2021 Oscar Nominees
Lili’s Pick: Minari
Lanie’s Pick: Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon
The 2021 Academy Awards are just a month away, and I, for one, am still riding the high of last year’s discombobulated but eventful show. Against all odds, Parasite rightfully won best picture, making it the first non-English-language film to win the award—as well as winning best international feature, best original screenplay, and our King Bong Joon-ho winning the title of best director. Along with these victories, there were a flurry of iconically confusing elements: there was no host, a performance by Eminem that Martin Scorsese was caught sleeping through, Brad Pitt throwing shade at Trump, Joaquin Phoenix’s well-intentioned but all over the place speech, and Timothée Chalamet dressed as a chic gas station attendant—all instances, forever immortalized in my brain as some of the last happy moments before the pandemic began. Just like last year, there are a plethora of excellent films worth recognizing, however, this time around, I, and the rest of those watching, will have even higher expectations, especially for those stories that are never rewarded. The Best Picture nominees are so solid this year, all respectively showcasing unique and visceral stories, all equally deserving of the title. Thankfully, the films up for the Oscar this year follow what is, hopefully, a positive trend from the Academy—one where films with unfamiliar or even unsavory themes are given a chance. It’s new territory for this stuffy institution, highlighting films about injustice, disability, rape culture, the impossible ambition of the “American Dream”, and I’m really hoping we won’t be let down. This week we dedicated Double Feature Thursday to two farm-based Oscar noms, my choice was Minari, which is nominated for best picture, best director, best original score, best original screenplay, and Steven Yeun and Youn Yuh-jung are nominated for best actor and best supporting actress; and my sister’s choice Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon, which is nominated for best animated feature. For those wondering if my sister has an obsession with Shaun the Sheep, the answer is no, we both do. Farmageddon, unfortunately, isn’t going to win when it’s up against not one but TWO Pixar movies, but this movie certainly deserves praise. With the anticapitalist Shaun the Sheep, there’s always fun to be had, and this film had some exceptionally funny moments that movie nerds, especially, will appreciate—making references to almost every alien film ever made: Close Encounters of the Third Kind, X-Files, Arrival, E.T., Dr. Who, and Alien. If you’ve had a long day, and need to wind down with a funny, low-stakes movie, I highly recommend Farmageddon, regardless of your age or preference or taste in sheep films. Minari is another film that I would recommend to literally anyone. This film, in its boundless, effortless beauty, has the power to touch any viewer, especially those like my sister and me, those who grew up in a somewhat similar struggle. I felt every bead of sweat and tinge of hope. Minari centers its story on the Yi’s—a family of Korean-American immigrants who’ve just moved from California to Arkansas, in an effort to keep their family afloat. Jacob, the father (played by hottie Steven Yeun) works to build a livelihood in the form of a farm, while his wife and two children learn to adapt to a hotter and more foreign terrain. Through trial and error and sacrifice and uncertainty, Mr. Yi only wishes to show his children that he can succeed at something—a sentiment shared by so many of our parents who fought and labored to give us a happy, healthy life. This story, while it is distinctly about what the American dream is to a Korean-American family, is universal. The Yi’s are just one family, among a myriad of others who’ve tried to build something, but it feels incredibly pertinent and essential, that it be from their perspective. And whether or not you relate to this story, it begs to be told, and it must be heard. This movie, that could’ve been told with a profound sadness or urgency, offered nothing but tenderness and patience. Like a live-action Miyazaki film, it was wholesome and genuine in a way that’s hard to describe and can never be imitated. This story of survival, and the tireless effort required of those who are starting from scratch, is not only familiar, it is foundational to the country and the society that we live within. Just getting by, can be a monumental struggle. But this tale of getting by was just so beautiful, so peaceful, and so aggressively precious, if I could cradle this film in my arms I would. Watch Minari, take in the stunning imagery, take in every feeling, and feel your heart swell with joy.
