Christopher Gunning (1944-2023)

Truth be told, I didn't know much about Christopher Gunning any more than I knew about Vangelis, Burt Bacharach, Artie Kane or Angelo Badalamenti, far more well-known (at least on this side of the pond) composers. However, there is a very good reason that I'm eulogizing Christopher Gunning:

I was more than likely flipping around when I first ran across the opening of "Agatha Christie's Poirot". That theme music was truly something else. Back in the olden days when soundtrack download sites were common, I managed to score a download of the soundtrack to the show. That CD-r was very treasured to me and it wasn't until last year that I came across a physical copy of the album. The disc really shows off Gunning's versatility and that he was possessive of some impressive little grey cells of his own.

He will be missed.

You can pick the Oscars and you can pick your nose...

...but you can't pick Oscar's nose. With that in mind:

Picture: I've only seen two of them...and the other one should not have been a feature, so I choose Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Actor: As a hearty 'fuck you' to the people that undermined him, Brendan Fraser all the way. I'm not seeing that movie, though.

Actress: Michelle Yeoh. That's my pick and the reason for doing so.

Supporting Actor: There's no time for love, but it is time for an Oscar. Ke Huy Quan.

Supporting Actress: Angela Bassett. Like I said, it was the 'Have I not sacrificed everything?' scene that did it.

Director(s): This should give you a clue for my nod...it's The Daniels. 

Original Screenplay: Everything Everywhere All at Once...but as long as it doesn't go to The Banshees of Inisherin, I'll be happy.

Adapted Screenplay: Glass Onion delivered on its mystery angle and its social commentary angle. So there.

Cinematography: Haven't seen any of these movies, so I'm going by name. Mandy Walker's done fine work on Mulan and Jane Got a Gun. I trust her.

Editing: Everything Everywhere All at Once. Keeping track of all those universes can't have been easy. That deserves a reward, I think.

Production Design: If there's one thing you can count on from a Baz Luhrmann movie, it's splashy art direction. Elvis has entered the building.

Original Score: Having heard all of the nominees, I remain firm in my desire to see Babylon lose this category. Even though it’s his fourth-best score for a Martin McDonagh movie, I'm pulling for Carter Burwell's The Banshees of Inisherin.

Original Song: Probably "Naatu Naatu" from RRR. Just because.

Costume Design: Going with Ruth Carter's work on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Sound: Top Gun: Maverick. 

Animated Feature: This is one time where 'just give it to the Disney one' would suit me just fine. Turning Red.

Animated Short: "The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse" sounds promising.

Live-Action Short: "Ivalu". Interesting title.

Documentary Feature: Fire of Love. Documentaries aren't my thing, so I played Ring Spot (yes, from Duck Soup) with the nominees. Oh, like you wouldn't!

Documentary Short: "How Do You Measure a Year?" Same principle as above.

Foreign Language Film: All Quiet on the Western Front, because they'll want to give it something.

Visual Effects: Avatar has this locked up for as long as James Cameron is interested in making these things.

Makeup and Hairstyling: Maybe avoid the fat suit projects and give it to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Well, that's the ballot. Hope I'm not too disappointed.