James' World 2

The following 10 movies are all Oscar-nominated for best picture and more. Click any movie title below, to see the associated review.

Click HERE for a complete 2022 OSCAR NOMINEE LIST by CATEGORY

CLICK HERE to see a complete list of 2022 Oscar winners after 3/27/22.

    THE POWER OF THE DOG

Nominated For:

BEST: Picture, Director, Actor, 2 Supporting Actor Nods, Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Film Editing, Original Score, Production Design, Sound, and Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

— Totaling 12  Nominations —

                   BELFAST

Nominated For:

BEST: Picture, Director, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Song, Sound, and Writing (Original Screenplay)

— Totaling 7 Nominations —

         KING RICHARD

Nominated For:

BEST: Picture, Actor, Supporting Actress, Film Editing, Original Song, and Writing (Original Screenplay)

— Totaling 6 Nominations —

Licorice Pizza is a coming-of-age comedy-drama written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who also serves as one of the film’s producers and cinematographers. The movie is about the journey between a child and an adult who have feelings for each other.  The only reason I watched Licorice Pizza is that it is Oscar-nominated.  I can’t write about movies I haven’t seen.

Licorice Pizza opens in the San Fernando Valley in 1973, 15-year-old child actor Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) prepares for his high school picture day. He notices 25-year-old Alana Kane (Alana Haim), a photographer’s assistant, and strikes up a flirtatious conversation with her. She rebuffs his advances but meets him for dinner and they begin a friendship. Gary attends auditions and prepares for a press tour attached to a film starring Lucy Doolittle (Christine Ebersole). When Gary’s mother Anita (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) cannot take him to perform…

West Side Story is a romantic musical drama directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Tony Kushner. It is the second feature-length adaptation of the 1957 stage musical of the same name. Rita Moreno who starred in the 1961 film adaptation, also served as an executive producer, alongside Tony Kushner.  The film features music composed by Leonard Bernstein, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Originally, I wasn’t interested in seeing a remake of West Side Story but since it is Oscar-nominated, I decided to rewatch it.  The music and acting were excellent.  It turned out to be a very good remake!

In 1957, the Jets, a gang of Italian youths, fight the Puerto Rican Sharks for control of San Juan Hill on Manhattan’s West Side. Officer Krupke (Brian d’Arcy James) and Lieutenant Schrank (Corey Stoll) break up the brief skirmish, telling both the Jets and the Sharks that their…

Nightmare Alley is a neo-noir psychological thriller directed by Guillermo del Toro from a screenplay by del Toro and Kim Morgan, based on the 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham, being the second feature film adaptation of Gresham’s novel, following the 1947 version. The film is a co-production between Searchlight Pictures, TSG Entertainment, and Double Dare You Productions.  Nightmare Alley is about a handsome, charming, and ambitious carnival worker with a mysterious past who takes big risks to boost his career. I watched Nightmare Alley because it was an Oscar nominee and discovered why it was nominated. I thought it was quite good.

****    SOME SPOILERS BELOW    ****

In 1939, Stanton “Stan” Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) burns down his house after putting a dead body inside and takes a job as a carnival worker. When the carnival’s geek becomes ill, owner Clement “Clem” Hoatley (Willem…

Dune: Part One is an epic science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve and also written by Villeneuve, along with Jon Spaihts, and Eric Roth. It is the first of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert, which mostly covers the first half of the book. Set far in the future, amidst a feudal interstellar society in which various noble houses control planetary fiefs, Dune follows the story of young Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), whose noble family accepts stewardship of Arrakis but is thrust into a war for the deadly and inhospitable desert planet. Having seen Dune in 1964, I didn’t remember it, so I decided to give it another try.  Dune is extremely complicated and hard to explain but very entertaining.

In a far future when faster-than-light travel is possible and almost all the planets in the known universe are under the sway of a…

Don’t Look Up is an apocalyptic black comedy written, produced, and directed by Adam McKay. It tells the story of two astronomers attempting to warn humanity about an approaching comet that will destroy human civilization. The impact event is an allegory for climate change, and the film is a satire of government, political, and media indifference to the climate crisis.  Since this movie features a Stella ensemble cast, I was hyped to see it.  Don’t Lookup turned out to be brilliantly done as well as a great eye-opener.

Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), a Michigan State University astronomy Ph.D. candidate, discovers a previously unknown comet. Her professor, Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio), confirms that it will collide with the Earth in approximately six months and change.  The comet is large enough to cause the extinction of our planet. NASA confirms their findings causing their Planetary Defense Coordination Office head,

CODA is a coming-of-age comedy drama written and directed by Sian Heder. The film was released in theaters and through the Apple TV+ streaming service. CODA deals with a family of all deaf members, except one.

I couldn’t imagine how this scenario would impact the only hearing and speaking person in the family, so I tuned in (no pun intended). I believe the deaf community was well represented in this sensitive, well-thought-out movie.

In Gloucester, Massachusetts, Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones) is the only hearing member of her family; her parents Frank (Troy Kotsur) and Jackie Jones (Marlee Matlin) as well as their older brother Leo Jones (Daniel Durant) are all culturally Deaf. Ruby assists with the family fishing business and plans to join it full-time after finishing high school.

Because of her family, Ruby is seen as an outcast at school. When she notices her crush, Miles (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo)…

King Richard is a biographical drama film directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Zach Baylin. It follows the life of Richard Williams who is the father and coach of famed tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, and also served as executive producers of the film. King Richard was theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max streaming Service in late 2021.  I thought the title was indicative of a period piece but happily learned King Richard is Richard Williams.  Very good story, just not enough content!

Richard Williams (Will Smith) lives in Compton, California with his wife Oracene “Brandy” Price (Aunjanue Ellis), his three step-daughters, Tunde Price (Mikayla LaShae Bartholomew), Isha Price (Danielle Lawson), and Lyndrea Price (Layla Crawford) as well as his two biological daughters, Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena Williams (Demi Singleton). Richard aspires to turn Venus and Serena into professional tennis players…