Oscar voters call ‘Top Gun 2’ screenplay ‘weakest’ of nominees

The Oscars are less than a week away as of this writing, which means it’s time for another annual tradition: random Oscar voters anonymously sharing their weird hot takes with industry publications. On Tuesday The Hollywood Reporter shared the ballot and comments from a male AMPAS member who is part of the short and animated film division. This guy had some pretty standard opinions: He liked Banshees by Inisherin And All quiet and the western front and he was really impressed Everything everywhere at once.

But what about another of the most popular movies of the year, Top Gun: Maverick. The one he’s arguing about. It was stripped of a Best Camera nomination, he said. As for the adapted script? Well, he says it’s “probably the weakest” of the bunch. (He would give it glass onionand said, “Rian Johnson is great – give Rian Johnson an Oscar!”

Mind you, one could argue that Maverick’s script is classic, meaning it takes the form and hits all the beats of a crowd favorite from just a few decades ago. Hollywood screenplays aren’t written like this anymore!

What are some of his other unpopular opinions? The Fabelmans is “a bit long”. tar “It takes too long to get to the point,” and according to its “Best Editing” nom, it “could have used more editing.” He’s “confused” by all the hype surrounding Paul Mescal in Aftersun. (He’s not an Austin Butler in elvisthe “clear winner, for me”.) He didn’t finish dam, the source of Brian Tyree Henry’s Best Supporting Actor nomination. Both Kerry Condon and Hong Chau, e.g banshees And The whalewe’re fine.” EOthe great donkey film nominated for Best International Feature Film was “a bit boring.”

As for Andrea Riseborough’s surprise name To Lesliehe thought she was “great,” but the way she was “muscled” (via a group of fellow actors praising her rather than a paid Oscars campaign) “felt very mafia-like, like people with.” decided that this should happen, so it happened.”

This mystery voter had some other standard opinions. He gushed about Ke Huy Quan, saying his story “gives me hope and reminds you that unless you’re dead or Will Smith, it’s never really over in Hollywood.”

Hell, he’s even very pro-“Naatu Naatu,” the kickass song by the otherwise unnominated RRR. “I mean have you seen the videos of people dancing in theaters?” he wrote. “It doesn’t happen on any of the other songs.”

The Oscars will air Sunday, March 12 from 8 p.m. on ABC. It’s very unlikely anyone will get slapped again, no matter what their host says.

You can read this guy’s entire ballot here THR.