2018 Alternate Oscars

Green Book is a nice little odd couple movie about racism in the early 1960s, and Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali (who won his second Oscar in support) are very good in it. But the best picture of the year? I didn't see that coming.

I'd argue that two other best picture nominees — Black Panther and BlacKkKlansman — have much more interesting, and frankly, more entertaining things to say about race relations in America.

The former, the first entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a primarily Black cast, is the story of T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), the newly crowned king of Wakanda, who must decide whether to use his hidden kingdom's immense power and wealth to help the world or to take revenge for centuries of colonialist exploitation. The film was a smash hit and a cultural phenomenon.

The latter, Spike Lee's most successful movie since 2006's Inside Man, is the true story of a Black FBI agent (John David Washington) who infiltrated the Klan in the 1970s. Funny and infuriating at the same time — racists are so stupid and unfortunately so real.

For my money, both are not only better than Green Book but are also more likely to stand the test of time. But that could just be me. Hats off to the Academy for nominating all three of them.

My choices are noted with a ★. A tie is indicated with a ✪. Historical Oscar winners are noted with a ✔. Best foreign-language picture winners are noted with an ƒ. Best animated feature winners are noted with an @. A historical winner who won in a different category is noted with a ✱.