I love how you draw on quotes from newspapers and journals from the time. Must have been a pain to sift through, but it adds a great perspective on how things used to be
My favorite physical media publisher, Indicator, always includes a booklet with contemporary (and often very negative) reviews of the movie. They’re always interesting to read.
Another home run! ORDINARY PEOPLE was released during a period when my parents' marriage was falling apart. I was a sophomore in college and spent my days reading books in the library that were not on any of my syllabi, going to movies by myself, and NOT going to class. I was also in the throes of first love (unrequited, naturally). By the end of the 1980-81 academic year I was a basket case and I had probably already seen ORDINARY PEOPLE 15 times. Today I revisit the movie rarely... not because I don't think it's held up (it has), but because it summons memories that are extremely painful. RAGING BULL is a movie that I want so much to love (TAXI DRIVER was a seminal experience of my adolescent movie-going, and I worshiped Scorsese (and Allen and Altman and Ashby and Kubrick and Lumet...), but for such a personal movie, RAGING BULL has no "in" for me... I've seen it theatrically three times and I always feel removed from it. I admire it, but I don't connect. The other big movie for me in 1980 was THE SHINING. I was a big proponent of it from the very first and now that it has achieved an immense reputation I feel vindicated! I really thank you for mentioning Shelley Duvall... perhaps the most misunderstood and unfairly criticized performance in any film ever. As great as Nicholson is (and little Danny Lloyd) the movie hinges on Duvall and she was more than up to the challenge.
Interesting comments... I felt the same way about Raging Bull when it came out. I actually was going to an acting school in Boston (I had no talent, but it was kind of fun) and all the guys in the class were going crazy, waiting for that film to come out -- I had absolutely loved Taxi Driver AND I liked New York, New York... I worked in the Copley Plaza Hotel, and they hosted some kind of meeting there with Jake LaMotta himself (not sure why), so i snuck over there to get a look at him... But when I saw it, I was greatly disappointed. I preferred the big, heavy films which came out about a year before, "The Deerhunter" and "Apocalypse Now".
I like Raging Bull and yet feel guilty that I’m not seeing the greatness of it though. More people I think go with the trend at the time and rave about very good movies possibly being one of the top 5 movies ever made. Scorsese and DeNiro were at the top of their game and I get the transformation of Bobs role with weight and Marty’s black and white terrifically shot movie but the story is to me just ok. A four star movie doesn’t make it one of the ten best movies of all time to me at least. 1980 had some gems. The Shining regardless it’s ridiculous reception by critics early on, Ordinary People, Raging Bull, Private Benjamin, The Great Santini which to me is the better screenplay then Raging Bull, & The Elephant Man makes 1980 a solid movie year. Poor John Hurt to have to go up against De Niro in a role that’s a sure Oscar win any other year. Mary Tyler Moore was the better actor over Spacek but Spacek was asked to carry the movie and why she won I believe. Shelly not getting nominated for 3 Women is a crime by the Academy from 1977.
Now THIS is how you do an Oscar year breakdown. Gold! As someone as passionate and knowledgeable about the Oscars as I am. I’m so impressed. I really wish I had a friend like you to talk about these types of topics! Thanks for making this
You made me appreciate Ordinary People so much more. I always loved it but went along with the conventional wisdom that it didn’t really deserve the praise it got at the time. So it’s freeing to go back to my impression I had when I first saw it. And Donald Sutherland was the best thing in the movie. He broke my heart. Oh and I’ve never been able to get through Raging Bull and I like Scorsese movies - not sure why.
What an absolutely wonderful overview of this entire year! I learned so much and many wins were put in perspective. The 90 minutes flew by and i cannot wait for you to cover another year. Thanks for all your hard work!
Girl, you have done it again, constantly raising the bar for us all and doing it flawlessly. I’d say I’m surprised but I know who you are. I’ve seen it up close and personal. Girl, you make me so proud, and I love you
Regarding Sissy’s win, I think you also need to understand how many voters were extremely familiar with Loretta Lynn back then and just how well Sissy really captured her and her style … that performance was quite overwhelming for us all back then !!
This is a great year to analyze - thanks for the detailed overview, and for touching on your personal perceptions as well! (Also appreciate the mention of Kurosawa and Kagemusha, which has some incredible direction/overall visual flair.)
Coal Miner's Daughter manages to be the only biopic of a musician that really hits a place of genuine sentimentality for me, maybe because every subsequent attempt aims for a similar success, but done according to a formula that Coal Miner's Daughter had basically created without wearing off the novelty
Another fantastic video. 1981 oscars is such an interesting year to dive into. felt like a massive turning point in the way Hollywood was moving. As you alluded, there were so many auteur flops in the late 70s(apocalypse now) and early 80s (at heavens gate), the issuance of corporate hollywood and Regan politics into film was inevitable. After this year, we undoubtably see the weakest 10 year stretch of oscar winners and probably filmmaking in hollywoods history. In 1980, you had Lynch directing Elephant Man then directing Dune. Scorsese directing Raging Bull and a few year later directing color of money. it’s so clear in this oscar’s that it’s the last year of hollywood auteurism and the birth of the corporate genre movie.
Nice try, but due to de-regulation wrt media ownership laws in the mid-90's, pop culture has been increasingly corporate and sanitized ever since. And mid-budget movies were the rule, not the exception, in the 80's..... Over the last 30 years, just like how the middle class has disappeared so too has the cinematic equivalent.
I am a 56 yr old hardcore cinefile & your yt content is unparalleled 🏆💯 just brilliant historical perspective, analysis, trivia, humor, insight, all of it.. your 3 Oscar Year docs are extraordinary work & you deserve all the accolades in these comments sections! Like many of your fans, I am over the moon excited at the prospect of more Oscar Year deep dive docs coming from you... I would contribute to your patreon...anyway, thank you so very much.. and i also LOVE GWTW & Ordinary People 📽️👍
Honestly, as an outsider to the industry and critics in general with no knowlegde, your videos are fascinating. I love hearing your thoughts on the year as a whole but would like to see you create some smaller videos following through on your tangents. That being said, I wish you would change your channel icon. Right now you don't appear like you have OG content, with the current scandel on youtube that could turn off some viewers. Personally after searching I'm so happy that this is all your content. I think this channel has the potential to be a huge player in the space. Either way I hope you never lose passion for your medium. It's a joy hearing you speak on it.
Bravo! Masterclass. I rewatched ‘A Decade Under the Influence’ two weeks ago - and spent the last two weeks rewatching several of the classics I hadn’t seen for ages: “Joe”, “Needle Park”,Woman Under the Influence”,The French Connection” and, once I completed that list, I was let down by the lack of equally insightful (and accessible) docs. Thank you! Btw, your deconstruction of Ordinary People was awesome. I wanted to share: not sure ur age/geographic location. Ordinary People -the novel-was released in the mid 70s. For those of us on the east coast who went to prep school/private school in the late 70s, we had “required summer reading”-and ‘Ordinary People” immediately showed up on 9th grade required summer reading lists (along with A Separate Peace, the Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Animal Farm, Watership down (?!)…) I went to a small east coast private school from 78-83 (with a bona fide movie star -mentioned in ur documentary-and a future Oscar winner btw ). We all dressed that way because that was how “white collared professional/people with means” (definitely NOT middle class) dressed-our older siblings/parents/cousins wore the same stuff since we were first aware of how one “dresses” (Note Oliver Barrett’s wardrobe in Love Story in 1970-he wore the same clothing as Conrad and his swim team) in other words, for us, this was definitely not “fashion”-more the uniform of those of a certain means. It became fashion, and incorporated by the middle class, as a result of the film Ordinary People/ along with the release of “The Preppy Handbook” (a rabbit hole worth exploring ) , and a store called the Lodge -which offered less expensive (and equally less quality) variations on the same theme, and was in sync with this new conservatism introduced during Regan’s first term. But the true middle class didn’t shop at Brooks Brother’s or Lord & Taylor’s. since I grew up “with means” but in a genuine middle class neighborhood and went to private school in an affluent neighborhood like Lake Forest in Ordinary People, I was very aware of a fairly obvious distinction. In 1980, houses like the one owned by Conrad’s family, were certainly not middle class housing (McGovern’s character-who clearly grew up on the “other side” of the tracks, but whose beauty facilitated her acceptance by peers with money ) was more middle class-like-at least her house was more typical of those of of the middle class. My point is, I don’t fully understand Redford’s reference to Ordinary People and middle class--these people were far from ORDINARY in 1980-except that everything IS relative, and to a wealthy film star with ranches in Santa Barbara and ‘Sundance’ by the late 70s, I imagine Lake Forest and the world of Ordinary People was middle class, but in real world it was not. And I think this pic was identifiable to a very specific demographic at first, and became more so as the decade progressed and wealth was shared. But at the time of its release, only a small % of teens were familiar with this world-most teens were still wearing black “concert t-shirts” and wore jeans with combs in the back pockets and their hair (male and female) was worn “feathered”, and not side parted or kept messy from an am swim. “Wide whale” corduroy, kilt skirts, crew neck sweaters with button down oxfords AND therapy, were stilll very foreign to the middle class, and much more identifiable and accessible to white-collar/professional/those with means-which were actually considered “the wealthy” back then, even though we were not (as compared to Old Greenwich, Park/5th Ave, New Canaan, the gated communities of the Rockefellers/Carnegies in Tuxedo Park and small pockets of the Hudson River Valley.) Also, to late teens /20 something’s of this era who grew up genuinely in middle class worlds, and went on to state schools (as opposed to smaller liberal arts colleges) , they too must have perceived the world depicted in “Ordinary People” as alien. Just a few thoughts from one who grew up at that time, with a family very much like Conrad’s -In fact, I still see my own mom in Beth, and it’s brutal and bizarre because it’s spot on-and this one is rewatched. Those in my neighborhood-no clue/no familiarity yet to Ordinary People. My fellow students at private school in extraordinary neighborhood, all seemed to relate to this movie in many many ways. Even more amazing: we still reference “Ordinary People” today , both as a memory and, for many, as our current circumstances. In my opinion, the most accurate depiction of middle class America from that era can be seen in Jonathan Kaplan’s 1979 pic “Over the Edge”, starring Matt Dillon. Everything about that film-clothing, hair, music -embodied the reality, disillusionment and results of the so-called “Me Generation”-you want your ME time , and choose to satisfy your own selfish “needs” instead of ypur kids’ ? Well, here ya go (And a really nice cover of “ooh ooh Child”, by Valerie Carter. ) And while you’re at it, if you want to see something equally compelling, take a look at Bruce Beresford’s 1983 Australian classic, “Puberty Blues”, if only to get a glimpse of how middle class families in suburban Sydney were affected by their own “Me Generation.”
this is a wonderfully written comment! I am from Nairobi, Kenya and I have no point of reference whatsoever but you have evoked with your words a vividly detailed picture of that time and comparative descriptions. I am also impressed with the sheer length of the reply and just wanted you to know someone from a far off land read all of it . Have more comments like this, they add a lot of flavour
Thank you for your video essay. I have been looking forwards to a new video on your channel for months. One of the stand-outs of the year for me was Tess and especially its epic dramatic score by Philippe Sarde, his only Oscar nomination. I wish you had talked about it, so to highlight it more.
First time I'm watching one of your videos and this was an incredibly researched video. Love all of the quotes and the presentation. I love Oscar history and this is the exact video I needed right now. Thanks for the great video and you've got a new subscriber!
So glad this randomly popped into my feed and I decided to give it a go, you've got yourself a new subscriber. Fantastic vid, equally informative and engaging. Going to go watch Ordinary People for the first time now.
kind of just expected to put this on in the background while doing something else but the editing and writing in this are so engaging i watched the whole thing, fantastic video
Your channel just got pushed into my search results. Wow-this is really good. You’re knowledgeable but unpretentious. I predict you’ll have way more than 5K subscribers a year from now.
My favorite movie of all time, Ordinary People! This movie should have taken every category re: acting, directing and best movie!! Thank you so much for this channel, love this video!! 💙💙💙
Another great breakdown video, I'm also in the minority of preferring Ordinary People to Raging Bull for BP. My pick for an underappreciated hit of the year would be 'Out of the Blue'. Will you be doing an episode on this year's BP nominees as you did the year prior?
A very well-done analysis. 1980 perhaps wasn't the greatest year for films, but I have great affection for it as I was a teen getting deep into cinema for the first time. My top movie of the year then and still now is "The Stunt Man." I was quite happy that Richard Rush received a nomination for it. One thing to note - "Pixote" didn't open in the U.S. until 1981, so would not have been eligible for nominations until then. I appreciate your support for "Xanadu." It's a silly, light movie, yes, but by no means as "bad" as its reputation. It is enjoyable and watchable.
I, like many, saw Ordinary People in college and it's stuck with me ever since. It's fascinating to hear Redford's take on spotlighting the middle class and actually digging into their psychological issues. The idea of always projecting perfection to mask complete disarray is a great choice and the fact that the movie ends on a simple "I love you" hits harder than anything is willing to give it credit for these days. I think taste is obviously subjective, but to me the vibe as ATP mentioned just hits so much harder for me than a lot of the other movies this year. The warm, cozy look contrasting how messed up everything is just works.
@@Wired4Life2 I don't remember if it's pointed out in the video, but if I commented it as specifically Redford's take, there may be something in the video where he says something about the middle class. Not trying to discredit Sargent.
I really agree with your assessment of Ordinary People. It belongs to a genre of film that really just doesn’t exist anymore and even when it is attempted, there’s just something about the way things have changed that prevents them from hitting the mark. It’s hard even to think of an example. Even in the immediate aftermath of 1980, such films were different- Terms of Endearment was ostensibly dramatic but really it went into melodrama. Crimes and misdemeanors was sort of a mirror, but like all of Woody Allen, only to a very specific subset of society.
I love your comments on the costumes for Ordinary People. So much story telling through such ordinary clothing. I especially like how Moore almost always has a slung jacket on her shoulders, almost like a shell protecting her. Also how she's almost always holding something between her and the other characters. There's a nuance in that movie that is amazing.
What a beautifully comprehensive look at the entire Oscar ceremony from the year! I watched Ordinary People in the library in college because I was inundating myself with Oscar films to make up for changing my major from film to English. Then I revisited the film again during my MFA when I went through a really hard time in my life. Ordinary People is my all time favorite film. There is a real artistry in where characters are placed in the frame, the intense focus of the screenplay, the subtle performances, and the incredibly heartbreaking finale where Timothy Hutton breaks down in his therapist office. It was great to hear your thoughts on the art direction and costume design as well as those were aspects I didn't look too closely at before. Contemporary costume design is still very much a conscious choice much the same as a subtle or absent score. This video is masterful and I will be spreading the word around, very much interested to hear your thoughts on other Oscar years. Many thanks for putting this together!
Why did the TH-cam algorithm only serve this video/channel to me only now?! Thanks for the great work that discusses one of my personal Oscar winners, Ordinary People. I've watched Redford's movie several times, and it always remains a powerful experience. (Off to check out the rest of the channel…)
I'm super pleased that this video turned up unbidden on my list, it was a wholey engaging, illuminating and entertaining deep-dive into a subject that I didn't realise I was interested in. Love the wry sense of humour and the detailed knowledge. Great work, looking forward to checking out your back catalogue.
Wow! What a great video! Such a great balance of being informative and yet personal. I haven't given some of these movies much thought beyond the usual Oscar trivia. But after your video, I'm looking forward to finally watching Fame, Ordinary People, and the short films.
First time watching a video of yours! Wow! You obviously put a lot of work into this; it's very comprehensive and professional-looking! I'm very impressed with all the research you did, seeing all the newspaper pages! (Having earned a B.A. in Cinema in 1987, I saw many of these films on their first theatrical run when I was in high school! So this video brings back a lot of memories, having seen these films in the theater, "in their time".....I appreciate your sensitivity and ability to connect with the subject(s) in a sympathetic manner!) My family had seen Ordinary People and Raging Bull together; both very moving and intensely realistic in terms of helping the viewer identify with most characters through various cinematic elements. Since I have a major interest in animation, I paid particular attention to that segment. I had forgotten that "History of the World" had been nominated, and perhaps should have won. (I had seen "The Fly" also in the International Tournee that year, I believe, - - very imaginative and thought-provoking film.) - But I had never seen "Tout Rien", so I'm going to look for that one; thanks!
I watched Ordinary People when I was in high school and it punched me in the gut so hard that as great as I thought it was, I knew I’d never watch it again. Now I’m wondering if I should give it another try. I’m glad you mentioned Dinah Manoff’s performance in it because even though her screen time is brief, she left an impression on me.
Great work, and you really do your research! I hope continue to make these Oscar videos. The Academy awards way more into biopic performances nowadays than they were when Raging Bull and Coal Miner's Daughter were released (unfortunately). Actors would get nominated, but often did not win like they do now. I count 33 winners for biopic performances across the acting categories from 2000-2020! And it continues to this day. For instance, this year they are prepared to award Murphy and RDJ Best Actor and Best S. Actor for the flashy latest-and-greatest that is Oppenheimer. Best Supporting Actor should have been a stacked field, but the foregone conclusion is that the grizzled vet is "due". The past twenty plus years, the acting categories have been littered with biopic performances, over far more interesting fictional creations. Can you imagine Carey Mulligan winning for Maestro, in which she plays the (by now, cliche) hand-wringing wife of a brilliant artist, instead of the incredible character she portrayed in Promising Young Woman? Mulligan is such a talented actor, and both performances are good, but it would be such a letdown to ever give her an Oscar for a biopic. Jeez, her work in Saltburn would have been more inspired. Speaking of Saltburn, why wasn't Rosamund Pike nominated? The Academy was busy nominating Emily Blunt for playing the (by now, cliche) hand-wringing wife of a brilliant scientist. F*in' biopics, pretending to be "real", but dramatizing major events. Lets all watch current movie stars playing past movie stars and ooh and aah about it. In recent years, an Elvis impersonation was nominated, and a Judy Garland impersonation won. Oh, and a Lucille Ball performance was too. I think those are the 3 most common impersonations out there on the Strip or in Times Square, and the Academy is writing love letters to them. Poor Zellweger, who has been insanely good in some insanely good films, managed get rewarded for two of the worst wins ever in Best Actress (Judy) and Best Supporting Actress (Cold Mountain). I do think contemporary films throughout the entire history of the Academy Awards have been regularly neglected. The flashy period pieces tend to take the hardware. I think The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was the last contemporary film to win Best Costume Design in 1994. Since then, it's mainly been period dramas, with a side or two of fantasy/sci-fi.
You put a lot of work into the videos. I subscribe over Patreon to channels that put a lot less work onto the screen than this one. I really like your perspective.
If I was “the Academy” it would’ve gone like this Picture- Tess Director- Richard Rush Actor- Robert DuVall Actress- Ellen Burstyn Supporting Actor- Michael O’Keefe Supporting Actress Eva LaGalienne
Whoa, this video was a perfect find for me. I was nine years old at the time, so "Empire Strikes Back" was the only one I saw contemporaneously, but I was old enough that this look back on adult matters I was just slightly too young for was a big kick. Really enjoyed your thorough approach.
I know back in the day Ordinary People kind of had that "it shouldn't have won" thing, because everyone thought Raging Bull should have won. Scorsese and Deniro in their prime, But Ordinary People was just a huge acting showcase with a devastating plot. Mary Tyler Moore was just fantastic with Donald Sutherland. A mom that clearly loved one son that died over the other and the families realization of that was just heartbreaking. I think it holds up better because the material is universal and now I actually think it has come back around the Oscars got it right. Raging Bull was a great well executed character study, but really, now everyone would ask who is Jake LaMotta?
You’re the first person I’ve heard say it can be good to have a best picture winner be more reflective of the attitudes of the time rather than “the best movie” of the year. All Ive heard is how crazy it is that Raging Bull and Scorsese looses to Ordinary People and Redford. Maybe people making judgments about the movies in their own time aren’t so daft as we think
Such and inciteful and comprehensive analysis that the only thing I can think to add is that Dressed to Kill should have been nominated for cinematography and score.
Berlin Alexaderplatz played in a special screening in my hometown over two days in main theatre of the National Arts Centre. It included a buffet dinner each day and was all encompassing. I was so tired by the time the truly surreal final part screened, I fell asleep! I've never really ever seen that to this day.
I think that Anthony Hopkins deserved a Supporting Actor nomination for "The Elephant Man" over Judd Hirsch for "Ordinary People." Hopkins' reaction the first time he sees John Merrick is superb.
Oh, to have had MTM as a supporting actress and give them both (Sissy and Mary) the win. And, yes, the look of "Ordinary People" captures an '80s that so many people forget were a real thing.
As a Brazilian, I was very happy when you mentioned Marília Pêra. She was one of ours finest actresses (she sadly past away in 2015) and her performance in Pixote is an all timer.
The films of 1978-1982 are always my favorites. I was 10 in 1980 and watched most of these on early cable tv. Even The Shining- it's warped me forever. Anyway, your videos are great. My only criticism os no sound between the categories. I kept thinking I had muted my computer. Today I found out that if you hit M it mutes the computer. I'm a slow learner, Anyway, I thought I was doing that through your video. Great job though, as always
Listened to the entire thing while I cleaned, excellent content! One of my fave shows ;American Dad's Stan Smith is a big fan of Ordinary People, even being one of the people to single out Mary Tyler's brash bitchy performance. Would love to see some more unique tones and delivery to help you stand out among your peers, but I do enjoy listening to you talk, and really see those nuggets of indivduality when you GOT REAL or ON OUR LEVEL an engaging tactic I noticed! I really enjoyed you setting the scene/cultural lens of the time ,as most of film TH-cam seems to forget that when bringing up wins that are contested or may not have aged as well. side note you give me notes of Trixie Mattel speaking voice without her accent!
What an intriguing video, I've always thought that Ordinary People is just one of those typical-american drama thingy... but I must definitely be wrong this whole time. I'd better rewatch the film soon.
Left no stone unturned. A real thorough job. The critics were unreasonably cranky that year. I remember these movies and they were excellent. My favorite of the year was "Tess". Second was "Pixote".
Thanks for this exhaustive retrospective to a year at the Oscars I remember well. I agree with many of your observations, such as Raging Bull being more deserving of cinematography than Tess. Really appreciate your assessment of Ordinary People's excellence. That film holds a special place in my heart.
All Talking Pictures is the definition of “worth the wait.”
I love how you draw on quotes from newspapers and journals from the time. Must have been a pain to sift through, but it adds a great perspective on how things used to be
It's what I like about Be Kind Rewind's videos, too.
It’s cool here though it was doubly impressive when he did that for the 1939 Oscars video.
@@ginakearney4146 you're right, but BKR doesn't do this type of video anymore, I find.
My favorite physical media publisher, Indicator, always includes a booklet with contemporary (and often very negative) reviews of the movie. They’re always interesting to read.
She spaced them out @@andreiiliepopescu6393
Another home run! ORDINARY PEOPLE was released during a period when my parents' marriage was falling apart. I was a sophomore in college and spent my days reading books in the library that were not on any of my syllabi, going to movies by myself, and NOT going to class. I was also in the throes of first love (unrequited, naturally). By the end of the 1980-81 academic year I was a basket case and I had probably already seen ORDINARY PEOPLE 15 times. Today I revisit the movie rarely... not because I don't think it's held up (it has), but because it summons memories that are extremely painful.
RAGING BULL is a movie that I want so much to love (TAXI DRIVER was a seminal experience of my adolescent movie-going, and I worshiped Scorsese (and Allen and Altman and Ashby and Kubrick and Lumet...), but for such a personal movie, RAGING BULL has no "in" for me... I've seen it theatrically three times and I always feel removed from it. I admire it, but I don't connect.
The other big movie for me in 1980 was THE SHINING. I was a big proponent of it from the very first and now that it has achieved an immense reputation I feel vindicated! I really thank you for mentioning Shelley Duvall... perhaps the most misunderstood and unfairly criticized performance in any film ever. As great as Nicholson is (and little Danny Lloyd) the movie hinges on Duvall and she was more than up to the challenge.
Interesting comments... I felt the same way about Raging Bull when it came out. I actually was going to an acting school in Boston (I had no talent, but it was kind of fun) and all the guys in the class were going crazy, waiting for that film to come out -- I had absolutely loved Taxi Driver AND I liked New York, New York... I worked in the Copley Plaza Hotel, and they hosted some kind of meeting there with Jake LaMotta himself (not sure why), so i snuck over there to get a look at him... But when I saw it, I was greatly disappointed. I preferred the big, heavy films which came out about a year before, "The Deerhunter" and "Apocalypse Now".
I like Raging Bull and yet feel guilty that I’m not seeing the greatness of it though. More people I think go with the trend at the time and rave about very good movies possibly being one of the top 5 movies ever made. Scorsese and DeNiro were at the top of their game and I get the transformation of Bobs role with weight and Marty’s black and white terrifically shot movie but the story is to me just ok. A four star movie doesn’t make it one of the ten best movies of all time to me at least. 1980 had some gems. The Shining regardless it’s ridiculous reception by critics early on, Ordinary People, Raging Bull, Private Benjamin, The Great Santini which to me is the better screenplay then Raging Bull, & The Elephant Man makes 1980 a solid movie year. Poor John Hurt to have to go up against De Niro in a role that’s a sure Oscar win any other year. Mary Tyler Moore was the better actor over Spacek but Spacek was asked to carry the movie and why she won I believe. Shelly not getting nominated for 3 Women is a crime by the Academy from 1977.
Now THIS is how you do an Oscar year breakdown. Gold! As someone as passionate and knowledgeable about the Oscars as I am. I’m so impressed.
I really wish I had a friend like you to talk about these types of topics! Thanks for making this
You made me appreciate Ordinary People so much more. I always loved it but went along with the conventional wisdom that it didn’t really deserve the praise it got at the time. So it’s freeing to go back to my impression I had when I first saw it. And Donald Sutherland was the best thing in the movie. He broke my heart. Oh and I’ve never been able to get through Raging Bull and I like Scorsese movies - not sure why.
I've only fully come around to Raging Bull on a recent re-watch. It's a very cold, detached film.
What an absolutely wonderful overview of this entire year! I learned so much and many wins were put in perspective. The 90 minutes flew by and i cannot wait for you to cover another year. Thanks for all your hard work!
There's nothing like an Oscars deep dive from All Talking Pictures!! My favorite video essays on YT.
this couldn’t come at a better time! i’m already excited, your videos are events within themselves
Aren't they just!
I love your ability to draw on first hand accounts during that era through newspapers.
Girl, you have done it again, constantly raising the bar for us all and doing it flawlessly. I’d say I’m surprised but I know who you are. I’ve seen it up close and personal. Girl, you make me so proud, and I love you
Why girl?
@@kostajovanovic3711shutup bro, some of us just say “girl” his voice is also a little Zesty so that’s another reason.
@@CHCHA2384 noted
@@kostajovanovic3711 its a michelle obama quote
@@CHCHA2384 You could've said the rest without telling them to shut up for a simple question lol
Regarding Sissy’s win, I think you also need to understand how many voters were extremely familiar with Loretta Lynn back then and just how well Sissy really captured her and her style … that performance was quite overwhelming for us all back then !!
Absolutely LOVE your proselytizing for the costume work in Ordinary People - 100% agree. To this day I'm obsessed with Tim Hutton's coat in it.
This channel is so top notch. I was thinking the other day I hadn't seen a video in a while from you and it turns out I missed it! Get patreon!
This is a great year to analyze - thanks for the detailed overview, and for touching on your personal perceptions as well! (Also appreciate the mention of Kurosawa and Kagemusha, which has some incredible direction/overall visual flair.)
Coal Miner's Daughter manages to be the only biopic of a musician that really hits a place of genuine sentimentality for me, maybe because every subsequent attempt aims for a similar success, but done according to a formula that Coal Miner's Daughter had basically created without wearing off the novelty
very good point! I hate most biopics. This was definitely one of the better ones.
Another fantastic video. 1981 oscars is such an interesting year to dive into. felt like a massive turning point in the way Hollywood was moving. As you alluded, there were so many auteur flops in the late 70s(apocalypse now) and early 80s (at heavens gate), the issuance of corporate hollywood and Regan politics into film was inevitable. After this year, we undoubtably see the weakest 10 year stretch of oscar winners and probably filmmaking in hollywoods history.
In 1980, you had Lynch directing Elephant Man then directing Dune. Scorsese directing Raging Bull and a few year later directing color of money. it’s so clear in this oscar’s that it’s the last year of hollywood auteurism and the birth of the corporate genre movie.
Nice try, but due to de-regulation wrt media ownership laws in the mid-90's, pop culture has been increasingly corporate and sanitized ever since. And mid-budget movies were the rule, not the exception, in the 80's..... Over the last 30 years, just like how the middle class has disappeared so too has the cinematic equivalent.
I just discovered your channel and the quality of your content is insane. love everything you’ve dropped so far, can’t wait for more!
This is a legitimately outstanding piece of work here. Well-researched, well-explained, well-presented. Well done!
So glad i found you in my recommendeds. Obviously lovingly researched and presented. Cant wait for your next installment.
I am a 56 yr old hardcore cinefile & your yt content is unparalleled 🏆💯 just brilliant historical perspective, analysis, trivia, humor, insight, all of it.. your 3 Oscar Year docs are extraordinary work & you deserve all the accolades in these comments sections! Like many of your fans, I am over the moon excited at the prospect of more Oscar Year deep dive docs coming from you... I would contribute to your patreon...anyway, thank you so very much.. and i also LOVE GWTW & Ordinary People 📽️👍
What is you favorite movie? @davidbeckman7925
Ordinary People is genuinely one of my favorite bp winners ever
One of my fave movies in general. I for real emotionally bonded with it, and that bond has lasted to this day!
I feel it gets unfairly slandered
On the relatability scale, Ordinary People scores a 10/10 but Raging Bull... How many of us have been boxers?
@@ryanjacobson2508 Which is all well and good.
Just...don’t automatically give it Best Director, too.
(Sorry, Robert Redford.)
Honestly, as an outsider to the industry and critics in general with no knowlegde, your videos are fascinating.
I love hearing your thoughts on the year as a whole but would like to see you create some smaller videos following through on your tangents.
That being said, I wish you would change your channel icon. Right now you don't appear like you have OG content, with the current scandel on youtube that could turn off some viewers. Personally after searching I'm so happy that this is all your content. I think this channel has the potential to be a huge player in the space.
Either way I hope you never lose passion for your medium. It's a joy hearing you speak on it.
curious what scandal you mean?
These comprehensive breakdowns are amazing - you can tell how much work you put into them. Hoping this can become a series. Thanks so much!!
Bravo! Masterclass. I rewatched ‘A Decade Under the Influence’ two weeks ago - and spent the last two weeks rewatching several of the classics I hadn’t seen for ages: “Joe”, “Needle Park”,Woman Under the Influence”,The French Connection” and, once I completed that list, I was let down by the lack of equally insightful (and accessible) docs. Thank you!
Btw, your deconstruction of Ordinary People was awesome. I wanted to share: not sure ur age/geographic location. Ordinary People -the novel-was released in the mid 70s. For those of us on the east coast who went to prep school/private school in the late 70s, we had “required summer reading”-and ‘Ordinary People” immediately showed up on 9th grade required summer reading lists (along with A Separate Peace, the Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Animal Farm, Watership down (?!)…)
I went to a small east coast private school from 78-83 (with a bona fide movie star -mentioned in ur documentary-and a future Oscar winner btw ). We all dressed that way because that was how “white collared professional/people with means” (definitely NOT middle class) dressed-our older siblings/parents/cousins wore the same stuff since we were first aware of how one “dresses” (Note Oliver Barrett’s wardrobe in Love Story in 1970-he wore the same clothing as Conrad and his swim team) in other words, for us, this was definitely not “fashion”-more the uniform of those of a certain means.
It became fashion, and incorporated by the middle class, as a result of the film Ordinary People/ along with the release of “The Preppy Handbook” (a rabbit hole worth exploring ) , and a store called the Lodge -which offered less expensive (and equally less quality) variations on the same theme, and was in sync with this new conservatism introduced during Regan’s first term. But the true middle class didn’t shop at Brooks Brother’s or Lord & Taylor’s. since I grew up “with means” but in a genuine middle class neighborhood and went to private school in an affluent neighborhood like Lake Forest in Ordinary People, I was very aware of a fairly obvious distinction.
In 1980, houses like the one owned by Conrad’s family, were certainly not middle class housing (McGovern’s character-who clearly grew up on the “other side” of the tracks, but whose beauty facilitated her acceptance by peers with money ) was more middle class-like-at least her house was more typical of those of of the middle class.
My point is, I don’t fully understand Redford’s reference to Ordinary People and middle class--these people were far from ORDINARY in 1980-except that everything IS relative, and to a wealthy film star with ranches in Santa Barbara and ‘Sundance’ by the late 70s, I imagine Lake Forest and the world of Ordinary People was middle class, but in real world it was not. And I think this pic was identifiable to a very specific demographic at first, and became more so as the decade progressed and wealth was shared. But at the time of its release, only a small % of teens were familiar with this world-most teens were still wearing black “concert t-shirts” and wore jeans with combs in the back pockets and their hair (male and female) was worn “feathered”, and not side parted or kept messy from an am swim. “Wide whale” corduroy, kilt skirts, crew neck sweaters with button down oxfords AND therapy, were stilll very foreign to the middle class, and much more identifiable and accessible to white-collar/professional/those with means-which were actually considered “the wealthy” back then, even though we were not (as compared to Old Greenwich, Park/5th Ave, New Canaan, the gated communities of the Rockefellers/Carnegies in Tuxedo Park and small pockets of the Hudson River Valley.) Also, to late teens /20 something’s of this era who grew up genuinely in middle class worlds, and went on to state schools (as opposed to smaller liberal arts colleges) , they too must have perceived the world depicted in “Ordinary People” as alien. Just a few thoughts from one who grew up at that time, with a family very much like Conrad’s -In fact, I still see my own mom in Beth, and it’s brutal and bizarre because it’s spot on-and this one is rewatched. Those in my neighborhood-no clue/no familiarity yet to Ordinary People. My fellow students at private school in extraordinary neighborhood, all seemed to relate to this movie in many many ways. Even more amazing: we still reference “Ordinary People” today , both as a memory and, for many, as our current circumstances.
In my opinion, the most accurate depiction of middle class America from that era can be seen in Jonathan Kaplan’s 1979 pic “Over the Edge”, starring Matt Dillon. Everything about that film-clothing, hair, music -embodied the reality, disillusionment and results of the so-called “Me Generation”-you want your ME time , and choose to satisfy your own selfish “needs” instead of ypur kids’ ? Well, here ya go (And a really nice cover of “ooh ooh Child”, by Valerie Carter. ) And while you’re at it, if you want to see something equally compelling, take a look at Bruce Beresford’s 1983 Australian classic, “Puberty Blues”, if only to get a glimpse of how middle class families in suburban Sydney were affected by their own “Me Generation.”
this is a wonderfully written comment! I am from Nairobi, Kenya and I have no point of reference whatsoever but you have evoked with your words a vividly detailed picture of that time and comparative descriptions. I am also impressed with the sheer length of the reply and just wanted you to know someone from a far off land read all of it . Have more comments like this, they add a lot of flavour
Thank you for your video essay. I have been looking forwards to a new video on your channel for months.
One of the stand-outs of the year for me was Tess and especially its epic dramatic score by Philippe Sarde, his only Oscar nomination.
I wish you had talked about it, so to highlight it more.
First time I'm watching one of your videos and this was an incredibly researched video. Love all of the quotes and the presentation. I love Oscar history and this is the exact video I needed right now. Thanks for the great video and you've got a new subscriber!
This is such a fantastically researched and complied video. Well done!
So glad this randomly popped into my feed and I decided to give it a go, you've got yourself a new subscriber. Fantastic vid, equally informative and engaging. Going to go watch Ordinary People for the first time now.
This is a wonderful video! I learned quite a lot about film in this era. Please do more like this! I'm greatly looking forward to your next one!
Loving this ... Ordinary People is one of my fav films ever since i saw it as a 21 year old in 1980. The analysis is spot on!
This is my new favorite channel... gosh I loved EVERYTHING about this video
You’re one of my new favorites. I love that I can see the time and care you take to make these. Unlike others who put out a new video every week.
kind of just expected to put this on in the background while doing something else but the editing and writing in this are so engaging i watched the whole thing, fantastic video
Another fantastic video. I really appreciate all the research you do. It makes me feel like you've transported me back to 1980.
This is absolutely excellent and wonderfully produced. Bravo. Love the Myra profile pic!
This video popped up on my tv today and I'm so glad I clicked! It was excellent and took me for a great ride. Subscribed.
As a fellow Oscar enthusiast, I can only say that, your videos are really quite entertaining. I hope you can keep up creating them. :) :) :)
Your channel just got pushed into my search results. Wow-this is really good. You’re knowledgeable but unpretentious. I predict you’ll have way more than 5K subscribers a year from now.
My favorite movie of all time, Ordinary People! This movie should have taken every category re: acting, directing and best movie!! Thank you so much for this channel, love this video!! 💙💙💙
Great work!!! You are one of the few people that contextualizated the Oscar.
I really feeled that I was in 1981 critized all the 1980 films!!!
Another great breakdown video, I'm also in the minority of preferring Ordinary People to Raging Bull for BP. My pick for an underappreciated hit of the year would be 'Out of the Blue'.
Will you be doing an episode on this year's BP nominees as you did the year prior?
May I live long enough for All Talking Pictures to cover every Oscars. I love these videos
A very well-done analysis. 1980 perhaps wasn't the greatest year for films, but I have great affection for it as I was a teen getting deep into cinema for the first time. My top movie of the year then and still now is "The Stunt Man." I was quite happy that Richard Rush received a nomination for it.
One thing to note - "Pixote" didn't open in the U.S. until 1981, so would not have been eligible for nominations until then.
I appreciate your support for "Xanadu." It's a silly, light movie, yes, but by no means as "bad" as its reputation. It is enjoyable and watchable.
I, like many, saw Ordinary People in college and it's stuck with me ever since. It's fascinating to hear Redford's take on spotlighting the middle class and actually digging into their psychological issues. The idea of always projecting perfection to mask complete disarray is a great choice and the fact that the movie ends on a simple "I love you" hits harder than anything is willing to give it credit for these days. I think taste is obviously subjective, but to me the vibe as ATP mentioned just hits so much harder for me than a lot of the other movies this year. The warm, cozy look contrasting how messed up everything is just works.
Redford, or moreso screenwriter Alvin Sargent?
@@Wired4Life2 I don't remember if it's pointed out in the video, but if I commented it as specifically Redford's take, there may be something in the video where he says something about the middle class. Not trying to discredit Sargent.
I really agree with your assessment of Ordinary People. It belongs to a genre of film that really just doesn’t exist anymore and even when it is attempted, there’s just something about the way things have changed that prevents them from hitting the mark. It’s hard even to think of an example. Even in the immediate aftermath of 1980, such films were different- Terms of Endearment was ostensibly dramatic but really it went into melodrama. Crimes and misdemeanors was sort of a mirror, but like all of Woody Allen, only to a very specific subset of society.
the work and research you put into these videos is really well done, I'm always so excited whenever I see one of these videos in my subscriptions
I love your comments on the costumes for Ordinary People. So much story telling through such ordinary clothing. I especially like how Moore almost always has a slung jacket on her shoulders, almost like a shell protecting her. Also how she's almost always holding something between her and the other characters. There's a nuance in that movie that is amazing.
What a beautifully comprehensive look at the entire Oscar ceremony from the year! I watched Ordinary People in the library in college because I was inundating myself with Oscar films to make up for changing my major from film to English. Then I revisited the film again during my MFA when I went through a really hard time in my life. Ordinary People is my all time favorite film. There is a real artistry in where characters are placed in the frame, the intense focus of the screenplay, the subtle performances, and the incredibly heartbreaking finale where Timothy Hutton breaks down in his therapist office. It was great to hear your thoughts on the art direction and costume design as well as those were aspects I didn't look too closely at before. Contemporary costume design is still very much a conscious choice much the same as a subtle or absent score.
This video is masterful and I will be spreading the word around, very much interested to hear your thoughts on other Oscar years. Many thanks for putting this together!
very fun video to watch, definitely a fan now
This video is fantastic! always fun to click on a random video and find a great new TH-camr to watch/listen.
Why did the TH-cam algorithm only serve this video/channel to me only now?! Thanks for the great work that discusses one of my personal Oscar winners, Ordinary People. I've watched Redford's movie several times, and it always remains a powerful experience. (Off to check out the rest of the channel…)
This really brought back that year for me, and not just movie wise. Well done!
I'm super pleased that this video turned up unbidden on my list, it was a wholey engaging, illuminating and entertaining deep-dive into a subject that I didn't realise I was interested in. Love the wry sense of humour and the detailed knowledge. Great work, looking forward to checking out your back catalogue.
Wow! What a great video! Such a great balance of being informative and yet personal. I haven't given some of these movies much thought beyond the usual Oscar trivia. But after your video, I'm looking forward to finally watching Fame, Ordinary People, and the short films.
looove Ordinary People & genuinely loved watching this video and hearing you get into the weeds! I hope there are more on the horizon.
First time watching a video of yours! Wow! You obviously put a lot of work into this; it's very comprehensive and professional-looking! I'm very impressed with all the research you did, seeing all the newspaper pages!
(Having earned a B.A. in Cinema in 1987, I saw many of these films on their first theatrical run when I was in high school! So this video brings back a lot of memories, having seen these films in the theater, "in their time".....I appreciate your sensitivity and ability to connect with the subject(s) in a sympathetic manner!)
My family had seen Ordinary People and Raging Bull together; both very moving and intensely realistic in terms of helping the viewer identify with most characters through various cinematic elements.
Since I have a major interest in animation, I paid particular attention to that segment.
I had forgotten that "History of the World" had been nominated, and perhaps should have won. (I had seen "The Fly" also in the International Tournee that year, I believe, - - very imaginative and thought-provoking film.)
- But I had never seen "Tout Rien", so I'm going to look for that one; thanks!
Ordinary people is a masterpiece; still in my top 10, 44 years later
just wanted to say this came up on my feed i watched the whole thing and loved it and subscribed thx
What a wonderful deep dive! Thanks so much! Would love to see you do this for other years as well!
I watched Ordinary People when I was in high school and it punched me in the gut so hard that as great as I thought it was, I knew I’d never watch it again. Now I’m wondering if I should give it another try. I’m glad you mentioned Dinah Manoff’s performance in it because even though her screen time is brief, she left an impression on me.
This was such a good, informative and engaging video. Keep up the good work.
Great work, and you really do your research! I hope continue to make these Oscar videos.
The Academy awards way more into biopic performances nowadays than they were when Raging Bull and Coal Miner's Daughter were released (unfortunately). Actors would get nominated, but often did not win like they do now.
I count 33 winners for biopic performances across the acting categories from 2000-2020! And it continues to this day.
For instance, this year they are prepared to award Murphy and RDJ Best Actor and Best S. Actor for the flashy latest-and-greatest that is Oppenheimer. Best Supporting Actor should have been a stacked field, but the foregone conclusion is that the grizzled vet is "due". The past twenty plus years, the acting categories have been littered with biopic performances, over far more interesting fictional creations. Can you imagine Carey Mulligan winning for Maestro, in which she plays the (by now, cliche) hand-wringing wife of a brilliant artist, instead of the incredible character she portrayed in Promising Young Woman? Mulligan is such a talented actor, and both performances are good, but it would be such a letdown to ever give her an Oscar for a biopic. Jeez, her work in Saltburn would have been more inspired.
Speaking of Saltburn, why wasn't Rosamund Pike nominated? The Academy was busy nominating Emily Blunt for playing the (by now, cliche) hand-wringing wife of a brilliant scientist.
F*in' biopics, pretending to be "real", but dramatizing major events. Lets all watch current movie stars playing past movie stars and ooh and aah about it. In recent years, an Elvis impersonation was nominated, and a Judy Garland impersonation won. Oh, and a Lucille Ball performance was too. I think those are the 3 most common impersonations out there on the Strip or in Times Square, and the Academy is writing love letters to them.
Poor Zellweger, who has been insanely good in some insanely good films, managed get rewarded for two of the worst wins ever in Best Actress (Judy) and Best Supporting Actress (Cold Mountain).
I do think contemporary films throughout the entire history of the Academy Awards have been regularly neglected. The flashy period pieces tend to take the hardware. I think The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was the last contemporary film to win Best Costume Design in 1994. Since then, it's mainly been period dramas, with a side or two of fantasy/sci-fi.
You put a lot of work into the videos. I subscribe over Patreon to channels that put a lot less work onto the screen than this one. I really like your perspective.
Excellent in depth analysis,more of these please.
If I was “the Academy” it would’ve gone like this
Picture- Tess
Director- Richard Rush
Actor- Robert DuVall
Actress- Ellen Burstyn
Supporting Actor- Michael O’Keefe
Supporting Actress Eva LaGalienne
Controversial
Just saw Tess for the first time and... Yup. Just completely brilliant and underrated
I stumbled upon this channel by accident and actually love the video essay
Your yearly Oscar reviews are wonderfully done. I am hooked. I personally thought Mary Tyler Moore was AMAZING in Ordinary People. Just amazing.
omg i think sometimes my mom would rent a video of the animation noms for me when i was a kid from the library.. memory unlocked!
You're really good! Your videos are breathtakingly excellent and interesting. You got a new subscriber. Thank you!
Wow! Great analysis of these movies. Very impressive! I own all of them!
I saw Ordinary People in high school and I've loved it ever since! Totally deserved its BP win.
Really nice work. Hope you keep doing these.
More of these please!
I really appreciate that you mentioned Pixote. It's an amazing movie that I think it is kinda overlooked even here in Brazil.
Whoa, this video was a perfect find for me. I was nine years old at the time, so "Empire Strikes Back" was the only one I saw contemporaneously, but I was old enough that this look back on adult matters I was just slightly too young for was a big kick. Really enjoyed your thorough approach.
I know back in the day Ordinary People kind of had that "it shouldn't have won" thing, because everyone thought Raging Bull should have won. Scorsese and Deniro in their prime, But Ordinary People was just a huge acting showcase with a devastating plot. Mary Tyler Moore was just fantastic with Donald Sutherland. A mom that clearly loved one son that died over the other and the families realization of that was just heartbreaking. I think it holds up better because the material is universal and now I actually think it has come back around the Oscars got it right.
Raging Bull was a great well executed character study, but really, now everyone would ask who is Jake LaMotta?
You’re the first person I’ve heard say it can be good to have a best picture winner be more reflective of the attitudes of the time rather than “the best movie” of the year. All Ive heard is how crazy it is that Raging Bull and Scorsese looses to Ordinary People and Redford. Maybe people making judgments about the movies in their own time aren’t so daft as we think
So good. Love your videos.
Such and inciteful and comprehensive analysis that the only thing I can think to add is that Dressed to Kill should have been nominated for cinematography and score.
Incidentally, Heaven’s Gate became eligible for the following year’s Oscar’s where it received a single nomination for Art Direction. Interesting
Berlin Alexaderplatz played in a special screening in my hometown over two days in main theatre of the National Arts Centre. It included a buffet dinner each day and was all encompassing. I was so tired by the time the truly surreal final part screened, I fell asleep! I've never really ever seen that to this day.
I think that Anthony Hopkins deserved a Supporting Actor nomination for "The Elephant Man" over Judd Hirsch for "Ordinary People." Hopkins' reaction the first time he sees John Merrick is superb.
Michael O'Keefe is his name who was in The Great Santini and Eileen Brennan was an Army Captain in Private Benjamin.
the video was great, hope you do more like this
JUSTICE FOR THE CRAFT OF POPEYE!
But also, the wins for Tess are pretty great.
Oh, to have had MTM as a supporting actress and give them both (Sissy and Mary) the win. And, yes, the look of "Ordinary People" captures an '80s that so many people forget were a real thing.
As a Brazilian, I was very happy when you mentioned Marília Pêra. She was one of ours finest actresses (she sadly past away in 2015) and her performance in Pixote is an all timer.
The films of 1978-1982 are always my favorites. I was 10 in 1980 and watched most of these on early cable tv. Even The Shining- it's warped me forever.
Anyway, your videos are great. My only criticism os no sound between the categories. I kept thinking I had muted my computer. Today I found out that if you hit M it mutes the computer. I'm a slow learner, Anyway, I thought I was doing that through your video.
Great job though, as always
yay ^-^i was wondering when you'd upload again!
Hoping more videos. Enjoying your channel
Love the videos, man. Keep it up!!!
Listened to the entire thing while I cleaned, excellent content!
One of my fave shows ;American Dad's Stan Smith is a big fan of Ordinary People, even being one of the people to single out Mary Tyler's brash bitchy performance.
Would love to see some more unique tones and delivery to help you stand out among your peers, but I do enjoy listening to you talk, and really see those nuggets of indivduality when you GOT REAL or ON OUR LEVEL an engaging tactic I noticed! I really enjoyed you setting the scene/cultural lens of the time ,as most of film TH-cam seems to forget that when bringing up wins that are contested or may not have aged as well.
side note you give me notes of Trixie Mattel speaking voice without her accent!
What an intriguing video, I've always thought that Ordinary People is just one of those typical-american drama thingy... but I must definitely be wrong this whole time. I'd better rewatch the film soon.
51:44 Marília Pêra should’ve been the first Brazilian actress nominated for an Oscar, this would’ve been so great
These videos are amazing. Are you on letterboxd?
Left no stone unturned. A real thorough job. The critics were unreasonably cranky that year. I remember these movies and they were excellent. My favorite of the year was "Tess". Second was "Pixote".
Well-done, sir!
as a 90s kid, i only knew moriarty from casper until i finally watched raging bull a few years ago lol. she's very funny and memorable in casper, imo.
Thanks for this exhaustive retrospective to a year at the Oscars I remember well. I agree with many of your observations, such as Raging Bull being more deserving of cinematography than Tess. Really appreciate your assessment of Ordinary People's excellence. That film holds a special place in my heart.
Great video!