I hope everyone who is hesitant about seeing **Room **screws up the courage to see it. I didn’t find it nearly as disturbing as it could have been, and it would be a shame for anyone who otherwise would want to see it to pass it up for fear of feeling uneasy.
On another note, Bridge of Spies is now available on DVD.
mmm
I was just about to say this after reading Asimovian’s post. I went into Room after screwing up my courage, preparing for a emotionally crushing experience. But actually, the character of the mom does such a good job of protecting her son from the horror – and the son is the main vehicle for the audience’s POV – that it wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been. The resilience of the kid and his ability to heal from the trauma, and the relationship between mother and child was actually very uplifting. I won’t deny that there that the film was emotionally draining, but I actually found it to be a more positive, hopeful movie than, for example, The Revenant or The Big Short (though not as funny as the latter).
Well, I’ve basically decided I’ll watch it if and when we get through the rest. I’ve got Mad Max in my Netflix DVD cue now, so I’ve got to watch one of the other two movies sitting at home that I’ve neglected so I can get that in this week. I may try to see The Revenant after work one of these days this week, since jsgoddess probably isn’t going to join me for that one. Assuming I get through those two, I’ll figure out seeing Room. I figure I’d feel like I was falling short if I only missed out on one of the films, so I’m putting pressure on myself to see the others.
I’ve never even come close to seeing 50% of the nominated Best Picture films before, so I’m already pretty pleased. Onward!
If you’re hesitating on watching Room because you think it’s going to be some kind of misery-porn, it’s not that at all.
Only the first part of the movie takes place in the Room, and the efforts of Ma to keep being there from being a tramautic experience for her son. Mostly it’s how the characters react and deal with life and other people after being rescued. It’s almost all focused on the (adorable) kid, and the resiliance and wonder of childhood.
After seeing it people will understand why Brie Larson will (almost certainly) win Best Actress, and be able to grouse with cause as to why Jason Tremblay wasn’t nominated.
And, after seeing it, seek out Short Term 12, the movie from a couple of years ago that brought Brie Larson her first significant attention. A lot of people were hoping she’d be nominated for that performance.
Ooops, Jacob Tremblay, not Jason.
Several months ago after I left the theater seeing "Room" I kept thinking, Brie Larson, damn she looks familiar. It’s as if I just saw her recently. Then remembered, oh yeah, I just saw her this August in the film "Digging For Fire".
Just saw Mad Max: Fury Road last night. A good, silly post-apocalyptic shoot-'em-up, but definitely not Best Picture material.
I’m the guy who runs our Oscar Pool on the Dope, but funofficepools will not offer one this year. Anyone know a good free place we can set one up for us to all compete against each other?
Finally got around to Room and The Martian.
Room was very good but not the suffer porn I was lead to believe. The Martian, put a fucking bell on Matt Damon, people are looking for him again.
To me it’s horse race between The Big Short and The Revenant. I’m going with The Big Short.
Why were you thinking that’s what it would be?
I’m changing my rating scale to a 5 star scale.
The Big Short–5 stars. This was excellent. Stellar acting and storytelling with a difficult subject to make entertaining.
The Martian–4.5 stars. Minor goofiness detracted slightly, but Matt Damon is really compelling.
Bridge of Spies–4 stars. Not what I was expecting going in, but Tom Hanks is so watchable. A little heavy handed at times.
Spotlight–4 stars. Maybe a little too clinical. The storytelling was austere, which was appropriate but not super cuddly.
Brooklyn–4 stars. Really fine work, but I felt a longing for a little more oomph.
Based on the encouragement in this thread, I hope to see Room before the awards.
So far, I’d say I find all of the nominees quite impressive.
Maybe just my interpretation from what I read as a synopsis and sorta what I had been hearing about it… but I was getting the suffering of beign in and getting out of Room and the suffering of recovering from Room to be more… suffer-y… I guess. Not a criticism of the movie at all. I enjoyed it. Just not what I was expecting, I was expecting it to be much more cringeworthy.
Only 16 days to go until the Oscars.
I just finished Bridge of Spies. A solid, capable movie but not Best Picture-worthy. Tom Hanks is Tom Hanks (that’s a compliment), but Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel absolutely steals the film. He’s my pick for Best Supporting Actor.
Seen:
(listed in order of preference)
The Revenant ****
Room ****
The Big Short ****
The Martian ***1/2
Bridge of Spies ***1/2
Mad Max: Fury Road ***
Not seen:
Brooklyn
Spotlight
mmm
Very much agreed.
With a possible flip of "Room" over “The Revenant”, I agree with your ranking 100%. Since I’ve seen them all I’d probably place "Spotlight" after "The Big Short" and "Brooklyn " after The Martian".
7 down, 1 to go.
Saw **Spotlight **this morning. Very well done, Michael Keaton was the standout performance for me. Focused as much on the process as the players - similar to All the President’s Men in this regard.
I’ll rank it just a hair above The Big Short.
Loved The Martian when I saw it, but it keeps creeping downward.
Seen:
(listed in order of preference)
The Revenant ****
Room ****
Spotlight ****
The Big Short ****
The Martian ***1/2
Bridge of Spies ***1/2
Mad Max: Fury Road ***
Not seen:
Brooklyn
mmm
The Portland International Film Festival is in town, and is showing 22 Oscar-nominated films. So far we’ve seen:
Lamb: An Ethiopian coming of age film
Embrace of the Serpent: Colombian film about a Shaman who is the last of his tribe, and the devastating effects of the rubber “barons” on the people and the land.
Both films have brilliant cinematography and are pretty tightly edited, with is often a problem, especially with African-produced films.
Finally got around to seeing The Revenant last night. My updated rankings:
The Revenant moved up on my list two spots in the 11 hours since I first considered it, so suffice to say my feelings are still in flux.
Only two left to go, and Mad Max is now sitting at home on DVD awaiting my viewing. I expect to have seen that by this weekend, and hopefully, we’ll make it to see “Room” this weekend, as well. Assuming I don’t get hit by a bus first, that is, as I’m still finding it hard to believe I’m this close to seeing them all for the first time ever.
I’ve now seen:
The Big Short — interesting, compelling political backstory; I have moderate face blindness and had a hell of a time keeping the characters straight, though
Brooklyn — quite good & entertaining romance but nothing very stand-outty or groundbreaking
The Martian— fantastic suspenseful hard scifi thriller, a bit draggy in the 2nd half
The Revenant—riveting survival drama that sort of meanders off (I know it’s based on real life events but as a storyline it felt incomplete & unsatisfying); gratuitous gory violence, glad I saw it, low re-watchability quotient
Room—gripping drama and far less excruciating than I’d anticipated; incredible child actor who should have gotten a nom for best actor; powerful emotional realism; this one is my favorite and IMO should get the best picture award
Spotlight—good suspense drama, focused on the newspaper “get-the-story” research and the people involved, minimal exposure to agonizing rehash of the experience of being molested as a child.
1st choice: Room
2nd choice: Martian
3rd choice: Spotlight
didn’t see (and hardly available in theatres around here):
Bridge of Spies
Mad Max: Fury Road