After writing my review of the Golden Globes at the beginning of January, I wanted to return to the movie world as the Oscars are coming up this Sunday, March. 10, and I have finished watching all 10 films that are up for Best Picture.
For this list, I will be ranking the movies in terms of which ones I enjoyed the most and which I would want to watch again. My ranking and predictions of who I think and who I wan win what awards on Sunday are different than this list.
1. Past Lives
“Past Lives,” was my personal favorite movie of this year. While I don’t think it will win many awards, if any, the experience of watching it and many aspects of the film were very pleasing and enjoyable to me. As a senior, it is around the time now for me and my friends to decide what and where we will be going next year. I’ve known some of my friends since kindergarten, and this movie got me thinking of how once we leave high school, the friendships that are established here might never be the same 12 or 24 years from now.
Other aspects of this film I enjoyed was the characters themselves and the cinematography. I loved both Nora and Hae Sung, and felt very connected to each person individually and was rooting for them yet also understood how their relationship progressed. The cinematography was simple yet very effective. There are other films on the list whose visuals stood out to me more, but with “Past Lives,” it kept you engaged in the story but also complemented all other aspects of the movie. If you’re gonna watch one movie on this list, I recommend this the most.
2. The Holdovers
“The Holdovers,” is a movie I could see myself going back to consistently. I’ll probably want to watch it again after writing this. As a photographer myself, I really value and pay attention to the cinematic factors of the movie. The choices in editing and costumes really played into the time and put you back into the world that the movie takes place in. You really come to love each character individually and as the little family they become over the course of the film. The movie mainly consists of three actors and despite the small ensemble, they all really played off each other well and were able to let their own talents shine through for the entire movie.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph is the best part of this movie and wholeheartedly deserves every Supporting Actress Award she has won this year.
3. Oppenheimer
To me “Oppenheimer,” was a little bit of a toss up. After my first watch in the summer when it came out, I was honestly not the biggest fan. To me it was too long and the dialogue made it very hard to keep paying attention. However, I recently rewatched it again and some of my opinions changed. There were many aspects of this movie that I enjoyed from both watches. I loved the score and the acting was great from everyone in the cast.
My main gripe with this movie is the length. It is so much information in a long amount of time that to me, there is no way to win with enjoyment. In the theatre I obviously watched the whole thing, and when I rewatched it I did the whole three hours in one sitting to get the entire movie watching experience as Christopher Nolan wanted it. In the last hour, my brain was overwhelmed and I wasn’t able to pay as much attention. If I could go back, I would take a break after the bomb goes off and watch the rest of the movie later to be able to take in everything that the film is presenting to you.
4. American Fiction
“American Fiction,” was a good film with it’s idea. There are movies that are similar in concept like “Bamboozled,” by Spike Lee, but its still a relevant topic today. This movie dealt with a lot of big topics, like dementia, relationships, racism and more, yet it didn’t feel rushed or smushed together. The movie wasn’t heavy or depressing when it was talking about these things like other movies on this list (ahem, Oppenheimer). This was done through humor and a great cast.
I also enjoyed the locations, especially the coastal Massachusetts scenes because it reminded me not only of my family and trips to the coast, but also that Monk and his family were not the steroetype that he was fighting. He came from a family of doctors, and was able to live a comfortable life with his family, though his family did have their problems.
5. Poor Things
Emma Stone. Literally the only thing that I have to say about this movie. I loved the acting from everyone in this movie, from Stone, to Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe. Stone is probably still my top pick for the Oscar because she literally had to learn how to be a human again. The development of her character mentally, physically and emotionally was a wonderful performance to watch. The set design, costumes and cinematography were delightful and very different from the other movies nominated this year.
Honestly, after my watch initially, I wasn’t the biggest fan. I didn’t hate it, but it is a very experimental movie which I wasn’t familiar with watching before. However, with time, I was able to think about it more and it was a wonderful movie and I’m excited to watch it again. In the end I do love the character of Bella.
6. Anatomy of a Fall
“Anatomy of a Fall,” was the last movie that I was able to watch on this list. It was a solid movie, and I don’t want my lower ranking to deter anyone from watching this movie. It was a very enjoyable watch and kept me thinking the whole time. Three of the 10 movies are international films that are told in either one or two languages. “Anatomy of a Fall,” is told in both English and French, but it is easy to follow along through captions and the engaging story line. The story follows a woman who is accused of killing her husband, Their blind son also the only witness, and plays a large role in determining her fate. The film didn’t tell the true ending, and part of me wishes that they did but i also like that they didn’t because it kept you thinking about it after you finish watching it.
7. Barbie
“Barbie,” was most likely the most fun I had at the theaters this year. I loved the “Barbenheimer,” trend, and I was feeling all the emotions in the theater. I was happy, I was sad, I felt that I could relate at points, I was singing along, everything. It definitely wasn’t the best movie of the year, but it was a fun watch and a fun moment of 2023.
However, some people were upset that Margot Robbie didn’t receive an Oscar nomination for her performance here, but I think what makes her performance is the ensemble, costumes and set design. It’s tricky because not everyone can play Barbie, but there are other parts of the movie that are recognized by the Academy. I think that Greta Gerwig not getting a nomination was a little sad, especially when you think about how she had to work within the rules and restrains of Mattel. Working so closely with a company and keeping their standards is not always very easy (just think of Disney).
8. Killers of the Flower Moon
“Killers of the Flower Moon,” was a refreshing story that I feel like I haven’t seen much of before. The movie follows the story of the murders of the Osage people due to oil found on their land. It’s based off a book of the same name and features Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. DeCaprio and De Niro’s characters are hardly likeable but their acting is stellar.
It’s the longest movie on the list, but so far it doesn’t feel overwhelmingly long and I’m not getting bored. I haven’t finished the movie yet, but I’m definetly enjoying it so far and I’ll finish it before Sunday night. I also wouldn’t be upset to see Lily Galdsone take home the Oscar for Best Actress. Everyone knows it’s between her and Stone, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Academy go for a more historic win like Ke Huy Quan’s win in 2023 for “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” in 2023. Gladstone definitely deserves recognition for this award, and after winning the SAG award a few weeks ago, it’s still a close race between those two.
9. Maestro
“Maestro,” was a decent movie that I honestly think got more hate that it might have deserved. Really it has either good reviews or people bashing it. I watched this movie in December, so I don’t really remember much about it partially because it was four months ago, and that there wasn’t really much to remember. I think Bradley Cooper focused on the wrong aspects of Leonard Bernstein’s life. For those who don’t know who Bernstein was, he was a composer and conductor who was a closeted gay man. Cooper’s movie focuses on his relationship with his wife, but I think that was the more interesting part of his life was the fact that he was gay. There were some good conducting scenes though I guess if you are into that. Carey Mulligan was a saving grace of this movie though.
10. The Zone of Interest
Although the movie is last on my list, it is not a bad movie. I can appreciate what this movie is and there are definitely many positives about the film. I was interested in the fresh and unique perspective of telling the story of a Nazi family who is living next to Auschwitz. The juxtaposition of seeing the family’s ignorance and knowing the reality of what was going on right next to them was very disturbing.
While I got the message of the movie in the end, while I was in the theatre, I found it difficult for myself to rely on sounds and the background to get the point of the movie. I was honestly kinda waiting for the characters to do something more, but I do understand that the message was how they were compliant and saw nothing wrong with how they were living. Their compliance is exactly what is supposed to upset you and make you feel uncomfortable.
