Westerly Sun Column | Watch Oscar-Nom Films Before March 2

We’re right in the midst of Award Show Season, and the 97th Academy Awards (scheduled for March 2) are rapidly approaching. Whether you’re interested in watching out of love of the films, love of actors, or love of the drama that inevitably surrounds such awards shows, the library has plenty of items that can enhance your viewing experience!

If you’re a film buff who enjoys watching the films ahead of the ceremony, you had better start blocking out time in your schedule now. “Wicked” will take you 2 hours and 40 minutes, “Dune II” runs for 2 hours and 46 minutes, and “The Brutalist” clocks in at an astonishing 3 and a half hours. If you ask me, the real winner of the group is “A Real Pain,” which is just 90 minutes start to finish … that’s my kind of film! If these ultra-long films aren’t your cup of tea, but you still want to have something to talk about, consider reading one of the books that they were based on, like the original “Wicked” by Gregory McGuire, or “Conclave” by Robert Harris. Both are available with your library card.

Unfortunately, as has been the trend for a few years, many of the nominated films are only available on select streaming services, and not being released on DVD (at least, not before the awards show). For those that ARE available on DVD, the library has several copies of each in stock, including “express” copies that can only be checked out for 2 days, making them more readily available. Films that you can currently check out include “The Substance,” “Wicked,” “The Apprentice,” and “A Real Pain,” among others. We’re also excited to be showing several of these nominees during our Monday Night Movies at the library, so check out calendar or give us a call for full details!

Though more recent award-nominated films can be difficult to access, the Ocean State Libraries consortium contains a treasure trove of past nominees, snubs, and books on film criticism. Thousands of DVDs are available through the library, as well as a huge collection of streaming films on the apps Kanopy and Hoopla. For readers, “50 Oscar Nights: Iconic Stars & Filmmakers on their Career-defining Wins” by Dave Karger, and “Oscar Wars: A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears” by Michael Schulman will get you in the Oscars spirit, while “The Movie Book” by DK Publishing is a great overview for anyone with a budding or life-long love of cinema.

On the subject of film, we’re thrilled to welcome our newest Artist-in-Residence this month: writer and director Dave Solomon, who hails from New York City. During his time here, Dave will present several programs that will appeal to cinephiles and theater buffs alike, including a Musical Theater Audition Workshop on Feb. 20, and a screening of the film “Mr. Holmes,” followed by a Q&A, on March 15. We hope you’ll stop by and welcome him, and check out a few Oscar-related items on your way out!

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian