Local film critic Bill Henry was none-too-impressed with this year’s crop of Academy Award nominees.
“I think it’s weak,” Henry said during a recent phone conversation. “I felt it was a bad movie year.
“As I went through the year, I felt like there was a long stretch of time between great movies,” he added.
On Sunday, Henry and the DC Film Society hosts the annual Oscar viewing part at the Arlington Cinema ‘n’ Drafthouse. The event features trivia, a silent auction and the ceremony projected on Drafthouse’s big screen.
Of this year’s nominees, Henry prefers “The Descendants,” and enjoyed “Hugo” as well, but sees “The Artist,” which he called a “crowd-pleaser,” winning it all.
Henry cites films “Everything Must Go” and “Win Win” as would-be contenders overlooked by the Academy.
“There’s a tendency for films that come out early in the year to be forgotten,” Henry said.
“It’s become such a predictable program,” he added of the Oscars.
For the past two decades, the DC Film Society has thrown an Academy Award viewing party. However, unlike previous years, Henry will not be joined by his partner in film viewing Joe Barber, who died in September.
“It was quite a shock when Joe died,” said Henry during a recent phone interview. Henry, who still finds it difficult to talk about the death of his friend, will instead be joined at the Drafthouse by critic Tim Gordon.
Henry and Barber teamed in the 1990s as the Movie Guys, and the website dcmovieguys.com still operates.
Henry said that Barber liked Best Picture nominees “Moneyball” and “The Help,” and the two agreed in their dislike for “The Tree of Life.” However, the pair differed on “Midnight in Paris”: Barber liked it, Henry didn’t, saying its third-rate Woody Allen.
With films such as “The Artist,” “Hugo,” “War Horse,” “My Week With Marilyn” and others hearkening to another time, Henry notes that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has gone on a massive nostalgia trip.
“It’s an odd sort of trend,” he said.
Where to go
Watching the Academy Awards with a group of people makes all the acceptance speeches and commercial breaks bearable. For cinephiles and passive film viewers alike, check out one of these Oscar viewing parties.
Arlington Cinema ‘n’ Drafthouse
The yearly viewing party on the Drathouse’s big screen hosted by the DC Film Society is back again, complete with trivia contests and a silent auction. $15 for Film Society members, $20 for the general public. Doors at 6:30 p.m. arlingtondrafthouse.com, dcfilmsociety.org.
Black Cat
They call this Stars in Bars. The popular Black Cat gets in on the Oscar action with its free viewing party on the back stage. Doors at 7 p.m. blackcatdc.com.
The Hamilton
Presented by Art Soiree, this black-tie optional event boasts themed cocktails, music, an Oscar pool and a best dressed competition. $25. 6 p.m. thehamiltondc.com.
The Heights
Enjoy Oscar-themed food and drink. For example, in the theme of “Moneyball,” indulge a ballpark sausage with onion, relish and mustard; and pair it down with “The Artist” inspired Chocolate stout with vanilla bean ice cream. 7 p.m. theheightsdc.com.
Tonic, Foggy Bottom
Oscar-inspired cocktails is the highlight here. Toast all the back patting and glad handing. 7 p.m. tonicrestaurant.com.
