It's a sad, sorry state of affairs.
The Golden Globes have announced their nominees for the best of 2018's movies. The Screen Actors Guild has announced theirs. Several critics' organizations have put their lists out. The Big Daddy - the Oscars - will announce its nominees on Jan. 22.
Shawn RyanAfter looking over the lists that are already out, I came to a pathetic realization: I haven't seen any of them. Not the Best Picture nominees. Not the ones with Best Actress nominees. Not the ones with Best Actor nominees.
Oh wait, in the Golden Globes I did hear Marco Beltrami's musical score for "A Quiet Place." Whoopee.
I am embarrassed. I am ashamed. I am a movie loser.
It's shocking to me because I love movies - or at least I think I do. Judging from my recent actions, that's been called into doubt.
I mean, it's not just that I didn't go to the movie theater to see any films. I haven't even watched any that have shown up on Netflix.
I have no reason. I don't even have an excuse.
I can't blame "the kids" because mine are long grown and out of the house. I can't say I'm busy writing the Great American Novel or painting a masterpiece. I can't even say I'm playing video games because I never do.
Maybe it's because on weeknights it can be hard to sit down and gear up for a two-hour film when you're pooped from work. Come home. Relax a bit. Cook and eat dinner. It's 8 p.m. Isn't that bedtime?
My wife often conks out on the couch after dinner, and it's not a lot of fun to watch a film alone. Afterward, you can't discuss it with yourself. Well, maybe you can, but you'd be a weirdo.
Perhaps the truth is that movies don't mean that much to me anymore. I love them when I'm actually watching them, but they kind of slip my mind when I'm not.
It's not because I think films have dipped in quality over the years. That's an easy dodge and a stupid comment. I recently watched 2017's "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." It was excellent, and Frances McDormand fully deserved her Best Actress Oscar. She is a wonder. But it's the only Best Picture nominee from 2017 that I've seen.
I saw 2016's "Moonlight," which won Best Picture, in the theater. It almost left me in tears. I saw "La La Land" that year, too. Very much enjoyed it.
Just to make sure, I went through a list of every film released (so far) in 2018. I've seen one, "A Quiet Place."
One.
Just one.
Pathetic.
Contact Shawn Ryan at mshawnryan@gmail.com.