Oscars final review

Yesterday night was The Night we were expecting since ... oh well, last year?
After the amazing success of Moonlight and, most of all the infamous loser La La Land, the 89th Academy Awards were hard to forget.
The 90th edition was tough since its beginning: the ME TOO movement and some scandals concerning female abuses (remember James Franco's exclusion?) and Guillermo De Toro being accused of plagiarism by Paul Zindel's son, who claimed Toro had copied his father's 1969 masterpiece "Let Me Hear You Whisper".  And, to be frank, the doubt was reasonable !

Let's start with a few words on the red carpet.  Nothing to do with the 2015 Red Carpet, with capital R and C, when Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Rooney Mara and Margot Robbie stayed... or the 2016 success of Viola Davis and Emma Stone... yesterday night, in my opinion was way above all this memories. Anyway, Nicole, looking fabulous in her Armani, and the sober "old but not cold" Meryl Streep in total red, were my favorite.

I'm happy with all the results besides best movie. How come that Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri didn't win Best Picture?  Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell won their category! And, let's say it, the story of Three Billboards was original, yet conveyed a contemporary message: the denunce of a dysfunctional justice system and, once again, violence against women. That's all? No, because Frances portrayed the strength of a lone - wolf women, who finds the strength to pursue her aim fighting the system form the inside. And The Shape of Water? A strange love story between a women and a monster, even if, in reality, the real monster was not the fishy creature but the carnal scientist. Interesting... but moving? In my opinion, Toro's work was well balanced in rhytm, music and surprising effects - even the monster itself was quite "sweet"-but, even though the story was enjoyable, it didn't leave nothing to me.

Your thoughts? Comment below so we can finally share opinions.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) written and directed by Martin McDonagh, starring Frances McDormand , Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, John Hawkes and Peter Dinklage. The film follows a mother – Mildred (McDormand) who, when the police in her town fail to find a suspect in her daughter's Angela murder, rents three billboards to call public attention to the unsolved crime, polarizing the attention of the community. On the billboards there was written: "RAPED WHILE DYING", "AND STILL NO ARRESTS?", and "HOW COME, CHIEF WILLOUGHBY?” Willoughby was the chief of the local police, blaimed for the unsuccessful investigations. After his death, a former member of the police, agent Dixon (Rockwell) , team attempts to solve the crime.

The film was screened in the main competition of the 74th Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered on September 4, 2017.The movie, also played at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival,where it won the People's Choice Award. Recently at the 75th Golden Globe Awards, the film gained 4 prizes: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actress – Drama (McDormand), Best Supporting Actor (Rockwell), and Best Screenplay.

• The best movie of the year. Intense, emotional being simple and with no pomposity at all. The power of the words written in the infamous billboards that Mildred decided to rent in her daughter’s behalf are, more than anything this year, contemporary. A movie that follows an important issue, as phisical violence on women is, in a season when famous actresses have decided to denunciate hers monsters.
• Why are the Ebbing’s people so angry with Mildred and her billboard’s agents? Why can’t they admit the inefficiency of the authority rather than piss of on people who have the right to ask for justice?

• So well played is Mildred, a strong character, that has nothing to do with the beauty princess style, so often designed for women to play on screen. Mildred is boyish in her determinate and agressive way, a bit gangster, a bit alchoolic, but yet real, genuine. As complex as a real women, that is allowed with no one’s permission to wear her favourite mechanic’s overall.
• The spectator is tempted to feel pity for Willoughby. McDonagh with beautiful family pictures reminds us that Willoughby is a human being. But how can we feel close to the man who has done nothing to solve Angela’s case? Tricky move. As the letter Willoughby writes before committing suicide. He frees Dixon from his demons and Mildred’s from the people’s hate.
• Dixon in 3 words? Piece Of Shit. Racist, violent, misogenist. At the end, a complete metamorphosis. Can the role of a man make any difference ?
• Arresting not Angela’s killer but another rapist is far? Injustice isn’t, so if we can’t solve an unsolved crime, we can prevent a future one. Prevention. What a wonderful message this movie delivers.

Movie rating: 5 stars /5.

A MUST SEE.