50 Word or Less Presents

The 2019 Academy Award Nominees

It's that time of year, when Hollywood decides who ~~hosted the best party~~ made the best movie. Enjoy reading the 50 Words or Less reviews for ~~all~~ some of this year’s Academy Award nominated films!

Best Picture

Featured

Green Book

A review in 40 words:

Like all Oscar bait, the film settles for being safe, predictable. feel-good drivel. So while you will walk out of the theater knowing you watched a good film, at the same time you know it’s not a great one.

Final Verdict: 👍

Roma

A review in 10 words:

Absolutely brilliant.

My only regret is watching it on Netflix.

Final verdict: 🎟

Vice

A review in 19 words:

The film will make you laugh, even though the actions of Dick Cheney will make you angry. Especially [redacted}.

Final Verdict: 👍

The Favourite

A review in 15 words:

Who knew that palace intrigue in early 18th Century Britain could be so much fun?

Final Verdict: 👍

Bohemian Rhapsody

A review in 37 words:

It glosses over or rewrites history. The music and lyrics seem to spring from the ether. It even has a borderline absurd Hollywood happy ending. Yes, the film is superficial, but you can’t deny that it’s fun.

Final verdict: 👍

A Star Is Born

A review in 24 words:

Too long and plodding. Good performances are lost and buried in a what ultimately devolves into a middling film.
But damn, Gaga can sing.

Final verdict: 👎

BlacKkKlansman

A review in 36 words:

Sometimes funny, sometimes dramatic, and always feeling like this shouldn't be based on a true story, BlacKkKlansman serves as a timely and depressing reminder that the fools of the past are still here in the present.

Final Verdict: 👍

Black Panther

A review in 32 words:

Ryan Cooglar delivers a film that is not only a delight to watch, but one with an emotional core and political commentary that you wouldn’t expect to find in a Marvel film.

Final Verdict: 👍

Best Director

Adam McKay — Vice
Alfonso Caurón — Roma
Pawel Pawlikowski — Cold War
Spike Lee — BlacKkKlansman
Yorgos Lanthimos — The Favourite

Featured

Roma

A review in 10 words:

Absolutely brilliant.

My only regret is watching it on Netflix.

Final verdict: 🎟

Vice

A review in 19 words:

The film will make you laugh, even though the actions of Dick Cheney will make you angry. Especially [redacted}.

Final Verdict: 👍

The Favourite

A review in 15 words:

Who knew that palace intrigue in early 18th Century Britain could be so much fun?

Final Verdict: 👍

BlacKkKlansman

A review in 36 words:

Sometimes funny, sometimes dramatic, and always feeling like this shouldn't be based on a true story, BlacKkKlansman serves as a timely and depressing reminder that the fools of the past are still here in the present.

Final Verdict: 👍

Lead Actor

Bradley Cooper — A Star Is Born
Christian Bale — Vice
Rami Malek — Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen — Green Book
Willem Dafoe — At Eternity’s Gate

Featured

Green Book

A review in 40 words:

Like all Oscar bait, the film settles for being safe, predictable. feel-good drivel. So while you will walk out of the theater knowing you watched a good film, at the same time you know it’s not a great one.

Final Verdict: 👍

Vice

A review in 19 words:

The film will make you laugh, even though the actions of Dick Cheney will make you angry. Especially [redacted}.

Final Verdict: 👍

Bohemian Rhapsody

A review in 37 words:

It glosses over or rewrites history. The music and lyrics seem to spring from the ether. It even has a borderline absurd Hollywood happy ending. Yes, the film is superficial, but you can’t deny that it’s fun.

Final verdict: 👍

A Star Is Born

A review in 24 words:

Too long and plodding. Good performances are lost and buried in a what ultimately devolves into a middling film.
But damn, Gaga can sing.

Final verdict: 👎

Lead Actress

Glenn Close — The Wife
Lady Gaga — A Star Is Born
Melissa McCarthy — Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Olivia Colman — The Favourite
Yalitza Aparicio — Roma

Featured

Roma

A review in 10 words:

Absolutely brilliant.

My only regret is watching it on Netflix.

Final verdict: 🎟

The Favourite

A review in 15 words:

Who knew that palace intrigue in early 18th Century Britain could be so much fun?

Final Verdict: 👍

A Star Is Born

A review in 24 words:

Too long and plodding. Good performances are lost and buried in a what ultimately devolves into a middling film.
But damn, Gaga can sing.

Final verdict: 👎

Supporting Actor

Adam Driver — BlacKkKlansman
Mahershala Ali — Green Book
Richard E. Grant — Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Sam Elliott — A Star Is Born
Sam Rockwell — Vice

Featured

Green Book

A review in 40 words:

Like all Oscar bait, the film settles for being safe, predictable. feel-good drivel. So while you will walk out of the theater knowing you watched a good film, at the same time you know it’s not a great one.

Final Verdict: 👍

Vice

A review in 19 words:

The film will make you laugh, even though the actions of Dick Cheney will make you angry. Especially [redacted}.

Final Verdict: 👍

A Star Is Born

A review in 24 words:

Too long and plodding. Good performances are lost and buried in a what ultimately devolves into a middling film.
But damn, Gaga can sing.

Final verdict: 👎

BlacKkKlansman

A review in 36 words:

Sometimes funny, sometimes dramatic, and always feeling like this shouldn't be based on a true story, BlacKkKlansman serves as a timely and depressing reminder that the fools of the past are still here in the present.

Final Verdict: 👍

Supporting Actress

Amy Adams — Vice
Emma Stone — The Favourite
Marina de Tavira — Roma
Rachel Weisz — The Favourite
Regina King — If Beale Street Could Talk

Featured

Roma

A review in 10 words:

Absolutely brilliant.

My only regret is watching it on Netflix.

Final verdict: 🎟

Vice

A review in 19 words:

The film will make you laugh, even though the actions of Dick Cheney will make you angry. Especially [redacted}.

Final Verdict: 👍

The Favourite

A review in 15 words:

Who knew that palace intrigue in early 18th Century Britain could be so much fun?

Final Verdict: 👍

Best Animated Feature

Featured

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

A review in 1 word:

Fantastic.

Final Verdict: 👍

Ralph Breaks the Internet

A review in 32 words:

The film raises more questions than it answers.

The Stormtroopers look cool. Why haven’t they let Dave Filoni loose upon Disney Animation?
Where is my Avengers-esque Disney Princess Team-Up Movie?

Final Verdict: 👍

Incredibles 2

A review in 27 words:

Is it as good as the original? No. Is it another Pixar sequel that didn't need to happen? Debatable. Is it worth seeing Elastigirl kick ass? Yes.

Final Verdict: 👍

Original Screenplay

Paul Schrader — First Reformed
Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly — Green Book
Alfonso Caurón — Roma
Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara — The Favourite
Adam McKay — Vice

Featured

Green Book

A review in 40 words:

Like all Oscar bait, the film settles for being safe, predictable. feel-good drivel. So while you will walk out of the theater knowing you watched a good film, at the same time you know it’s not a great one.

Final Verdict: 👍

Roma

A review in 10 words:

Absolutely brilliant.

My only regret is watching it on Netflix.

Final verdict: 🎟

Vice

A review in 19 words:

The film will make you laugh, even though the actions of Dick Cheney will make you angry. Especially [redacted}.

Final Verdict: 👍

The Favourite

A review in 15 words:

Who knew that palace intrigue in early 18th Century Britain could be so much fun?

Final Verdict: 👍

Adapted Screenplay

Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, Will Fetters — A Star Is Born
Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee — BlacKkKlansman
Nicole Holofcener, Jeff Witty — Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Barry Jenkins — If Beale Street Could Talk
Joel Coen, Ethan Cone — The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Featured

A Star Is Born

A review in 24 words:

Too long and plodding. Good performances are lost and buried in a what ultimately devolves into a middling film.
But damn, Gaga can sing.

Final verdict: 👎

BlacKkKlansman

A review in 36 words:

Sometimes funny, sometimes dramatic, and always feeling like this shouldn't be based on a true story, BlacKkKlansman serves as a timely and depressing reminder that the fools of the past are still here in the present.

Final Verdict: 👍

Editing

Barry Alexander Brown — BlacKkKlansman
John Ottman — Bohemian Rhapsody
Patrick J. Don Vito — Green Book
Yorgos Mavropsaridis — The Favourite
Hank Corwin — Vice

Featured

Green Book

A review in 40 words:

Like all Oscar bait, the film settles for being safe, predictable. feel-good drivel. So while you will walk out of the theater knowing you watched a good film, at the same time you know it’s not a great one.

Final Verdict: 👍

Vice

A review in 19 words:

The film will make you laugh, even though the actions of Dick Cheney will make you angry. Especially [redacted}.

Final Verdict: 👍

Bohemian Rhapsody

A review in 37 words:

It glosses over or rewrites history. The music and lyrics seem to spring from the ether. It even has a borderline absurd Hollywood happy ending. Yes, the film is superficial, but you can’t deny that it’s fun.

Final verdict: 👍

BlacKkKlansman

A review in 36 words:

Sometimes funny, sometimes dramatic, and always feeling like this shouldn't be based on a true story, BlacKkKlansman serves as a timely and depressing reminder that the fools of the past are still here in the present.

Final Verdict: 👍

Cinematography

Matthew Libatique — A Star Is Born
Lukasz Zal — Cold War
Alfonso Cuarón — Roma
Caleb Deschanel — Never Look Away
Robbie Ryan — The Favourite

Featured

Roma

A review in 10 words:

Absolutely brilliant.

My only regret is watching it on Netflix.

Final verdict: 🎟

The Favourite

A review in 15 words:

Who knew that palace intrigue in early 18th Century Britain could be so much fun?

Final Verdict: 👍

A Star Is Born

A review in 24 words:

Too long and plodding. Good performances are lost and buried in a what ultimately devolves into a middling film.
But damn, Gaga can sing.

Final verdict: 👎