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Monday, May 30, 2022

What Am I Missing?

Like all of you, I've spent a lot less time in theaters recently. As a film buff, an unfortunate by-product of that has been being forced to watch movies on television, including all the Oscar nominees from both 2021 and 2022. Of the ten films nominated in 2022, I've still not seen the winner - Coda - or Dune. How many have you seen? Which has been your favorite so far? Be sure to answer that before reading the next two paragraphs.

In fact, two other best picture nominees this year need an "*" next to them - Drive My Car & Power of the Dog. I started but didn't finish either of these acclaimed films. In the case of the former, had I been in a theater, it's quite possible I might have left before that movie concluded. Anyone who knows my thrifty habits well will tell you this is most unusual. And I can't recall the last time I walked out on a movie, let alone an Oscar nominee. 

Because nearly everyone I know has raved about Power of the Dog, it's possible I'll give that one another try, an easier proposition via watching it on TV. Given how much I've enjoyed the earlier films of director Jane Campion and my high regard for the two male leads - Benedict Cumberbatch & Jesse Plemmons - I'm still not sure why the first hour + of this well-regarded movie felt so flat and lifeless. Hell, there's even been one person I respect who recommended the Thomas Savage novel to me. I must be missing something.

Has to be that damn TV of mine, don't you think?  

5 comments:

  1. I'm feeling really out of it since I haven't seen ANY of the films you mentioned. We used to see all of them. Maybe we need to invest in a home theater....not.

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  2. Good morning, Pat. I have been able to see some of the nominated films this year, but have not yet returned to seeing them in a movie theater. At least not yet. And, I also have not yet seen the films you've mentioned, despite having a few of the streaming services. A few friends have told us that CODA is an excellent movie and definitely worth the time. And we've gotten some mixed reviews about 'Power of the Dog' and 'Drive My Car'. But we do plan to watch them. Or, at least, start to watch them. I've never walked out on a movie, or a play for that matter. Maybe I try to hold out hope that it will improve. Some have and, sadly, most have not.
    Maybe it is 'that darn TV'. But I have a feeling it's probably not.
    Be well,
    Bob

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    Replies
    1. Bob; Thanks for two comments in one day. I'm relieved to hear you have heard "...mixed reviews..." about the two Oscar nominees that had me scratching my head. Let me know what you think of either/both if you get around to seeing them.

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    2. Hi Pat. Clarification: I did not recommend Power of the Dog. I haven’t read it. I commented that Savage’s wife was a college professor of mine and I was interested in the book. Ines

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    3. "Anonymous" Ines; Thanks for your sharp eye, good memory and the clarification. You were indeed "...the person I respected..." who I mistakenly thought recommended that novel to me. What is intriguing here is the fact that, although the first hour + of the film did not grab me at all, I can see the clear outlines of a book that probably would.

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