Isms: Original views on life in rural America

Can you name one of the 10 movies nominated for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards?

Better yet, have you watched any of the movies being considered?

I want to see “Top Gun: Maverick.” I’ve heard good things about “The Fabelmans” and “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” I saw the original “All Quiet On The Western Front.” Does that count?

My family never missed the annual award show. It turned into a contest, where we’d cast our votes for the top acting and film awards. Later in life, Mom and Dad would enter Oscar™ contests sponsored by the local movie theater, where free movie tickets were on the line. They even won a few times.

Sometimes, it seems like we grew up at the movie theater. I’ll blame it all on my roots. Grandma and Grandpa Larson, along with Great Grandma Mary Gropper, owned and operated The Empress in Wausa. Dad waxed nostalgic about watching news reels, cartoons and first runs starring Shirley Temple.

The movie tradition continued as we grew up. Typically, we’d take in a movie or two every weekend. When Courtney was the last child at home, she and I would hit the twilight matinee several times each week.

If I had to estimate the number of movies I’ve seen in a theater, I would guess it’s more than 3,000. Some of them were Oscar™-worthy. Others, not so much.

I was surprised by a recent list on Mental Floss, listing the 10 worst movies to win a Best Picture award. It’s not clear how movies were selected for the worst of the best list, but audience scores from the website Rotten Tomatoes are involved.

Apparently the worst movie to ever win a gold statute is “The Broadway Melody.” It debuted in 1929. In second place, “Cimarron,” which came out in 1931. I watched it during a college class. Don’t remember much about it except it involves the Oklahoma land rush.

Two more ‘30s films - “Cavalcade” and “The Great Ziegfeld” - rank third and fourth. They are followed by “The Greatest Show on Earth,” “Around the World in 80 Days” and “Tom Jones.”

The problem I have with the list is the next two movies were blockbusters. In the eighth spot, “Titanic.” I don’t know about you, but Leo and Kate, in the iconic scene on the bow of the boat, sun setting in all its technicolor glory, is perfection. Well, perfection for the 90s and hopeless romantics.

In ninth place, “Rocky.” I could see if “Rocky III” or the fourth installment of the poor-boy-turned-rich-boxer had won, but the original? Classic. The movie was released on a Thursday and my high school boyfriend begged the ‘rents to let me attend on opening night. He even promised I’d be home by 10, on a school night. We made it with 10 minutes to spare.

The final film on the list, “The Shape of Water.” Never seen it.

I’m not sure if the worst of the best list proves that viewing audiences are finicky about movice choices or Academy voters tune in for finer points, like production value, cinematography and set design. My money is on “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”