/or who makes for the best story.
I kind of like Rami, and I’m not going to cancel him for working with Singer even if I think it was an incredibly bad choice on his part.
But…I hate how he handled the situation by bringing up Freddie’s ghost. Terrible, terrible move and frankly disgusting imo. I can think of four different ways he could have tried to explain himself without coming across as even more exploitative.
And yes, the Oscar ballots reveal how much BS it all is. I love Glenn, but most said they are voting for her because of her career and not her performance and many aren’t voting for Olivia since they don’t “know her.” The defense of Green Book is also so telling as is Adam McKay getting a best director nod over Marielle Heller or Chloe Zhao.. And I remember one guy who basically implied he would never vote for a rapper (Kendrick) or a pop star (Gaga), regardless of the songs, and that’s why he was voting for Mary Poppins because it was “real” music—which indicates he must be ancient and holds views on music that simply aren’t fair.
What she’s saying about characters journey in Roma, better the lack of it is so old school. I hated that from my professors at Uni when I studied film. They don’t understand the move that is about the inner states and atmosphere. I still have to watch Roma but this attitude just explains why so many films are watered down lemonades these days. Ugh…. these people need to retire.
Agree.
I don’t like Bradley Cooper and I find it hard to get past that when I watch him on film. I think he just slimmed his way out of his involvement with David O’Russell and the various American Hustle issues. I think he is a fake and a hypocrite. I like him as Rocket Raccoon, but that is my limit.
LOL yes, Rocket Raccoon is also my favorite role from his acting resume.
Ive only seen black Panther and Bohemian Rhapsody. The later doesn’t deserve any nom, it looks like from Disney Channel, except the last 10 minutes. I agree with this opinion.
hahah you know me too! My favorite BCoop role is the Racoon as well
I’m with you re: BCoop. ROcket ftw
I finally broke down and saw A Star is Born in the $2 movie theater. I thought Bradleys singing was not good so I don’t know what movie she saw.
BTW last night TCM had on the first 2 versions of A Star is Born. In the second version with James Mason and Judy Garland there is a scene where she is in the make up department where they are preparing her for her first screen test. They put on a wig to change her hair color and totally make up her face very different from how she looks normally. Norman Maine takes her to his office on the lot and takes off her wig and then proceeds to smear cold cream all over her face and tells her to remove all of her make up. That’s right BRADLEY COOPER STOLE THAT WHOLE MAKE UP REMOVAL STORY DIRECTLY FROM THE 1950S VERSION OF THE MOVIE LOL I am amazed no one called him out on it, must not have done research on the very early versions. What a phony!
I haven’t seen it yet and probably won’t for a looong time – everything about this movie has been unoriginal and its been a blatant Oscar bait project from the get go. It won’t win big – it will be lucky if it gets an award for that song.
I thought it was well known that the makeup story told about Gaga audition was copied and pasted by the 50’s movie!
Oops, I guess as per my usual, I was the last to know! I just remember that story seemed to blow up about when he went to gaga’ s house. I didn’t realize it was well known it was from the movie, I just thought in the few interviews I had seen they were calling it their own story, my bad!
I’m not sure you understand the concept of “remake.”
It’s a remake of a remake of a remake of a remake.
Thank you, rational person. I don’t get all the vitriol directed at ASIB for being a remake. Black Panther is a remake of a comic book. BlacKkKlansman, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite, Green Book and Vice are remakes of real events. So, what, Roma should win by default because it’s only semi-autobiographical? Surely, things don’t need to be 100% original in order to find value in them.
I remember the makeup removing story,I thought it was weird,never knew it was from another of the older versions.
Watching the movie I remember him smearing cake,or something all over her face,I didn’t like it,then they had at least two more scenes when they were smearing cake or some pastry on each other (Wedding)and taking it off with their fingers,I’ll assume this was their way of remaking that original makeup taking off scene.
Maybe it’s a generational thing and I’m showing my age…..but I’m old enough to have seen all the various versions of ASIB, and I totally don’t get the love of the latest one. There was nothing fresh about its take, the casting of Sam Elliott as the (too much) older brother was way off (and I love me some Sam Elliott). I did like the music (the music of the Streisand/Kristofferson pairing has NOT aged well). I thought GaGas contributions were definitely musical over acting or even casting.
I thought the best thing about it was actually BCs performance. Very believable.
Heresy! Streisand/Kristofferson ASIB was fantastic and the songs – well, Barb’s at least, – are still stunning. I spent many a long distance journey belting out those songs with great gusto. I thought Gaga/BCoop ASIB was fine – other than Shallow, all the songs were unmemorable. All IMHO of course.
I think THR has been publishing them late, and more tame versions or holding back the meaner ones, because Barry Jenkins subtweeted them, and it was obvious he was discussing THR’s anonymous ballots, on twitter as being unnecessary and vicious. His subtweet was picked up on by a lot of people, and I don’t think THR thinks it is worth running them if they alienate half of Hollywood.
While the ballots can be fun, they can also cross the line into downright cruelty and illustrate just how racist and misogynistic some of the Academy folks are—the first guy spoke of Yalitza in an incredibly condescending way, and basically called the short film about sanitary napkins “icky.” So while I think it’s good that the ballots expose how awful most of them are, I also see Barry’s point that it just seems like needless cruelty at times.
The Hollywood Reporter doesn’t usually post the meanest, prettiest ones. They post ones that expose the voters racism, misogyny, homophobia or the nepotism involved, but they don’t tend to post the ones that clearly come from the crazier corners of the Academy. The uglier, rantier, weirder interviews tend to come from outlets that have copied the Reporters idea the last few years.
Also, it’s not a huge surprise she’s voting for Bradley: like 95% of film critics on twitter have been b*tching endlessly about Rami winning and pushing either Cooper or Bale. However, the comment about his height was dumb and not a reason to not vote for Rami.
Also, I love Richard E. Grant and I would be delighted if he won. At the same time, I’m a bit bitter because if any woman was acting his way and hitting up every event, doing endless campaigning, etc. they would be called thirsty and desperate. Like I’m getting flashbacks to how the media treated Melissa Leo and Anne Hathaway and others.
Excellent point !
I think people just enjoy when the actors are having fun with the experience.
Grant is campaigning and he wants to win, but he’s also genuinely relaxed and enjoying it for what it is. Tiffany Haddish was treated the same when she was campaigning for Girls Trip, like a breath of fresh air. Glenn Close is having a lot of fun this year too, and people are loving that.
Men are also criticised for being thirsty. Benedict Cumberbatch was dragged for it so hard I think it actually scuppered his awards chances for a while. Leo’s desperation was a meme, and Bradley Cooper was heading that way before he dialed it back a bit recently.
Melissa Leo made some very awkward choices during her campaign. People like ambition from the underdog (see Isabelle Huppert’s campaign a couple of years back) but Melissa’s campaign was unfortunately just a bit sad. If Grant was taking out for your consideration ads for himself that aimed to present him as a glamorous, Cary Grant style leading man, he’d be mocked mercilessly.
Anne Hathaway’s campaign was stressful to watch. She was a lock from the start but she seemed so terrified she was going to lose it. She just kept throwing things at the wall trying to make everyone love her. Remember the breathy little girl voice that came real close to turning into baby talk? Grant is just being his likeable self, not constantly workshopping new tweaks for his campaign persona.
I didn’t have high expectations for A Star Is Born but I was quite impressed by his performance, especially the scenes on stage. And I really liked his singing voice.
I’m with you. I can’t stand Bradley Cooper but I actually really liked him in A Star Is Born.
I agree, he was quite good. And I am not a Cooper fan AT ALL…his offscreen persona just seems so fake to me. He deserved a nomination, but not a win.
If you didn’t, please follow the link and read the whole interview because the voter has a completely hilarious aside about Buzz Aldrin.
Thanks for the tip! That was hilarious. 3 AA meetings in one day as a date! I’m not surprised. I have to share because I have my own Buzz Aldrin experience (far from sexual).
He was the keynote speak at an industry lunch I attended about 15 years ago. Huge hotel ballroom, I’m at a front table, BA at table on stage with his wife, the hosts etc. Buzz Aldrin gets up to speak and I have no words for how incredibly long he droned on. FOREVER. So long, some of the folks on stage sneak off from the corners to get back to work. So long, his own freaking wife literally falls asleep on stage at her seat while he’s talking, When he finally ended, and the lights came on, I looked behind me to a practically empty ballroom. He was sooo bad …it became something of a joke for years afterward. “I survived Buzz Aldrin…….I can take anything.” What a pompous blowhard he was, completely clueless.
Omg!
He did the same thing at an event I attended in Fort Worth about 15 years ago also. There was no point, no story, just talking on and on and on. People were looking around uncomfortably— What IS this? I snuck out a back entrance. I did NOT survive Buzz Aldrin.
Grant and Close should win! I haven’t seen these movies hehe but I think they should win just because I like them!
I watched Can you ever forgive Me? On iTunes yesterday. A really nice film and Grant and McCarthy are both excellent. I’ve always loved Richard Grant and I was really impressed by Melissa’s acting. Great little slice of NYC in the late 1980’s.
I watched it yesterday too and thought it was excellent. Melissa and Richard gave great performances, and it was a really interesting story. I wish they were more movies made like that.
Watched it a couple days ago Absolutely loved it,very quiet,quirky,the cast worked so well ,they complemented each other wonderfully.Favorite movie this year for me.
And I loved seeing Jane Curtin! Needed more of her. I also love movies like that-interesting quirky looks into people’s lives. Now I want to see a movie about Nora Ephron filing a police complaint about McCarthy’s character impersonating her.
It just seems wrong that people are not voting for the acting this year, people are still voting for a body of work or because someone is owed an award from previous years. Glenn is probably deserving, i’ve not seen the wife, it just irks me when people don’t vote for the best of the 4/5 choices.
I agree, I love Glen and it’s horrible she doesn’t have an Oscar already but this woman is basically rewarding her performance from 30 years ago.
Phantom Thread was a great film, Daniel Day Lewis is out of this world!
Phantom Thread was nominated for 6 Oscars including Director and Picture, so I’m not sure how anyone thinks it was ignored or something. It was a late finish and late release but it still did remarkably well with the nominations all things considered.
I can’t wait for this award season to be over. People have gotten downright vicious towards others when discussing who or what should win. First of all, it’s not that serious. These awards are not life or death, everyone just relax. When Rami Malek wins tonight, the world will not end tomorrow. If Green Book wins Best Pic, we will all be okay. Let’s keep some perspective.
I watched ‘The Wife on a flight recently and was blown away by it. Glen was wonderful. It wasn’t easy and quite unsettling to watch.
It was hard for me to watch too. I wanted to scream on her behalf so many times lol a really great and restrained performance
I will be glad after tonight all the Star Is Born nonsense will start to fade away. Of course he copied the makeup thing!!!
If we’re voting by legacy alone Richard E. Grant definitely deserves to win. He was in the Spice Girls movie and kept a straight face the entire time! If that doesn’t justify him winning an Oscar then I don’t know what will.
I loved him since Withnail and I (I highly recommend it). He’s such an interesting character actor.
Phantom Thread was so good!
I’ve seen most of these movies. Glenn and Olivia were both fantastic. I’m a huge fan of both, but Glenn deserves it. True, she might be getting her Oscar for a life time of work but she deserves it for The Wife too – for displaying so many complex emotions so quietly and subtly …just with her eyes.
For best director, if it were up to me, I’d give it to Lathimos. There’s nobody like him in the business right now. (Maybe Haneke and Ostlund.. but that’s it.). I like Cuaron and liked Roma a lot, but it’s nothing new in terms of film art. The French and Italians did it back in the 60’s, 70’s. If you haven’t seen The Favourite, I highly recommend it. Rachel Weisz was wonderful in it.
Glenn is fabulous in The Wife. It’s not a great movie. It’s a good movie and more like a play as far as dialogue. She is so famous, but you forget it’s Glenn. It is a very understated role. If Meryl had the lead, I think she would have overacted in places. But Glenn resists that tendency to be showy. It’s a very nuanced performance revealing the complexity of her character and her marriage as the movie unfolds and eventually the full force of her emotions come out. She is very deserving of the Oscar for this role. I thought the supporting role of the son was miscast and too one note as written.
“and, hello, just because you can have a tracking shot that goes three blocks doesn’t mean you should!!” is my new saying de jour.
How these idiots get a position of power I’ll never know.