Local film buffs cool to Oscar choices

Handicapping the Oscars: Best Picture, Actor, Director races too close to call

Kiggins Theatre’s red carpet “Vancouver Goes Hollywood” gala event for the Oscar awards always draws a good crowd, but that doesn’t mean even those in the know have seen all the films.

This year’s best picture nominees are: “American Sniper,” “Birdman,” “Boyhood,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “The Imitation Game,” “Selma,” “The Theory of Everything” and “Whiplash.”

That left Dan Wyatt, owner of the Kiggins Theatre, wondering where his favorite 2014 film was.

“I really liked ‘Fury,’ ” Wyatt said. “That was my favorite film this past year. It didn’t pick up a single nomination. It’s been a long time since I’ve been that compelled by a story.”

Of the actual nominees, he said he liked “Grand Budapest Hotel” the best. But as far as Wyatt is concerned, “Fury” was just plain robbed.

The theater’s Oscars event, in its third year, includes red carpet treatment, gourmet food and the full black tie star treatment for guests. It generally brings out between 125 and 150 people, and tickets are still available for $50 a pop at the window. Fancy dress is also required.

“We do this more for the fact that we celebrate movies,” Wyatt said. “We think this is a great way to really spiff up once a year. It’s a full experience, true black-tie affair.”

Rand Thornsley, owner of the Liberty Theater in Camas, said he likes the Oscars well enough, but he hasn’t had a chance to see most of the films.

His theater is grabbing up nominees for second-run showings when they become available, he said.

But he, too, has some complaints about the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ nominees — especially in some of the other categories where only white directors, actors and actresses were selected.

” ‘Selma’ I did see,” Thornsley said. “And I think it got really snubbed in some of the other categories.”

He would have liked to see the film’s director, Ava DuVernay, and stars David Oyelowo and Carmen Ejogo receive nominations in their respective categories as well, he said.

“There wasn’t a lot of diversity in the Oscars this year,” Thornsley said. “That’s disappointing. I think there were certainly more people that should have been considered in several categories.”

His theater is showing “Birdman,” but other films such as “American Sniper” and “Imitation Game” aren’t yet available, he said.

“I actually haven’t seen any of those,” Thornsley said. “It’s hard to find time to watch movies when you’re so busy organizing things.”

Brighton West, the usually outspoken director of the local YouTube comedy series “Vancouvria,” a spin on “Portlandia” about life in the suburbs, surprised himself when he said he had little to say about the current crop of nominees.

“I really have no clue,” West said. “I don’t really follow it. I actually have nothing to say, and that’s odd, because I love talking to the media.”

After some thought on a more sarcastic comeback, West called The Columbian back, though.

“‘American Sniper,’ all the way,” West said, a bit tongue in cheek. “The only thing that would have made that film better is more American flags. Of course, I’m saying that in the voice of ‘Vancouvria.’ “

On the other hand, Mercedes Rose, an actress and one of the creators of the popular “Haunting of Sunshine Girl” network and YouTube series that began in Vancouver, said she and her daughter, Paige McKenzie, are both looking forward to watching the show. McKenzie’s top choice is “The Imitation Game,” she added.

“We are super jazzed to see Neil Patrick Harris hosting,” Rose said. “Funny guy, that one!”