2022 Best Picture Review: CODA
Ruby (Emilia Jones, right) translates a town meeting into American Sign Language for her father Frank (Troy Kotsur) and brother Leo (Daniel Durant). Kotsur is nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 94th Academy Awards.
This is Erin, writing about Best Picture nominee CODA. This comedic family drama is up for three awards at this year’s ceremony, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Troy Kotsur) and Best Adapted Screenplay. Here is my review!
The song you sang tonight. What was it about? — Troy Kotsur as Frank Rossi
It was about…what it is to need another person. — Emilia Jones as Ruby Rossi
Can you sing it for me? — Troy Kotsur as Frank Rossi
CODA set me up for disappointment. I found out that it was a standout film at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, and watched it before Tom and I caught the 2022 Sundance movies that we were able to snag tickets for during the virtual festival. While CODA absolutely blew me away, I was left a little cold by the 2022 offerings. It’s not CODA’s fault though–this is a film that absolutely BLEEDS with heart and empathy. Having seen all of the Best Picture nominees this year, CODA sits pretty at either #1 or #2 on my list of favorites.
This film is actually a remake of a 2014 French film called La Famille Bélier. The American version takes place in a quiet fishing town off the coast of Massachusetts. Teenager Ruby Rossi is a CODA (a child of deaf adults), and is the only hearing member of her family, since her brother is also deaf. Ruby spends her early mornings working on her family’s fishing boat before going to school, and she hides a secret: she loves to sing. This catches the attention of her music teacher, and Ruby has to start making decisions about her life’s direction as she tries to balance her obligations to her family with her dreams for the future.
First of all, this cast is full of scene stealers, which is hard to do when the lead is just so dang good. Emilia Jones plays protagonist Ruby in a way where it is impossible not to root for her success. Ruby is a little rough around the edges, and isn’t afraid to butt heads with her loved ones, but wow does the audience want her to get everything her heart ever desired. The Rossi family is also filled with characters, in the truest sense of the word. Marlee Matlin is the family’s matriarch, and as the first actor cast in this movie, she almost left the project after producers were skeptical about casting deaf actors in deaf roles. Matlin’s role isn’t showy, but it is clear that Mrs. Rossi is the boss in her house, and the movie wouldn’t be the same without her bawdy humor.
Marlee Matlin is the only deaf actor to win an Academy Award, but hopefully that fact will be false in two weeks. Troy Kotsur (Frank Rossi) is a total star. As Ruby’s father, Kotsur has a brashness and comedic wit that quickly transforms into heart-melting softness. He does not want to let his daughter go once she graduates from high school, but knows that it’s the right thing to do. There is a scene between Kotsur and Jones in the back of their pickup truck where I could not get it together. The tears. They would not stop for the rest of the movie! GIVE HIM THE OSCAR, YOU COWARDS!
I was obsessed with Eugenio Durbez, playing Ruby’s lovable choir director, and I was so pleased to see Ferdia Walsh-Peelo (from the amazing Sing Street) as Ruby’s love interest and duet partner. You are never going to see me angry at a music subplot, and CODA is no exception. A cover of “You’re All I Need to Get By”?! Sung by two high schoolers WHO ARE SHY AND HAVE A SWEET CRUSH ON EACH OTHER?? IS THIS HEAVEN?!?!?!
Is CODA doing all that much that’s new? Negative. Does it matter? To me, it really doesn’t. I don’t understand the trend of needing movies to be revolutionary to be worthy of recognition. CODA doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to storyline, and the turns are quite predictable, but I would struggle to find a movie that would make me feel as much as this one. It’s worth every second of struggling to find a way to watch it (since it’s on Apple TV) and just sitting in absolute joy for a few hours.
To close, I just need to shout out the title. This name has a TRIPLE MEANING! We have the acronym (Child of Deaf Adults), plus a coda meaning an ending (with Ruby finishing up high school). Oops, and let’s not forget that a coda is a MUSICAL TERM TOO. Yes, I took piano lessons up until eighth grade. Catch me tickling the ivories struggling through a pedestrian version of “Edelweiss.” The title is almost as impressive as the film itself. Don’t miss it.
Rating: 9.5/10