ReelBob: A ‘Mass’-ive snub

By Bob Bloom

Fuck you, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — and all your stupid members as well.

How can you be taken seriously when you totally ignore “Mass” and call yourself a group that honors movies?

“Mass” was — is — the best movie of 2021. It was a brave venture, tackling an uncomfortable and complex subject in a compassionate, honest and heartfelt way.

But because it was a small movie that only earned $145,000 at the box office, you consign it to the dustbin.

Are you telling me that the buffoonish and sledgehammered satire “Don’t Look Up” is a better movie? Do you truly believe that Kenneth Branagh’s sugarcoated “Belfast” is more impactful?

Give me a break!

I will concede that the nominations of “CODA,” “Drive My Car,” “Dune” and “West Side Story” delighted me.

I was impressed by “The Power of the Dog,” but I was emotionally detached.

“King Richard,” “Nightmare Alley” and “Licorice Pizza” were solid entertainment, but not to the level of Oscar recognition — unless you want to talk about Cate Blanchett’s snub in the supporting actress category or “Pizza’s” Alana Haim as a best actress nominee.

And “King Richard’s” nominations for Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis are assuredly deserved, but the movie itself is your typical against-the-odds, inspirational sports biopic.

Nope, Oscar, this year you are the Americanized Golden Globes pandering to the masses.

Some of the acting nominations in lead and supporting categories also are questionable.

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in “Being the Ricardos” are good, but nothing special. The performances by any of the four main actors in “Mass” — Reed Birney, Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs and Martha Plimpton — are more complex and individual than the cookie-cutter Lucy and Desi we saw in “Being the Ricardos.”

Mike Faist, who played Riff in “West Side Story,” was snubbed. He could have taken the place of J.K. Simmons whose portrayal of actor William Frawley — who played Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy” — was basically a series of wise cracks and complaints. Or he could have replaced Ciaran Hinds in “Belfast,” who really did not have much to do.

And, if you were going to nominate someone from “Belfast” in the supporting actress category, why not Caitríona Balfe instead of Judi Dench, who — again — really did not have much to do.

I could go on from category to category, but you get the idea. So, as much as my heart is not in it, I will post my picks for the Academy Awards the weekend of the farce of a show.

Yes, I will be watching, just so I can close my eyes and imagine an alternate universe in which “Mass” gets it richly deserved recognition.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap substack and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.