March 2022: Oscar Winners
In honor of the 94th Academy Awards, here are our recommendations for best Oscar Winners.
Chris’s Rec
Shaft (1971)
Best Original Song - Theme from Shaft
Elitism and stubborn traditionalism have long been central to the Oscars, contributing to the love/hate relationship that many film buffs experience. For this reason, when a pop favorite makes it to the big show - especially when it wins - we all rejoice! It’s a win for the little guy, the hometown hero who had it all, the Carrie Underwoods and Aretha Franklins of the world. Shaft was a surprise hit of 1971, single-handedly saving MGM from bankruptcy while building a cinematic platform for black power and black masculinity in the United States. Shaft may not have gotten main recognition at the 94th Academy Awards, but not even the uptight honky voters could deny Isaac Hayes’ biographical theme song, full of style and soul. Can you dig it?
Stephanie’s Rec
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
Best Film Editing, Visual Effects, Sound Effects Editing, Special Achievement Award
As a child, watching Who Framed Roger Rabbit was magical - cartoons were real and could exist in my world. I was enchanted by the visual effects. Watching the film as an adult is a completely different experience. It tells a darker story than what I remember as a kid, but it’s still filled with humor. This movie was groundbreaking for its use of animation, and was acknowledged with three technical awards as well as a Special Achievement Award for animation direction.
Dylan’s Rec
Once (2007)
Best Original Song - Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová for "Falling Slowly"
In the past 10 years, Best Original Song seemingly has been awarded to the most rousing, uplifting song. That or whatever Disney song the children of Oscar voters listen to 18 hours a day. And sometimes, a rare small pearl of a song emerges and takes the trophy. Falling Slowly, from the Irish musical Once, somehow beat three songs from Enchanted and the barn-burner of a song Raise it Up from August Rush. The centerpiece of Once, Falling Slowly captures the intimacy of the film as well as being central to the plot. It’s everything at once, and an absolute miracle of a song.
Kirk’s Rec
La Vie En Rose (2007)
Best Actress - Marion Cotillard
The most satisfying surprise acting Oscar in my lifetime, Marion Cotillard’s win proved that sometimes ACTUALLY being the best gets the award. Plus, it introduced the world (outside of France) to Marion Cotillard. Plus, her speech was humbling and sweet.
Jesse’s Rec
Moonlight (2016)
Best Adapted Screenplay
The hidden force behind Moonlight, in many ways as impactful as Barry Jenkins’ direction, is the original play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tyrell Alvin McCraney from which it was adapted. The story, which not only centers on the black queer experience but does so without any explicit white gaze, displays the power of presenting rich, marginalized narratives not meant to spoon feed but illuminate. These are still few and far between in terms of Oscar representation, and hopefully Moonlight’s blip on their radar can someday be seen as the beginning of a broader space for diverse storytelling within the Academy sooner than later.