By John Askounis, Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
You’ve seen tons of movie reviews ahead of the 91st Academy Awards. Critics and fans commenting on this year’s nominees. Here, at Eurohoops, we celebrate the upcoming ceremony with our own twist to the Oscars.
Each movie nominated for Best Picture has a story to tell, and could easily fit with many basketball happenings around the globe, thus we seized the chance to analyze the nominees in a different way than usual…
Best Picture nominees:
A Star Is Born: Luka Doncic’s NBA rookie season
Much like Ally’s new-found fame in the movie, Luka Doncic enjoys being on the spotlight in his rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks. Though, truth is, this star was born way before he stepped foot in the NBA. Even without a “Jack”, Luka found his way to the best league of the world through hard work and dedication.
Roma: Powerhouses who want to leave their domestic leagues
A tale of family drama in 1970s Mexico can be also the drama of European powerhouses like Olympiacos and Real Madrid wanting out of their domestic leagues. Like the movie, which is “a triumphant blend of tragedy, comedy, and absurdity” according to the Guardian review, the two clubs’ domestic league relations these past few weeks bring an equal amount of tragedy and comedy.
The Favourite: The ongoing FIBA – EuroLeague feud
The story of Queen Anna and the competition of her close friend and an ambitious maid to be her “favourite” is a power struggle which can be interpreted in many ways. However, you can really find the similarities between the ongoing feud with EuroLeague and FIBA, while the “Queen” in the global basketball landscape is clearly the NBA.
BlacKkKlansman: The Knicks cutting loose Kristaps Porzingis
The satire of Spike Lee with a black cop and a white cop collaborating in order to create the ultimate undercover agent in order to infiltrate the KKK is a unique story and it really doesn’t apply to basketball, even if Lee is a notoriously famous fan of the Knicks. And frankly, that’s the only connection. Imagine having a “Unicorn” and then deciding that it’s time to let him go. A satire may apply to that, especially when you add the recent Rick Pitino tweet on the matter.
I love every move @nyknicks have made. From the head coach hire to the salary dump and the lottery gamble #trusttheprocess
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) February 23, 2019
Black Panther: Giannis Antetokounmpo
It’s easy to get it, right? Like the hidden and unknown to the outside world Wakanda and his king, Giannis was virtually an unknown when he entered the NBA, coming from a small neighborhood of Athens and playing in the Greek second division. However, that’s not the story anymore, and he is ready to take his well-deserved throne.
Bohemian Rhapsody: The Nuggets
You can’t get more bohemian than Nikola Jokic. And while he doesn’t look like Freddy Mercury, he is quirky enough to be his own brand of player and star. And if the Nuggets end up singing “We are the champions”, this can be a match made in heaven.
Vice: The Anthony Davis non-trade
Vice is a backstage view to the career of Dick Cheney, one of the most controversial figures of modern politics. And to correlate it with the dramatic trade period, it’s obvious that the most controversial non-move in the current NBA landscape is the Anthony Davis saga.
Green Book: The Celtics
It’s a movie about racism in the South during the 60s that directly mentions the Celtics as victims of this exact racism in the South during the 60s in one pivotal scene. And it’s a happy coincidence that the guide for safe traveling was called the “Green Book”. And while Boston is not the favorite than anyone was expecting them to be in the East, coach Stevens seems to know the safe road in order to make it happen in the playoffs.
Honorable mention: ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
At Eternity’s Gate: Dirk Nowitzki final season
Willem Dafoe’s “At Eternity’s Gate” performance got him a nomination for the Best Actor award. He played Vincent van Gogh, specifically the artist’s final years in Arles, France. Dafoe was nominated three times before for the Best Supporting Actor award, but Dirk Nowitzki always was the leading star for the Dallas Mavericks. The 40-year-old German’s record-breaking 21st season with the same team isn’t as captivating on the court, but the connections with Dafoe are there. And you can argue that Dirk’s jumper is as iconic as a van Gogh painting.