The Golden Globes, Capernaum, Destroyer, Minding the Gap and Blindspotting on Monday Morning Diary (January 7)

by Sam Juliano

It was great to relive the old times on last week’s Monday Morning Diary where nearly twenty-five comments were placed and where the discussion was inspired.  Whenever I conclude to myself that the erstwhile weekly post has lost its magic I am always proven wrong.  Thanks to all for the support and insights!  Saturday the prestigious National Society of Film Critics announced their choices, and at the top the superlative The Rider edged out Roma for Best Film by a vote of 44 to 41. The Rider continues to contend for my own top spot on a list to be posted next week. Alfonso Cuaron, Ethan Hawke, Olivia Colman, and Roma for Best Foreign Film also triumphed.

Last night many of us watched the Golden Globes out of masochistic curiosity.  Some others in our circle wouldn’t be caught dead doing so, but I am also fascinated with the speeches if not the often bizarre awards themselves.   First off, yes I am a modest fan of both Bohemian Rhapsody and Green Book. While neither film will end up in my Top 10 of 2018, both will surely make my extended Top 25 list or at least honorable mentions, which I will post next week. I favorably reviewed both films, was greatly entertained despite their flaws, and thought both exhibited superlative acting and some splendid individual scenes. That said, like the rest of the film community my mouth was wide open when Bohemian Rhapsody was awarded the night’s biggest prize -Best Picture Drama- a shocking citation that now vaults it squarely in the Oscar race in a big way. As a non-fan of the overblown and emotionally distancing (for me) A Star is Born I sported a mischievous smile when the final envelope was opened, and similarly when Rami Malek was picked as Best Actor (Drama) over Bradley Cooper. I was also as shocked as Glenn Close was when her name was read off for an award the world thought would go to Lady Gaga. To be sure Close was excellent, even if The Wife was middling. I certainly agreed with Alfonso Cuaron being named Best Director for the masterful “Roma” and couldn’t argue with Best Score (my personal favorite award) going to Justin Hurwitz for “First Man” though I mourn the equally great work by Marc Shaiman for Mary Poppins Returns. Can’t argue the wins of Christian Bale, Olivia Colman, M. Ali and Regina King in those categories at all, and much appreciated the speeches by Ms. Close, Rami Malek, Carol Burnett, Regina King, and Jeff Bridges. Glenn Close’s was the speech of the night! I was at least amused by the television awards, but was distanced because I haven’t seen many of those shows.

Saturday at the Angelika, the director of Destroyer, Karyn Kusama and actor Sebastian Stan offered a Q & A after the 7:00 P.M. screening. Sad to say neither that session nor the film itself were memorable for a host of reasons, but at least Nicole Kidman delivered a unique, tenacious performance in this over-the-top violent and nihilist thriller.