Nomadland = beautiful
Hillbilly Elegy = sad
The United States vs. Billie Holiday = dull
Mank = trying
The Trial Of The Chicago 7 = exciting
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom = lush
Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,
I'm pleased to say my word for Promising Young Woman is brilliant (2020; Rated R; I watched it on a DVD I received from Netflix during a free trial).
This battle cry for women is a dark comedy-thriller that features Cassie (Mulligan), who dropped out of medical school because of a disturbing, distressing event. Now she works in a coffee shop with Gail (Laverne Cox, absolutely love her). One day a fellow student from medical school, Ryan (Bo Burnham, also excellent) stops by, recognizes Cassie, and manages to gain her attention.
This movie took me by surprise. I'd heard good things about it and really wanted to see it. It more than met any expectations I had. Look for some images in the film that suggest Cassie as saint or angel. I would have been pleased if it had also gotten a nomination for Best Cinematography and/or Best Production Design. Cassie in her parents' home often looks as if she's about to step into a pink, surreal world.
Carey Mulligan is so, so good. I've enjoyed her work for quite some time, and she reaches her potential in Promising Young Woman. Her flat, American accent and expressionless face stand in such sharp contrast to any change in speaking and expression that she reveals.
These Academy Awards (airing Sunday night) are a big event for women. Only one woman has ever won Best Director (Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker). Now we have TWO women nominated for Best Director: Chloé Zhao for Nomadland and Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman. The two also have writing and producing nominations.
I would like very much to see this film or Nomadland win Best Picture, with the other winning Best Director. As for Best Actress, a win for Viola Davis, Frances McDormand, or Carey Mulligan will please me.
I won't be able to write about the other nominated films I've seen before the awards are announced, but we'll have time to enjoy plenty of movies later on. I've seen some excellent movies, some that are good, and a few I don't like. I enjoy it when you provide your opinion of the movies in the comments. If you've seen Promising Young Woman, please don't share spoilers. The shock value is important with this film.
See ya at the Oscars!
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
Oh, I didn't know this film was available on Netflix! I'll try to watch it tomorrow if I have time. I'll be watching the Academy Awards in the evening, of course. It's the only awards show I watch, largely because I've been doing so since time immemorial, it seems.
ReplyDeleteIt's not on Netflix streaming yet. I got the DVD from them.
DeleteIt does sound good. And a big, big hooray for women moving into and triumphing in areas which have been male bastions for far too long.
ReplyDeleteI hope it continues. Zhao and Fennell have created outstanding movies.
DeleteI did or do want to see Nomadland and now Promising Young Woman. I will have to find where I can see them. With the lost of vision in my right eye I get tired with headaches and tired brain. Since I don't watch all the doctored news anymore, NBC I am looking at you and CNN i don't see all the hype and commercials Quite nice and quiet..
ReplyDeleteThank You for your interesting reviews.'
wurf to the gud dugs !
Franklin and Penelope say wurf to Agatha and Winston and you!
DeleteI do want to see this film but not bad enough to throw down 19.99 to watch it. I guess I will wait until it hits Redbox. I also want to see The Father since a situation like that was part of my not to distant reality.
ReplyDeleteNo way will I pay that much money to watch a movie. I won't even order the 5.99 movies.
DeleteThis sounds really good, too. Been at the top of my queue for weeks but there's still a wait for me. Want to see The Father, too, because I love Anthony Hopkins.
ReplyDeleteI think they're sending me my top choices because they're trying to keep me as a customer.
DeleteHi Janie - yes I'll definitely get to watch this sometime ... and all these nominations ... well tomorrow we will know ... enjoy the actual Oscars ... I'll wait and see results on tv. Great to have this review - all the best - Hilary
ReplyDeleteI won't be watching the Oscars this evening because I don't have live TV with the exception of a couple of channels I can get with an antenna. So I'll ignore them and not look at the news. They'll stream on Hulu tomorrow and I can pretend they're live.
DeleteI hadn't heard of this film either, which shows just how out of the loop I am! (Maybe it's not available yet in the UK?) I'll definitely keep an eye out for it!
ReplyDeleteI look at online movie review sometimes and read lots of good things about Promising Young Woman and thought it was magnificent.
DeleteHaven't seen this one. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the remains of your weekend;)
I hope you've had a lovely weekend, Sandra.
DeleteIt's gotten where I don't want to read or hear anything about a film these days, the least little thing will spoil it!
ReplyDeleteI love good films. I know you do too!
You have to be very careful about what you read and see to avoid spoilers, especially with this movie.
DeleteI can't wait to see Promising Young Woman, and Frances McDormand is amazing!
ReplyDeleteFrances McDormand has four Academy Awards now.
DeleteOh I actually have been meaning to watch that one.
ReplyDeleteI loved it.
DeleteYou see so many more movies than I do. Hope you enjoyed their night of recognition :D
ReplyDeleteThe Oscars ceremony was dull, with the exception of Tyler Perry's speech. He won the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
DeleteJust stopped by to say hey and hope you're having a good one.
ReplyDeleteAll is well. Thanks for the visit.
DeleteOoh, promising young woman sounds good. And Husband wants to watch Nomadlands because he likes Frances McDormand, so several to look out for.
ReplyDeleteThey are very different movies and are excellent in a variety of ways.
Delete