More 2025 Oscar thoughts:

(on films seen and unseen)

Conclave

Conclave is nominated for Best Picture and Ralph Fiennes is nominated for Best Actor. Both are longshots, but I sure love seeing Fiennes nominated for this very nice understated performance. He was really good in this.

I have to assume Catholics (especially conservative Catholics) are annoyed by this film, but I quite enjoyed it. The odd (to most of us) setting of the Vatican is beautifully shot and the performances are all very very good.

Again, the filmmakers clearly dislike the conservative church and embrace the unfortunately ascendent more progressive Catholic church, so this film won’t be for everybody. Also, for the very conservative, the ending will be a bit of a shock.

But all that said, I quite enjoyed the film, especially how “real” the political intrigue of the cardinals was. The diabolical treachery and machinations of the various seekers of power seemed all to real to this Libertarian Party activist.

Maria

If the scuttlebutt is true, Angelina Jolie’s performance of opera great Marie Hallas in Marie was the one pushed out of existence by “Carlos” Gaskon’s intrusion into the Best Actress category. Her performance was interesting, in a sometimes stiff and sometimes hallucinatory way, but I have doubts that she accurately portrayed Hallas’s character. That said, how would I know?

For those who enjoy opera, I recommend it. And it was also beautifully shot. It’s up for Best Cinematography.

Films I haven’t seen yet:

The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, I’m Still Here, and Nickel Boys.

I’m listing these just so those of you who have come along with me this far will know why I didn’t talk about them. These were hard to find, streaming or in theaters or anywhere else.

Of these, The Brutalist (a 3.5-hour film about architecture?!) and A Complete Unknown (a biopic about Bob Dylan) seem the most likely to be interesting. But I’ll get around to watching all of them eventually!

I have not much clue why, but the Academy Awards and the Oscars they shower upon the deserving and the undeserving alike, interest me.

Thanks much for indulging me during this “movie week”! I’ll be back home and writing my more usual stuff next week.

Naturally,

Adam