Thursday Movie Picks: 2019 Releases

A weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves

As you probably guess from the title, the films we are sharing for this week's Thursday Movie Picks series were released last year. With the Oscar nominations having been revealed on Monday — I won't even waste time commenting on those because what's even the point? —, I'm picking three films that I loved and didn't get the attention they deserved, specifically in the acting categories.

Midsommar (2019) - Review

Plot: Devastated by a family tragedy, Dani (Florence Pugh) travels to Sweden with her boyfriend, Christian (Jack Reynor), and his friends to attend a Summer festival. Once the group arrives, they slowly realize that nothing is as it seems.

Predictably snubbed for its genre — horror —, Ari Aster's second feature is a terrific film that deals with themes such as life, death, nature, deity and, the most important one, toxic relationships. It has a fantastic script and stunning cinematography but the core is Florence Pugh's performance. She captures and delivers so much here — pain, vulnerability and genuine terror and horror — and keeps you emotionally invested in the film. 

Rocketman (2019) - Review

Plot: As he makes his way into rehab, Elton John (Taron Egerton) starts telling his life story, from his childhood when he emerged as a child prodigy to his adulthood when alcohol, drugs and John Reid (Richard Maiden) make their way into his life. 

While I can see the reason why many people didn't love this — the timeline is kind of random, some events are left out, John is painted in a completely positive light, the characters and relationships aren't as developed as they should have been —, something you cannot argue is Taron Egerton's magistral performance. Looks, personality, voice, Egerton got it all absolutely on point. It doesn't' feel like watching an actor but like the man himself as he doesn't imitate the rock legend but embodies him. I did see him being snubbed though. They gave Maleck an (undeserved) Oscar last year, after all.

Us (2019) - Review

Plot: Adelaide (Lupita Nyong'o), accompanied by her family, returns to the beachfront home where she grew up, a place she doesn't want to be in as it brings back terrible memories from her childhood. However, memories will soon be the least of her problems as four masked individuals break into her house in the middle of the night.  

Jordan Peele's second feature is a film that divided the audience as some thought it was brilliant and couldn't stop thinking about it and some thought it was tremendously flawed and couldn't stop thinking about it. Either way, people kept talking about it. But that's not my point. What I want to highlight here is Lupita Nyong'o terrific double performance as Adelaide and Red. While she is good as the good Adelaide, she gives her best as Red with an intense and terrifying performance that adds so much depth to the thin character Peele wrote. But again, I'm not surprised by the snub, this is another horror, after all. 

16 comments :

  1. Amen with all three of these picks who should've easily gotten Lead Actor Oscar noms for all of them.

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  2. It's a travesty the Academy ignores horror films like they do, Lupita and Florence were better than the performances they actually nominated

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    1. I'm yet to see Little Women but I'm pretty sure Florence doesn't top her performance in Midsommar. There just isn't the material to do that. I wonder when they'll stop ignoring horrors. I bet if Tarantino made one, even the shittiest horror ever, they would give it tons of noms.

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  3. I still need to see Rocketman! I keep hearing great things about the performances.

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  4. I've only seen Us which I liked a lot and I'm upset that it got snubbed as it is better than it should've been. I want to see the other 2 films as well including Midsommar in either its theatrical cut or extended director's cut as I've become fond of Florence Pugh.

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    1. I'm not sure which version I saw (yeah, shame on me for not knowing) but Midsommar is such a great film and I hope you get to see it soon.

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  5. Great picks! I would have thought Rocketman would have at least made it to Best Picture, but I think the release date killed it for the film. Midsommar went over the top of my head, but it did look fantastic. Lupita Nyong'o was amazing - one of my favorite performances of the year.

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    1. I knew Rocketman wouldn't make it for Best Picture because it was too flawed. Not as flawed as Bohemian Rhapsody though. But I'm so so sad Taron didn't make it because he really deserved it.

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  6. Man, I really wanted to watch Us and Midsommar. Luckily though, I got Us on BluRay/DVD, so I'll be watching that film soon.

    I never understood why the Oscars are always snubbing horror movies. They definitely deserve some recognition for the performances and special effects.

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    1. I guess they don't consider them "deep" enough or something. Although these horrors have more depth and handle more important themes than most nominees.

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  7. We have one match and it's the only one of these I've seen but I loved Rocketman and agree that Taron was cheated out of a nom, especially when they rewarded Malek for that awful Bohemian Rhapsody work.

    Us just isn't for me but I am curious about Midsommar. I might be completely wrong but from all I've read and heard it sounds similar to The Wicker Man with a gender switch.

    I saw precisely three movies in the theatre last year so this will surely be one of the easier weeks this year as far as picks go.

    Rocketman-Chronicle of Elton John’s early life, rise to stardom and semi fall and rise from the ashes all set to his music. Shot very much in the fashion of The Who’s rock opera Tommy and anchored by a brilliant turn by Taron Egerton who does his own singing and who was absolutely robbed of an Oscar nomination!

    Knives Out-Fun, stylish mystery in the Agatha Christie fashion with an eye-popping cast, though both Jamie Lee Curtis & Toni Collette are underused, and amazing production design. Does it make a great deal of sense? Not particularly but an enjoyable ride.

    A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood-Bitter Esquire writer Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) who has major daddy issues it grudgingly assigned to do an interview and brief article on Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks). Dead set against believing anyone could be as pure of heart as Mr. Rogers appears to be he initially sets out to expose him only to discover that in this case he was mistaken. He comes away from their time together a better man. Rhys is good in the lead but this film is owned by Tom Hanks who though he doesn’t necessarily look or sound like Mr. Rogers captures his humanity.

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    1. There are some similarities between Midsommar and The Wicker Man but it's unique and definitely deserves a watch.

      I missed Knives Out because of work but I really want to see it. I wasn't a big fan of A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood. It just wasn't the film for me I guess.

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  8. I will be watching Rocketman this weekend so will see if I agree with your assessment. I don’t think I will see the other 2, not because they are not good but I can just see me having nightmares. I’m still not over The Ring which I saw when it came out.

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  9. Rocketman had a lot of flaws, script wise I think it wasn't well structured BUT nobody can even think Taron didn't freaking kill it! I mean.. the more I think about it, he definitely deserved at least a nomination. Like seriously, he sang and he sang like Elton John... I mean.. ROBBED HE WAS ROBBED!

    I'm glad Pugh got recognition but she got it for the wrong role so yes, Midsommar.... amazing.

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  10. I was so disappointed to see Taron and Lupita snubbed. I'm glad Florence got nominated for something though!

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