Birdman (2014): Michael Keaton goes meta on the superhero genre in his Oscar-winning comeback
"Birdman" was the surprise best picture winner at the 2015 Oscars. Chad revisits the film starring Michael Keaton and asks, did it deserve to win?
The Projection Booth
A discussion of Film, TV, and other random subjects
Oscar Best Picture
Starting around 1992, I became a huge Oscar nerd. That was when “Silence of the Lambs” swept the awards with the rare big five wins (picture, director, actor, actress, and script). I love watching the stars, glamour, gaffes, and the surprise snubs and wins. While I’ve kept up with my best picture wins in recent years, I’ve noticed a few holes here and there (I’ve never seen “Out of Africa”!) So, I thought it would be fun to rewatch and review all the best picture winners in order moving backward.
These won’t be typical reviews of said best picture winner, rather as seen through the prism of the awards season that year. I also compare the winner to the other nominees and answer the loaded dynamite question, “Did it deserve to win?”
Read MoreBirdman (2014): Michael Keaton goes meta on the superhero genre in his Oscar-winning comeback
(2021) CODA: The sweet, heartwarming coming of age drama became the surprise winner at this year’s Oscars.
"CODA" stunned the industry when it rode a wave of goodwill to win the Best Picture Oscar. Chad breaks down the film and asks the question: "Did it deserve to win?"
(2015) Spotlight: The low key, underrated newspaper drama was a surprise winner for Best Picture
Spotlight, the underrated newspaper drama went up against the flashier The Revenant for best picture. And the scrappy Spotlight emerged victorious.
(2016) Moonlight: The groundbreaking and intimate LGBTQ film that made Oscar history
Moonlight is an intimate look inside the black queer experience. And it became the first LGBTQ film to win the Best Picture Oscar.
(2017) The Shape of Water: This cold war Beauty & the Beast is deeply weird and strangely moving
Guillermo del Toro's masterful "The Shape of Water" is a strange fever dream of a movie. And it became the first science fiction film to win the best picture Oscar.
(2018) Green Book: A problematic film with it’s heart in the right place
The 2019 Best Picture winner was widely derided and a controversial choice. Chad revisits this problematic film that has its heart in the right place.
(2019) Parasite: The dazzling Korean masterpiece makes Oscar history
In 2020 Oscar history was made when "Parasite" from South Korea became the first international film to win Best Picture.
(2020) Nomadland: The meditative drama is a bold deconstruction of the American Dream
The beginning of Chad's mission to review every Oscar Best Picture winner, starting with last year's recipient. The meditative drama from director Chloe Zhao.