by Nathaniel R
Just wanted to quickly check in to let you all know that I am on the mend and doing a lot better now, self-recovering from a flu or covid-19 or whatever it is/was that I was relaying on the podcast. The fever has been gone for a couple of days and I have more energy daily. It's hard to get tested which is such a ridiculous problem. Our country was so severely ill prepared for a pandemic since the CDC was gutted by T**** two years ago (why does the media stay so silent on the awful decisions of the government and spend so much time on his tweets or just replaying his self-congratulatory speeches?). And even if the GOP hadn't already ravaged greatly needed government programs, our healthcare system was already in disarray. People being laid off right and left in the face of business closings will also mean the loss of medical insurance for a lot of people. Losing insurance during a pandemic is (unneccessary) tragedy on top of tragedy. It only highlights the absurdity of connecting your ability to see a doctor with working for a corporation. The two should have absolutely nothing to do with each other.
It's been beyond clear for years that our country needs universal healthcare.
But on a more familiar topic for this blog so as not too get bogged down in political anger -- movies and Oscars...
I have watched the two latest movies selected for streaming discussion by you ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS (1939) via the Criterion Channel and POLLYANNA (1960) via Disney+ and since I was recovering from being sick those write-ups will arrive this weekend. Apologies for the delay.
On another topic, I've noticed some random speculation about what might become of the Oscars this year given the pandemic. We mostly think that's premature hand-wringing. With China currently phasing out its lockdown after three months, we think worst case scenario is that Hollywood doesn't get back to business as usual until August. Each year there are endless complaints about how Oscar voters dont pay attention to the movies in any given year until about October anyway. We don't condone this but it is (mostly) a fact. The major difference this year might be that there aren't as many movies from the early months of the year for the Academy to rudely ignore. But last year's robust 12 month film year didn't prevent the Academy from narrowing their sites to a record-breaking very few pictures (2019 was the first year ever where FOUR movies hogged double-digit nominations) so 2020 will probably be even narrower.
In the end we suspect business as usual with the Oscars alongside the possibility that the December glut will be much MUCH worse than usual (if that's even possible) with all of these movies delayed! If there are some Academy rule changes to address the showbiz-interrupting pandemic, we think it will more likely come in the less media-covered areas of short films (x 3), international feature, and documentary feature. Those five categories rely far more on international film festivals in their selection processes. With so many festivals interrupted or cancelled or delayed this year, you might see some loosening of restrictions in how films can become eligible... at least for the 2020 calendar year.
But "April Foolish" predictions are going to be a lot tougher this year since the calendar is in such chaos.
Thoughts? How are you holding up out there?