Final Prediction: A Shock Win for the Deserving "Worst Person In the World"
So, we all know that Japan's dreary intellectual "Drive My Car" is the likely winner at tonight's Academy Awards. It has (mysteriously) swept the critics' awards and even (somehow) been nominated for Best Picture. This despite the fact that it's a three-hour film about people sitting and reading a play aloud. I adore Japanese cinema, from Kurosawa masterpieces like "Rashomon" to modern classics like the shortlisted but not nominated "Confessions". And I've long criticized the Academy for ignoring Asian cinema, and cheered for the big wins for "Parasite". However, "Drive My Car" is no "Parasite".
Most people I know who have seen both "Worst Person" and "Drive My Car" prefer Norway's eminently relatable anti-rom-com, and admit Japan's film could have been between 15 and 90 minutes shorter. Both films netted surprise Screenplay nominations so people will be seeing and comparing both films.
And since "Worst Person" is a far better film, that's my prediction (though we all know I'm probably wrong).
FINAL PREDICTION:
1. NORWAY- "Worst Person in the World" 50%
2. JAPAN- "Drive My Car" 44%
3. DENMARK- "Flee" 5%
4. BHUTAN- "Lunana, A Yak in the Classroom" 1%
5. ITALY- "Hand of God" 0%
Incidentally, I'm still angry that the Middle East was ignored despite excellent submissions from Iran and Israel, both of which deserve to be here.
I'll include my ranking of the 70 (out of 93) national submissions I have seen sometime in the next few weeks....plus the screeners I still haven't watched from Palestine and Lithuania.
Happy viewing!
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