Come Sunday Night

The 87th Academy Awards are on Sunday night, and I could not be any more excited. I'm so excited I forgot to use a pun just now. Weird! 

The Oscars have been a big deal to me ever since I was a teenager. When I still lived at home, Sunday night was family night. After church let out around 7, the family would either get pizza or Chinese on the way home, and then eat and watch a movie in the den. Always fun times. Once I became a full-on movie buff, there was one night of the year that I didn't want to watch a movie. I wanted to watch the Oscars. I didn't always win over the family vote, but if I didn't I had my own room right off the den where I could go watch the Oscars all by my lonesome, thank you very much. So Joe Moore usually won either way. Kudos me.

I still haven't caught all the Oscar nominated films from this past year, but that's okay. I've seen almost all the ones I absolutely had to see. As long as Birdman and Boyhood walk away with a few wins, I will be more than content. What I want to chat about now is some of my own personal opinions on who was snubbed this year.

Keira Knightley - Begin Again

Sure, she got a Best Supporting nod for The Imitation Game, and that's great because she was wonderful, and it's been a few years since the Academy honored her work. However I feel the role Knightley truly shined in this past year is her starring role here. She gives dimension to what could've been a one-note role. She's more spirited and fun than she has been in years, and who knew she could sing?! She should've at least gotten a Golden Globe nomination. But it has been a busy year in the Lead Actress category.

Speaking of which!

Emily Blunt - Into the Woods

As I said, this category was swamped. Blunt did get a Golden Globe nomination for her wonderful work here, and I'm very happy for that. Unfortunately the Academy forgot about her. I hate that because I feel Blunt was better than Meryl Streep (sorry, Meryl). I do realize Meryl was nominated in the Supporting Actress category. The truth is there wasn't as much competition there. Also! Where did Marion Cotillard come from? I love her, but has anyone seen Two Days, One Night? No. So if anyone deserved that fifth spot at the Academy Awards, it was Emily Blunt.

The Lego Movie - Best Animated Feature

I don't think there's too much to say here. Everyone was shocked when the nominations were released, and last year's best family film was nowhere to be found. Just typing this right now makes me upset and confused all over again. At least the directors had a good sense of humor about the snub. One of them tweeted a picture of a Lego Oscar saying, "It's okay. I made my own." Pure class.

Bret McKenzie - his music in Muppets Most Wanted

I realize not most critics liked the Muppets follow-up to their 2012 comeback. While it wasn't great, it was still fun. I enjoyed McKenzie's musical work better here. Sure, there was nothing as good as "Man or Muppet", but most of the songs were pretty catchy. My favorite was Constantine's serenade to Miss Piggy, "I'll Get You What You Want". It's so 70s and so hilarious, and I hate that it didn't get more attention. *sings "You want an Oscar nomination? Er... I'll see what I can do...* Don't worry, Bret. I still love your song.

One final snub!

anything for Nightcrawler

The Academy is a bunch of old sniffs. They hate anything that isn't dramatic or British or stuffy or whatever. This film is brilliant. Jake Gyllenhaal is better here than he has been in years. Rene Russo proves she still has what it takes. I understand why this thriller didn't get more Academy attention, but I definitely wish it had.

Okay that's a wrap. I can't wait until Sunday night. See you all at the movies!