BOOKS AT THE OSCARS: THE SHAPE OF WATER & CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

From Books to Movies, From Movies to Books

Oscar talking is everywhere these days and the hype is growing now we are just a few hours away from discovering whether our  favourites will win. However, I'm here to discuss books in this post, the books related to some of the nominated movies. I know that book - to - screen adaptations are mostly disappointing for readers and I've rarely read movie novelizations in my life,  but in those rare cases too I could find little achievement accomplished.

The Oscar-related books I want to share with you today are definitely an exception to that trend: fans are giving ravishing reviews both to books and movies. The title I want to propose to you are  Daniel Kraus's The Shape of Water and André Aciman's Call Me By Your Name   

AND THE WINNER IS ... JOHN MONTANA WATCHED AND COMMENTED THE OSCAR CEREMONY FOR US

So the 88^th Annual Academy Awards were on last night. And as usual, they were filled with controversy because many black actors/actresses felt they were victims of racism because no black actors were nominated this year. And certainly many people have jumped onto this bandwagon, because that has become the most popular thing…find a cause of injustice and jump on it and rife it till it ends and then you jump to the next one. 

Is there racism in Hollywood? Probably. Racism exists everywhere, why wouldn’t it show its ugly head here? Was there racism here? I don’t know. Or I can’t say. Because racism is an individual belief that manifests in ugly behavior, whether alone or in a lynch mob. I think what most likely happened is this: With the advent of digital cameras and less money needed to make a feature film, there were literally hundreds of films to watch and consider. 

WAITING FOR THE OSCARS, I'VE SEEN A FEW: BROOKLYN

Waiting to discover this year’s winners in a few hours, here's my third Oscar- nominated -movie review. I’ve been recently seeing a few of the nominees. Have you read my post about The Danish Girl? And what about the one about Labyrinth of Lies? Have I seen Leo in The Revenant, you ask? Not yet but ... fingers crossed for him! Promise,  I'll watch it soon.  

BROOKLYN tells the moving story of Eilis Lacey, a young Irish immigrant navigating her way through 1950s Brooklyn. Lured by the promise of America, Eilis departs Ireland and the comfort of her mother’s home for the shores of New York City. The initial shackles of homesickness quickly diminish as a fresh romance sweeps Eilis into the intoxicating charm of love. But soon, her new vivacity is disrupted by her past, and she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within (from Youtube)

Can I just start saying this film is poignantly beautiful? To have a visual idea of how beautiful it is in every sense,  have a look at any of the close-ups you can find in the web of Saoirse Ronan as Eilis, its protagonist. She is the embodiment of all the beauty in this movie. Pale, sweet features, big blue eyes staring at an unkown, vast, scary world.

WAITING FOR THE OSCARS, I'VE SEEN A FEW: LABYRINTH OF LIES

Waiting to discover this year’s winners in a few days, I’ve been watching a few of the nominated films. What about discussing one of them each ay till the Oscars Show on Saturday Night?  Have you read my post about The Danish Girl? Here's the second one.

Labyrinth of Lies 

The year is 1958. The war has been over for thirteen years and the Federal Republic of Germany is not only recovering but even booming. But where are the Nazis? Who has ever heard of the death camps? It looks as if everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds in this land of milk and honey... At least, until the day journalist Thomas Gnielka recognizes in the person of a teacher the former commander of the Auschwitz concentration camp... At least, until Johann Radmann, a young prosecutor, decides to investigate the case... Nobody knows it yet but this is the dawn of a new era. Even if the road to awareness will be long and rocky... (from imdb)