For the ninety-first time in its history, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will award its annual honors to the best in the movie industry. In the last few years, the Oscars have been in the news for a lot of the wrong reasons, but many people around the world still enjoy this celebration of the art of moviemaking.
To make your Oscar-watching a little more fun (tune in to ABC on Sunday, February 24, at 7:00), and to maybe give you a leg up in your Oscar winners-picking competition, we asked a few Frisco personalities what their favorite nominee for Best Picture is.
But first… The Nominees
As a reminder of which films were nominated, Malcolm Farmer, President and General Manager of the Texas Legends, will offer a brief summary of each film. Sort of…
- Black Panther: “This is about the Legends’ cat that roams the Arena and takes care of any nighttime mischief.”
- BlacKkKlansman: “Haven’t seen this one…”
- Bohemian Rhapsody: “This is about the Legends’ DJ at our games and the fantastic music that he plays. It’s epic.”
- The Favourite: “This is a love story about the Legends and their fan base – our fans are our favorites.”
- Green Book: “This is the book that I read two years ago and contains notes about the Legends’ tenth season – which tips off next fall.”
- Roma: “This is a fantastic movie about the future Legends star who transitions to the NBA and becomes an NBA All Star.”
- A Star Is Born: “This is the fantastic story about the Legends’ launch ten years ago.
- Vice: “This is a fantastic flick that tells the story of Britney Wynn’s life.” (Legends’ VP of Media Relations)
So, which film should win Best Picture?
Here are the responses we received for our survey, in alphabetical order by last name:
John Classe, Frisco ISD School Board
I enjoyed Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s a great view into the formation of Queen as well as the ups and downs of the band. Their music first appeared on my radar with the ’90s film, Wayne’s World. Therefore, I liked seeing Mike Myers make an appearance in Bohemian Rhapsody. All-in-all, this film was well worth the watch and filled with great music.
Brittany Colberg, Republic Title of Texas
My vote is for “A Star is Born” because Bradley Cooper + Lady Gaga = Enough Said #micdrop
Kevin Hail, National Breast Cancer Foundation
As a music fan, I was enthralled by Bohemian Rhapsody. It captured the rise of one of the greatest bands of all time with a focus on arguably the greatest lead singer of all time, Freddie Mercury. I felt that the film navigated very murky waters quite admirably. Freddie was as troubled as he was talented. Bohemian Rhapsody managed to cover a lot of bases without burying the audience too deep down any bottomless rabbit holes. They took a lot of liberties with the truth in the name of “putting on a good show” and keeping it positive but I think it allowed a broad audience to access the incredibly complex subject matter at hand. The Live Aid concert replication was spot-on. Go back and watch the original on YouTube.
Carrie Himel, Carrie Himel Real Estate
A Star is Born is my absolute favorite movie of the year, maybe even of all time! It’s beautiful, dramatic, and will even have you shedding a tear. If you weren’t blown away by the talent of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper before, you will be after this remake of a classic.
Randy Jacobs, Frisco Fine Art Gallery
A Star is Born is such a rich story about how, no matter where you are in life or what projects you’re headlining, at work or at home, we all need each other’s encouragement, and we all need each other. To win, to lose, or just to be is an extraordinary assignment today. And what I know is true is that music also teaches many of life’s lessons. I also saw an interview with and heard how hard Bradley Cooper prepared for this film. No prior singing experience. Weeks and months with a coach. Determination at it’s best.
Tomasz Kwiatkowski, Plains Capital Bank
Out of the list, the only movie that I’ve seen is A Star is Born. I have a genuine level of appreciation for movies based on a true story and I think that Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper did a fantastic job. She’s a great artist and Bradley has put his skills as an actor on display in different movie types over time. I do hope that the movie gets rewarded in some capacity by the Academy.
John Scheef, Scheef and Stone, LLC
I was surprised that A Star is Born is actually the fourth version of the movie. I saw the 1976 version with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, but I was unaware of the 1937 version with Esther Blodgett and Norman Maine or the 1954 version with Judy Garland and James Mason. I really enjoyed the 2018 version with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. I was pleasantly surprised by Lady Gaga’s acting and Bradley Cooper’s singing. I liked the rawness and realness of the characters’ personalities and relationships. The soundtrack is also great. Unfortunately, however, it doesn’t seem like the type of movie that the Academy Award voters will support.
Will Sowell, Frisco City Council
My favorite movie of the Academy Award nominees below is The Green Book. I think it’s a great film set in a time where societal norms made it tough for people to view favorably people that were different from them. This movie was about two very different people who found despite their differences not only could they become friends but that they could actually learn from each other. A lesson that translates well into today’s society.
Brian Wysong, Tumbleweed TexStyles
The film, Green Book, was an enjoyable watch. It was a thought-provoking story about the unexpected friendship developed between two complete opposites. The interactions between the two feel authentic and are a reminder that as a people, we can be united by more than what we have in common. As the characters look past stereotypes and prejudice, they are able to create a life-long friendship that, in turn, affects those around them. Even better is the fact that the film is based on a true story. My takeaway is that we as humans can build relationships through love, experiences and mutual respect and that we can find them in the most unexpected places.
And the Oscar Goes to…
There you have it, Frisco. A Star is Born received five votes on our panel, with Green Book and Bohemian Rhapsody both getting two. What about you, which movie are you rooting for this weekend?
