The Wild Robot

Movie: The Wild Robot

Running Time: 1:42

Nominated for: Animated Feature, Score, Sound

How I watched: AMC A List

When it had me: Lupita N'yongo

When it lost me: It didn't

What systems does it challenge: Rigid Thinking, Our programming, perhaps

Let it be marked in the official record, this is the first review I'm writing for Gluttony 2025. I try to only write early reviews when I am certain of their forthcoming nomination and this one feels like a slam dunk. There are usually only a handful of options for Animated Feature anyway, and this one is more than good enough to earn a spot.

When my children were younger, I had a much higher tolerance for "kid" movies. I looked forward to all the Disney offerings; not so anymore. I even tolerated things like Angry Birds or Boss Baby and got a few laughs out of them. I think I just appreciated any opportunity to get into the theatre and eat some popcorn. Now that those same sweet darlings are going to see Longlegs with me, I find I've lost my appetite for these silly, fun and colorful movies.

The Wild Robot looked different and I was excited to go and see a movie that surprisingly turned out to be about motherhood of all things. I mean, don't we all just understand that no one wants to hear about mom's feelings or perspectives? That's been my experience.

This movie is a beautiful journey of transformation, like real motherhood, only less brutal. A scrappy helper robot receives a new purpose upon accidentally becoming the guardian of a young gosling (not Ryan, FYI.) Through trials and tribulations she must evolve into a softer and more improvisational kind of being in order to pursue her new quest.

The whole thing is set in the Pacific Northwest and its scenery is gorgeous. There are wisecracking side characters like Catherine O'Hara as an overwhelmed opossum and Matt Barry as beaver on a mission.

It's a fun story and a nice ride to take. Only recently did I learn that the animation style of the robot morphs over the course of the film. She starts as a computer generated character and as her own evolution occurs, she gradually becomes a hand drawn character. What a beautiful touch that brings to mind the velveteen rabbit. Love may rough you up pretty hard along the way but you become more unique and real because of it. That kind of story-telling detail is sure to win Oscar votes!

Wicked

Movie: Wicked

Running Time: 2:40 (2:40 for Part 1! And still nominated for editing?)

Nominated for: Best Picture, Actress, Supporting Actress, Costumes, Editing, Make Up & Hair, Score, Production Design, Sound, Visual Effects

How I watched: AMC A List

When it had me: Cynthia Erivo

When it lost me: Immediately

What systems does it challenge: I think rather it enforces systems of oppression.

WARNING: UNPOPULARE OPINIONS ABOUND!

Let me start with a fact about me: I love witches! And they always get done dirty in movies. For a movie like Wicked, you think maybe it will be different but IT IS NOT DIFFERENT!

This movie is 88% POPULAR on Rotten Tomatoes, so I know it is doing something right but that something remains confusifying for me. It is possible for me to like musicals but it is also rare. I think I'm missing a gene with which most Theatre Arts majors come equipped. Rather than joyful romps they read as depressingly empty distractifications.

Let's talk about something great. Cynthia Erivo! She sparkles in every way. Her acting is perfect, her singing is transcendent. The costuming, which is top notch throughout, hits its absolute zenith with the designs for Elfaba. At least the costume designers love witches as much as I do. I did connect to her and I longed for her to have absolutely anything good happen to her. And I was disappointified!

Nearly three hours of watching her explain her appearance, be shunned and marginalized in everything, be bullied and manipulated in the worst ways by everyone around her, including her own vision for her future. Possible mentors, friends, loves are all paraded before her giving her hope that I know is false. What a despondiary downer.

Ariana Grande looked glowing and magical but am I supposed to like her a little bit? Because I just hated her one note-ness the whole time. Even when she got a half percent nicer, I didn't feel it was genuine or deep. She did a fine job with songs but nowhere near Kristin Chenowith (I haven't seen the stage production, but I know what she can do.)

As the story moves forward, I want to see Elfie experience joy and do some good. She is the ONLY empathetic, kind, intelligent or magical character in the whole detestifiable world. But in Part One this definitely felt like a warning. Don't be different, don't stand out, don't be too much or too green because no good will come of it. Whatever good she accomplishes it better be next level, because I already know she will die for it. I don't need more admonitions to conform, Wicked. I'm good.

I honestly DID NOT know how to have fun watching this movie but I know SO MANY people did and I'm happy that this was an event moment for fans and now it's getting the recognition that they think it deserves.

Nominations 2025: Film Amid the Fire

Nomination Day finds your Oscar Glutton in a strange and liminal space. I am displaced by the Eaton Fire, living in a new neighborhood, with almost none of my possessions and all of my stress turned up to 11.* What better way to combat that than by watching 50 movies?

I got up for the live 5:30am announcement! I've never done that before but the aforementioned strange bed and stress have me awake extra early these days. You can view the full list here.

Top nomination getters were The Brutalist, Wicked, and Emilia Perez.

My initial responses to the nominees:

-Oh, f*$%, I have to watch not one, but TWO talking monkey movies. This has to be my LEAST favorite genre of film. This year we have Better Man and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which I somehow thought was last year and I thought I was free of it. It will be a challenge just to not pass out from my constant stream of heavy sighs during these screenings.

-Nosferatu got two nominations! I thought for sure it would be snubbed. I was so entranced by that gorgeous, demented film! And I'm dying to see it screened on film, so I hope Quentin Tarrantino hooks me up with that at The Vista theatre soon.

-I still contend that The Fall Guy was the most perfect film of the year but I get that it's not what Oscar is after. Have you seen it yet? Go watch it; it's a whole damn delight.

They postponed these nominations due to the Great Fires of 2025 (I'm guessing what we will call these in the history books) and I feared it would impact my ability to see them all but I've been a little busy living through a national disaster so I wouldn't have watched anything anyway. I still have time to make a valiant effort at watching all these movies for you. Of the 50 movies nominated, I've already seen 11 so we are on our way!

A warning to my Glutton enthusiasts: given the circumstances, I may be a little grumpy, distracted, impatient and all around spicy this year. There's a lot of emotions for me to process and it may just come out in these reviews. Proceed with caution.

*My family and I got out safe with our pets and some precious items. As of this time, our home still stands but will remain uninhabitable for quite some time. Our home town was more than decimated; most people I know lost everything and our neighborhood is a wasteland. It is a very hard situation and I'm likely to cope by making inappropriate jokes about it.