2022 Mixes

Let's do this.

Past mixes: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

There's a lot here this year, so I'll try to keep videos to a minimum for readability.  The extra length this year comes from both having plenty of time to listen to music on my park walks as well as dedicating two mixes to artists that I seriously binged this year. Also - these are obviously a little late and since there's SO much on here, I didn't spend as long as normal second guessing the orders, so if some of the transitions are rough - mea culpa. 

Disc 1
1. 30/90 - tick, tick... BOOM! This could go on the musicals mix, but not only did I watch this on New Years Eve last year, it's just great for an opener. 
2. Heaven is Here - Florence + the Machine. Am I going to post all the Autumn de Wilde videos? Hell yeah I am:

3. Nothing is Safe (Remx) - clipping. 

4. MISA MISA! ft. scarlxrd - Corpse

5. Lux Æterna - Metallica. Yay new Metallica!

6. Dead Weight - PVRIS

7. The Perfect Girl - Mareux

Taskmaster nonsense

Do I still need to pick my 2021 films? Yup. But not today... 

Anyhoo - I am obsessed with Taskmaster, which has gotten me through the various surges starting with omicron. It is the most joyful thing on. It's absolutely genius. 

Now I watch it mainly for these two idiots:

But someone over on Reddit asked the good question of favorite contestant from each series (excluding champion of champions.) (am I continuing to have a pandemic breakdown? Probably.) So here we go. Also, I've found in many of the series, I often have what I think of as a 'fan favorite' and then the contestant I want to win, so if there are two, that's why. 

Season 1 - I was definitely rooting for Josh Widdicome, but in rewatching, I really love Tim Key. What a maniac. 

2021 Oscars aftermath

Well, I did terribly on the noms this year, so who knows how this'll go. Also, I planned to do this on Saturday, but I found out SFFilm had a contest ending at midnight, so this'll also likely be faster than most years. Maybe that'll be good? More gut decisions, less overthinking?

Also - I'm not watching this shitshow. If you aren't broadcasting editing and score, I DON'T FUCKING CARE. WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES A MOVIE A MOVIE. Fuck you forever ABC.

Update 3/27: What a boring show (assault aside). I got 20/23, 22/23 with spoilers (and while knowing Belfast was the smart spoiler, but simply refusing.) I came in 1974/9498 on gold derby, which isn't horrible. But basically the only winner not predicted by the pundits was the Windshield Wiper, which was still the second most likely. (And I'm THRILLED it won. It and Jane were kind of the only two I cared about.) 

Look - I've loved the Oscars (or love/hated) for years. Everything about tonight was disgraceful. It was STILL longer than the last three shows and it disrespected the people making the films. And given how many people I saw on twitter either not watching or declaring the oscars irrelevant from here on out, I hope the Academy does a hard reset going into next year. (Here is a good thread more eloquently expressing those same thoughts.)

Best Picture
Belfast
CODA - spoiler, did win
Don't Look Up
Drive My Car
Dune
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog - will win, should win
West Side Story

If anyone makes a potent movie soon about the ways that men, especially, tangle up intimacy with hostility and protection with violence, I hope it wins many awards!

— Nick Davis (@NicksFlickPicks) March 28, 2022

In the end, I think it breaks down as:
Belfast - original screenplay
CODA - supporting actor, adapted screenplay, picture
Don't Look Up
Drive My Car - foreign
Dune - edit, cinematography, production design, vfx, score, sound
King Richard - actor
Licorice Pizza - original screenplay
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog - picture, director
West Side Story - supporting actress

Apparently the money is on CODA for picture and Belfast for original screenplay (excuse me while I throw up a little), but it looks like all my other picks line up with the pundits. I may be taking myself out of the running for a SFFilm cinevisa (finally! The first oscar betting I really care about), but I CANNOT bring myself to put Belfast down for screenplay. Others must have been as bored as I was! (I can no longer find the tweet, but whoever said 'screenwriters please consider you may not be the most interesting character in your own story' was correct!)

2021 Oscar predictions

Well, I did terribly on the noms this year, so who knows how this'll go. Also, I planned to do this on Saturday, but I found out SFFilm had a contest ending at midnight, so this'll also likely be faster than most years. Maybe that'll be good? More gut decisions, less overthinking?

Also - I'm not watching this shitshow. If you aren't broadcasting editing and score, I DON'T FUCKING CARE. WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES A MOVIE A MOVIE. Fuck you forever ABC.

I can't believe ABC cares more about some viewer they think will be enticed to watch by Shaun White than someone like me:
Past years:

2020: 17

2019: 19 (Bong!)

2018: 20

2017: 15 (Moonlight!)

2016: 17

2015: 21

2014: 20

2013: 18

2012: 17

2011: 17

2010: 17

2009: 20/21? 

My best of 2021 list is just Roy Kent saying fuck 10 different ways.

— Brianna Ashby (@brianna_ashby) December 15, 2021

Best Picture
Belfast
CODA - spoiler
Don't Look Up
Drive My Car
Dune
King Richard
Licorice Pizza
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog - will win, should win
West Side Story

Well, this was Power of the Dog's to lose, and I do believe it may have been lost in the last two weeks. *sigh* It certainly still has a good shot. It won the BAFTA and CCA. But CODA won the SAG (Dog wasn't up) and the PGA. The bets are on CODA, but I wonder if it's too... Disney? to win. (And listen - I wouldn't be mad at a CODA win. Twitter is mad, but I liked it a lot and far more than I expected! As David Ehrlich put it, "the specific pleasure of watching a good movie get away with the kind of bullshit that usually makes you want to vomit." It's true! It shouldn't work as well as it does! At least we're no longer discussing a Belfast win!) But I'm going with BAFTA over PGA on this one. Maybe dumb, but...

In the end, I think it breaks down as:
Belfast
CODA - supporting actor, adapted screenplay
Don't Look Up
Drive My Car - foreign
Dune - edit, cinematography, production design, vfx, score, sound
King Richard - actor
Licorice Pizza - original screenplay
Nightmare Alley
The Power of the Dog - picture, director
West Side Story - supporting actress

Apparently the money is on CODA for picture and Belfast for original screenplay (excuse me while I throw up a little), but it looks like all my other picks line up with the pundits. I may be taking myself out of the running for a SFFilm cinevisa (finally! The first oscar betting I really care about), but I CANNOT bring myself to put Belfast down for screenplay. Others must have been as bored as I was! (I can no longer find the tweet, but whoever said 'screenwriters please consider you may not be the most interesting character in your own story' was correct!)

2021 Oscar Nomination predictions

Tis time.

Here's 2020 (84/118 outright, 110/118 with spoilers), here's 2019 (88/124 outright, 113/124 with spoilers), here's 2018 (91/121 outright, 113/121 with spoilers) and here's 2017 (90/122 outright, or 118/122 with spoilers).

2/8: Updates in bold. I am verklempt. How - HOW - did tick, tick... BOOM! get a PGA nom and a FUCKING EDITING NOM and not best picture??? And I'd understand Drive My Car, but NIGHTMARE ALLEY???? THE OTHER FOUR EDITING NOMINEES GOT BEST PICTURE.

(I take some tiny solace in the thought that most people agree it was probably in 11th place, all things considered.)

79/120 outright, 108/120 with spoilers. Shocking. Just shocking.

The non-spoiler surprises (I did baaad this year):
- Ryusuke Hamaguchi for Director. Not a total surprise - BAFTA nom and NSFC winner.
- Judi Dench in supporting. Not too surprising: Judi. (Crying A LOT over Ruth Negga, who I (and I think everyone) thought was a lock.)
- Attica for doc. Really surprised it made it in over the Rescue.
- Worst Person for screenplay. SOOOOO THRILLED.
- Power of the Dog for Production Design. I thought about it, but it didn't have any precursors. THRILLED.
- Somehow you do for song. I knew better. I really did.
- Belfast for sound. Since it just got the one MPSE, I thought not. But I think the opening scene may have stuck with voters?
- Lead Me Home for doc short
- Boxballet for animated short
- Ala Kachuu - Take and Run, The Dress, or On My Mind for live action short. ???

Perfect categories: Best Actor, Animated. That's it. Rough year.

Best PictureThankfully back to 10, and the nom predictions are slightly exciting because no film got WGA/PGA/DGA/SAG ensemble. (Although WGA is only somewhat of a precursor, because so many films are ineligible.)

Okay - locks. Those with a PGA & DGA:

1. Dune - 11 BAFTAs, PGA, DGA, WGA

2. Power of the Dog - 8 BAFTAs, PGA, DGA, 3 SAGs (but not ensemble, which sucks), WGA ineligible (but up for a scripter)

3. Belfast - 6 BAFTAs, PGA, DGA, SAG ensemble, 1 SAG

4. Licorice Pizza - 5 BAFTAs, PGA, DGA, WGA, 1 SAG

5. West Side Story - 5 BAFTAs, PGA, DGA, WGA, 1 SAG

Then less certain, but it did get a DGA debut nod, and I just have no objectivity here:
6. tick, tick... BOOM! - PGA, WGA, 1 SAG, DGA (deb)

And the PGA/WGA/ensembles:

7. CODA - PGA, WGA, SAG ensemble, 1 SAG

8. Don't Look Up - PGA, WGA, SAG ensemble

9. King Richard - PGA, WGA, SAG ensemble, 1 SAG

Least likely, but has the PGA
10. Being the Ricardos - WGA, PGA, 2 SAGs

So yes. I am just picking the PGA nods here. But I'll explain why below.

Spoilers:
- House of Gucci - SAG ensemble, 2 SAGs. This is the most likely to spoil, imho, just because the acting branch is so strong in the Academy. I wouldn't mind it replacing Being the Ricardos.

- Nightmare Alley - WGA, 1 SAG, craft, CCA nom (only CCA nom that didn't overlap with PGA - swapped for Being the Ricardos.) I would have put this ahead of Being the Ricardos, but then... I saw it yesterday. 🤷‍♀️ And although the Shape of Water was loved, that was a better film? So I think the Sorkin love will carry Being the Ricardos (especially after Trial of the Chicago 7 went 0 for 6.).

- Lost Daughter - DGA (deb), (WGA ineligible), 1 SAG. I'd love for this to get in, but it seems unlikely. A chance at screenplay/actress, I think (supporting actress to spoil). 

- Drive My Car - critically beloved & foreign films have broken the best picture barrier? (Yes, they get in every so often, but rarely.) Won the NSFC, LAFC, NYFC. I don't think it has the support Parasite did, but the expanded voting block has been skewing artsier recently, so. 

Could there be something out of left field like the Tragedy of Mackers, No Time to Die (which the BAFTAs loved 🙄), Cyrano (since they love Joe Wright (Darkest Hour)), or French Dispatch? Maybe! (C'mon European contingent for Worst Person! And thank god Zola's up for a ton of Indie Spirits.)

And for the overall breakdown, I think we go:

Power of the Dog - edit, director, actor, s. actress, s. actor x2, adapted screenplay, cinematography, score (spoilers: sound); added: production design - 10 nods, possibly 11. 12!!! SO thrilled it's such a clear frontrunner. (And annoyed at myself - I thought about production design for how good the house was. Shoulda gone with my gut.)

Dune - edit, director, adapted screenplay, cinematography, costume, makeup, production design, visual effects, score, sound - 11 nods (hey! Just like the BAFTAs) 10 - Everything except director, which has to sting, but again: hard to argue with Drive My Car. 

West Side Story -  edit, director, s. actress, s. actor (boo), adapted screenplay (BOO), cinematography, costume, makeup, production design, sound (spoilers:, s. actress (other)) - 11 nods, possibly 12. 7 - Well this wildly underperformed from my expectations

Belfast - edit, director, s. actress, s. actor, cinematography (spoilers: s. actor (other), original screenplay, costume, makeup, production design, song); added: different supporting actress, sound - 6 nods, possibly 12. 7. Ha! Not too bad. I was so worried it would pick up a ton. 

King Richard - actor, s. actress, original screenplay, song (spoiler: edit) - 5 nods, possibly 6. 6

Don't Look Up - original screenplay, score (spoiler: edit) - 3 nods, possibly 4. 4

Didn't have in this list (under spoilers for Best Pic): Drive My Car. 4 (pic, foreign, director, screenplay). 

Ditto: Nightmare Alley. Sigh. 4 (pic, cinematography, costume, production design)

Licorice Pizza - edit, director, original screenplay (spoilers: actress, s. actor, production design) - 4 nods, possibly 7. 3

CODA - s. actor (spoilers: actress, adapted screenplay) - 2 nods, possibly 4. 3

Being the Ricardos - actress, actor, original screenplay, (spoilers: s. actor, score) - 4 nods, possibly 6. 3 (no Best Pic)

tick, tick... BOOM! - actor, adapted screenplay (please) (spoilers: edit (please please please), director, sound) - 3 nods, possibly 6. 2. (no Best Pic) They're two big ones, but still. Sniffles. 

The rest (non-Best Picture) films are: Encanto-3, Flee-3 (which I am DELIGHTED with - I so wanted it to make history there), Lost Daughter - 3, No Time to Die - 3, Tragedy of Mackers - 3, Cruella - 2, Eyes of Tammy Faye - 2, Parallel Mothers - 2, and Worst Person in the World - 2 (yay!!)

I'm rooting for Power of the Dog, because I think it's the best film this year, but I *really* want as many noms as possible for tick, tick... BOOM!, since I adore it and it could go either way. 

I have a terrible sinking feeling Belfast could just get a ton. And, boy. It sure is a movie.

52 Films by Women - 2021

Shockingly - I seem to have done better overall this year (20 features/36 shorts), even though it feels like I saw far fewer films this year (I am slightly down in features). In order to clear our my options list for 2022, here's everything I saw directed by women last year - broken into features and shorts. Ranking current, stars my initial ratings.

2020 here (23/4 - jeez. You can see the difference not going to film fests makes), 2019 here (15/25), 2018 here (22/20)

Features (20)

The Power of the Dog - Jane Campion - 4.5 stars. I just saw this and was blown away. I'm so glad Jane Campion is back making films (Bright Star was my 3rd favorite film of 2009.) The Power of the Dog is tonally VERY different from Bright Star's romanticism. It's chilly, precision clockwork, anchored by a tremendous cast (Thomasin McKenzie gets... 10 lines?). 

Proxima - Alice Winocour - 4.5 stars. My 6th favorite film of 2020. Eva Green is masterful in this and it's an incredible film about the dedication and sacrifice of an astronaut

Never Rarely Sometimes Always - Eliza Hittman - 4.5 stars. And my 7th favorite film of 2020. I tried and didn't really love Beach Rats, but man, this was easily one of the best films of the year. The quiet realism of it is special. And the title scene is so quietly devastating, I'm still thinking about it a year later. 

Dick Johnson is Dead - Kirsten Johnson - 4.5 stars. My 14th fave! Equally joyful/celebratory and sad; had the second best ending scene of the year.