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2019 Foreign Film Oscar Analysis

2019 was not the best year for foreign films, and unfortunately the best one was not nominated for an Oscars. This is the first year where a foreign movie ended up winning Best Picture, but I am not a fan of that movie unfortunately. The whole slate this year could have been better, though it has a couple of true gems in it.

My Ranking of the Nominees:

5. Parasite

I really did not like Parasite, and I still do not care for it. Most of Bong Joon-ho’s movies are actually not that appealing to me. This is one of his worst in my opinion. Yes, the production design is brilliant and it should have brought this movie an Oscar, but the characters are a laughable, over-the-top joke and the whole film is very difficult to buy as it’s so implausible in many of its plot points. It also doesn’t juggle its tones well whatsoever while its themes are badly explored owing to an annoyingly farcical approach at storytelling.

4. Les Miserables

Les Miserables is also not that good of a movie. It’s okay in terms of technicalities, it’s very important obviously in its issues and it has a couple of good scenes, but most of the movie is tiresome and uninspired with the pacing and the structure also being highly problematic and not well crafted at all. ‘Do the Right Thing’ consistently sprang to my mind while watching this much weaker version of that story. France should have submitted ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ for an Oscar, and this was such a bad move on their part.

3. Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi certainly is decidedly slower in pace and less interesting in its first half, but that fitted its highly introspective nature quite well. It deals with faith and redemption through strong dialogue and some very emotional sequences. It’s thus a pretty strong, worthy Oscar nominee that hugely benefits from Bartosz Bielenia’s powerhouse, revelatory performance that ranks among the best of this respective year. It’s a lesser known flick from this slate, but worth checking out nonetheless.

2. Pain and Glory

Pain and Glory is uneven in terms of its vignette structure as some parts are less interesting than others. Antonio Banderas is very good and believable in the main role whereas the film looks memorably shiny and colorful. It has a lot of grace to it as well as very strong dialogue. The standout scene is the reunion between two lovers which is the sweetest and most memorable part of the movie. This is the type of movie that only gets better as time passes by, and certainly I have a higher opinion of it now than when I’ve first watched it.

1. Honeyland

Honeyland offers an intimate, meticulous look into the beekeeping tradition in Macedonia through many very interesting scenes, and even some heartwarming ones. It’s slower in pace, but phenomenally shot throughout, very well directed and feeling entirely authentic in its subject matter. This is the kind of film that is so singular in its subject matter that it may be off-putting to many out there, but if you give it a shot, you’ll be pleasantly surprised as it becomes universal and so damn charming and melancholic that it offers a very unique, wonderful watch. It’s the second best documentary of the year and the best nominee from this slate.

Films That Should Have Been Nominated:

Portrait of a Lady on Fire – This one goes without saying. Portrait of a Lady on Fire still is my favorite film of 2019. It holds great power in its cinematography, sets and costumes, but even more so in its romance for the ages and that powerful, heartbreaking, unforgettable ending. It’s one of the best LGBT films of all time.

Atlantics – Naturalistic, mythical and fantastical, Atlantics is also romantic and quite dramatic at times. It’s a film that is difficult to categorize which makes it a very unique, different viewing experience that is also very moody and wonderfully shot and composed. Once again the Academy ignored an African movie, which is so unfortunate.

And Then We Danced – This Georgian gay film was controversial and groundbreaking in its home country. Though nothing new in terms of storytelling, it’s so well made and acted throughout while featuring a very engaging, well crafted narrative. Its detailed approach in terms of small moments is the highlight here.