Special Edition: PHTV Director Reviews Best Picture Nominees

PHTV Director AJ Ager has watched almost...thats right almost all the best picture nominees and here are his thoughts.

As most of you know I try to watch all of the best picture nominees every year. Some years I do better than others, but this year I have only not seen The Favourite (which is not the favorite) and I only made it through the first 10 minutes of Roma. I may try that one again soon.

Bohemian Rhapsody was truly a great flick. It is disappointing that some of the facts of Freddie's life were changed for the purpose of the flick but considering Queen themselves were involved in the flick, it must not have been a big deal. You had a change of lead actor to Mr Robot and Bryan Singer's directing rubbed some the wrong way. This usually leads to a movie getting beat up pretty bad. (see Solo) It is pretty amazing what this movie has done for queen music the same way Walk the Line did for Johnny Cash.

Blackkklansman was an interesting one for me to watch considering I am from Colorado Springs. Parts of the storytelling seemed jumbled. If you could treat this movie like a PBJ sandwhich and cut off the crusts I believe the story would have stood out more. Denzel's kid played an amazing role and the real relationship with David Duke should have been played up more. In real life Duke had no idea he was being duped by a black man until almost twenty years later.

A Star is Born, I wondered why Bradley Cooper would remake a movie that has been remade multiple times. Then I watched it. Bradley Cooper wanted to be a rock star. Maybe that wasn't it. He badly wants an oscar it appears and Lady Gaga wants to continue to be taken seriously as an actress. That being said, it may be the best of the versions of the movie.

Black Panther was a great marvel movie. The question is whether or not it is the best Marvel Movie. Great acting, good story, and Kendrick Lamars music was good. It would be nice to see a win here since comic movies don't get a lot of respect. See The Dark Knight which is still one of the best movies ever done.

Green Book may be the best movie I saw last year. Ali and Mortensen had great chemistry ad just about anything Ali does is interesting. Most movies are considered quality by the characters being likeable and the story being engaging....over simplification I know....but that is what all filmmakers are looking for. Then when they make the movie they just try not to get in their own way. Also it would be interesting to see Peter Farrely get credit when he and his brother were known for Dumb and Dumber and fart and jizz jokes.

Vice was a movie I looked at hoping this would not be a preachy movie. I don't want a political lecture when I watch a movie. Just tell me a story and I will figure out how I feel afterward. This movie tells a story, wants you to feel a certain way, but doesn't get too far. I believe you know what the director thinks and for sure he wants you to feel the same way, however, I believe McKay avoids trying to be total CNN on this. Christian Bale was very good in a tough role. Green Book was still the better flick.

Now....Let's see if I can get through more than ten minutes of Roma