I
was surprised to see Stephen Frear's Philomena on the list of best
Oscar nominees. This is not the comment on the quality of the film
but based on the fact that it is not exactly a traditional best film
contender. It doesn't have the expansive A-list cast of American
Hustle and it doesn't delve into a deep analysis of historical or
political issues in the same way as 12 Years a Slave or Captain
Phillips. On the flip side, unlike other contenders with a
similarly smaller a scope, such as Nebraska, it's rather
conventionally written and directed. Perhaps it's ace in the hole
was the enthusiastic support it received from Harvey Weinstein,
arguable the pioneer of the modern Oscar campaign.
The
film is based on the true story of Philomena Lee, an Irish woman
seeking out any information on the child she gave up for adoption
whilst being in the care of a catholic convent in the 1950s. She
reaches out to Martin Sixsmith, a real life spin doctor and
journalist, who then takes her on a (fictionalised)
journey across the US in search of her long lost son. So, does it
deserve to be on one of the best Oscar nomination list of recent
times?
