For the first time I have watched all 10 Oscars Best Picture nominees before the awards ceremony this Sunday (2nd March). I'm going to rank them from worst to best based on my opinion of which film deserves to win the Best Picture category.
Emilia Perez (2024) Directed by Jacques Audiard
This was the easiest film for me to place in the list. The rest of the films I kept on changing their position because they deserve to be on the list, however, in my opinion this doesn’t even belong in the best picture category. The film follows a Mexican cartel leader who enlists a lawyer to help her transition into a woman, fake her death and disappear. This film is surrounded by controversy, some find it insensitive, transphobic and racist. Even though the film is unique and is well shot with some good performances (mainly from Zoe Saldana who is the best performance in the film) overall the music is not amazing and the story feels flat at moments. Emilia Perez is not an awful movie, and I did find it enjoyable but I would not say it should be a contender for Best Picture when there are other more important films (like Sing Sing) that should have been nominated.
Nickel Boys (2024) Directed by RaMell Ross
Elwood Curtis’ college dreams are shattered when he accepts a lift from a stranger and is falsely accused of a crime. This lands him in Nickel Academy, an abusive institution that wrongly mistreats its black inmates. Elwood tries to keep his optimistic worldview and initiates a friendship with Turner, a fellow inmate who has a more pessimistic view of the system. This is a powerful story, with harrowing shots to show the real-life horrors that young black people went through. However, I did think that the overly stylised first person perspective distracted me from the emotion of the story and admittedly did confuse me at moments.
Wicked (2024) Directed by John M. Chu
Adapting the renowned stage play of the same name Wicked follows Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with Galinda, Glinda the Good. Wicked is faithful to the musical and also added its own unique elements to the well known story. The musical numbers are perfect, accompanied by an outstanding set and production design which really brings the world of Oz alive. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are the highlight of this film, their perfect chemistry brings depth to the characters and Grande adds perfect moments of humour which I think make her worthy of the Best Supporting Actress award.
The Substance (2024) Directed by Coralie Fargeat
Horror films aren’t usually well received at the Oscars. But The Substance has becomes one of the few to be nominated. The film follows fading actress Elisabeth Sparkle who becomes distressed when she is about to lose her job to a younger, prettier woman. When a mysterious liquid offers her a promise of a younger, better version of herself she jumps at this opportunity. However, things go horribly wrong and what follows is gruesome body horror and a struggle for control over her new self. Demi Moore is incredible in this role, she is fearless and puts her all into this film. The movie does become ridiculous and drawn out towards the end, but it takes charge of the craziness and its refusal to be serious.
Conclave (2024) Directed by Edward Berger
Conclave gives viewers a look into the process of how a Pope is chosen. After the death of their last Pope, Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) organises a conclave to elect the next pope. However, schemes, secrets and scandals become known as cardinals form alliances to get their chosen pope elected. This film is filled with great performances, and standout cinematography and a well written humorous script. Conclave is filled with narrative tension and moral quandaries surrounding who is the best moral choice for the pope. Conclave has a steady pace which keeps viewers entertained, but also has moments of excitement with developments and a big plot twist at the end.
I'm Still Here (2024) Directed by Walter Salles
Based on real life events and Marcelo Ruben Paiva’s memoir I'm Still Here. The film is a family drama about the political tension that occurred in Brazil in the 1970s. We follow Eunice Paiva (Fernanda Torres) and her family as she learns the truth about her husband's disappearance, she deals with the struggle of losing her husband whilst trying to take care of her family. Fernanda Torres is incredible, her performance is the heart of the film as she embodies the role capturing the grief, strength and determination Eunice goes through. The film gives us time to love the family and see their life through a lens of happiness and laughter which makes it even more painful when we see their family torn down.
A Complete Unknown (2024) Directed by James Mangold
Biographical music film about the musician Bob Dylan. It follows Dylan through his earliest folk music success until the controversy over his use of electric instruments that shaped his music career. This film delivers an indepth look at Dylan's life, the importance of his music, and the historical shift that was taking place in this era. Timothée Chalamet is amazing he transforms into the role and captures his essence when performing on stage. A Complete Unknown felt different to the usual biopics that can sometimes feel like they are just reading an artists Wikipedia page. It is a film about culture, media and art, instead of just trying to tell us about who Bob Dylan was it uses these other elements to enrich the story.
The Brutalist (2024) Directed by Brady Corbet
Adrien Brody stars as a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor who emigrated to the United States where he wishes to live the American Dream through his passion for architecture. The film is over 3 and a half hours, which could be long and tiresome for some, but the long runtime is worth it and it keeps you invested throughout. The film has breathtaking cinematography, and amazing acting from Adrien Brody and his supporting cast- Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce. The film is very ambitious and does try to do a lot, but it felt like an intellectually enriching film that covers so much. The ending did feel a little rushed but the film as a whole was an amazing story of a man's wish for his American dream.
Dune: Part Two (2024) Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Follow up to the first Dune film which also received a Best Picture nomination. Paul Atreides has now allied himself with the Fremen, he becomes a warrior and a leader who is believed he will live out his prophecy and lead the Fremen to freedom. Dune: Part two is an immersive cinematic experience, with stunning cinematography and an amazing score by Hanz Zimmer. The film is a monumental achievement in science fiction filmmaking. Denis is able to create a huge world with many different characters and storylines but is still able to keep the audience connected to the characters and each of their journeys. It blends together the artistic craft of filmmaking and the scale of massive blockbuster films which elevates the film and story to another level.
Anora (2024) Directed by Sean Baker
Ani a New York escort gets her chance at Cinderella story when she meets the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch, they end up getting married in a rushed Vegas wedding. However, Ani’s dream comes crashing down when his parents forces them to separate. Anora is filled with intense drama and slapstick sequences which add a layer of humour to the film. Mikey Madison is excellent as Ani, she is a flawed, fearsome heroine who takes charge of every scene she is in. This film achieves such emotional depth and authenticity portraying a powerful film for female sex workers. Anora is beautiful, it's paced in an interesting way which keeps the audience engaged through long scenes which show a car crash of Ani's fairytale in slow motion. Anora is my personal pick for Best Picture, after finishing this film I was already thinking about rewatching it.
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