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Oscar Nominations

 I'm always irritated by the small-mindedness of the Oscars; a "narrative" sets in, and movies with substantial flaws become "films of the year." (In the current crop, at least one film, "Barbie," is simply a mess.)


No one expected "You Hurt My Feelings" to earn Oscar nominations this year, although it's a work of art. To omit Tobias Menzies (in favor of Sterling K. Brown?) seems especially silly.

Another heartbreaker: The absence of "Are You There, God, It's Me, Margaret." This is (largely) the story of a mom who moves from NYC to New Jersey. (Her husband has a new job.) The mom, Barbara, is an artist, but she drifts from her work to become involved in the PTA. Specifically, the PTA needs literally one thousand small glow-in-the-dark stars, cut from cloth, to be affixed to the ceiling of the gym. Barbara finds herself doing the cutting (and perhaps contemplating suicide). 

Barbara does not share her parents' Christian zeal--and the disagreement about faith has led to a rupture in the family. This seems tolerable--and yet the arrival of a little girl, Margaret, helps to open old wounds. Barbara watches Margaret on her various quests--and she struggles to determine when she should intervene, and when she should bite her tongue. ("Do I insist that my daughter wear socks with those shoes?")

Rachel McAdams has been giving well-judged, graceful film performances for twenty years--and "Margaret" is, again, a funny, moving McAdams showcase. She deserves awards. This is a hill I'm ready to die on.

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