Several of this year’s Oscar-winning films were reviewed by SLO Review contributing writers, thanks to the SLO Film Center at the Palm Theatre. If you haven’t yet experienced the following films, or if you are curious to see if you agree with our reviewers, check their verdicts out now.
Anora won best picture, best actress for Mikey Madison, and best director, original screenplay, and film editing for Sean Baker. It is reviewed by Thomas Patchell, who writes “perfect fantasies are not realty, and Baker understands that good stories are rarely fantasies.”
The Brutalist won best cinematography and best original score, as well as best actor for Adrian Brody. “As you endure the film’s length (with one well-placed intermission), try to convince yourself that it’s about the destination,” according to reviewer Terry Heinlein. “This journey isn’t The Sound of Music.”
A Real Pain garnered Kieran Culkin a best supporting actor win. “This isn’t a comedy,” writes reviewer Charlotte Alexander, “Although there are some relatable, recognizably funny moments that naturally flow from the interaction of the characters.”
I’m Still Here won for best international feature, but did not win best actress for Fernanda Torres, clearly disappointing reviewer Terry Heinlein, who suggests “If Torres does not receive an Academy Award for her performance, she should know that the voters made a huge mistake.”
In the Shadow of the Cypress won best animated short, but the secret of this 20-minute minimalist film’s title remains a mystery. Reviewer Karen Gray suggests that it “presents a question that the film doesn’t expressly answer: what does the ‘Cypress’ refer to?” Perhaps you have figured it out?