Anatomy of a Fall, this time with English subtitles

So, I watched Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet), winner of last year’s Palme d’Or (and screened at WIFF) and it’s easy to see why. The acting is taut, subtle, nuanced, and convincing. This is the film I walked out on last fall in Athens, Greece, thinking more of it would be in English. It’s actually in French, German and English but the English is very limited. And in Greece there are subtitles – yes – but only in Greek! But it's available now on YouTube for $6.99. The film, co-written by Triet, has an interesting premise as a crime story and courtroom procedural. It’s actually about a physical fall – someone falling from a third-floor window – and ensuing indictment and trial. But it could have been about anything. Triet draws great performances from Sandra Hüller (with whom she collaborated on 2019’s Sibyl ) and the rest of the cast. I’m not big on court dramas but the acting is so well done, the plot so paced, and the cuts to "scenes of the crime" providing proper relief,  that it makes the film compelling. No more about this because it’s a subtle whodunit. A key animal, Dog Snoop, also has a starring role and won the Palm Dog Award - it exists!

Also on YouTube is Nicole Holofcener’s You Hurt My Feelings (2023), the latest from the director of comedy-dramas about contemporary, female-focused and often overthinking American urban liberals. The focus of the plot is slight but enough to keep your attention on an incident in the marriage of yet another oh-so-modern-couple played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tobias Menzies. I didn’t recognize Louis-Dreyfus because her hair is shorter and she almost looks like Tina Fey. Holofcener is a one time protégé of Woody Allen and it shows, since these neurotic Manhattan characters could be right out of his films. Nothing special here but I can think of worse ways to spend a Saturday night.

The best rebuttal to the “it’s so unfair” chorus that Barbie (Greta Gerwig) didn’t get an Oscar nom for Best Picture and Best Director is Rich Lowery’s NY Post column. Check it out at Margot Robbie's 'Barbie' Oscars snub is no loss for feminism (nypost.com)

I hate to say it. But now when I see minorities in a film I have to wonder if this is because their inclusion is designed to fulfil diversity quotas. Starting with this year’s Oscars a film must meet two of four standards for Best Picture including at least one minority lead actor or significant supporting actors and the main storyline being the same. I never questioned who was in a film previously but now the thought is in the back of my mind.

And I’m still waiting to see Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers (2023) that seems as elusive as the sun these days. It’s getting rave reviews but not available in any theatres nor even to rent online. Wouldn’t it be great if cinemas made available all 10 Best Picture nominees just before Oscar time?