Oscar Nominees: Best Foreign Film

My predictions: 2/5, picking only “Mustang” and “Son of Saul”
My ballot: Come back in February!
The nominees: Embrace of the Serpent (Colombia), Mustang (France), Son of Saul (Hungary), Theeb (Jordan), A War (Denmark)

This category offered some surprises, snubbing “Labyrinth of Lies” and Golden Globe nominee “The Fencer.” I’m all for “Mustang” and “Son of Saul” being here, and I don’t understand the hype about “Theeb,” which does not deserve a spot. I know that “Embrace of the Serpent” will be released in New York about two weeks before the Oscars, so hopefully I’ll catch that then, and it looks like “A War” isn’t scheduled to be released until April! I’m going to try to see it before then, but we’ll see.

My current bet to win: I can’t imagine it will be anything but Son of Saul.