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By Camden Ferrell  Flying Lotus debuted as a filmmaker with his film Kuso, an utterly disgusting and provocative anthology film that inspired walkouts at its premiere in 2017. For better or worse, it marked the cataclysmic arrival of a bold and visionary creator. Several years later, he is releasing his next feature Ash (although he did direct a segment from V/H/S/99). While both of his features feel completely different, there seems to be a few threads that bind the bodies of work from their visual style, shock value, and often subtle subtext. Both films tackle humanity in the context of change. Whether that’s interstellar pioneers on the precipice of a new era of humankind, or if it’s disconnected stories following a mutated world in the wake of a catastrophic earthquake. In Ash, we follow Riya, an astronaut who wakes up bloodied to the horrors of her dead colleagues with no memories of what happened. In a moment of fear and confusion, Riya asks herself, “Who Am I?” I think this question serves as the foundation for Flying Lotus’s main fascination in his newest movie. He seems particularly fascinated with the concept of memory, and how we are able to define ourselves through our memory. If we forget who we are, then what do we have left? How can we understand who we are, if we can’t even remember? This is a thematic thread that is rarely front and center in Ash, but it’s one that feels ever-present in this survival thriller. Even if the story itself can feel derivative and sometimes meandering in its execution, Flying Lotus never makes it feel boring, and this looming exploration of the self contributes to that.  This doesn't seem to be a new concept for the filmmaker. Underneath all of the fecal matter and bodily fluids in Kuso, it seems he spent some of the segments exploring cultural identity in a unique and idiosyncratic way. I find myself thinking of the segment Smear which follows Charlie, a boy who is force-fed nauseating food by his mother, leading him to embarrassment and discomfort. I viewed that as a rejection of culture and values from those who came before, and I found this story to contain similar questions about who we are in this world. In a strange world after disaster, Charlie grapples with this desire to figure out who he is amidst the fear of continual inundation of quite literal toxic material. Within this segment, Flying Lotus seems to also plant some ideas regarding racial politics in our tumultuous world as we see an unnamed and uninvolved Black student getting punished when Charlie defecates himself. Understanding who you are is already complicated as is, but it’s exacerbated when you’re in a world that is cruel and confusing.
One of the more surface-level ties between both films is its ability to shock viewers with disturbing imagery. While his first film uses this imagery in excess (seemingly without reason quite often), Ash feels more intentional in its use of shock value. It contributes to the more sinister narrative of this story, and it serves as a reminder of the horrors that humans are capable of as well as the horrors of the unknown. Even if one does not enjoy the films of Flying Lotus, it’s hard to deny he has a singular voice and talent for creating unique and unnerving atmospheres. In Kuso, he creates an unsettling and almost dystopian wasteland. It’s literal waste, moral waste, or both. In Ash, he unsettles viewers not with dystopia but with more conventional mortal horrors and more indescribable existential dread. It’s more straightforward than his debut feature, but it’s one that feels more mature in practice, and it doesn’t sacrifice the cinematic staples that gave him a unique voice back in 2017. Ash is in theaters on March 21.
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By Camden Ferrell  The 97th Academy Awards take place this weekend, and I have watched all 35 feature nominees. I'd like to detail below my personal rankings for all nominated films before the awards while also highlighting what I think should win in every category. Below, I will rank the 35 features, talk briefly about them, detail the categories for which they are nominated, and bold/underline the category name if I think that particular movie should win (not necessarily what I think will win). Without further ado, let's begin. 35. Elton John: Never Too Late Nominations: Music (Original Song) Maybe it’s moderately engaging for novices to Elton John and his music, but even then, it’s not particularly compelling. It has good music as expected, but it’s not enough to support a blandly executed documentary that doesn’t shine any new light on the iconic singer. 34. The Six Triple Eight Nominations: Music (Original Song) One of Tyler Perry’s better efforts, this is still a pretty boilerplate historical film that suffers due to its own inability to take creative risks. It covers a piece of history that deserves the spotlight, but it also deserves a more interesting movie. 33. Sugarcane Nominations: Documentary Gorgeously shot and undeniably important, this documentary both shines and suffers in its prolonged meditative pace. It never really finds a good rhythm but that doesn’t discredit its occasional moments of artistic brilliance. 32. Black Box Diaries Nominations: Documentary Another documentary that is fiercely brave and important, this is a movie that also suffers from its pacing problems. It’s a harrowing investigation into a horrific crime but often feels like it could benefit from tighter cuts. 31. A Complete Unknown Nominations: Picture, Director, Lead Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Sound, Costume Design The most underwhelming of the Best Picture nominees. It’s a perfectly adequate biopic, but I didn’t feel any particularly strong emotions in one direction or the other. Chalamet is decent as Bob Dylan, but I can’t find much to celebrate beyond that.  30. Porcelain War Nominations: Documentary When this documentary hits its stride, it’s beautiful and engaging, but it suffers from a bit of an identity crisis. It splits its time between the subjects’ porcelain creations and their role in combat, and it’s a balance that the movie doesn’t always handle well. Like other nominees, this is still a timely and important story. 29. Flow Nominations: Animated Feature, International Feature My least favorite of the Animated Feature nominees. It boasts gorgeous visuals throughout, but despite its already abbreviated length, it feels like a slog more than it should. 28. Gladiator II Nominations: Costume Design As someone who only mildly enjoyed the original, I thought this was just as good. This is probably an unpopular opinion, but I thought this was entertaining enough for what it was, even if it hit a lot the same beats as the predecessor. 27. Better Man Nominations: Visual Effects It’s easy to use the film’s box office failure as an indictment of its quality, but this film is far more good than bad. Feels like Rocketman with less artistic competence, but it still is quite an enjoyable film with entertaining songs, dances, and set pieces. 26. Maria Nominations: Cinematography Pablo Larraín's newest film has his signature snail’s pace, and it works well for the most part. It features some amazing visuals and a compelling performance from Jolie without whom the movie could easily fall apart.  25. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Nominations: Visual Effects Even though it drags in certain places, this is a very enjoyable adventure film with some truly epic action set pieces. Not as good as the previous trilogy’s entries, but it’s still a fun movie with great visual effects. 24. No Other Land Nominations: Documentary A heartbreaking look at the devastating treatment of Palestinians in their own homeland, this is a documentary that is incredibly urgent. It’s difficult to see such inhumane acts captured by those being displaced and stripped of their humanity, but it’s a timely film that I certainly hope gets more widespread distribution. 23. Soundtrack to a Coup d’État Nominations: Documentary Fast paced and incredibly dense, this is a great documentary that feels like going down an online rabbit hole. An absolute marvel in editing and archival footage curation, this feels a lot quicker than its 2.5-hour runtime would suggest. 22. September 5 Nominations: Original Screenplay A harrowing look into a television station during the events of the Munich Massacre. This is a tightly scripted and well-acted historical film that overcomes its adherence to convention with a gripping final product. 21. The Seed of the Sacred Fig Nominations: International Feature Mohammad Rasoulof is no stranger to punishment from the Iranian government, and his newest film is a scathing indictment of that same regime. Fleeing to Germany to avoid a prison sentence in Iran, his film is one that feels timely and extremely important. It uses intense family drama and societal unrest to paint a picture that is critical of the current state of affairs in Iran. It’s a little bloated in length, but it feels undeniably significant.  20. Inside Out 2 Nominations: Animated Feature Not nearly as good as the first film, Pixar still delivers another relatable and funny tale about growing up. The voice cast continues to excel, and the movie still packs an emotional punch even with a new director at the helm. 19. The Girl with the Needle Nominations: International Feature This international feature is a compelling and bleak story that is supported by a brilliant lead performance and mesmerizingly gorgeous cinematography. It’s undeniably one of the most beautifully shot movies of the year. 18. Nosferatu Nominations: Cinematography Another well-shot film, Robert Eggers’ newest movie is compelling and everything we’ve come to expect from him as a filmmaker. It has a great ensemble of actors and is a testament to the power and artistry of gothic horror stories. 17. Alien: Romulus Nominations: Visual Effects There’s nothing quite like a thrilling popcorn flick to get you through another long year, and this might be the best nominee of the year on a pure entertainment level. There’s not a single wasted second, and it features some classic thrills to keep you on the edge of your seat. 16. Sing Sing Nominations: Lead Actor, Adapted Screenplay, Music (Original Song) An inspirational and emotionally powerful story about redemption, humanity, and the power of art. It features a fantastic ensemble including many non-actors playing themselves, and it’s a crowd-pleasing film that feels like it should be more of an Oscar darling than it ended up being.  15. Emilia Perez Nominations: Picture, Director, Lead Actress, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, International Feature, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song) x2, Sound, Makeup and Hairstyling, Film Editing Easily the most controversial film out of these nominees, I quite enjoyed this musical. I agree with a lot of the common complaints, but I also found myself compelled by its creative and daring choices in its narrative and execution. It’s easy to join the online hate train and discredit the movie in bad faith, but with an open mind, I think there’s more to enjoy about this film than the internet would have you believe. 14. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl Nominations: Animated Feature Decades later, this claymation duo remains as funny and endearing as always. It may not be the best work in their canon, but it’s a fun and lighthearted adventure that reminds us of why we love this inventor and his dog getting into various hijinks. 13. Wicked Nominations: Picture, Lead Actress, Supporting Actress, Music (Original Score), Sound, Production Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Costume Design, Film Editing, Visual Effects As a fan of movie musicals, this was quite enjoyable. Great musical numbers paired with some impressive vocal performances and exquisite production design. The runtime does feel bloated in between musical numbers, but it’s a forgivable flaw just because of how entertaining it is otherwise. 12. I’m Still Here Nominations: Picture, Lead Actress, International Feature This Brazilian film is incredibly well-made from a filmmaking standpoint, but it’s also led by an incredible performance from Fernanda Torres. It’s gripping, raw, and a reminder of the power of cinema even when it’s about events from decades prior. 11. The Wild Robot Nominations: Animated Feature, Music (Original Score), Sound This animated movie is a few narrative choices away from being an all-timer in the medium. This was an incredibly emotional film that knew how to earn its moments of genuine human emotion. Great animation but even better storytelling.  10. Anora Nominations: Picture, Director, Lead Actress, Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay, Film Editing Not my favorite of Baker’s filmography but another solid addition nonetheless. Mikey Madison steals the show as Ani, and it’s a movie the excels amidst its unending chaos. It’s a bit of a pacing nightmare at times, but it’s emotional, funny, and has balances its subtext with vulgarity beautifully. 9. Conclave Nominations: Picture, Lead Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Music (Original Score), Production Design, Costume Design, Film Editing This drama is as tightly scripted as they come. It feels incredibly well-paced and boasts some intense and powerful performances from the entire ensemble. On a technical level it also excels with beautiful cinematography, mesmerizing production design, and a wonderfully intense score. 8. The Brutalist Nominations: Picture, Director, Lead Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay, Music (Original Score), Production Design, Cinematography, Film Editing Arguably the most challenging of the nominees, Brady Corbet’s epic is unwavering in its scope and themes. It beautifully constructs a story about the American dream before crushing it mercilessly. It features career best work from Brody and Pearce, and it’s an enthralling movie that doesn’t feel slow for a single minute of its lengthy runtime. 7. A Real Pain Nominations: Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay Jesse Eisenberg’s sophomore feature is a massive improvement over his debut. This movie is full of witty and emotional dialogue that is elevated by its wonderful lead performances. It balances its comedy well with more intense themes regarding generational trauma and personal turmoil between cousins. 6. The Apprentice Nominations: Lead Actor, Supporting Actor Extremely topical, this movie paints a portrait of a young Donald Trump, and it does so fantastically. It’s difficult to tackle such a controversial figure, but to do it with the ferocity and occasional empathy that Ali Abassi displays is commendable. It features stellar performances and some of the most captivating cinematography of the year, and it’s absolutely worth checking out even if it’s something you’ve been putting off due to the subject.  5. The Substance
Nominations: Picture, Director, Lead Actress, Original Screenplay, Makeup and Hairstyling It’s wonderful to see horror being recognized in these categories, and The Substance truly earned every nomination it received. Coralie Fargeat directs an insanely effective Demi Moore in a chaotic body horror film that is impossible to look away from. 4. Dune: Part Two Nominations: Picture, Sound, Production Design, Cinematography, Visual Effects Denis Villeneuve follows the fantastic first Dune film with a sequel that lives up to its predecessor’s epic proportions. This movie is grand in scale, and it’s an utter spectacle in every sense of the word. Great effects, execution, and storytelling make this one of the most impressive film series in recent years. 3. Memoir of a Snail Nominations: Animated Feature Adam Elliot’s second feature is a gorgeous yet devastating story about a misfit girl and her tumultuous life. He instills his signature dark humor, adult themes, and recognizable animation style into every frame, and it ends up being one of the finest animated movies ever made. It’s a beautiful and emotional journey of life that will bring you to tears if you let it. 2. Nickel Boys Nominations: Picture, Adapted Screenplay It would have been extremely easy to take Colson Whitehead's fantastic novel and adapt it in a safe and serviceable manner for the screen, but I'm absolutely grateful RaMell Ross took a massive swing for his first narrative feature. Visually profound and masterfully executed, this is a major work from a major artist. There's some themes and nuances from the novel that don't translate well, but Ross' vision is so exquisite that I really didn't mind it at all. 1. A Different Man Nominations: Makeup and Hairstyling The best of this year’s nominees, A Different Man is an utter delight. Aaron Schimberg’s script and direction are insanely clever and profoundly smart. It tackles important themes with a unique vision that is bold and effective. It features great performances and is an unforgettable movie that should have gotten more recognition beyond its makeup and hairstyling. The Academy Awards will be held on Sunday March, 2 on ABC. |