Since it's Ozzy season again, thought I'd use this moment to construct my own Oscar list. I've excised categories that I haven't got enough candidates for or don't care enoguh to think hard about (I've watched literally no documentaries, for example).
Eligible films are ones I gained access to in 2023, be that streaming, cinema release or festival circuits. I'm going to be a bit loosey goosey with it, however, because rules are for squares.
Here's a Letterboxd list of my rankings of 2023 as a reference for what I have (or haven't!) seen.
On with the show!
(I've added a TL;DR at the bottom for those who only want a list.)
Best Picture
La Chambre Rouge (The Red Rooms)
I caught this paranoid tech thriller at Aberystwyth's online festival, and it made me feel like I'd just had the lever pulled on me as I sat on the electric chair. Propulsive and tense, and utterly brilliant.
Best Actor
Franklin Ritch as Gareth (The Artifice Girl)
The term writer/director/star rightly injects fear into any discerning, but first time director Ritch puts on a weighty and tense performance. His two fellow co-stars were also very much in contention.
Best Actress
Juliette Gariepy as Kelly-Anne (The Red Rooms)
I can't believe Mia Goth didn't win this one for Pearl. Gariepy has so much to do with so little, and the result is spellbinding.
Best Supporting Actor
Ron E. Rains as Bob Sheridan (Brooklyn 46)
As a rule, parlour pieces are very much contingent on the performances and the writing, and in both aspects Brooklyn 46 really, really worked for me.
Best Supporing Actress
Laurie Babin as Clementine (The Red Rooms)
Laurie Babin looks to have a big future ahead of her. The Red Rooms asks its two central actresses to really walk a difficult line, and both do a virtuosic job.
Best International Film
The Coffee Table
But Chris, I hear you say, isn't The Red Rooms also an international film? To which I offer this rejoinder:
Shut up.
Best Original Screenplay
The Coffee Table
Spanish film The Coffee Table is a dialogue lead affair, which has to balance humour and horror and does so with aplomb. Holy shit, what an unrelenting ride it is.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Reality
I was going to excise this category before I realised it was perfect for Reality. Maybe it shouldn't count, because it purports to be a direct transcription of the real events it dictates, but its paced and structured perfectly as a thriller nonetheless.
Best Visual Effects
Talk To Me
The Rakka Rakka lads' debut feature was a shockingly polished and mature for film makers who project good natured juvenility as human beings. If this film is the baseline of what they're capable of, they're going to be one hell of a big deal. There's a few really gnarly sequences in here, and one in particularly that got it this Ozzy.
Best Cinematography
Nightsiren
Slovakian witchy, dark fair tale folk horror; transgressive and beautiful.
Best Productions Design
Suitable Flesh
The problem with the designation of "Best" is it clearly signposts some sort of objective judgement, but Suitable Flesh is really just a case of how fun it is. The sets and presentation of this lovingly reheated From Beyond are just such an easy way to spend a movie. Fun, fun, fun.
Best Film Editing
Enys Men
To be honest I'm not sure about best, but it certainly has the most editing.
Best Sound Editing
Enys Men
As above. Enys Men was such a vibes-y experience.
**
- Best Picture: The Red Rooms
- Best Actor: Franklin Ritch
- Best Actress: Juliette Gariepy
- Best Supporting Actor: David Girard
- Best Supporing Actress: Laurie Babin
- Best International Film: The Coffee Table
- Best Original Screenplay: The Coffee Table
- Best Adapted Screenplay: Reality
- Best Visual Effects: Talk To Me
- Best Cinematography: Nightsiren
- Best Productions Design: Suitable Flesh
- Best Film Editing: Enys Men
- Best Sound Editing: Enys Men
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