The upcoming 94th Academy Awards, set for March 27, marks the first time that there have been 10 nominees for Best Picture since the 83rd Academy Awards in 2011, following a rule change to allow for more nominees. However, 10 films is a lot for one person to watch before the ceremony, and the average person can likely only count the number of nominees that they’ve seen on one hand. Hopefully, this list, ranked in order of preference, can help you with your decision making of which nominated movies interest you and are worth your time.
#10: ‘King Richard’
“King Richard” is a sports biopic starring Will Smith as Richard Williams, the father of the famous tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams, as he attempts to balance being a good coach and a good father for his daughters. The film is arguably the most basic of the 10 nominees and fits the mold of what you would expect from a sports biopic that’s at least two hours long. The biggest saving grace of this film, however, is the lead performance from Will Smith, who does a great job of bringing the struggles and inner turmoil of Williams to life in a performance that will almost certainly give him the win for Best Actor.
#9: ‘Drive My Car’
“Drive My Car” holds the distinction of being the only international film nominated for Best Picture this year. It is a Japanese drama about a stage director who has to have a young woman drive his car to his job and around town after personal troubles and tragedy, learning to reconnect and continue past his losses. The film is definitely the hardest sell out of any of the nominees; apart from not being in English, it is a dialogue-driven melodrama clocking in at almost three hours long, the longest of any nominee. There are definite highlights and great scenes for those that are fans of melodramas, and with its recent addition to HBO Max, anyone interested in this unique and heartbreaking film can stream it easily.
#8: ‘The Power of the Dog’
“The Power of the Dog” follows a charismatic rancher and the massive shifts in his life when his brother gets married and moves his wife and her son onto the ranch. The definite favorite and most likely to win Best Picture, “The Power of the Dog” is a film that excels greatly and stands out from other Westerns with the understated aspects of its filmmaking as well as its underlying themes. Read Voice contributor Logan Wessel’s review here for more.
#7: ‘Belfast’
“Belfast” is the story of Buddy, a young boy growing up in the Northern Irish town of Belfast in 1969 who has to learn to grow and adapt quickly with a massive increase of protests in the area. The film is very notably a personal, almost autobiographical story of director and screenwriter Kenneth Branagh, and as such, it definitely feels like he is much more in touch and putting his all into the filmmaking compared to his other films. It’s definitely a bit cheesy and generic, and some of the messaging can get muddled by the end, but it shines in the right places such that I would call it the most crowd-pleasing of the nominees.
#6: ‘Don’t Look Up’
“Don’t Look Up” is the latest satire from director Adam McKay (best known for “The Big Short,” “Step Brothers” and “Anchorman”), and stars Leonardo Dicaprio and Jennifer Lawrence as two astronomers who, after discovering that a meteor is headed directly towards Earth, are unable to find anyone in power who cares to do anything about it. McKay’s style of filmmaking, especially with his recent Oscar-nominated films, has been pretty divisive for audiences. However, I think that this film uses that style well to communicate its messages about the divisiveness, miscommunication and corruption our society faces at the highest levels. There are definitely ways to make this story even better, whether it be a less star-studded cast or a more subtle form of satire, but for a modern-day McKay film, I think it does a pretty good job.
#5: ‘Nightmare Alley’
“Nightmare Alley” is the latest film from visionary director Guillermo del Toro (known for “The Shape of Water” and “Pan’s Labyrinth”). A neo-noir thriller, the film follows an ambitious carnival man with a talent for manipulation who soon moves on from the carnival life to the big city, only to get himself into a large-scale ruse. As is the case with all of del Toro’s films, the film is an absolute beauty. From the set design to the cinematography, the film spares no expense as a sight to behold, especially with the amazing circus set-pieces in the first parts of the film. While the ending is predictable, there are enough great moments throughout that make this a film worth seeking out.
#4: ‘CODA’
“CODA” (“Child of Deaf Adults”), is the story of a girl named Ruby, who is the only hearing person in her family of four, as she develops aspirations for music but comes to a crossroads when faced with pressures to help her family’s local fishing business. A definite crowd-pleaser, “CODA” is easily the easiest nominee to recommend, with effective messages, a heartwarming story and some stellar performances across the board. The only thing in the way of “CODA” being a massive hit is just how few people have seen it, being limited to the subscribers of the small and barely-used AppleTV+ service. If you have a subscription, this is easily one of the best movies available.
#3: ‘Dune’
The most popular film nominated for Best Picture, “Dune” is the newest adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel and excellently uses top-grade visual effects and directing from expert director Denis Villenueve to create one of the most visually stunning blockbuster films of the past few years. Although there may be a bit of a steep curve when it comes to the actual story of “Dune,” to anyone familiar with the original material, the film does a great job of bringing the planet of Arrakis to life in a way never seen before.
#2: ‘Licorice Pizza’
The period coming-of-age dramedy “Licorice Pizza” is the latest from famous director Paul Thomas Anderson and follows a young couple in the San Fernando Valley during the 1970s as they both attempt to further their careers. PTA has always been able to create a world full of life out of the settings in his films, and “Licorice Pizza” is no different. The Valley feels alive from beginning to end in this film in a way that is most similar to what Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” did for ’60s LA. It’s a film that will only grow more beloved with age, and is what I would consider a definite must-watch out of the nominees.
#1: ‘West Side Story’ (2021)
If you were to ask me what my favorite Oscar-contending movie of the year would be in the middle of last year, Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of “West Side Story” would have never been on my radar – yet here we are. With his new take on the classic musical, Spielberg creates something that both embellishes and pays homage in just about every way, ultimately amounting to an amazing film. The story is very easy for the audience to connect with and understand, being an adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” set in mid-1950s New York, with gangs substituting for royal families and immigration-based racial tension informing the conflict. The highlight of the film however, is Spielberg’s expertise and ability as a director. Even though he’s never directed a musical before, he feels right at home and knows exactly how to make musical sequences and dance numbers pop on screen in a manner that every musical from now on should be following. “West Side Story” is available on both HBO Max and Disney+, and I highly recommend checking it out.
