Sometimes I get stuck on films, either in having to start watching them or to finish writing about them. That happened with this year for me which is why it took so long to finish. Plus, I think I got a little burnt out and wanted to watch some Netflix shows and do some other things after work for a change. Eager to get into 1981 and close out the 80s soon. I've seen a couple of these films but it's been awhile so I'm excited to revisit them and see the new ones.
1982 Best Picture
Gandhi
I know this film sometimes gets shit on because it's such an obvious choice that everyone just calls it Oscar bait and moves on but I want to say that I really, really enjoy this film. Well, most of this film anyway. Ben Kinglsey was perfectly cast as Gandhi because he IS Gandhi. He looks so much like the Indian leader that it's scary. The Indian people thought they were seeing a ghost it was so uncanny. His performance isn't just pure looks, either. Kingsley becomes Gandhi and delivers a great acting job on top of the looks which is needed for the film to actually work. Kingsley grows into the role and is why the beginning of the film works so well for me. He's this idealistic young man who has become fed up with being racially segregated and persecuted. And this is all being done in South Africa which we forget is where he spent a lot of time. The idea then grows and changes into non-violence and it's interesting to watch Kingsley become the man we typically know of as Gandhi with his white robe and bald head. I'm not naive enough to think that Gandhi was a perfect man and that this film is 100% truth. I know it glosses over or fails to mention some of his more human qualities and that's okay. I know this is a movie and not a documentary. That seems to be a common complaint for the film. My complaint, however, is that the film essentially falls off a cliff near the end. Once Gandhi has grown old, it becomes more about the political maneuvering of the Hindus and Muslims and it just loses steam and my interest. If the last part was tightened up, this would be an even better film no doubt. This epic is all about the great acting of Kingsley, so once that is effectively ended by having him play the hunger striking, old man Gandhi, the film just doesn't work. Besides that, there are so many great scenes of India in this, which is something I said about for A Passage to India - it's hard to make a film about India look bad. There are good arguments for other films in this group to be Best Picture, but I am okay with Gandhi being the choice by the Academy. It's definitely worth watching at least once for Kingsley's performance.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
I really like when the Academy chooses to reward films like this with a nomination because not every Best Picture film needs to be super serious or a strictly adult film. You can go down the years and find other examples like Babe, Beauty and the Beast, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jaws that all make you feel good about watching movies. E.T. is no exception to that fact. Other facts you may not know is that E.T. was the highest grossing film of the 80s and was the highest grossing film ever at one point. Also of note is that E.T. was actually considered a favorite to win Best Picture this year until fatigue over E.T. mania set in. The marketing was everywhere and places were selling anything and everything E.T. related that people just got sick of seeing it. Whether it actually could have won Best Picture remains to be seen but it was Spielberg and was a huge moneymaker and I feel like the Academy would have loved to have a box office smash win. You should probably know what this film is about already but if not it's about an alien who comes to Earth, gets left behind, befriends a kid, and tries to make his way home without getting caught by the big bad government. There are so many iconic moments from the Reese's Pieces, to the red finger, to E.T. phone home, to the bike ride. The practical effects help make these scenes so memorable along with the childhood sense of wonderment. I mean, E.T. is such a gentle creature that adults just don't understand and therein lies part of the message. The film is so heartfelt and warm and good for the whole family that it really does deserve to be here. This film is awesome and I can't wait to show it to my future non children or more likely my cool nephews. This is an easy watch.
Missing
I was very interested in watching this film because it stars Jack Lemmon, who I love, and Sissy Spacek in a politically charged thriller of sorts. Unfortunately, this is an incredibly tepid political thriller. Missing is a film about Lemmon going down to Chile to help find his son after he disappears following the coup in that nation. Spacek is the missing man's wife and she helps Lemmon navigate the area and the government red tape. It sounds like it could be really intriguing but Spacek might as well have phoned it in because she seems to go through the motions. She's not bad just doesn't stand out. Lemmon is good but the film doesn't give him much else to do but look worried and go around and talk to people about if they know anything about his son. There's not even much conflict because it never shows the violence that's going on except is sanitized moments. Even when Lemmon gets stonewalled he just waltzes into the American consul to redress the Ambassador or whatever government lackey and proclaim he wants answers because he's an American. The film is directed by Costa-Gavras who I know directed Z, which was highly regarded and well received (nominated for Best Picture), and Music Box, a Jessica Lange film that I thought was boring. This film leans closer to the Lange film than his Best Picture nominee. Maybe in 1982 this film had more importance surrounding its subject matter but nowadays, the Chile coup thing is not even in the minds of the American public. Not that that means you should completely disregard this film, just that it might explain why the Academy seemed to latch onto it then and nominate it for Best Picture. I was hoping for something more along the lines of Oliver Stone's Salvador, which had way more tension and held my interest more. I feel like this film could have been so much more compelling and better served its characters instead of hanging them out to dry. This just seems like the Academy voting for one of its political causes. I just wish they'd make sure the film is good enough to vote for!
Tootsie
I am writing this a couple weeks after watching the film because life gets in the way of things too often. But, time doesn't diminish that this is a very enjoyable film and if you go into it without expectations or even just expecting a drag film, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised that it's much deeper than the premise would indicate. This is more than just Dustin Hoffman dressing up like a woman. It actually takes a look into what it's like to step into someone else's shoes and does it in a very funny way. Sometimes that's an issue with older comedies is that the actual comedy is rather tepid when viewed 30 plus years later but the comedy in Tootsie still made me laugh. A large part of that is Hoffman comedic timing in the role and also the supporting players in the film. I didn't even remember that Bill Murray plays Hoffman's buddy in this and Sydney Pollack is great as Hoffman's agent. The women are good and you can include Hoffman as Dorothy in that statement. What could be a shrill, disastrous take on being a woman ends up being a warm, caring, and strong woman. In the same year that there were three big films nominated for Oscars that dealt with cross dressing or trans sort of issues (The World According to Garp and Victor/Victoria), this is the film that represents them all in the Best Picture race. It's also interesting in that it made something like cross dressing, even if played up for laughs, into a palatable thing for a broad audience. Not many negative things to say about it besides Hoffman's male role is not that pleasant but it makes his female role stronger. It's not a perfect film, but Tootsie is just a really enjoyable and funny film that stands up strong 30 years later. I feel like you could call this one a classic and not be wrong. I'll have to see how it stands up to the other films of this year for the win.
The Verdict
This is one of those films that completely holds your interest. Other Best Picture films can find your mind wandering and thinking how much longer while watching, but this one sucked me in from the start. I admit that I love Paul Newman so it had that going for it but as the story unraveled, I was hooked as to what was going to happen. This is a courtroom drama that also focuses on the lead up. This film is renowned for the courtroom aspect and is usually tops in courtroom drama lists. It has a reputation that precedes it if you are looking into it and I'd say it matches it. Newman is basically an ambulance chaser who was once a top attorney but now is a drunk opportunist who takes a case because he thinks he can get the Catholic archdiocese to settle and avoid trial. Newman looks into the case and is offended at the settlement offer and feels like he can win the case at trial. Then it's about him dealing with issues that pop up like a missing witness, finding new evidence, and believing in himself after moments of self doubt. Newman is the big draw as he's as good as ever in his performance. The writing and directing are pretty great from legends David Mamet and Sidney Lumet, respectively. Just look up their body of work and realize that all three of those legends coming together was a perfect storm for Oscar glory. It's a super well done film that just sucks you in completely and doesn't let go until the end. It's one of those powerful down and out person takes on a tough assignment versus a big entity in hopes that redemption for their past might come about type of films. It's solid all the way through with some pretty good supporting performances, too. This is a film you watch and say yeah, this is Oscar worthy and possibly good enough to win. I feel it's a film that you could put on and end up watching the whole thing or see it's on TCM and stop whatever you were doing and watch it. At risk of sounding like a broken record - it's solid and you'll most likely enjoy it and understand why it's so beloved. Just gotta see if it'll be a winner with me.
This is actually a pretty good group! Honestly, Missing is the only misstep by the Academy here. That film just fails to grab me and lacks tension to make a political thriller thrilling. Lemmon is good but can't save it. The next three are really interchangeable. Tootsie is a classic and a very funny film with some great acting. The Verdict is a really great trial film with some great acting, also. Both are easy to rewatch and I don't think I'd get sick of them. Both are worthy of being on this list. E.T. is a great family film and tugs on my nostalgia bone. It, too, is a film that is fun to watch over and over. All three of these have valid arguments to being Best Picture and I honestly would not be upset one way or another if any of them were. I'm going with Gandhi just because of Kingsley and because it feels like an 80s prestige picture, ya know? So I'm fine with that choice. But the fact that 4 of the 5 films could easily be Best Picture means this is a pretty damn good BP group. I do know that I'm just glad to be done with this year. I don't want to take as long with 81! Hopefully it is as good as 82.
Oscar Winner: Gandhi
My Winner: Gandhi
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
The Verdict
Tootsie
Missing
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