# Oscars: 2016 Best Picture nominees - ongoing tracking thread of which of the films you have seen **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2017, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138 "2017-01-25T13:18:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/1 "2017-01-25T13:18:09Z")
I did this [last year](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=781340&highlight=picture) and thought it went well. This thread is intended to centrally track which of this year’s Best Picture nominees Dopers have seen. The list below is presented so that each contributor may cut and paste for each subsequent post in order to keep his or her own running, updated list. Your review of each movie - I will use a 4-Star scale - is optional. Discussion is encouraged. The nominees are: Arrival Fences Hacksaw Ridge Hell or High Water Hidden Figures La La Land Lion Manchester by the Sea Moonlight ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/2 "2017-01-25T13:29:01Z")
Seen: La La Land \*\*\* Manchester by the Sea \*\*\*\* Not seen: Arrival Fences Hacksaw Ridge Hell or High Water Hidden Figures Lion Moonlight Brief reviews: **La La Land** : Enjoyed it, had fun, but a tiny bit of it rubbed me the wrong way. Seemed a bit too contrived, too Look How Old Time Hollywood We Are. Felt like it was trying too hard to be loved at many points. Good performances, music was less than amazing but pretty damn good. Deducted one point for feeling so manipulated. **Manchester by the Sea** : Yeah, I’ve only seen two nominated films so far, but this one is the one to beat. Ben Affleck? Oh, you mean Casey’s brother? Yep, he is that good. Powerful film, couple of unexpected surprises in the plot that are gut-wrenching. Beautifully filmed. mmm ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/3 "2017-01-25T13:47:20Z")
Seen: \*\*Arrival \*\*- three stars I had really high expectations and it didn’t quite live up to them. Amy Adams was terrific and it’s a shame she was shut out of Best Actress. **Hacksaw Ridge** - three stars A unique WWII story I hadn’t heard before. But even with Mel Gibson’s directorial nod, it has zero chance of winning. **Manchester by the Sea** - four stars Powerful and devastating, with unexpected moments of humor. Hoping to see **La La Land** and **Hidden Figures** very soon. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/4 "2017-01-25T17:26:56Z")
_Seen:_ Moonlight – FOUR STARS Fences – THREE AND A HALF STARS Hidden Figures – THREE STARS _Not seen:_ Arrival Hacksaw Ridge Hell or High Water Lion La La Land Manchester by the Sea I’ve been in love with Janelle Monae since she was a Kansas City girl, creating her own funk-pop-electronica alternate universe. Turns out she can also act! (She has a small part in Moonlight, and a larger one in Hidden Figures). ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/5 "2017-01-25T17:53:55Z")
Seen them all: Arrival \*\*\*\* Fences \*\* Hacksaw Ridge \*\*\* Hell or High Water \*\*\*1/2 Hidden Figures \*\*\*1/2 La La Land \*\*\*1/2 Lion \*\*\* Manchester by the Sea \*\*\*\* Moonlight \*\*\*\* Number one with a bullet is Arrival, just to separate the four star movies. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/6 "2017-01-25T18:03:25Z")
I want to see darn near all of them and so far haven’t seen one ☹ After months and months of not caring about going to the movies and now there’s a ton of great ones and my dread of the unpleasant theater experience is so great I can’t seem to make myself go. I wish they were available on demand - at theater prices, of course. Well, what I really wish is that theaters weren’t smelly, filthy rooms where rude assholes congregate, seemingly for no other reason than to have a climate controlled place to look at their phones. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/7 "2017-01-25T18:36:21Z")
I don’t know where you live, but for the most part theaters _aren’t_ “smelly, filthy rooms where rude assholes congregate”. In particular, older audiences are less likely to be on their phones. As for the OP, the only ones I haven’t seen are Fences, Hacksaw Ridge and Hidden Figures. I’ll try to see one or more of them this weekend. I liked the ones I have seen. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/8 "2017-01-25T19:19:28Z")
I’ve seen all the Picture nominees. Here’s how I would rank them: **Moonlight Manchester by the Sea Hidden Figures Hell or High Water Arrival Fences Hacksaw Ridge Lion La La Land** ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/9 "2017-01-25T19:29:15Z")
I’ve seen Arrival and Hidden Figures. I’m hoping to see La La Land soon. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/10 "2017-01-25T19:30:29Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I don’t know where you live, but for the most part theaters _aren’t_ “smelly, filthy rooms where rude assholes congregate”. In particular, older audiences are less likely to be on their phones. > > As for the OP, the only ones I haven’t seen are Fences, Hacksaw Ridge and Hidden Figures. I’ll try to see one or more of them this weekend. I liked the ones I have seen. Unfortunately they are here. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/11 "2017-01-26T19:24:46Z")
I haven’t seen any of the nominated pictures, but I’ve watched all of the official trailers. Based on that, the ones I’d most like to see (in order) are: Hacksaw Ridge La La Land Hidden Figures Arrival Hell or High Water I’ll wait until release on Netflix or Amazon Prime for the rest. But based on the reviews, the only reason I’d watch the rest is because they’re Oscar nominated. I loved Slumdog Millionaire, but Lion looks like a grown-up version of it. Moonlight and Fences look super depressing and, given current events, I get enough of that for free. I’m surprised that Manchester by the Sea is so well-regarded because even though I think Casey Affleck is an incredibly talented actor (much more so than Ben), the trailer didn’t make the movie look all that compelling or the storyline all that unique. I wonder if anyone else went in with lower expectations of these four and came away completely blown away by the actual films. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/12 "2017-01-26T19:54:55Z")
FYI, I believe Hell or High Water is available for rental, as are Florence Foster Jenkins and Captain Fantastic (the latter two received nominations for acting). ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/13 "2017-01-27T05:24:12Z")
I’ve seen them all, some multiple times. My personal ratings (out of 5): Arrival \*\*\*\*1/2 Fences \*\*\*1/2 Hacksaw Ridge \*\*\*\*1/2 Hell or High Water \*\*\*\* Hidden Figures \*\*\*\*\* (not because it’s the “best” but because I love it so much) La La Land \*\*\*1/2 Lion \*\*\*1/2 Manchester by the Sea \*\*\*\*1/2 Moonlight \*\*\*\*1/2 I’ve seen Arrival 3 times, Hidden Figures twice and La La Land twice. I will see Hidden Figures and Moonlight again. Hidden Figures is my favorite of the nominees but if I had to choose which one I think is “best” I would say Arrival. But they’re all really very good, even, yes, Lion. My very favorite movie of 2016 (Sing Street) didn’t get any nominations at all, which makes me sad. It should have gotten at least a song nomination. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/14 "2017-01-27T05:47:09Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Unfortunately they are here. I’ve seen over a hundred films in the theater this year, and had only one bad experience - and I didn’t make a stink about it as it was obvious from the comments and voice that this is an intellectually disabled person, and all I could do is shame her caregiver. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/15 "2017-01-27T10:56:44Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I’ve seen over a hundred films in the theater this year… You go to the movies, on average, every 3 days? Don’t mind me, I’m just jealous. mmm ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/16 "2017-01-27T16:37:07Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > You go to the movies, on average, every 3 days? > > Don’t mind me, I’m just jealous. > mmm Usually multiple movies on a weekend, and the popular ones on a Tuesday when there is not a crowd. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/17 "2017-01-27T18:24:42Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > You go to the movies, on average, every 3 days? > > Don’t mind me, I’m just jealous. > mmm I actively dislike seeing movies at home, so most of my film-watching is theatrical. In 2016, I saw 229 features and 256 short films in the cinema. For 2017, I’m already up to 31 features and 28 shorts. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/18 "2017-01-27T18:47:30Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > I actively dislike seeing movies at home, so most of my film-watching is theatrical. In 2016, I saw 229 features and 256 short films in the cinema. For 2017, I’m already up to 31 features and 28 shorts. I’d do the same, if I could. The most I can see at a theater in a calendar year is 50-60. I just can’t afford to go more than that.☹ ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/19 "2017-01-27T18:51:38Z")
> [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](#): > > I’d do the same, if I could. The most I can see at a theater in a calendar year is 50-60. > I just can’t afford to go more than that.☹ Well, in all fairness, I work in the industry so I get festival passes and free screening tickets regularly (plus indulge in bargain matinees, discount nights, and double features). Plus, i live in a market where there are archival screenings constantly (I’d estimate 1/3 of the films I see are from the 20th century), so the choices are more sizable. Being single helps, too. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138/20 "2017-01-27T18:54:22Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > This thread is intended to centrally track which of this year’s Best Picture nominees Dopers have seen. > Arrival > Fences > Hacksaw Ridge > Hell or High Water > Hidden Figures > La La Land > Lion > Manchester by the Sea > Moonlight None. I did have interest in seeing and might see Hacksaw Ridge and La La Land. Oscars becoming less and less relevant. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oscars-2016-best-picture-nominees-ongoing-tracking-thread-of-which-of-the-films-you-have-seen/778138.md?page=2)