With the final Oscar ballots in the hands of Academy voters starting April 15, we are moving forward with our fourth annual round of interviews with Academy voters from different branches for their thoughts. sincere about what has been chosen, overlooked and overvalued during this strange pandemic year. .

Producer n ° 1:

One of the best things to come out of this tough rewards season has been the portal to the Academy’s screening room. It’s easy access and works flawlessly. No need for a screening DVD! We’re missing the theaters for now, but we’re saving the planet from DVD waste! Next: Online trades only, please!

The appointments were not shocking. A few surprises in the Best Actor / Actress categories, as there were performances of equal or greater merit that were left out, including Delroy Lindo in “Da 5 Bloods”.

I’m disappointed this year with Best Picture: not because an eligible film was overlooked, but rather because some potentially great films were either delayed in making, delayed in releasing, or they didn’t. at all been illuminated. I felt the absence of grandeur on a larger scale in Best Picture this year. Eight very good movies during a horrible time, but not one big, full-scale epic. There could be more than the pandemic. The human experience through cinema seems to continue to be increasingly limited to small and medium budget independents.

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But we are voting for what we have, and the show must go on! The movies are very good and they survived a global pandemic. Thanks to all the films released this year. We needed you. Thanks to the Academy for finding a way to make it work under these unprecedented circumstances. The show will continue! Looking forward to watching.

Producer # 2:

The Academy Screening Room app was awesome. I don’t know who invented it; It was great. It required digital literacy. Maybe Biden’s infrastructure bill can support a stronger Academy screening room next year. “Minari” was among the films with interesting storytelling this year, not mainstream. Among many neorealist films. The same was true for “Nomadland” and that incredible Mexican entry from Netflix that was not nominated, “I’m not here anymore”.

I received sumptuous Netflix gift sets for “My Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “Mank”. It was weird, having a box with a bottle of expensive whiskey on a movie about a drunken man vomiting on the carpet of William Randolph Hearst. Wait a second, it was all about alcoholism! Honestly, I was looking forward to “Mank”, and it was like, “Really? Is this my experience? “

“Judas” is genuinely powerful and self-sufficient, but it’s important that a studio is really behind something effectively. Josh Goldstein, the new head of marketing at Warner Bros., loved “Judas” when he saw it and went the extra mile to get it recognized. Here is this film which totally deserves its recognition, but damn it, that understands! There is something awesome about it.

Better image

Producer n ° 1: “Nomadland” had a great emotional effect on me. Just like “Sound of Metal”. Also moved by “Minari”, “Judas and the Black Messiah”, “Pieces of a Woman” [nominated for Best Actress, not Picture]and “The Father”. All strong indies. “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and “Mank” are all we have this year representing a slightly larger scale. Both good, but not enough.

Where are the big original and larger-scale “Hollywood” movies? Last year: “The Irishman”, “Little Women”, “1917”, “Joker”, “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood”… This year, the little indies have dominated more than ever, with “Nomadland” standing out by its new perspectives, originality and inspiration. “Nomadland” would be a worthy nominee each year.

I will review everything one more time before I vote. There is always a last minute surprise after a second visit! “Minari”? “Mank”? “Chicago 7”?

Producer # 2:

I put the eight in order. I’m still not sure if their weighting takes away the power of your vote or diminishes it. I know the numbers, budgets, and production schedules, but I’ve never mastered the nuances of what makes your choice the most secure. I never tried to play with the system. And so I struggled with it. I finished with “Nomadland” 1, “Judas” 2, “Minari” 3, “Promising Young Woman” 4, “Sound of Metal” 5, “The Father” 6, “The Trial of the Chicago 7”, 7 and “Mank” last.

Director

Producer n ° 1: Chloé Zhao has built something daring and very, very special.

Producer # 2. Chloe Zhao, “Nomadland”, no question.

Netflix

Best actress

Producer n ° 1: Viola Davis was impeccable.

Producer # 2: Viola Davis and Frances McDormand, that’s tough. I voted for Frances [“Nomadland”]. Ultimately, there was something more nuanced about this performance. She won twice? I haven’t thought about it – not enough Academy nerd.

Best actor

Producer n ° 1: I support Chadwick Boseman.

Producer # 2: Chadwick Boseman. It’s an incredibly strong category, it basically deserves it, and there’s something emotional and necessary about it. I am happy to recognize it.

[Producer #2 continues through the categories.]

Supporting actor

Daniel Kaluuya, it’s him. It’s a tough call. [Lakeith Stanfield] it was good, but it’s a richer performance. I adored “Judas and the Black Messiah”; it’s a living story full of incidents and consequences for anyone who grew up in the 60s and 70s.

A24

Supporting actress

Great nominees. Youn Yuh-jun from “Minari”, absolutely. I am drawn to her. I loved.

Adapted scenario

“Nomadland.” It was so thoughtful, I wanted to admit it. “Borat [Subsequent Moviefilm]Was one of the best movies of the year, I’m glad it exists. “Nomadland” also had a bit of improvisation. I went with “Nomadland”.

Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection

Original screenplay

Large category. I voted for “Judas and the Black Messiah”. He found a more real way to [1968] that “Chicago 7.” I don’t mean closer to reality – some emotional authenticity. Because of its subtlety, I was also drawn to the script for “Minari”, it was incredibly elegant.

I was not stunned by “Chicago 7”. Unloading Paramount on Netflix was a clever move; good luck trying to get audiences to go to theaters to see this. This allowed him to find the widest possible audience. I was comforted to see this story told. It’s a good scenario. An actor as brilliant as him, Eddie Redmayne was therefore not Tom Hayden. [Hayden] was the opposite of beautiful. This is a hard point. It took me away from the film. But if Eddie Redmayne wants to be in your movie, are you saying no?

Disney +

Animated functionality

Even though I thought “Wolfwalkers” was really great, I went with “Soul”. What great values ​​are worth voting for! It is beautifully done. It deserved it on several levels.

Cinematography

I found myself thinking about movies, not cinematographers. The ASC winner and popular favorite is “Mank”. I went with “Judas and the Black Messiah.” It’s incredibly rich, with energy in the frames.

Costume design

It’s a strong category. I thought “My Rainey” had a certain vibrancy.

Netflix

Documentary

Super amazing category. So many strong films. I had to struggle with this one. It was between “Crip Camp” and “My Octopus Teacher”. It was an agonizing choice. They were both about spiritual beauty. In the end, I went with the one who affirmed the land. It was the pandemic. I went with this to tell stories.

Editing

“Sound of Metal”, because the nature of each shot was so important. It was the movie where every choice mattered.

International feature film

Amazing category; each of these films is so rewarding. I almost went with “Better Days”. Something in me wanted to support Hong Kong. I know that is not the reason why we should vote. “Quo Vadis, Aida?” was so depressing, I’m still recovering. I will vote for it. I know “Collective” is going to win, I understand, it’s undeniably powerful. I was never going to vote for “another round”. I wasn’t drawn to the alcohol aspect – not a movie making comment that was awesome, just a personal thing.

ShortsTV

Live Action Short Film

I was torn between the Israeli (“White Eye”) and the Palestinian (“The Present”) and I went with the Palestinian. Because it was so emotionally powerful.

Make-up and hairstyle

“My Rainey.

Original score

“Da 5 Bloods”, this movie was stolen. And that was a great score. He did a lot of things at different times.

Original song

Every song was about social justice, but the song “Judas and the Black Messiah” was the best. The song “Chicago 7” was incredibly invented.

Production design

The design of “Ma Rainey” was a bigger and more emotional factor than that of “Mank”. I respect “Mank” he had a high level of craftsmanship throughout, but I don’t think he broke new ground. Difficult to say.

Ring

I voted for “Greyhound,” 1) on substance and 2) it was a chance to vote for a movie that I thought was awesome.

Visual effects

It’s one of my favorite categories, and I was baffled because I hadn’t seen it all, so it wasn’t fair for me to vote. I take this category seriously so I ended up not voting which made me sad.

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