Our next Best Picture nominee is Nebraska.
What I’m doing is posting my five favorite moments from each of the Best Picture nominees. It’s a nice way to take a break from all the Oscar stuff to remind myself (and all of us) that once you take away all the competition and the awards, what we’re left with is great cinema. That’s what it’s about.
Here are my favorite moments from Nebraska:
First, let me say, it’s fascinating to me how 6 of the 9 Best Picture nominees this year utilize the “White title over black screen” style, and two of the remaining three use the “title illuminated by candlelight” method. American Hustle is the only one that doesn’t use either of the two styles. Just, one of those things I noticed.
5. “Glad to see you’re not drinking.” “Beer ain’t drinkin’.”
Spoken like a true drinker.
4. June Squibb
She’s so fucking great in this. It’s a type of role that always does well, and this is no different. She’s the feisty wife, and it works. ”You know what I’d do with a million dollars? I’d put him in a home.” She’s so good. That graveyard scene — hell, all of her scenes. She’s so good.
Who doesn’t love an 80 year old woman calling someone a whore?
(Also, big fan of when they’re at the restaurant ordering food. Perfect familial representation.)
3. The look of the film.
The black and white was absolutely the right way to tell the story. It makes you want to rise up above these locations. They’re beautiful, but there’s something missing, and the black and white accentuates that. You want to go where the color is. There’s something melancholy about all of it. Terrific choice, and it really enhances the film.
2. “I was there.”
It’s pretty much a testament to the brilliant underwriting of the script. It’s simple, and it speaks volumes.
They’re walking through Woody’s childhood home, and they stop at this room, and we’ve already heard stories about it, and how his brother died, and then June Squibb says, “This is the room where Woody’s brother died.” And Will Forte goes, “You remember that, Dad?” And Bruce Dern goes, “I was there.” And it says everything you need to know. The delivery, the look on his face. It speaks volumes within three words. Astounding moment.
1. “I’m here.”
It’s a pair with the previous one. They’re just been told there is no money, and they’ve come all this way for nothing. All he has to show for it is that hat. (And the time he spent with his son, of course.) And Will Forte comes in the car and says something, but Dern doesn’t react. And he says, “Dad!” And Dern just goes, “I’m here.” It’s so beautiful. “I was there,” and “I’m here.” Five words that encompass a lifetime. So beautiful.
