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Review - Five Feet Apart

While some young actors appear suddenly, blindingly, on the screen, others take a more measured approach, steadily ascending role by role until one day, you realize what you've been witnessing was brilliance all along. Haley Lu Richardson is one of those actors and Five Feet Apart may very well be her last step on the way to major stardom. The film, directed by “Jane the Virgin”'s Justin Baldoni, comes five years after “The Fault in Our Stars” shifted the YA tides against Dystopian fare and ushered in the new "sick teens in love" sub-genre. Adaptations of popular novels including “Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl” (2015) and “Everything, Everything” (2017) have followed. Five Feet Apart obviously lends itself to this history, but thankfully, it also adds something new: realism. Or at least, a genuine attempt. 

Five Feet Apart stars Richardson as Stella, a 17-year-old girl suffering from Cystic Fibrosis, a "CF-er," as they call themselves. A professional patient, she's positive, smiley, and not just a little OCD. A relapse of sorts has put her back in the hospital, where a dorm-room like environment of posters and Urban Outfitters home decor illustrate that this is, in fact, her life. She spends her time doing normal teenager things: studying, writing code for her app, FaceTiming friends, and...meticulously organizing her med cart. In a timely twist, she also makes YouTube videos educating people about CF. Her daily companions include her best friend Poe (Moises Arias) a fellow CF-er, and her longtime nurse Barb (Kimberly Hebert Gregory). In the midst of her organized, sterile life appears Will (Cole Sprouse), who's taking part in an experimental drug trial to stave off his more lethal strain of CF. He's surly (of course), sarcastic (naturally), and irresistible in that floppy haired way teenage boys so often are. However, since people with CF are at a high risk of catching each other’s infections, they must stay six feet apart at all times. Stella and Will quickly clash over his fatalistic outlook. Stella wants Will to stick to his treatments, so she soon decides the only way for that to happen is for them to do the treatments together. The unlikely courtship inspires a bit of hope in Will, and eventually inspires Stella to "take something back" from CF in the form of one inch of space closer to Will. (A more memorable performance by a pool cue is unlikely to be witnessed anytime soon.) They make the most of their situation with forbidden hospital dates, surprise dinners, and hand drawn comics (Will is, of course, an artist). However, they're constantly reminded of their limitations and the closer they (figuratively) get, the more they're (literally) pulled apart.

Baldoni has previous experience exploring CF, with the docuseries “My Last Days.” The subject of that film, Claire Wineland, was largely his inspiration for this one. Contrary to popular belief, the novel, written by Rachael Lippincott, was adapted from the script of the film. It makes sense, considering that Stella and Will don’t seem like the kind of characters who would jump off the page. Freed from these literary shackles, Baldoni takes a more realistic approach to the story, set almost entirely in a hospital. He stages it almost like a city, all the amenities, an entire world in one building, when his protagonists and their real life counterparts are confined. When Stella and Will wander past the automatic doors, it’s like their in another country. It’s a novel approach, complemented by the more ugly and inconvenient parts of sickness portrayed. The film isn’t overly quippy or gimmicky. It's not gritty by any means, but it reminds us that there are people who live their lives this way. For a young director he made some inspired choices. Especially when he's been given a challenge in which his romantic leads can't touch. Stella and Will on their own as characters experience impressive growth as well.

The cracks start to show in the final third, an overbearing reliance on super dramatic twists. A surprise party scene in particular seems especially unnecessary and unbelievable. However, you these misgivings and genre trappings forgivable when rewarded by the performances that follow. There are a few scenes in particular in which Richardson and Sprouse, with little to no dialogue, convey an avalanche of longing and heartache. The impossible nature of their relationship is palpable. Baldoni gracefully illustrated how painful their situation is, the near-touch, the tension, the danger a split-second slip up could inflict.

Through the copious melodrama, Richardson gives a sledgehammer of a performance, graceful in both its subtlety and extremism. Every twitch, every eye-roll, every laugh, every grimace, you feel everything she's feeling. It's like she's reaching out beyond the screen and into your soul. It's a magnetic performance, extraordinary in it's very ordinary-ness. Most of her previous roles have been in a similar vein: “Columbus”, “Edge of Seventeen”, “Support the Girls”. But here she's finally been given enough material to show what she's made of and truly carry a film on her shoulders. If nothing else, this film is worth it for her performance. Without her it wouldn't have worked. Cole Sprouse is mostly doing his “Riverdale” thing; Will is a more soulful, serious Jughead. The script doesn't give him as many opportunities for heavy lifting but there are a few late in the film that have a glimmer of great depth. Here's hoping some indie director decides to break him out of YA jail.

You know what you're getting with a film like “Five Feet Apart”. Cheesiness is inevitable. Tears will be shed. Tropes will be had. It's inherent in these stories, but the performances are what have the power to elevate. Richardson and Sprouse achieve this handily, despite the occasional over abundance of sentimentality. They make you feel their pain, and show that there’s life beyond the rules.

Grade: B 

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Reactions to the 91st Annual Academy Awards

Months of anticipation and arguing and it all comes down to this. A night of many ups and downs came to a surprising end with Green Book winning Best Picture. I didn’t think it was possible. Perhaps naively, I thought it’s loss at the WGA meant it was all over. How wrong was I, when it took home both Original Screenplay and Best Picture. Every year pundits have to take a long look at the state of the race and rethink everything they thought was set in stone. I think the biggest conundrum here is Best Picture and the preferential ballot. Last year, The Shape of Water was the safe pick compared to frontrunners Three Billboards and Get Out. In 2017, Moonlight, public opinion coalesced around Moonlight, an original cinematic achievement over the old fashioned (and slightly controversial) La La Land. In 2016 there was Spotlight, the safe choice. And in 2015 there was Birdman, the not so safe choice. What do we do here? What does this mean? Roma was the safe choice. It was The Shape of Water. It was the Cinematic Achievement. Yet Green Book, a film that skirted controversy for months, brought it home. Why? Mostly, probably, because it makes people feel good. That cannot be overestimated and that will be my own personal lesson learned this year. Maybe that’s why BlackkKlansman could never win; it makes people feel terrible about the state of our society. A Star is Born leaves most anyone with a pulse in tears. The Favourite ends on a major bummer, and so does Bohemian Rhapsody to an extent. Black Panther and Vice never stood a chance on preferential. And then there’s Roma. But look at that--the movie that had a happy ending won. That’s so fascinating. Despite everything going against it, that’s the one undeniable thing it had. 

It’s funny how so much thought goes into these predictions but when all’s said and done, some things are just so hard to know. I was proud that I got 2/3 on the categories that I struggled with the most: Score, Visual Effects, and Editing. Especially editing, I had such a strong feeling that Vice wasn’t going to make it. And I was happy that First Man didn’t go home empty handed. I guess they really do like prestige in that category. One thing I was really unsure of going into this was how much voters really liked Black Panther. But it turns out the love was real. It won Score, Costume Design, AND Production Design. I couldn’t believe the near-shutout of The Favourite after receiving 10 nominations. 

Speaking of that...the one true shocker of the night. Olivia Coleman beating Glenn Close for Best Actress. I still can't believe it. We all bought into the narrative when the truth is, they liked Coleman's performance better. No one cared about The Wife, but everyone ignored this in favor of the overdue, Julianne Moore/Still Alice narrative. This was so crazy. You could tell Glenn was shocked. Emma Stone's reaction was priceless and Olivia gave such a charming speech. WOW. That's all I have to say. 

A few more highlights to address: First, the heartwarming victory for Regina King. I honestly teared up, remembering all the times she’s been a dependable force on screen, all the way back to when I was a kid, loving her in Jerry Maguire. Great moment. Spike Lee winning Adapted Screenplay was another win for the books; inevitable but still so satisfying. That whole room, led by Sam Jackson, was ecstatic. Lastly, let’s pour one out for the brilliant, positively electric performance given by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. No intro, no crazy stage, just Jackson, Ally, and a piano. And FIREWORKS. Their chemistry was palpable and their love for each other, the characters, the film, and the song were all plain. Things like that just don't happen. Applause Applause Applause. 

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2019 Academy Award Predictions

Another year, another tumultuous awards season down. This one has been particularly fraught, even before you throw in the Academy’s own controversies and back-stepping. There’s no such thing as a weak year for movies, but I would have to argue that this has been a particularly weak year for awards movies. I think we’ll all look back and marvel at the near shutouts of films like First Man, Eighth Grade, A Quiet Place, Boy Erased, Leave No Trace and of course, A Simple Favor’s costume design. What were people thinking, and why isn’t the greatest film achievement of the year, A Star Is Born, failing so spectacularly? But that’s a conversation for another day. This is what we have and this is where we are. In any case, Oscar Sunday is still my favorite day of the year. 

Best Picture

Black Panther

BlacKkKlansman

Bohemian Rhapsody

The Favourite

Green Book

Roma

A Star Is Born

Vice

Here we go. We will look back and admit this was a weak year for Best Picture. It's just the truth. A Star is Born or BlackkKlansman should be winning. Green Book or Roma will win. Last year, Best Picture was a crazy three-way race between Shape of Water, Get Out, and Three Billboards. Wildly different films representing wildly different ideas about the industry. All that hand wringing and in retrospect, it was obvious. The Shape of Water was safe and pretty, and that's why it won. Guillermo is so, so respected and people LOVED seeing him win. While Green Book defied expectations and won the PGA (on a preferential ballot), it lost the WGA, which it should have won easily. It's momentum has slowed considerably in the past few weeks. For Best Picture in the expanded era you have to look for which movie has momentum that people hate the least. You can't win if there is ANY sort of controversy. That's Roma. It's respectable. A lot of the general conventions have been thrown out this year. No one cares that it didn't get a SAG ensemble nod, or that no foreign film has ever won Best Picture, or the Netflix factor. It just seems unstoppable at this point because there's simply no other viable option. BlackkKlansman hit everywhere it needed to without losing momentum like A Star is Born. But it hasn't won anything. Absolutely nothing. They'll give it Adapted Screenplay and be done with it. Last year I took a risk and I'm not going to do it again. Remember, miracles don't happen with 90% of the vote in. BUT....Bohemian Rhapsody. People love that movie. That's your wildcard Doomsday scenario. This year is that crazy. 

Final Prediction: Roma 

Could be: Green Book

Could ACTUALLY be: Bohemian Rhapsody

Best Director

Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman

Paweł Pawlikowski, Cold War

Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite

Alfonso Cuarón, Roma

Adam McKay, Vice

Cuarón. There's no way he doesn't win. He has everything he needs and no competition that even comes close, especially if they give Adapted Screenplay to Spike Lee. 

Final Prediction: Alfonso Cuarón 

Actor in a Leading Role

Christian Bale, Vice

Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born

Willem Dafoe, At Eternity's Gate

Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody

Viggo Mortensen, Green Book

Oh how the tides have turned on this one. For months it was Christian Bale's to lose and by the time the Globes came around he seemed unstoppable. But then the SAG happened...and then BAFTA. And now...yeah. What's fascinating is that this is the SAME EXACT thing that happened with Michael Keaton and Eddie Redmayne in 2015. Keaton the veteran, the favorite. Won the Comedy Globe. And then young Ed swooped in and stole it all away. And now Rami Malek is doing the same. I can only explain it this way: 1) People love Queen 2) People love Freddie Mercury 3) People think it's a "safe" way of rewarding the film without rewarding Bryan Singer 4) People love flashy obvious performances and 5) People love Rami Malek. Ever since he burst onto the scene in Mr. Robot people have been awed by his humble genius. All I can say is poor Bradley Cooper. 

Final Prediction: Rami Malek

Actress in a Leading Role

Yalitza Aparicio, Roma

Glenn Close, The Wife

Olivia Colman, The Favourite

Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born

Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

One thing I like to say about the Oscars is that they are eerily similar to presidential elections. And one thing we all know about those: miracles don't happen when 90% of percents are in. They just don't. As much as pundits may want to lobby for 11th hour winner Olivia Coleman, I just can't see it. Sure, she's a hoot. Sure, she won the BAFTA. But Glenn Close won the Oscar the moment she gave that Globes speech. She was there to win. I don't care if nobody cares about The Wife outside of a Delta flight. She's winning. Her narrative is too strong. I think Close as an actress is more beloved than Coleman's performance in The Favourite. It's like the opposite of what's happening with Bradley Cooper. (4 time nominee, hasn't won, admired, but people are obsessed with Malek's performance so they don't care). I like to think Gaga will have her chance one day. This is a situation in which the film itself, and the nomination, are validation enough. She succeeded here. 

Final Prediction: Glenn Close

Actor in a Supporting Role

Mahershala Ali, Green Book

Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman

Sam Elliott, A Star Is Born

Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Sam Rockwell, Vice

Category Fraud. Why aren't more people calling this out?? This is a lead in a supporting category and it is supremely annoying. But Mahershala Ali is like the new Christoph Waltz or Sterling K Brown of yore. People see him and want to throw awards at him. End of story. He's wonderful in Green Book. But he's a co-lead! Of course he's going to win here! He's competing against people with 10 minutes of screen time! Although I can't say I have a strong argument for who deserves this more. Rockwell certainly does not. Adam Driver should win for something where he has a flashier role. Richard E Grant is the Laurie Metcalf of 2019. And Sam Elliot is...Sam Elliot? If Ali wasn't here or wasn't a co-lead, or if Elliot had more screen time, he'd be winning this handily. But he doesn't have an overdue narrative nearly as compelling as Close's. 

Final Prediction: Mahershala Ali

Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams, Vice

Marina de Tavira, Roma

Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk

Emma Stone, The Favourite

Rachel Weisz, The Favourite

This is one of the wildest Supporting Actress races in years. It's so odd. Regina King won Globe and Critic's Choice. She wasn't nominated at BAFTA or SAG. BAFTA went to Rachel Weisz, a British person in a British movie. SAG went to Emily Blunt for A Quiet Place (which I actually think makes sense: Weisz and Stone split, no one cares about Robbie, and when you put Blunt's performance against Adam's, there's no contest which is more impressive and integral to the film). Blunt wasn't even nominated for the Oscar. The contest here, oddly, is between Weisz and King. But despite the BAFTA win I don't think Weisz is strong enough. Some votes will still split, she's a previous winner, and Regina King is just SO well liked. Jerry Maguire, come on. Despite the near-face plant of Beale Street, King is still undeniably strong here. But I wouldn't call it a lock. There could be an almost Mark Rylance Situation here. Maybe. The other wild outcome here is a Roma sweep that brings Marina de Tavria along with it, but that seems even more unlikely. Weird year this one.  

Final prediction: Regina King

Cinematography

Cold War

The Favourite

Never Look Away

Roma

A Star Is Born

Roma. There's no way this isn't Roma. It's an easy place to reward it. It's in black and white. It's lovely and respectable. A director has never won for cinematography but I don’t see that getting in Cuarón’s way. Cold War is a dark horse shot by a branch favorite but I can’t see voters denying Roma this win.

Final Prediction: Roma 

Film Editing 

BlacKkKlansman

Bohemian Rhapsody

The Favourite

Green Book

Vice

This is low key a terrible lineup. Nothing like we expected and only half of what we wanted. So. Best Editing often translates to Most Editing, in which case Vice takes it. But do they really like Vice that much, you have to ask? It got 8 nominations, but this still seems shaky to me. You could make an argument for BlackkKlansman, but there's no solid evidence to support it. People have certainly been...talking about Bohemian Rhapsody's editing. It could win for Live Aid alone, honestly. Every year the Oscars have surprising, odd wins and this could be one. It could come down to which film people like more. This is one of the three toughest categories for me this year and something tells me it’s going to be Bohemian Rhapsody. There have to be a lot of voters who were turned off by Vice’s hit you over the head with it again and again flashy editing.

Final Prediction: Bohemian Rhapsody 

Animated Feature Film

Incredibles 2

Isle of Dogs

Mirai

Ralph Breaks The Internet

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse has won virtually every precursor. And it's Spiderman. Disney always wins here but I don't the the Academy members are going to deny the artistic achievement of Spiderverse. Not for The Incredibles 2. 

Final Prediction: Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse

Foreign Film

Capernaum

Cold War

Never Looks Away

Roma

Shoplifters

Is this even a question? Roma. I know there are some brave pundits out there predicting a Cold War upset but with voting open to the entire Academy...this has to be one of the biggest locks of the night. Side note, this will be Mexico’s first win for Foreign Language, which is awesome. Poland can have it back next year. 

 Final Prediction: Roma

Documentary Feature

Free Solo

Hale County This Morning, This Evening

Minding the Gap

Of Fathers and Sons

RBG

Free Solo. You can make an argument for RBG but...one has IMAX showings and the other is on CNN. Free Solo just has the X Factor here. It's showy. National Geographic campaigned very well and it won the BAFTA. There’s such a strong narrative element to the film that puts it over the top as well. It’s not a collection of footage but a film in every sense of the word. 

Final Prediction: Free Solo 

Adapted Screenplay 

The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs

BlacKkKlansman

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

If Beale Street Could Talk

A Star Is Born

Can You Ever Forgive Me? won the WGA, but there's no way that's going to happen here. This is a nice and easy way to award Spike Lee, just like last year with Jordan Peele in Original. This is your "We promise, we DO kind of like you" award. It's the consolation prize for a film that has no chance at Best Picture. There's a case for Barry Jenkins, but he won so recently for Moonlight, and with Spike losing every single director award to Cuarón, this is his to lose. 

Final Prediction: BlackkKlansman

Original Screenplay

The Favourite

First Reformed

Green Book

Roma

Vice

Unlike Adapted, often a glorified consolation prize, Original Screenplay is held to a greater standard and surprisingly, they often get this one right. Wins here tend to go to films too kooky, creative, or just flat out cool to win Best Picture. Get Out, Manchester by the Sea, Her, etc. This year we're looking at a race between Green Book and The Favourite. Precursors here, like for so many others, have been largely unhelpful. Green Book losing the WGA to Eighth Grade (not even nominated for the Oscar), may finally signify a slowdown of a race that's been marred with controversy. But also people just really like Eighth Grade. The Favourite, not eligible at WGA, fits the bill as the MOST original screenplay. Like I said, they often get this right. While there's a chance Green Book prevails here, The Favourite does have 10 nominations and this is an obvious place to reward it. 

Final Prediction: The Favourite

Best Score

Black Panther

BlacKkKlansman

If Beale Street Could Talk

Isle of Dogs

Mary Poppins Returns

If only First Man were here, this would be so easy. Justin Hurwitz, past Academy darling was totally robbed here. One of the biggest head scratchers of the nominations. We're left with a confusing bunch. People love the Beale Street score. But Black Panther and BlackkKlansman are Best Picture nominees. And something tells me Mary Poppins Returns actually has a shot? This is one of the hardest ones for me. I kind of want to go Poppins because it's a musical. People associate it with music. It's fun and pleasing. I could see it as a classic Oscar night surprise. Or am I crazy? Is it going to be Beale Street and I'm just majorly overthinking it? Or is it Black Panther? It is an easy place to reward it so people will pick it? This one is SO hard. No matter what I pick I feel like I'm going to be wrong. I feel like in any other year you could pick Desplat and have a 50% chance of being right but somehow I don't think that's the case here. I have to pick something...

Final Prediction: Black Panther

Original Song

"All The Stars," Black Panther

"I'll Fight," RBG

"The Place Where Lost Things Go," Mary Poppins Returns

"Shallow," A Star Is Born

"When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings," The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs

SHALLOW for the love of God at least A Star is Born will win SOMETHING. I'm not falling for this last minute All The Stars paranoia. 

Final Prediction: Shallow

Documentary Short Subject

Black Sheep

End Game

Lifeboat

A Night at The Garden

Period. End of Sentence.

Last year I put so much work into researching the shorts, I watched most of them, and still I missed 2 of the 3. They're just so hard to predict. Especially this one. You're guessing what subject matter 8,000 people are going to find most compelling and/or not be sick of. Now we have Netflix to contend with. If a short is on Netflix more people will watch it, so it's more likely to win. Mostly. Didn't happen last year (Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405 won on the title alone). They have 2 this year. Period. End of Sentence has a chance, it's a lighter one. But subject matter wise, Black Sheep is the most relevant. Good title too. 

Final Prediction: Black Sheep

Animated Short Film

Animal Behaviour

Bao

Late Afternoon

One Small Step

Weekends

Bao. Go Pixar or go home. At least in a year without Kobe. 

Final Prediction: Bao

Live-Action Short Film

Detainment

Fauve

Marguerite

Mother

Skin

From what I've seen it's Marguerite or Skin. Let's go Marguerite because it's slightly less depressing? 

Final Prediction: Marguerite

Makeup and Hairstyling

Border

Mary Queen of Scots

Vice

I almost feel like going rogue on this one and choosing Mary, Queen of Scots. I know Vice is the odds on favorite because of the prosthetics but it's just so similar to Darkest Hour winning last year. Compared to Mary, Queen of Scots that had a LOT of obvious makeup. But the movie is so weak comparatively. There are always weird surprises at the Oscars in categories like this and I just have a feeling this could be it. Also, Suicide Squad won here a few years ago, so we know they like Margot Robbie. Ha. But Vice seems so obvious. They both won at the guild. I'm really torn. Ok, since I'm taking a few risks elsewhere, I'll play this one safe. Vice. Final Prediction: Vice

Costume Design

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Black Panther

The Favourite

Mary Poppins Returns

Mary Queen of Scots

This is a tough one too. Like Production Design, we're looking at Black Panther vs. The Favourite. The smart move would probably be to split them and have a 50/50 chance of getting one right. I really want to go all in for The Favourite though. But I would argue Black Panther has a better shot here than it does in Production Design. The costumes are definitely memorable. But The Favourite is period, which they always love. And The Favourite has so many nods. And Sandy Powell has had 14 nominations! 

Final Prediction: The Favourite

Production Design

Black Panther

The Favourite

First Man

Mary Poppins Returns

Roma

This is Black Panther vs. The Favourite. A lot of people think Black Panther, considering that “the house was already there” argument against the latter. However, the first thing that comes to mind with The Favourite is the interiors. You see the actors, the costumes, the production design all in one image. And most people saw Black Panther almost a year ago—is the production design the element that’s really going to stick in their mind? It’s also a bit of a snobby category and I can’t see them going Marvel on this one.

Final Prediction: The Favourite

Visual Effects  

Avengers: Infinity War

Christopher Robin

First Man

Ready Player One

Solo: A Star Wars Story

I felt so sure this was Avengers or bust but I'm having 11th hour doubts. Marvel never wins here! I just have a feeling it could be Ready Player One. That movie is ALL effects. And it's Spielberg.  It's a bit risky, but I can see voters thinking, oh year Ready Player One, pretty good, lots of effects. Maybe Black Panther is enough Marvel for them to award. First Man is a space movie with practical effects. They love that. But Gravity and Interstellar are both so grandiose compared to First Man. And it was so DOA I'm not sure I can see it. 

Final Prediction: Ready Player One 

Sound Editing

Black Panther

Bohemian Rhapsody

First Man

A Quiet Place

Roma

If First Man had been better received, these categories would be easy. (I will be saying this more than once.) In any case, there's no way I'm going Bohemian Rhapsody here. I know predicting a split is tricky. A lone Sound Editing nominee win is even more rare. But with the field open to everyone, I'm going out on a bit of a limb and picking A Quiet Place. It's a movie about sound, and everyone knows that. It was nominated at PGA, WGA, Blunt won at SAG--it's a popular movie. It won for Sound+Foley at the MPSE. This is by no means a sure thing, but I can see it. I will stay loyal to this movie until the end. 

Final Prediction: A Quiet Place

Sound Mixing

Black Panther

Bohemian Rhapsody

First Man

A Star Is Born

Roma

They love musicals here. Should be A Star is Born but whatever. It's going to be Bohemian Rhapsody. It did really well at the guild and it's been an unstoppable force all season, despite Film Twitter's best efforts. 

Final Prediction: Bohemian Rhapsody