This was a good year for “You’re kidding.” Even those who have long been sour on the whole exercise had to have been more than a little thrown by what transpired last night. And because the Academy—apparently eager to just get it over with and move on—went into full pile-on mode, there wasn’t a lot left standing by the time the ceremony was over. A lot could be said about how almost all the films that won this year were in some way retreads, things that not only didn’t move the needle forward but forcibly wrenched it back a few notches, seemingly out of fear of doing anything new. Hopefully this was just the last wave of leftovers from the pandemic, there are more vital forces stirring, and next year’s affair will be a little more gratifying.
reviews | Oscar Winners 2023
by the Cineluxe staff
March 13, 2023
International Film, Cinematography, Original Score, Production Design
“From the opening pastoral scenes of nature in the French countryside that transition to the bleakness and horror of the trenches and No Man’s Land of the Great War, All Quiet on the Western Front captivates with an unflinching visual style, providing one of the most satisfying cinematic experiences offered by a movie from a streaming service this year.”
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Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay, Editing
“Despite being a work of legitimate cultural significance, with a message that will still be sending shockwaves through my brain years from now, Everything Everywhere All at Once is also incredibly accessible and wildly entertaining, not to mention slap-happily zany.” read more
Animated Film
“Del Toro’s Pinocchio—a re-imagining of the 1883 novel that has nothing to do with Disney’s take on the property—is a weird and wonderful, utterly soulful fantasy adventure and allegory that almost seems to have been made with no other audience in mind than del Toro himself. “ read more
Original Song
“RRR may not have been India’s entry in the Academy Award International Feature category this year, but it is a hugely successful and highly accessible film that you don’t have to be a film connoisseur to enjoy. So check out this not so hidden gem of a film on Netflix if you haven’t already.” read more
Sound
“Maverick is like a master class in how to make a blockbuster sequel. The casting and acting are great, the cinematography is fantastic, the plot is simple but compelling, and the action is fast-paced and (mostly) believable. And it plays terrifically in a luxury home theater. It looks and sounds great, is a near-guaranteed crowd pleaser for your next get-together, and has great replay value. In fact, I already can’t wait to watch it again, and it will likely have heavy rotation in your theater’s demo showoff reel!” read more
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