Oscars: French “horror” film “Titane”, submitted by France not shortlisted, Almodovar missing for stupid reason

The Academy has spoken. The Foreign Films branch has announced its preselection and left out “Titanium” by Julia Ducournau, improbable winner of the Palme D this year or at the Cannes Film Festival.

I’m not surprised.

Although “Titanium” is considered avant-garde by some, it gave me nightmares – twice. It’s a punk horror film that goes way beyond the Oscars. In it, the main character, a very fluid young woman, has an ex with a Cadillac and gives birth to a baby with metallic thorns. And that is the least objectionable part.

France submitted “Titane” as an official entry and was refused. It’s that simple.

Meanwhile, Spain did not choose Pedro Almodovar’s “Parallel Mothers” as their Oscar entry. Instead, they put “The Good Boss”. It was a mistake. Obviously, some sort of policy at the Spanish Film Commission was involved. They will now waste a lot of time. Frankly, “Parallel Mothers” should be nominated for Best Picture, and Penelope Cruz should be nominated for Best Actress. Almodovar should be named Best Director and Best Screenplay. I doubt that will happen, but it should.

The winner will likely be “Drive My Car” from Japan, already the best film chosen by film critics in New York and Los Angeles. It’s long, and a bit slow, but the overall effect is overwhelming. Still, I don’t understand how a movie about people driving 1980s Saabs in Japan doesn’t include a scene of fetching gas. Or see a mechanic. Me? I loved “A Hero”.

Austria, “Great Freedom”
Belgium, “Aire de jeux”
Bhutan, “Lunana: a yak in the classroom”
Denmark, “Flee”
Finland, “Compartment n ° 6”
Germany, “I am your man”
Iceland, “Lamb”
Iran, “a hero”
Italy, “The hand of God”
Japan, “Drive my car”
Kosovo, “Beehive”
Mexico, “Prayers for the Stolen”
Norway, “The worst person in the world”
Panama, “Plaza Catedral”
Spain, “The good boss”