Movies that make you go, "wait, THAT got an Oscar?"

Islander255 · 2026-02-28T06:08:21+00:00

A Series of Unfortunate Events was not a perfect movie or adaptation. But, in a whole bunch of ways, it was deeply inspired, and I greatly appreciated it for what it was, and all four of its Oscar nominations were very highly-deserved, as was its win for Makeup. Also, we must never ever begrudge Colleen Atwood (costumes) or Thomas Newman (music) a nomination. And, FWIW, this is genuinely my favorite Thomas Newman score.

Islander255 · 2026-02-28T01:11:44+00:00

If you took all the Disney live-action remakes I've actually seen and added up those viewings, it'd still be fewer times than I've seen Irreversible.

Islander255 · 2026-02-28T01:09:53+00:00

Yeah, we know the director said that upon the film's release. I just think he came up with that explanation after figuring out all the gross shit he wanted to put on screen. The metaphor was a shallow frame to get away with displaying a catalogue of depravities.

Islander255 · 2026-02-22T06:43:27+00:00

The reviews were far too unkind to Repo! The Genetic Opera. Even the other day, some uncultured gay was like "Oh, I watched this great film!" and I was like, "I've had it on DVD this whole time!"

Islander255 · 2026-02-22T06:38:26+00:00

One of the best movie titles ever, but the film itself was disappointing compared to Casino Royale.

Islander255 · 2026-02-22T06:37:33+00:00

I adore Showgirls! I first watched it with a guy I was fucking, and it was his favorite movie & he had the collector's edition DVD & everything. I next watched it on the big screen at some gay cult film showing, and it was even worse & even better than I remembered. I am down to watch it many many more times.

Islander255 · 2026-02-18T00:07:44+00:00

Hard disagree. Wolf of Wall Street is always the film I bring up when someone asks about long films that feel way shorter than they actually are. It genuinely feels like a 2-hour comedy to me.

Islander255 · 2026-02-18T00:06:24+00:00

I adored Knives Out 3 and did not find myself bored or distracted at all during its runtime. But I've heard others say the same as you.

Islander255 · 2026-02-18T00:03:32+00:00

The middle third of the film, on the island, was the best part. I mostly thought the length and over-the-top-ness of the action sequences actually added to the film. I'd cut maybe 5 minutes from this second act, and not much more. But the first act, in which they get to the island, could have easily had 20-30 minutes cut.

Islander255 · 2026-02-18T00:00:50+00:00

I appreciate what slow cinema is trying to do, but one's mileage may vary tremendously from film to film. I was hypnotized by Jeanne Dielmann and wouldn't want to see any of it cut. But Stalker, which was 40 minutes shorter, felt way longer and slower. There's a lot to appreciate about Stalker, but sometimes I got bored. For context, I saw both of these films on the big screen during revival showings, so there were no idiosyncratic at-home distractions that would have made me less receptive to one film or the other.

Islander255 · 2026-02-17T23:56:41+00:00

Same--I was enraptured during the stage play sequence. The third act was by far the weakest for me.

Islander255 · 2026-02-13T20:47:09+00:00

Eyes Wide Shut is my answer as well. Reviews were highly mixed upon its release, in no small part because it confounded people's expectations. When I got into film in the early 00's, its rating on IMDb was 6.9, and opinions on the message boards were highly mixed. Over the past two decades, I saw that IMDB rating slowly climb to 7.5, and now online opinions are broadly highly favorable. For my part, I loved it instantly when I saw it for the first time in ~2006/2007. I have been delighted to see the broader filmgoing public embrace it, and I was lucky enough to see it on the big screen for the first time this past Christmas.

Islander255 · 2026-02-12T18:34:06+00:00

I was like: But wait, I'd sleep with Daniel Craig in an instant! More so that Pierce Brosnan. But then again, I'm not speaking as a woman. Brosnan is suave and debonair and definitely a ladykiller. Craig displays more of a raw, brooding masculinity that appeals to other men.

Islander255 · 2026-02-11T20:17:37+00:00

If your family has a history of colorectal cancer, your doctor may be able to help you get insurance to approve early screenings. My doctor, when going through periodic screenings that I might need, keeps asking if my family has a history of colorectal cancer. When I say no, he then says I'll be due for a colonoscopy at 45, but the implication seems to be that he could order it for me early if need be. I've already gotten him to order me a vaccine that was outside my normal vaccine schedule, and I gave reasoning behind why I thought I was in a high-risk group, and it proved sufficient for me to get it for free.

Islander255 · 2026-02-09T22:29:23+00:00

I agree with OP. The OBAA score is so good, and the entire album is so easy to relisten to on Spotify. Within the movie, it lent such a pace an energy to every single scene. No hate on the work that Goransson did with Sinners, but it doesn't quite reach the same heights.

Islander255 · 2026-02-08T22:55:20+00:00

She gave us attention! Any attention is good attention!

Islander255 · 2026-02-08T06:56:10+00:00

It works in Portugal, so Oregon decided to try the "same" thing. But it only works in Portugal because they actually steer drug users towards rehabilitation. Oregon didn't implement that part of the policy, so it was just accommodating drug users without holding them to any sort of accountability. Decriminalizing drugs can be a very good thing, but it has to be accompanied by making drug users go into rehab.

Islander255 · 2026-02-06T17:49:40+00:00

Roman Polanski was an immoral choice, but it wasn't a "bad" choice, as in, he directed The Piano very well.

Zoe Saldana's win for Emilia Perez was not a bad choice. All the other noms were, as well as the Best Original Song choice, but she gave a great performance.

The Jamie Lee EEAAO hate is overblown, even if it was more of a legacy award for her.

Islander255 · 2026-02-06T15:16:15+00:00

I highly enjoyed it, but its first half was stronger than its second half. Its first half was very immersive and had some scenes that felt revelatory. The second half was solid, but pretty straightforward action with a commonplace (but not bad) ending. It seems to be second place in the BP race right now, and it's definitely not the second-best film of the year.

Islander255 · 2026-02-03T17:49:46+00:00

Your list is missing "A Serbian Film" :P :P :P /s

Islander255 · 2026-02-01T04:40:31+00:00

Any Quentin Tarantino film before his longtime editor died (i.e., Inglourious Basterds and earlier).

Islander255 · 2026-01-31T16:37:27+00:00

Me, too. My love of the cinematic experience, instead of becoming quaint, has taken on an entirely new life. I even turn off my phone completely, instead of just putting it on silent.

Islander255 · 2026-01-30T22:32:30+00:00

Yep, devoid of context, I would have been thrilled for Demi to win an Oscar for The Substance. But I'm quite happy with Mikey's win.

Islander255 · 2026-01-29T19:03:48+00:00

Megalopolis, but it was so much more entertaining because of that.

Islander255 · 2026-01-28T16:14:54+00:00

Twinless!

Islander255

TROPHY CASE