Oscar nominations are out, so I now know what is up for Best Picture. Since I moved to Detroit in 2013, I have always had the goal to watch all the nominees before that year’s ceremony. It has gotten easier to pull it off in recent years as my number of films watch has grown. Years ago, I named the quest Snooty Sean Season. This year, I had 9 done when the noms came out Tuesday. The only one left was The Zone of Interest, and I didn’t have to wait long to see it. The showtimes around here for that film started coming out Monday, so I already had my ticket to see it finally. Did it live up to my expectations, take the very early top spot on the rankings, and get the first 5/5 of the year? Only one way to find out. On to the reviews!

#9 Lift

This movie surprised me how much I liked it. Most Kevin Hart movies annoy me. He seems to always be the hyper character that always gets under my skin. However, in this one, he is the normal character. He is the leader of a heist crew, which is hired by Interpol to steal gold bars from a dealer before he can give it eco-terrorists. Hijinks then happen. The movie is easy to guess what happens next, but this didn’t need to be a movie that made you think. Sometimes we need these kind of movies. This was just an entertaining 90 minutes movie. I wouldn’t be mad if Netflix gave this a sequel. 3 out of 5 Decoy Planes

#10 The Zone of Interest

First, to answer the questions above: Yes, No, and No. This film was certainly something. To say it was unpleasant would be an understatement, but that was the point. A film about the Commandant of Auschwitz and his family should be a tough film to watch. What makes this film different that others that try to tell a story during this heinous time is how Glazer directed it. There is no real plot here. All we see is how this family goes about their day to day right on the other side of the wall of the camp. Part of how they film this is by putting camera all around the house and just filmed what was happening, not unlike a reality show.

What really makes this film different is the sound. There are something’s when I watch a movie I wonder what would be like to watch it if I was deaf. Would I still get what the film wants me to? Most times it does. With Zone, it most certainly wouldn’t. Without the sound, it’s just watching an evil family. The background sound is the other character that is always there. It’s the other side of the wall with the sounds of the furnaces, trains, screaming and gun shots like an awful white noise. You never see the other side of the wall, but you are left to imagine what is happening as you hear it. It is something that hits you right away and never goes away, even when the film is over, you go home, and write the review. That is what I think the point of the film is. It does the job.

This is a film that really should be seen by a lot of people, but I don’t think everyone will be able to handle how cold this film is. Nobody is the main character, and there is nobody that you root for. You are just there for 2 hours to watch history play out just a little. With all its awful moments that we have known a heard about for 80 years. Remembering what happened is important, and this film does point that out a little at the end. I just hope some of the people that need to see this type of film would. 4.5 out of 5 (no joke this time)

Quite a difference between the two films this week. Now that I’ve seen Zone of Interest, I have now seen all 10 Best Picture nominees. I’m planning on having a post talking about what I thought of all of them hopefully when I get back from Florida next week. While I’m down there, I’ll finally see Argylle, and that means not seeing its trailer anymore before movies.