By JOHN HARLOW | Editor-in-Chief
Unlike at the real Academy Awards, there was little confusion over which film fans in the Palisades enjoyed most in 2017.
The overwhelming majority of votes in the Palisadian-Post Oscar competition went to “La La Land,” sometimes even in categories in which it had not been nominated.
Despite a handwritten note by “Jean” of the Alphabet Streets who voted for “La La Land” at every opportunity, the Los Angeles-celebrating musical was not a short animated film or in a foreign language. (Unless you count jazz as a foreign language.)
Voters were clearly torn between what they loved and what they thought would win—in order to enjoy our prize, a rare bottle of 2008 Pinot Noir from the Friederci Vineyard in The Highlands.
But there was only one bottle and only one winner.
So, with 14 out of 24 Oscar categories correctly predicted (even “Moonlight” for best picture) this year’s Oscar buff is Nicky Hirschhorn from the Huntington.
There was a strong cluster of votes just behind Hirschhorn, including Judi Friedman of Las Pulgas, Paula Leonhauser on Hartzell as well as Julianna Harner and Lawrence Halperin, who were clearly betrayed by Oscar voters not fully committing to the modern musical.
The other film that clearly resonated was “Arrival,” starring former Theatre Palisades luminary Amy Adams. Although not nominated, her name was scribbled in several margins. So if the Palisades has anything to do with it, she will be a big winner in 2018.
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