Hello Movie Lovers!
Let me start by saying that if you are reading this blog and/or if you have read this blog over the last 6 years, thank you. It’s been so much fun to hear from readers and get to talk about the Best Picture nominees. Regardless of what you think about award ceremonies, watching the films and talking about them with fellow movie lovers is really what its all about for me. The TLC Method of rating films was originally created so my now husband and I could get on the same page about what makes a movie “good”. Many of the films from the last year deserved to be recognized, but it’s so hard to compare certain films. This is where the TLC Method comes in.
In my opinion, today's best films are the ones that tell unique and entertaining stories and tell them well. The TLC Method was invented with this belief in mind. My theory has been that if a film can make you think, laugh and cry then it has a higher probability of being nominated for an award. Last year, I considered adding an additional letter to the “TLC” abbreviation, but I could not decide the best option. I’m going to continue that brainstorm. One letter in consideration is “O” for Originality. It is not a perfect method, but it does take a realistic and easy-to-apply approach to assessing whether or not I’ve enjoyed a movie. Simple as that.
So, here's how it works.
When you’ve finished watching a film you simply ask yourself if it made you think, made you laugh and/or made you cry and to what degree. When I’m torn about one of those three, I may give a film a half laugh or a half cry. You get the idea. So, if a film made you think, laugh and cry then it was a successful film in the eyes of the TLC Method.
Personally, I loved the angle of these images from the movie Tár, I felt they really captured the tension of this character.
“Don’t be so eager to be offended. The narcissism of small differences leads to the most boring kind of conformity.”
I am happy to report that last year one of the films that received a Think, Laugh, Cry rating won Best Picture! CODA was a wonderful film, full of heart and I’m personally very pleased that it was awarded the top honor. It was not my personal favorite, mine was Belfast, but it was exciting to see the TLC method successful.
It’s been 6 years of using the TLC Method to write this blog and I often think about what success means for the method. Last year, three of the ten nominees received a full Think, Laugh, Cry. In 2021, two films received a full TLC and neither won Best Picture. In 2020, only the film Jojo Rabbit got a full TLC, but Parasite went on to win. In 2019, two films received a full Think, Laugh, Cry and one of them, Green Book, won Best Picture. In 2018, The Shape of Water and Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri both got a TLC and The Shape of Water was the big winner. Of the 50 films nominated in the last 5 years, 10 have received a full Think, Laugh, Cry from me and 3 have won Best Picture.
I mention all of this because last year when reviewing these stats, I kept focusing on the fact that I had only been truly successful (correctly predicting the winner) once in 2019. However, as I think about the method and whether or not I think it tells me something about successful films, I think it’s fair to point out that 3 of the last 5 years a film with a full TLC score has won. It feels safe to say that something about the TLC method is heading in the correct direction in terms of predicting the winner. Below you can see a chart that summarizes the last 5 years of TLC predictions.
This was such a beautiful scene from Everything Everywhere All At Once. So simple and so funny, really memorable for me.
Each year that I manage to watch all 10 of the Best Picture nominees I am filled with pride. For context, that often means I am watching 10 films in less than 2 months. This may seem silly, but as new mom, making time to watch movies, something that brought me a lot of joy before parenthood, feels like an accomplishment and really matters more to me than it ever did before. Seriously, take time to do the things that you love. It matters.
This year, I decided to stick to my shorter reviews of each film and add in a new section I am calling the TLC Awards. I’m the only one who votes for these awards, so they are extremely biased. Enjoy!
The TLC Awards
Top Think
I wanted to give this award to EEAAO, but if I am being honest the movie was so overwhelming I struggled to remember one specific moment. So for this year’s Top Think, I am going with The Banshees of Inisherin. It left me really thinking about friendships and why I am friends with certain people. I have ended relationships with friends in the past and it really made me reflect on those choices.
Top Laugh
Perhaps I have a dark sense of humor, but this year’s Top Laugh goes to pretty much the entire 2nd act of Triangle of Sadness. It was less rolling on the floor laughing and more mouth agape shock kind of humor, but still. For goodness sake the grenade couple is blown up when the pirates attack. It’s dry and dark, but this film has earned my Top Laugh.
Top Cry
I mention this in my review of Women Talking, but I’ll say it here too. I was surprised this year by my lack of tears but this years clear winning Cry was Claire Foy’s passionate monologue about protecting her children. I sobbed.
As I now have a 7 month old daughter, this was a very biased cry.
Top Poster
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (multiple displayed in this blog)
Top Scene
The Fabelmans - Uncle Boris comes to visit, he stays in Sam’s room.
He gives him some life advice. Give Judd Hirsch an Oscar, I loved it. Just loved it.
Top Phrase or Quote
“Feck” - everyone in The Banshees of Inisherin
Unlike these awards, in which I was the only one who voted, the Academy Awards has a unique voting system.
To learn more about how that process works, check out the button below.
My Top Scene this year from the movie The Fabelmans. The message really resonated with me. Artist often sacrifice family for the sake of art and it can be a difficult choice.
Best Picture Reviews
(In alphabetical order, spoilers ahead!)
All Quiet on the Western Front
(Think, 1/2 Cry)
Honestly, my gut reaction to this film was, why was this movie made? This is actually the 4th time this story has been captured on film. The1930 black and white original version of this film won the Oscar for Best Picture at the 3rd Academy Awards.
It’s beautifully shot, well-acted, and of course predictable, if you know your world history. But why make this at all? Netflix invested 20 million into the production of this film! I’m tired of remakes. Give me original ideas again. Please stop nominating films that are painful to watch for the sake of being painful to watch. I’m a new mom, I don’t have time for unoriginal content. I’d only recommend this to big-time world history or war film fans.
Avatar: The Way of Water
(Think, 1/2 Cry)
Well, I saw it… in 3D. I’ll try to set my feelings about James Cameron aside. This was an okay film. If its free and on TV or on Disney + in the future I may watch it again simply because it was beautiful and easy to consume. This science fiction action film, is stunning and almost guaranteed to win the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. I loved the characters relationship to nature and the connection to the tulkun (the large whale creatures). It certainly made me think about family and our connection to nature. All that said, the plot felt extremely predictable and none of the acting is worth noting. It feels like a strange film to nominate for Best Picture and yet, a film with this much hype and attention, how could it not be nominated. I will be disappointed if this wins.
Okay, I cant help myself…. complaints:
- STOP WITH THE 3D .. it sucks, just charge me more. I’m angry I had to sit in a theater on a Thursday night for 3 and a hour hours with those stupid glasses on my face.
- Really James Cameron… you sank the whale catching ship? You… the director of Titanic…. Really?
The Banshees of Inisherin
(Think, Laugh, Cry)
What an unusual film. This story seemed so silly to me at the start, but by the end I really fell for these characters. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson were fantastic. It really got me thinking about friendships and the idea of legacy. Why are we friends with some people? Is meaningful conversation the root of all friendships? When looking back at your life, will it be enough to be remembered if you were just nice? I had little expectations for this one and it ended up being one of my favorites this year. I laughed at the ridiculousness, I weeped when that donkey died and most of all it made me think about friendships, how much they impact our choices and our lives. Kudos to writer/director Martin McDonagh, well done.
Everything Everywhere All At Once
(Think, 1/2 Laugh, 1/2 Cry)
Wow. What a trip! This should win. It may not be my personal favorite this year but wow, incredibly relatable, while also being a truly original piece of artwork. The acting from Michelle Yeoh needs to be recognized. She is awesome. My only criticism was the pacing, I think the editing could have been a bit better, some of the emotional moments would have landed better for me if the pacing slowed down. It’s the reason I only gave this a 1/2 cry. I could see where the emotion was scheduled to appear, but man oh man was I too overwhelmed with everything going on to have time to shed a tear. I will watch this film again. I see this as the Best Picture front runner.
Elvis
(1/2 Think)
One of the few films I watched before award season started, Elvis was one of the biggest disappointments of the last year. I am not a particularly huge Elvis fan, but I really looked forward to hearing his music and seeing Austin Butler’s performance. Much to my surprise, this film seems to be more concerned with giving Tom Hanks an opportunity to play the villain than it was with pleasing fans or making Elvis the center of his own story.
The editing was truly the worst part for me. It was way too fast paced, not giving any moments the room to be enjoyed and no appreciation for the music. Baz Luthrman, the film’s director, known for Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby, certainly has a particular style, it's just not for me. And that’s all I have to say about that.
The Fabelmans
(1/2 Think, 1/2 Laugh)
I wish I hadn’t known that this was “semi-autobiographical” and “loosely based on Spielberg's adolescence” (wiki). The film’s famous director Steven Spielberg has created some timeless classics. This was not one of them. While the premise of the film was regrettably egotistical, I did enjoy specific moments from the film. For example, the scene with the bully crying and the uncle who comes to visit. No surprise that as a movie lover I could hugely relate to the main character Sammy, excuse me, Sam. However, that doesn't change the fact that this film was forgettable at best and Spielberg begging for an Academy Award at its worst. Also, tangent…Why does Michelle Williams play such annoying characters? What is that?
Anywho… even if the film was 30 minutes shorter and it should have been, I still really wouldn't recommend this to a friend. I may even forget that it was a nominee to be honest.
Tár
(Think)
A trend I see in the movie industry right now is long films. This was 2 hours and 38 minutes long. I personally think the sweet spot is right around 2 hrs in length or less. Tár was about 45 mins too long.
All in all, I enjoyed this character study and Cate Blanchett is a joy to watch act even when she is playing the antagonist. There always seems to be one film each year that is like this one, focuses on a single main character who does a lot of talking, a lot of monologues. In the case of this film, even though I am unfamiliar with the classical music industry, I thought the writing was very well done. Closed captions likely helped me follow along, but the tension and anxiety created by both the dialogue and the cinematography was palpable. Would I watch it again, no, but this one made me feel, it left me feeling tension for hours after it ended. I’m glad to have seen it, just wished it was shorter.
Top Gun Maverick
(Think, 1/2 Laugh, 1/2 Cry)
I am surprised, but pleased to see an action film with this caliber of special effects on the nominee list. As someone who commits to watching the best picture nominees, it’s refreshing to get to watch a movie thats main objective is entertainment and not pleasing the academy.
I am not a Tom Cruise fan, I actively avoid watching most of his films. That said, it’s a simple story and it’s a lot of fun to watch. Nostalgic masculine energy, Miles Teller dancing and adrenaline pumping dog fights - wish I’d seen this one in theaters.
My opinion - It wont win Best Picture, being that Avatar 2 is nominated, the two will likely cancel each other out. But thank you to whoever got this on the list, it made this year’s viewing a lot more fun.
Triangle of Sadness
(Think, Laugh)
Thank you for the original story! Regardless of what you thought about this one, there is no arguing that this film was unique. A twisted dark comedy that asks the viewer - What is currency? Is currency influence? Money? Power? Pretzel Sticks?
I loved it, up until the final 5 mins. The ending was in my opinion, a complete cop-out. My husband and I brainstormed like 3 endings that would have been much more enjoyable. Honestly, if the film had ended with Yaya being violently bashed to death by Abigail as the other guests (we didn't actually see die on the ship) step out of the elevator, I would have voted this movie Best Picture of the year. But, instead it played it safe and said “choose your own adventure”. I doubt this will win any awards, but I’m happy to have watched it.
Women Talking
(Think, Laugh, Cry)
Up until I watched this film, I was surprised by the lack of crying I did this awards season. This film broke that trend. I sobbed throughout this film at various moments, but none more than when you realize that Claire Foy’s 4 year old daughter has also been a victim of sexual abuse from the men in her colony. At the same time, I can say that this film made me laugh and if you’ve read my reviews before you know that I am particularly fond of films that both are deeply emotional and yet make you laugh. This is how I see real life and that reflection is entertaining to me.
This is a film, that had it not been nominated, I would have never watched and so, I am very happy that it was nominated. I wish there was an ensemble Oscar for acting, because this cast of women was incredible. This film is one of only two this year that received a full Think, Laugh, Cry - I will not be disappointed if it wins Best Picture.
Best Picture Nominees TLC Ranking
The Banshees of Inisherin (Think, Laugh, Cry)
Women Talking (Think, Laugh, Cry)
Everything Everywhere All At Once (Think, ½ Laugh, ½ Cry)
Top Gun Maverick (Think, ½ Laugh, ½ Cry)
Triangle of Sadness (Think, Laugh)
All Quiet on the Western Front (Think, ½ Cry)
The Fabelmans (½ Think, ½ Cry)
Avatar 2 (1/2 Think, 1/2 Cry)
Tár (Think)
Elvis (½ Think)
What a performance by Colin Farrell in The Banshee of Inisherin. The eyebrows got me.
Who will win? My prediction for the Best Picture winner:
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The Oscars are this Sunday, March 12th at 8pm EST on ABC!
As a new parent with a limited amount of personal time this year was one of the hardest for me to see all 10 Best Picture nominees, but I am very pleased that I accomplished my goal. I am really looking forward to watching the Oscars this Sunday! I am predicting that Everything Everywhere All At Once will be the big winner, even though both The Banshees of Inisherin and Women Talking each received full Think, Laugh, Cry and The Banshees of Inisherin was my personal favorite this year.
What did you think of the nominees this year? Was there another film you thought deserved to be nominated? How do your opinions line up with my reviews? Do you think The TLC Method is flawed? I always love to hear the feedback from readers, so thank you for taking the time to read. Comment below (no sign-in necessary)!