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Volume 85, Issue 19 Web Edition SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
February 5, 2020
Oscar 2020 nominations
By Zach Dickerson
Editor in Chief
While there are many worthy and prestigious
awards that are given out at the Oscars by the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,
the most coveted and sought after of all
these awards is the Academy Award for Best
Picture. All of the films that are nominated are
fascinating, interesting and very deserving of
the awards they are nominated for. The films
that are nominated are:
“1917” directed by Sam Mendes (Dec. 4,
2019) — Taking place during World War I, two
British soldiers have received orders to cross
into enemy territory to deliver a message of an
ambush that could possibly save the lives of
1,600 of their comrades, including one of the
soldiers’ own brother.
The scenes of the film were done in one-shot
takes without taking breaks and the camera
cutting between images, and the film is even
edited to make the audience think and feel as
if the entire film was done in one single take
without cutting or switching between scenes at
all. There also isn’t much dialogue in the film
as well, much of the exposition comes when the
soldiers get their orders and the rest of the film
relies on physical and visual storytelling with
sparse dialogue throughout. This combined with
the one take style makes the audience feel as if
they are really with the soldiers.
Something the film does is that instead of
giving a clear and visible enemy for the soldiers,
it instead makes their enemy more represented
by time, nature and the environment. What is
also great about the film is that there aren’t a
lot of films that take plaee in or are about World
War I, and this film does a very good job of
portraying it in a realistic and exhilarating way.
“Ford V Ferrari” directed by James Mangold
(Aug. 30, 2019) — Based on the true story
of American automotive designer Carroll
Shelby and British race car driver Ken Miles
as they battle corporate interference, the laws
of physics and their own personal demons
to build a revolutionary vehicle for the Ford
Motor Company. Together, they plan to compete
against the race cars of Enzo Ferrari at the 24
Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.
The film essentially represents the basic and
stereotypical set up of the basic conventional
sports film setup and plot. Miles is the maverick
driver wanting to push the car and himself to
the limit to be the best, and Shellby is stuck in
the middle trying to appease the people at Ford
and control Miles. This, in a way, makes the film
somewhat predictable and at times the audience
can lose interest.
But the racing and car scenes are shot
amazingly and give the feel of really being
fast paced and exhilarating. This is great also
because there aren’t a whole lot of racing
movies, and the ones that do exist don’t fully
execute the racing and car scenes very well, but
this film does a great job portraying the feel of
watching a fast paced race and also being in the
car with the driver.
“Joker” directed by Todd Phillips (Oct. 4,
2019) — Failed comedian Arthur Fleck wears
two masks: the one he paints for his day job as
a clown, and the guise he projects in a futile
attempt to feel like he’s part of the world around
him. Isolated, bullied and disregarded by society.
Fleck begins a slow descent into madness as he
transforms into the criminal mastermind known
as the Joker.
This film, in a way, transcends to be more
than just a comic book movie and almost acts
as a character study and holds up a mirror to
society, but the added DC Comies elements
make it more entertaining and interesting for
fans. The film does an amazing job of making
the Joker as realistic as possible by combining
mental health and the treatment from society as
justifiable reasoning for why Fleck does what
he does and why he becomes what he becomes.
At times the film can be intense and very
guttural which can upset many people or make
them feel uncomfortable, but it is not done
without reasoning or for gratuitous reasons.
Joaquin Phoenix does an amazing job at
portraying the character in such a captivating
and engrossing way which makes the film that
much better.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” directed
by Quentin Tarantino (July 26, 2019) —Actor
Rick Dalton gained fame and fortune by
starring in a 1950s television Western, but he’s
now struggling to find meaningful work in a
Holl5WOod that he doesn’t recognize anymore.
He spends most of his time drinking and palling
See 'Oscar' on page 2
Stills from four Best Picture nominees: from left to right, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “Jojo Rabbit,”
“Joker” and “The Irishman.”