Two Little Gems: Movies I Loved

BIRDS OF PASSAGE 

The La Costa Film Festival, in its fourth year the fall of 2016, was right in my own backyard so I promised myself I'd go this year and soak up some of the indie beauties and documentaries typically featured at festival venues.  My daughter, Amy, who shares my passion, joined me on the Sunday afternoon closing day. We had no trouble choosing two films that appealed to both of us -- Birds of Passage, a poignant story about the friendship between two girls, one disabled, and Pickle, a quirky documentary about a married couple with an odd assortment of rescue animals. Both were little gems for completely different reasons.

In the Belgian film (French subtitles), Birds of Passage, by Yves and Olivier Ringer, ten-year-old Cathy receives a fertilized duck egg in a tiny wood incubator for her birthday. Her dad explains that she will be the first person the duckling sees when he hatches out, so he'll think she's his mother. Cathy's friend, Margaux, confined to a wheelchair, attends Cathy's birthday party and hides in Cathy's bedroom during one of the games. In a surprise twist, the yellow duckling cracks through its shell and sees Margaux first. Cathy tells her she's now the mom and should take him home, but Margaux's parents are having none of it. They are already stressed caring for a child with special needs.

Discouraged but not defeated, the girls decide they will take the duckling to an island where he can join dozens of ducks swimming in the water at the end of a long land mass. Margaux sits in her wheelchair with the duckling as they cross a river in a small boat. On land, she sinks into a cart attached to Cathy's bike so they can wheel along dirt trails to reach their destination. Like a heavenly body, the pastoral setting wraps them in a cocoon of hope and safe keeping. At one point, they abandon the bike to enter the water with their precious charge while frantic parents back home report them missing and a search party sets out to find them.

Told from Cathy's point of view, the film captures the magical thinking of ten-year-old girls who wear blinders to the stigma and limitations associated with handicapped people. Without preaching, this message underscores every scene to give the story wings. From the urban apartments where they live to the sunlit countryside where they travel, Cathy and Margaux bond to a higher calling, to deliver their darling duckling to a community of feathered friends, so he can float in peace and harmony all day long.

Birds of Passage was named Best Film at the 2015 Montreal International Children's Film Festival.

****

The second film is a documentary by Amy Nicholson titled Pickle, about an engaging couple, Debbie and Tom, who collect an odd assortment of animals with bizarre ailments on their chicken farm.  Rescue animals include a variety of fowl, i.e. a hen with bumble leg (staph infection), a deformed fish from the river, and a damaged possum from the highway.  

In the case of Pickle, the fish, well...he was in quite a pickle because he had a fish head and tail, but no body -- a condition called stump body. After Tom caught this little guy, he wanted to throw him back in the water, but Debbie begged him to keep the good natured Pickle. Tom propped Pickle up with a piece of sponge so he could live in an aquarium and eat the food they dropped to him

The possum was injured and diseased when they brought him home, so Tom built a custom skateboard that allowed him to cruise around the house. In addition to these creatures, various fowl and ducks found their way to the farm but, unfortunately, many provided food for predators. The sweet little quail were an especially sad loss.  

Sitting on a white love seat in a luxurious home, decorated white on white, the couple shares an attachment and whimsical appreciation for their menagerie, accepting that most animals live short lives. Tom's dry sense of humor and Debbie's winsome personality and warmth give the homespun tales a sense of ying and yang that makes for irresistible storytelling. The film looks at the value we place on animals and the lengths we go to for their benefit.   

Total running time is 15 minutes: Pickle

A film by Amy Nicholson, the documentary received a total of 12 awards on the festival circuit including a Grand Jury Prize at the Florida Film Festival that qualified it for Oscar consideration. 

Elvis Presley: A Complicated King Vol. II

The second volume of the critically acclaimed Elvis Presley biography by Peter Guralnik is titled Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley.  While I wanted the whole story, I wasn't eager to delve into this book. Elvis was a sympathetic, even inspirational, character in Volume I and I wasn't sure how much I'd like him when I learned more.

On assignment in Germany after his mother's untimely death, Elvis strived to be one of the guys with his Army buddies and to put his music aside, but fans flocked wherever he went. He stayed in nice hotels with his own entourage and eventually rented a house for all of them, which set him apart from the other soldiers who couldn't afford such luxury. But he always reported on time for duty and participated as one of the guys, which led them to accept him without resentment or criticism.

Before the military, when Elvis traveled to other cities, he brought the same group of eight or more buddies along and, frequently, his dad, Vernon, joined them as well. In Germany, everyone was in tow, including Grandma and Vernon, a couple of cousins, Memphis pals, and new friends he met along the way. The male groupies ran through hotel hallways in Germany, had balloon fights, and later, would return to the states to hang out at studio lots, Graceland, and the ranch Elvis would buy in Alabama. They acted more like a gang of teenagers than grown men who were assigned jobs, with the added benefits of free room, board, travel and a small salary. Vernon managed all the finances and expenditures associated with Elvis' career and traveling entourage, which got out of control over the years and created a mountain of challenges when funds were low.

Shortly after he settled into the house in Germany, Elvis brought a local girl home and announced she would join the payroll as a live-in secretary with a bedroom next to his. She slept with him when he was lonely. For hours on end, they discussed music, family, his work, whatever he wanted to talk about. She also kept Grandma company and helped prepare food for the houseful of rambunctious men. Like other girls who got close to Elvis, she learned he wasn't monogamous. Before long, she could hear him in the next room with other girls who spent the night. She found it hard to move on, because he was exceptionally charming and sincere when they were together, and nearly always kind. He'd repeat this pattern throughout his life, perhaps seeking the love and comfort of the mother who left.

Priscilla Beaulieu, the beautiful daughter of an Army officer in Germany, met Elvis when she was 14-years-old. One of the guys spotted the teen beauty around town and asked if she'd like to meet Elvis Presley. He was 24. The same day, Elvis called and invited Priscilla to come by the house. He talked to her parents, too, and reassured them he'd respect their daughter and have her home at the set time.

Elvis sent a car to pick her up. When Priscilla walked through the front door, she was a vision of a beauty queen with long black hair in the bouffant style of the day, a flawless complexion, and dark eyes, lashes and eyebrows. Elvis was stunned. The attraction was the same for Priscilla. The two of them spent a great deal of time together at the house, in his room, and cruising town. He refused to consummate the relationship and told her the time would come for a full relationship later, which happened after Elvis left Germany.

During her senior year of high school, Priscilla threatened to run away from her parents' home and fly to Memphis to be with Elvis. Her dad talked to Elvis and they reached an agreement. Priscilla could move to the states if she lived with Vernon and his new wife and completed high school.

By the time Elvis returned to his career, he'd acquired two new hobbies that would remain with him for the rest of his life -- amphetamines and karate. The prescription drugs were given to the soldiers to keep them awake and alert during night field maneuvers. Elvis felt so energized and strong on the drugs he shared them with the guys and Priscilla, who questioned their safety. He assured her they were fine. The drugs allowed the whole gang to party all night and sleep during the day.

Like the amphetamines, karate also became an obsession. Elvis took lessons from master karate instructors in Germany and practiced daily, encouraging the guys to do the same. When they returned home, it was not uncommon for one of them to suffer a broken bone while slamming boards and performing other karate moves. During the last years of Elvis' life, he would wear karate garb in his Las Vegas act and incorporate karate moves into the show. One of his most revered karate teachers would become a love interest for Priscilla after Elvis insisted she stay at home in Memphis while he traveled, performed, and pursued other women.

During Elvis' Army service, RCA executives released 40 hit songs and four albums which were recorded before he left for Germany. They ensured fans would remember him while he was gone and give him a warm welcome when he returned. A master at promoting his client, the Colonel (agent Tom Parker) negotiated tough new deals with recording companies, television networks and shows, Hollywood filmmakers, Las Vegas hotels and local venues where Elvis performed. Unfortunately, he didn't consider the quality of films offered, just the quantity. His goal was to keep Elvis in front of fans and to produce albums from each of the films. The steady stream of income from movie and album sales supported Elvis' lavish lifestyle and the Colonel's gambling habit.

The Physicians Desk Reference became Elvis' bible for prescription drugs, which he considered perfectly legitimate, unlike street drugs. To ensure a steady supply, he went to doctors in Memphis, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, frequently faking a problem to acquire more drugs. Partying with the guys became a way of life. All-nighters and endless girls were the norm. To be part of the group, one had to learn the rules or risk the wrath of the guy in charge. Elvis had first pick of the girls and could become jealous if anyone attempted to date a girl after he tired of her. He also played games to pit the guys against each other for Elvis' attention, which meant everyone had to be on their toes to anticipate what would keep him happy. It was inevitable that some of them would eventually leave the erratic nest to find more sane lives and relationships in the real world.

When Priscilla found herself in this alternative universe, she was initially confused, but her devotion to and love for Elvis persisted until she became part of the group. When she exercised her authority, to provide a healthier home and lifestyle for Elvis in Los Angeles, Las Vegas or Memphis, the guys resented her. By the time Priscilla and Elvis were engaged, he was experiencing second thoughts about marrying her. He wasn't sure he could remain faithful to the wedding vows. With reassurance from the Colonel, who was eager for him to settle down, Elvis and Priscilla married and Lisa Marie was born the first year.

In the meantime, the Colonel's deals tied Elvis to a haphazard course of B-rated films and few hit songs. Luckily, fans still turned out to see him perform at local venues, but numbers were waning at the box office. Elvis felt indebted to the Colonel and allowed him to stay in the driver's seat, making all the decisions on future commitments while Vernon managed the blizzard of bills. Elvis had a deep desire to become a respected actor, but the inferior material wasn't taking him in that direction. It was designed to shoot fast, cut post-production and all other costs, and move on to the next film. It begs the question why Elvis didn't stand up to the Colonel and other people who were using  him. Perhaps his mind was too fogged by the drugs and unhealthy lifestyle to take control.

To get a better grip on his life, Elvis was drawn to metaphysical topics and books, and developed meaningful relationships with gurus. A hairdresser, Larry Geller, introduced Elvis to  spiritual topics and traveled with him. Elvis frequently talked about the loss of his twin brother and mother, apparently to understand why they were taken from him. The homeboys had no use for metaphysical discussions and the new guy, since Elvis wasn't as much fun when he was around.

The drugs weren't satisfying whatever emotional or spiritual yearning Elvis experienced and his health was starting to fail when he sought the guidance of another guru, Daya Mata, who lived in the hills above Los Angeles. He told her he was ready to leave his career behind to focus on spiritual development, which he may have viewed as a quick fix for all that was wrong.

Around the same time, there were threats on Elvis' life, which added to his angst. One message mentioned an attack during a Las Vegas performance. He didn't understand why someone would want to harm him or his musicians. His heightened anxiety led him to collect guns and badges and visit law enforcement officers. These were new obsessions which stayed with him until he died. It wasn't unusual for Elvis to carry a gun on stage, and require his musicians and entourage to do the same. On more than one occasion, at home or in a hotel room, he fired his gun and put others at risk of injury and death.

In what appeared to be a semi-psychotic episode, Elvis visited President Nixon in the White House and expressed his intolerance of drugs among the youth. He offered to help with the anti-drug campaign and showed the president a collection of police badges he carried in a pouch. Before he left, he asked for an FBI badge. Nixon granted his wish but refused his calls in the future. This particular visit was turned into a major motion picture by Amazon in 2016: Elvis and Nixon.

While addictions played a major role during the last sixteen years of Elvis' life, the impact of his talent was undeniable. Throughout the two-volume biography, Guralnick meticulously deciphers the history of recording sessions and live stage performances to describe both highs and lows. He includes the comments of musicians who participated. Like many outstanding artists with critically acclaimed work, Elvis aspired to perfection and called the shots. Most of his recording sessions started later in the day and went through the night, repeating the same song until it worked one hundred percent. There would also be songs that just never worked and were never released. Closure usually occurred in the wee morning hours. Late in his career, as his health failed, Elvis sometimes failed to show and eventually recorded from Graceland.

Rehearsals for live performances were less structured and less frequent. When Elvis was on, all agreed he transported them to another level of artistry. He poured his heart and soul into the music, and among those who experienced this in a recording session, many said they had never seen anything like it, and never would again. A similar sentiment was expressed by those who witnessed a live performance when he was at the top of his game. He left the stage wringing wet with sweat, because he threw himself into the music and emotions of the moment. The audience responded in kind.

Elvis' generosity with gifts and charitable organizations was also legendary. Whether it was a car for a new girlfriend or policeman he befriended, the guys, or the many Memphis charities and family members he supported, Elvis always gave from his heart. He remembered what it was like to be poor. March of Dimes, cancer ograniztations, Memphis hospitals, and the USS Arizona Memorial are a few examples of groups that benefited from his donations, performances and publicity photos.

Priscilla was especially devoted to Elvis and admired him for his big heart, but the chaotic lifestyle became unbearable. When she left after six years of marriage, Elvis started to unravel. He trained her and the other women in his life to be there for his every whim and didn't understand why Priscilla left. He had to be reminded that he'd abandoned her to pursue others. He was angry she'd taken off with the karate instructor, whom he swore he'd kill at one point. Eventually, they found a way to continue a close, friendly relationship. They held hands in the Santa Monica courthouse where the judge declared the marriage dissolved, but said it felt more like a wedding to him, not a divorce. Elvis remained devoted to Lisa Marie, who lived with her mother in California but was a frequent visitor at Graceland.

There were career slumps before Priscilla left, but they increased with her absence. The Las Vegas performances toward the end of his career became bizarre caricatures of earlier shows, with karate chops, rambling, nonsensical chatter with the audience, and forgetting lines to songs. Musicians didn't know what to expect when Elvis went off the planned program. During one concert, four men rushed the stage and Elvis delivered a karate chop to knock one of them back into the audience. Afterward, all he could talk about was his heroic karate move. His weight soared and his health suffered, with ongoing intestinal problems and bloating as well as psychological issues caused by the drug abuse. He was hospitalized several times, with dedicated nurses who cared for him like a son. On at least one occasion after he left a Memphis hospital, his nurse followed him to Graceland and cared for him at night.

In the end, all the doctors, hospitals, and the best care medicine had to offer weren't enough. Not even Lisa Marie was enough for him to find a healthy balance in his life. Elvis' story arc is one of a rise from poverty, insecurities and loss, to fame, fortune and drugs. Many attempted to intervene and help, but this was someone who grew up at the center of his parents' world, was lauded the king by the rest of the world, and always ran the show. He ran it to the end. When he died in 1977, found in his bathroom at Graceland, he was 42 years old. Every year on August 16, the date of Elvis' death, Graceland opens its doors to fans for a memorial celebration and candlelight vigil. Several events are held during the week long celebration called Elvis Week.

As I feared, the second volume of Guralnick's biography was harder to read. Elvis was a naive genius who rose from the dusty roads of the south to claim his place in the lofty towers of music history. Thanks to Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley, Graceland has been developed with a mind-boggling collection of artifacts to pay tribute to the King of Rock 'n' Roll, whose voice serenades visitors through the many buildings and displays.

The last song Elvis performed in 1977: Are You Lonesome Tonight

Elvis Presley: A Complicated King Vol. I

The Graceland mansion, Elvis Presley's iconic home in Memphis, was not the tacky tourist trap I expected when I visited the summer of 2015 (see  Digging My Southern Roots....Memphis). In fact, the sheer volume of artifacts -- videos, film, posters, costumes, gold records, awards, airplanes, and a drive-in theater circled by Elvis' cars -- was daunting.

I wanted to know more. How did one human being create so much in such a short life? How did the man anointed the King of Rock 'n' Roll rise to the unprecedented fame, fortune and popularity he enjoyed? What was his family like? How did he develop his unique style of music to produce enough gold records to line both walls of a former handball court? How did he meet Priscilla and what was their marriage like? And finally, what led to his untimely death at the age of 42?

Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley, was published in 1995 to much critical acclaim as the first of a two-volume set considered the quintessential Elvis biography. Author Peter Guralnick offers a richly detailed early history of a very nervous, shy boy who fidgeted constantly and was petrified when he performed. Guralnick's website displays an impressive collection of books he's written on the music and artists Elvis loved -- soul, country, rhythm and blues, etc., to suggest an expert whose knowledge runs deep. A thick section of references at the end of both volumes attests to ten years of meticulous research to locate and review video, film, articles, documents and letters, and to interview dozens of people who knew Elvis. In the pages of the first volume, the nervous boy grows into a brilliant, gifted performer with a heart to match. Early signs of an addictive personality appear as well.

As a toddler in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis traveled with his mom several hours by train to visit his father in prison. Dad Vernon was reportedly framed for a blue collar crime because someone had it in for him. When he returned home after a couple of years, life in Tupelo was simple with Gladys and Elvis, but didn't offer much more than menial jobs and some extended family, many living in poverty. The parents were a devoted couple and Elvis was their world, so when he came in fifth in a singing contest at the county fair, they bought him a guitar for his birthday. Two uncles and a pastor taught him to play and Elvis took the guitar to school every day to sing in the cafeteria. He was considered a strange kid, a loner.

When he was 13, the family moved to Memphis, where they lived in short-term rentals until they qualified for government-subsidized housing. It was a godsend. Vernon had ongoing back problems and couldn't work so Gladys became the bread winner, finding small jobs to support the family. During times like these, when his parents could barely make ends meet, Elvis promised his mother he'd buy her a house someday.

The Presleys were considered odd by people who remembered them early on. Very tight-knit, they mostly kept to themselves, except for the occasional visit with family or when a neighbor befriended Gladys, who was well-liked by those who got to know her. Sundays found the three of them at black churches soaking up the gospel music of choirs and the harmonies of quartets. Throughout his life, Elvis would turn to gospel music for peace and solace. He'd play the piano and sing gospel tunes for friends at home, with other artists at the end of a recording session, or with cast and crew at the close of a day of filming.

In high school, Elvis' knowledge of music grew to include all the popular genres and artists in Memphis and beyond, i.e., gospel, country, blues, hillbilly, and western swing. He listened to the radio and played records constantly, memorizing favorites so he could sing and play them by ear for his parents. The obsession with music was always there. Later, in the recording studio, Elvis would seek perfection and know exactly what he wanted. He would demand no less from his musicians.

At school he was still an outsider, wearing clothes influenced by the black church singers and by the suits in shop windows on Beale Street where jazz and blues musicians entertained. Brightly colored bolero jackets with dark pants and a stripe down the side, along with long sideburns and a poufy hairstyle, set him apart from classmates. But his first love, Dixie, could see past the exotic outfits and hairdos. She encouraged him to sing at night in the courtyard of the apartment complex. Painfully shy and emotionally raw, he eventually went outside where neighbors gathered in the evening. After dark, he'd strum and sing with her by his side for support. Before long, he was performing at local gatherings and starting to enjoy the attention that came his way.

After he graduated high school and worked for a local electric company, Elvis decided to record a song for his mother, with whom he shared an unusually close relationship and talked baby talk. Sun Records in Memphis was a place where you could pay for a recording session and walk away with your own vinyl record. The owner, Sam Phillips, was unimpressed with Elvis' guitar and vocal talent. Afterward, Elvis stopped by Sun weekly to ask Sam's partner, Marion Keisker, the nice lady at the front desk, if anyone needed a singer or guitar player. He was so awkward that she felt sorry for him and suggested Sam give him another chance. After a couple of failed auditions, Elvis was invited to come in for a gig with two other musicians. Again, he was so jittery, he couldn't sit still and didn't sing or play with any energy. Sam called it quits and suggested they try again the next day. Before the musicians left, they joked around and jammed with Elvis, who was completely relaxed now and cut loose. Within minutes, Sam took notice from the recording booth. For the first time, he got a sense of the boy's unique style of musical talent. This was exactly why he opened Sun Records -- to discover unheard Southern voices with original style and appeal. After dozens of takes the next few days, Elvis recorded his first hit, "That's Alright, Mama," with"Blue Moon Over Kentucky" on the flip side. It was an instant success on the radio in Memphis and throughout the South. The Sun website describes Sam Phillips' response to Elvis' potential:

Then in 1954 Sam found Elvis Presley, an artist who could perform with the excitement, unpredictability and energy of a blues artist but could reach across regional, musical and racial barriers. 

More recordings and car tours were booked in the South and beyond, with artists like Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Hank Snow sharing the stage with Elvis, who shook and jerked when he sang because he was still so anxious, as demonstrated in an early video, 1958 That's All Right Mama.

Tom Parker, a former circus barker turned agent, lost Eddy Arnold as a client and approached Elvis with an offer to represent him. They struck a deal and TV appearances on the Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan shows followed, as did controversies about his stage gyrations, considered too sexually suggestive for family viewing.

The criticism confused Elvis and fueled his insecurities. He'd learned how to tease and flirt with live audiences, gifting scarves to screaming, clinging girls who pushed their way to the stage footlights, but he still worried whether they really liked him or not. The women he met on the road were a balm for the anxieties, especially ones who slept with him, with or without sex. Raised very much a mana's boy, he yearned for the comfort and cuddling they provided. Elvis was a gentleman in a 1950s culture that frowned on premarital sex and was likely to withhold sex if he respected the girl or thought she was too young, telling her she needed to wait until "the time was right." Yet, he had no problem lavishing expensive gifts on man of the women and other people he met along the way.

In the early days, Dixie sat at home with Gladys, Vernon and Grandma, who lived with them, all waiting by the phone for the nightly call from Elvis. Ever earnest, polite, and devoted, he was torn about his future with Dixie, who came to realize Elvis was no longer hers. He belonged to the fans, and to women like the movie star Ann Margaret, who made a film with Elvis and was completely taken by his wholesome charm and talent.

Success continued to skyrocket under "Colonel" Tom Parker (self-appointed title). Thanks to soaring record sales, Graceland was purchased as a home for his parents and Elvis. RCA promoted his records and Hollywood beckoned with movie deals. The handsome country boy from Tennessee disarmed and charmed them all. He was living a golden life and supporting several guys from Memphis who traveled with him.

But Uncle Sam called and the explosive success of the first four years was suddenly put on hold. Elvis was committed to serving his country and reported for basic training in Arkansas. Before he finished, an alarming call came for him. Elvis' mother was diagnosed with hepatitis and hospitalized in Memphis. He rushed home and a couple of days later, as he stood at her bedside, Gladys died from heart failure.

By the end of the first volume, Elvis' career is on hold and he's buried his mother. With immediate departure for active duty assignment in Germany, he had no time to truly grieve for his beloved Mommy. Her death only added to the lingering loss he felt for a twin brother who died at birth. At the age of twenty-three, Elvis' obligations towered over him. The grief wass shoved into a corner and insecurities hovered. He told friends he wasn't at all sure he'd have a career when he returned.

  

2017 OSCARS: Sunday, February 26, 4 pm PT

The Oscars are about to screen, so it's time to highlight some of my favorite movies, actors and even a couple of sleepers from 2016.

 News, celebs and more:  http://oscar.go.com

Choose your picks: http://oscar.go.com/nominees

OSCAR Ballot to Print:  http://people.com/awards/oscars-2017-ballot/

MY PERSONAL FAVORITES (not up for Oscars)

Queen of Katwe with Lupita Nyong'o and David Oyelowo is my top pick for movie of the year. It's the story of a young girl living with her mother and brothers in a dirt shack in Uganda who learns to play chess and wins the African continent championship. Medina Nalwanga's portrayal of the main character, Phiona Mutesi, is honest and earnest, but also vulnerable and conflicted. Phiona sells food to neighbors to help her single mom make ends meet, but she's also drawn to the school where boys her age are reading books and learning to play chess. Portrayed by Oyelowo, the teacher guides Phiona and encourages her reluctant mother, embodied by Nyong'o, to support Phiona. As a result, she joins the ranks of privileged youth who claim top prizes at chess competitions in her native country and Africa. This is a heroic story with grit, intelligence and tenderness that illuminates the role an adult can play in a child's life, to propel them to believe in themselves, overcome obstacles, and reach for the stars. The film feels like another indie achievement, but it's a Disney jewel based on a true story which has been featured on network news shows.

Sing Street is the delightful account of a coming-of-age boy in Dublin who's forced to attend a new school where he's an outcast struggling to fit in somewhere and escape the stress of a troubled home life. When a beautiful older girl catches his eye on the walk home from school, he stops to talk and spins a tall tale about his nonexistent band to impress her. Enthusiastic, she tells him she's a model and sings as well, which sends him on a frantic chase to pull together a band with a couple of friends and produce a music video to feature her. It's a sweet caper with youthful longing and fantasies, which makes for humorous storytelling and predicaments. You can't help but root for the young chap who's willing to do whatever it takes to win the more mature girl's love and sail away with her into the sunset.

BEST MOTION PICTURE NOMINEES

Fences  -- The producers of this film have taken full-page, foldout photo ads in the Sunday NYT, and I do mean BIG, for framing and hanging on a wall. The movie feels like a play, which is its original format. Written by Langford Wilson, the story is set in an urban Philadelphia neighborhood like the one where he grew up. Denzel Washington produced, directed, and starred in a stage production before he did the same for the film. Intense dialogue and the cultural backdrop serve as reminders of the continuing plight of African Americans and others caught in cyles of racism, ignorance and urban decay for a disturbing, yet unforgettable character-driven story. Best actor nominee Denzel Washington and supporting actress nominee Viola Davis deliver riveting performances.

Hidden Figures  -- Based on a true story, this movie is about the talented black women who contribute their substantial technical skills to the fledgling U.S. space program and are forced to negotiate their way through the unwelcoming white male culture. BRAVO to Octavia Spencer (supporting actress nominee) in the role of Dorothy Vaughan, who forged a legendary career as an IBM supervisor at NASA, and to Taraji P. Hensen and Janelle Monae for their portrayals of the other women who helped break through racial and workplace barriers at NASA to prove they could solve engineering problems as well as their male colleagues.

La La Land -- The over-the-top opening scene of this movie is perhaps my very favorite ever, with a giant dose of pizazz to suggest the audience is in for the ride of their moviegoing lives. From beginning to ending, this is a romantic love letter to LA with picturesque setttings and dazzling song and dance numbers that make for irresistible cinema. The chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone produces magical  performances reminiscent of Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers films to offer a welcome break from everyday life and headlines. I'm betting the Oscar could go home with the young producer who created a bit of Hollywood stardust with La La Land.

Lion -- From a remote village in India to a comfortable home with devoted parents in Australia, this is the story of a poor boy orphaned by bizarre circumstances, but driven by youthful memories to search for his original family and the place where he was born. The photography and performances feel so authentic it's easy to imagine you're watching a documentary. While the true story belongs to the people who lived it, a fine cast delivers exquisite performances to honor their journey. Sunny Pawar, an unknown child actor, is so completely mesmerizing as Young Saroo that he seems to be plucked from the village in the movie. Dev Patel (nominated for supporting actor) plays older Saroo, and Nicole Kidman (nominated for supporting actress) is Sue Brierley, the adoptive mother.

Manchester By the Sea  -- Casey Afflek delivers a quiet, intense performance of a man in grief, but it takes too long to figure this out. The cinematography captures serene New England landscapes and seascapes that reinforce the somber tone of the story, which unwinds in backflashes and takes us down roads unexpected. Lucas Hedges (supporting actor nominee), in the role of Affleck's nephew, and Michelle Williams (supporting actress nominee), in the role of his ex-wife, breathe both humor and pathos into the sad saga, which Affleck owns. A dark story, the impact is undeniable as real life tragedies go.

Moonlight -- A birdseye view into the crime-riddled projects of Miami reveals how the youngest of victims fares from childhood through adolescence and adulthood. We follow an innocent boy being reared by a drug-addicted mom playeed by Naomie Harris (supporting actress nominee) and  mentored by her drug dealer in a role brought to life by Mahershala Ali (supporting actor nominee). Three actors portray the boy, teen and man, to show him fighting his way through predictable situations until fortune leads him to follow in the footsteps of the druglord, which is just about all he's ever known. But salvation knocks at his door when the love and affection shown by a schoolmate years before leads to a search for the same man, now working as a cook in another town. The sensitive reunion blossoms with hope at the end of the film for a character with remnants of childhood innocence still residing in secret cracks beneath the facade of gold-filled teeth.

Other Contenders: Arrival, Hacksaw Ridge, and Hell or High Water

BEST ACTRESS NOMINEES

Ruth Negga/Loving -- This is a heart-rendering account of Southern bigotry when a white man marries a black woman and they are rejected by their neighbors and the law, at least until a compassionate attorney comes forward to plead their case in court. Based on a true story, the poignant performance is understated but heartfelt, complementing a similar portrayal of the husband.

Natalie Portman/Jackie -- Like a time capsule, the film takes us back to a period in our nation's history when a youthful president is tragically stricken down, forever lost to his country, his wife and his family. Natalie Portman transforms herself to convey the wispy voice and measured delivery of Jackie Kennedy, whose shock, grief and intensity after her husband's death reveal a woman determined to mold his legacy. We watch as she plans the events and negotiates the steps with Bobby Kennedy and others, to ensure every detail leading up to and through the funeral is presented as she wishes, for all the world to see, and more important, remember. Portman is nominated for a precise, calculated perfomance.

Emma Stone/La La Land -- I loved the film, the boy-meets-girl story and the performances. Emma Stone jumps leaps and bounds beyond Birdman and other roles to portray a youthful, vulnerable character who discovers and embraces her talents in a fiercely competitive Hollywood environment. Ultimately, she leaves the love of her youthful longing to settle into a more mature relationship, but not without wistful feelings for the past. Oscar worthy on all counts.

Other Contenders: Isabelle Huppert/Elle and Meryl Streep/Florence Foster Jenkins

BEST ACTOR NOMINEES

Casey Affleck/Manchester By the Sea -- The character played by Casey Affleck is holding himself together after a tragic loss, but we don't learn about his backstory until well into the film. The restrained performance makes more sense when the history comes to the forefront. A victim of grief and loss, Affleck begs for the audience's sympathy, but it's his ex-wife, played by Michelle Williams, who displays the emotions he's unable to express and becomes the more sympathetic character.

Ryan Gosling/La La Land -- Emma Stone's romantic interest is the dashing, winsome character portrayed by Gosling, who offers a worthy match to her performance, especially when he takes a seat at the piano. But it's Emma Stone who truly steals the show.

Denzel Washington/Fences -- The couple in this play by Langford Wilson that's turned into a movie by Denzel Washington (director/actor) is caught in a web of complications from daily struggles in a black neighborhood in Philadelphia. He's the bombastic husband working as a garbage collector who lost out on a career as a baseball player, and she's the one who gets the brunt of his disappointments until their son is old enough to serve as the target. The grit and anger of Denzel's character may be authentic, but he's hard to take. Viola Davis (supporting actress nominee) is the loyal but suffering wife who plays referee between father and son. I give her my vote, but find it hard to cheer for the mean guy.

Other Contenders: Andrew Garfield/Hacksaw Ridge and Viggo Mortenson/Captain Fantastic