On a cold rainy work night, I got in my car and drove to the Chelsea Theater in Chapel Hill to see the only showing of Robot Dreams in the triangle area before the Oscar ceremony on Sunday. It has no chance to win, but I wanted to see it, because I don’t want to pick a category if I haven’t seen every film nominated in it. So, now I’ve seen them all and I’m ready to make a pick.
But it’s hard. Mostly because I don’t love any of these films. Which is strange because it has been a great year for movies in general.
The Pixar entry is mediocre at best and this year’s Disney film didn’t even get nominated. There are a couple of good films on the list but as I explained in my reviews to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and The Boy and the Heron, they didn’t really resonate with me.
Let’s just go through the list:
Elemental is the Pixar film. I know that even in this age of diminished expectations for this once mighty company, that they can do better. I’m looking forward to Inside Out 2, but Elemental is so predictable and flat. I would replace it in the nominations with The Super Mario Brothers Movie.
Robot Dreams is a cute, adorable story that both kids and adults will appreciate (assuming they ever get to see it). But you know what? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is better. It has an edgy energy to it that all these films, except for Spider-Man, lack.
I enjoyed Nimona, but it really didn’t stick with me.
This category basically has a tie at the top. Spider-Man is technically in the lead at 16/5 but The Boy and the Heron is right on its heels at 71/20. I guess I’m giving the nod to Spider-Man, but I have a feeling that the Academy will give Miyazaki his second Animated Feature award.
And I would be OK with that.
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