I’d bump “The Martian,” out of deference to the fact that I didn’t seem “Brooklyn” or “Room.” And yeah, “Bridge of Spies” was a little stolid, but I only needed to bump one, and it was the crowd-pleaser. (Also didn’t see “Inside Out,” so can’t speak to its worthiness.)

There’s a variation on that in Mike D’Angelo’s “Performance Review” essays: http://thedissolve.com/features/performance-review/

By the way, for 1971, I would absolutely consider bumping “The French Connection” or “A Clockwork Orange” for “McCabe & Mrs. Miller”--it would be tough, but I think “McCabe” is that good. (But I’m guessing “Nicholas & Alexandra” is the lightweight on that list.)

Ah, you beat me to it. The real interest would be “what do you get rid of.”

Would love to see a sentence or two identifying what gets bumped from the actual nominees to make way for these (are we replacing cheap awards bait? a lesser effort from an established creator? something that’s good but doesn’t really rise to “Best Picture” quality?)

I mean, what take number is that? He’s trying soooo hard to hold it straight. Kudos to Mel or the editor or whoever who said, “close enough,” and kept that beautiful look at the camera and smile.

Have a friend whose birthday coincides with some LOTR date (maybe the day they set out from the Shire?). He’s done something like this a few times. There’s a bit more alcohol than this guy’s menu. Nobody makes it to the end without skipping something or substantially napping. But I remember the rabbit stew being…

Not a plot trope, but split transitions with a classic rock/pop staple kicking in just before a scene change definitely I’ve Seen Enough Of — side-eye at you, I, Tonya.

Don’t care about this, but it reminds me how much I enjoy Louis Malle’s Tour de France short:

Don’t care about this, but it reminds me how much I enjoy Louis Malle’s Tour de France short:

Hope she fought for equal pay.

Clearing out the DVR this year. Week 1: The Right Stuff and Walkabout.

Those videos where Brian Cox pronounces Scotch distiller names were dangerous for my wallet & my liver.

Worth it for the Totoro hallucinations.

Multi-season immersion in HBO shows has given my cursing a little Deadwood color, and I now stalk my victims whistling “A Hunting We Will Go” rather than “In the Hall of the Mountain King.”

I only listened to two of these.* Could not get into the Waxahatchee album, but loved SZA’s Ctrl.

The sharpest strategic thing Prez Cheeto ever did was add Pence to the ticket to keep those theocracy hopefuls on the hook.

I was 2 when Off the Wall came out. Didn’t hear it whole til much later.

Previous: Marrow Island by Alexis M. Smith, which is a Pac NW eco-dystopia with a very resonant and complicated central relationship.

Wait! Terriers was back? Dammit!

I’m sure he has a 6-month window to find his way into a think tank job. I assume nobody goes into gov’t at that age without lobbying/consultancy/think tank work as their end goal.