Or, Dazza saw Parasite and is changing his votes
It’s a white CIS male’s prerogative to change his mind, and ever since I wrote my Oscars piece I’ve had the obvious remorse on who I would have voted for if I’d done something with my life and my opinion actually mattered. For example, I’ve had regrets at choosing the easy option of Joaquin Phoenix for best actor instead of Adam Driver’s hug him but slap him at the same time performance in marriage story.
However if you’re one of the suckers appreciated readers who read through my Oscar piece, you may remember me pointing out that as of writing it I had yet to see the much hyped Parasite, due to it not being out in the UK until Oscar weekend itself. But as it happened I chanced upon an advance screening, so as promised here are any amendments I would have made to where my votes would have landed.
So first I just want to say that Parasite is bloody, insanely brilliant. It’s an incredible satire on the inequities of the class system, that sometimes is a thriller, sometimes a brutally dark farce comedy but is always a film that shocks at every turn. Just when you think you have the film figured out, it throws you a complete hard turn that weirdly always seems to make sense in this mad scenario that unfolds.
That is really all I want to say on the story of Parasite because really this is a film that deserves to be seen cold as I did. So instead I’m just going to say how seeing Parasite would alter my own personal selections.
Simply put, Parasite is now my personal Best Movie choice kicking the wonderful Jojo Rabbit to the curb, (but you can still read my thoughts on the controversial movie as I’m not deleting anything I’ve ever wrote). It’s a close run thing for bets director, but while I love what Bong Joon-ho did with creating a feast of atmosphere, story and glorious visuals, I can’t take away from what Sam Mendes did with 1917.
Where I will give Boon Joon-Ho is due along with Han Jin-Wan is in the best original screenplay category. I easily put the incredible twists and turns, with a heavy subversive social commentary above what Tarantino did with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood even though I loved that film too.
Lastly in my “WTF?” picks I did for the snubbed in each category, I will gladly admit that Song Kang-Ho should definitely have made it into the big five.
So what will happen Sunday night? The general feeling is that Parasite will not score best picture but will be consoled with the Best International Film (AKA the They Talk With Their Own Words Award). However, when predicting the Oscars in these terms it always seems to be on the assumption that the Academy has a hive mind mentality and that the winners are chosen with a story like, explainable logic. With over 7,000 private votes, nothing should be taken as gospel until the little gold envelopes have been opened and Parasite seems to be getting some of that late buzz.
For what it’s worth I’ve put a tenner on Parasite (the first time I’ve ever bet on the Oscars), because I’m getting vibes of the type that preceded Moonlight upsetting La La Land just a few years ago.
But at the end of the day, does it really matter, so long as all these great movies exist?
Dazza
