On the mend. And an Oscar thought.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 12:00PM by Nathaniel R
Just wanted to quickly check in to let you all know that I am on the mend and doing a lot better now, self-recovering from a flu or covid-19 or whatever it is/was that I was relaying on the podcast. The fever has been gone for a couple of days and I have more energy daily. It's hard to get tested which is such a ridiculous problem. Our country was so severely ill prepared for a pandemic since the CDC was gutted by T**** two years ago (why does the media stay so silent on the awful decisions of the government and spend so much time on his tweets or just replaying his self-congratulatory speeches?). And even if the GOP hadn't already ravaged greatly needed government programs, our healthcare system was already in disarray. People being laid off right and left in the face of business closings will also mean the loss of medical insurance for a lot of people. Losing insurance during a pandemic is (unneccessary) tragedy on top of tragedy. It only highlights the absurdity of connecting your ability to see a doctor with working for a corporation. The two should have absolutely nothing to do with each other.
It's been beyond clear for years that our country needs universal healthcare.
But on a more familiar topic for this blog so as not too get bogged down in political anger -- movies and Oscars...
I have watched the two latest movies selected for streaming discussion by you ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS (1939) via the Criterion Channel and POLLYANNA (1960) via Disney+ and since I was recovering from being sick those write-ups will arrive this weekend. Apologies for the delay.
On another topic, I've noticed some random speculation about what might become of the Oscars this year given the pandemic. We mostly think that's premature hand-wringing. With China currently phasing out its lockdown after three months, we think worst case scenario is that Hollywood doesn't get back to business as usual until August. Each year there are endless complaints about how Oscar voters dont pay attention to the movies in any given year until about October anyway. We don't condone this but it is (mostly) a fact. The major difference this year might be that there aren't as many movies from the early months of the year for the Academy to rudely ignore. But last year's robust 12 month film year didn't prevent the Academy from narrowing their sites to a record-breaking very few pictures (2019 was the first year ever where FOUR movies hogged double-digit nominations) so 2020 will probably be even narrower.
In the end we suspect business as usual with the Oscars alongside the possibility that the December glut will be much MUCH worse than usual (if that's even possible) with all of these movies delayed! If there are some Academy rule changes to address the showbiz-interrupting pandemic, we think it will more likely come in the less media-covered areas of short films (x 3), international feature, and documentary feature. Those five categories rely far more on international film festivals in their selection processes. With so many festivals interrupted or cancelled or delayed this year, you might see some loosening of restrictions in how films can become eligible... at least for the 2020 calendar year.
But "April Foolish" predictions are going to be a lot tougher this year since the calendar is in such chaos.
Thoughts? How are you holding up out there?
Reader Comments (28)
No end in sight.
I work in Health Care here in UK and things are changing but it's so terrifying,I am in work but away from the Co-Vid wards but there is potential I may be moved there,I think the Oscars maybe delayed and the campaigning may be different,Keep Well Nat,
Glad to hear you're on the mend!
As for Oscars, if this situation goes on beyond August, I do wonder if the "must screen in a theater" rule will be adjusted for this year's eligibility. But then again, would that be a slippery slope even if it's temporary?
What is T*** refer to?
Glad to know you are feeling better- it this horrible time we need the movies more than ever'
Perhaps they e d up combining years like the first ceremonies?
I'm not a Republican, but to be fair neither is the person whose name you clearly don't wanna see. Tho I suppose they're riding him, so whatever.
See...people spend so much time being offended they allow him to get away with properly sucking.
Glad you feel better.
Glad to hear you’r better now
Glad you're feeling better.
Great points re: Oscar eligibility and film festivals.
Hopefully things will have returned to some semblance of normality by end of summer but I guess we should brace ourselves for some possible rule/eligibility changes. Though, yes, a slippery slope is always a risk..
@markgordonuk
Thank you, sir. Your professionalism and selflessness in this crisis makes you a true mensch
Glad you're doing better--hope you can weather the storm with some grace and positivity intact.
As for the Oscars: I absolutely don't want this to happen, and I absolutely don't think it will, but it's been a morbidly enjoyable thought experiment to imagine that theaters close for the rest of the year, but the Oscars, instead of postponing or canceling, say 'why not, we'll hold an Oscars for the movies that came out in the first 10 weeks of the year." Just...imagine it. Imagine Will Smith's career Oscar campaign for Bad Boys for Life. Onward is the first animated film to get a best director nomination, because something has to be nominated there. Imagine the Oscar fans, 20 years from now, who have no historical context and are haunted by the fact that best Adapted Screenplay was a tight race between The Call of the Wild and Brahms: The Boy 2. Imagine Jane Fonda presenting Best Picture to Dolittle, and then just getting on a jet ski and leaving this world forever.
"Wow, they really must have fixed a lot of Sonic the Hedgehog in post if it won Best Picture," say perplexed gay teenagers 50 years in the future.
Thank the Gods you're well, Nat.
I work from home and have for 8 years. Professor Spouse's classes are now all online. We're very grateful to both be fully employed in this economy and our health is fine.
Glad you’re better, Nathaniel!!
i'm holding up and counting down the days until April 1 so hopefully you get those predictions ready!! :)
Glad you're feeling better. :)
@Mark-I think the T**** refers to the human septic tank we have as our inept dictator.
Here in Brazil, we are trying to survive both viruses: Covid-19 and our president Bolsonaro.
I see the Tony Awards are postponing but they can't really have them if there is no/little product out there. I guess they will move the qualifying dates.
I imagine the Oscars will do something different by relaxing their own qualifications, namely how a movie premiered in this exceptional year.
By the way, I work for a big entertainment company and the employees are getting fearful. Most hourly employees are expecting to go from paid to furloughed in the next week or so.
Glad to hear Nathaniel is better!
Elisabeth Moss for THE INVISIBLE MAN, though. Make it happen, Academy.
Make sure you’ve contact traced anyone you were near recently even if it was just a flu. American’s seem to be very cavalier about the whole situation, but it’s a public (not private) health emergency. Think what would Cláudio do? Contact trace, self isolate/distance and write phenomenal answers being the answer. Get well soon and be smart and safe.
Very relieved to hear that you are feeling better and thinking about your favourite topic.
Here in Vancouver, I'm scared for what may happen, and yet feel so lucky to be here.
I was watching "Hope and Glory" the other day, and think the winning film will have to have a theme of shared fear and collective action. I'm sure we will need something inspiring, some work of pure beauty to remind us of what humans are capable of at their best.
(At least that's what I would vote for.)
Joe K: That was the laugh I needed! Thanks!
markgordonuk: From one UK resident to another, thank you for the work you do.
Good to hear you’re on the mend. Don’t need you getting scarred lungs, Kaposi sarcomas or whatever you may be at risk at with you shaky immune system. Viva TFE!
Rock -- lol. why are people always making things up about me? It's sooo weird. I'm not a celebrity. I do not have a compromised immune system. My only recurring health problem is a bad back which I've had since i was a teenager. But yes, I guess I get the flu a lot (and I have had pneumonia before (about 10 years ago i think?)
I haven't had a flu in a couple of years though because I finally wised up and started getting annual flu shots.
freddie -i've been in self-isolation since i got sick and the only people who saw me the week before that are all aware. let's not judge people we don't know, okay?
First and Foremost, feel better, Nathaniel. You are loved.
Less important, Ben Affleck and Elisabeth Moss are in really good position right now.
Sorry, you do complain of illnesses, especially flus at a rate much higher than the normal population and most people in you demographic. You have the frequency of illnesses of somebody immunocompromised(and you wouldn't be the first to vaguely allude to being affected by such. You accidentally created a strong subtext).
Living in densely populated (and overpopulated) NYC could be a reason for getting the flu so habitually, as it seems to be a place where contagious diseases spread like wildfire.
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