29 Oscar (2024) Nominated Movies: Ranked from Bottom To Top
I managed to watch these Oscar-nominated movies and have written a few lines on each. They are ranked from my least liked to most liked. There may be some spoilers, so read at your own risk.
Spoilers ahead...
29. El Conde
I don't recall having
seen a vampire-based movie before, and therefore I feel even worse to have this
film as my first one in the genre. I found it plain boring and, at times,
disgusting due to the gore. There were a few decent scenes with dark comedy, like
the dining scene where the sons and daughters want to inherit the property, but
overall, the concept and execution never worked for me. If people love this
film, then maybe it's just not my type.
28. Napoleon
A biography about the rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix). I have seen long 3-hour movies, but watching this 2-hour 40-minute movie was a big struggle; it was that uninteresting and even boring at many places. In fact, sometimes I wondered if Joaquin Phoenix wasn't interested in the role or if Napoleon was such a character that is just not engaging at all. Even the romantic relationship between Napoleon and Josephine (Vanessa Kirby) was complicated and very hard to understand. There's talk of how good Napoleon's war strategies are, but besides the great opening fort sequence, we hardly get to see that. Overall, Napoleon is a forgettable movie.
27. The Color Purple
There were a bit too many abusive characters for my liking. Watching Nettie suffer initially under her father, and then her sister Celie under her new husband was difficult. As if black-on-black abuse wasn't enough, there's also a small part of white racism. However, I did like Sofia (Danielle Brooks), especially the "Hell No" song. Despite all this, the seriousness of the drama gets lost due to its presentation as a musical, a genre I rarely enjoy. Performance-wise, everyone did good work, but it's not a film I would be interested in re-watching.
26. The Zone of Interest
"The life we enjoy is very much worth the sacrifice."
I usually love films that suggest horrors without directly showing them, which is what "The Zone of Interest" does throughout the narrative. Still, I just couldn't connect with the film. The movie is about Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), his wife Hedwig Höss (Sandra Hüller), and their children living in a big villa, while on the other side of the wall, mass murders were taking place. We never see a single killing; we only hear noises during the start and end credits in a blacked-out 3-4 minute sequence, see smoke coming out of the chimney, or hear a few seconds of screams, cries, and despair at places in the film. Everything is left to the imagination, and for those who know the history, it is easier to connect the dots.
What made me dislike the film, however, was that I found the Höss
family's daily routine too boring and dull to watch. With minimal dialogue and
no conflicts except for a tiny one where Hedwig is angry at her husband's
transfer, not wanting to leave the luxurious life they had. She convinces
Rudolf that he should go to the new place while she and the children stay back.
That was, of course, another hint at how unaffected Hedwig was by whatever was
going on, as there's not even a single mention of it by her, which surely was
the writing team's idea. There's an ending haunting scene in a museum where we
see the remains left of the killed people. The performances by both Christian
Friedel and Sandra Hüller are convincing. Overall, "The Zone of Interest"
joins my list of Oscar movies that are overhyped.
25. American Fiction
"American Fiction" turns out to be mediocre as it attempts to juggle two plots. One focuses on frustrated novelist Monk (Jeffrey Wright), who is fed up with the establishment profiting from 'Black' entertainment that relies on clichéd stereotypes. The other plot revolves around his dysfunctional family, which includes a gay brother, a mother with dementia, and a sister who dies during his recent visit. The family drama on an emotional level never worked for me and lacked any connection. The entire satire, with Monk using a pen name to write his own black book which, to his surprise, gets him the praise he wasn't receiving otherwise, is likable and enjoyable in parts. For me, the comedy didn't come out or felt restrained due to the narration. Overall, "American Fiction" was just a watchable movie in the end. Had they focused the entire plot solely on the satire and brought out more of his imagination for the black book he wrote, it would have worked a lot better.
24. May December
A movie about sex offender Gracie (Julianne Moore) and childhood trauma with its aftereffects. This plot is explored through Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), an actress who visits Gracie's home to research her for a new movie. Initially, the film is interesting as, through Elizabeth's investigation, we keep learning new things about Gracie and her Korean husband, Joe Yoo (Charles Melton). However, with the kind of ending, the 2 hours result in almost nothing, and we are back to where we started.
One may see the film from the perspective that Gracie was always a
bad person, which is why there is never any guilt or shame, and she lives life
like nothing happened. Alternatively, one may view it through Elizabeth's
perspective, who is exploiting a real person's past for her method acting to
gain applause for playing a complex character, which honestly, I don't find
wrong. I wish Charles Melton's character was utilized more because, despite the
mystery related to Gracie, he appeared to be the one suffering all the time.
Despite being in his late 30s, he looked like he hadn't grown up due to having
his life stolen away by becoming a father at such a young age. Overall,
"May December" is engaging in parts with good performances, but a
poor final act ruins the entire movie.
23. The Creator
A movie about humans vs. robots (artificial intelligence), where a human coding error leads to a nuclear attack, and humans blame it on robots wanting to eliminate them from the world. Similar to the trope we see in human vs. nature movies, the plot isn't original, but it lacked connection and wasn't fully engaging, especially with the main character, Joshua (John David Washington). There are some nice scenes involving Alphie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles) and a good music score, but that is never enough to enjoy the movie. It's still a decent one-time watch.
22. Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
"Your life will always matter more to me than my own."
It pains me to say that the new movie in this excellent series fails to live up to expectations. In fact, over time, I might decide if it's the worst one in comparison to MI2. Even the action set-pieces, something all past films have excelled at, lack that adrenaline rush. There are parts of the car chase and the finale train sequence that are entertaining, but they both feel overstretched and lack freshness. Another major issue I had was how poorly they ended Ilsa's (Rebecca Ferguson) character. Just when, at the end of MI6, you thought they had a strong female character who could partner with Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) in future missions, they decided to kill her off, and it happens so abruptly.
As much as I liked the new addition of Grace (Hayley Atwell), it
got tiring to watch her repeatedly run away with the key like a child. On the
other hand, I enjoyed Paris's (Pom Klementieff) performance, who, with almost
no dialogues, had great screen presence. The villain Gabriel (Esai Morales)
felt so-so; he still has one more part to impress. Overall, "Mission
Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" is entertaining in parts only. Even
with Tom Cruise and his deadly stunts, this movie was a letdown for me in terms
of both style and emotions.
21. Maestro
A movie that is powered by the lead actors' performances (Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan) rather than the story or screenplay. What the movie lacks is the detailing of how Leonard Bernstein went through his process on music. We simply hear him say that he breathes music or that anything related to music is his occupation, but we never get to see how his brain works for a new composition or his upcoming work as a conductor. I was especially disappointed when the conductor performance that made him famous is cut away completely, leaving us without a peek at what was so special about it. Additionally, Leonard's relationship with Felicia, which shows signs of breaking apart, is underplayed to some extent. I did like how they used Leonard's own compositions as background music throughout the movie. Overall, "Maestro" turns out to be very underwhelming.
20. Killers of the Flower Moon
"Don't make small trouble about nothing. You gonna make trouble, make it big."
I'm not sure if I've grown old to enjoy 3+ hour movies or if this movie just isn't compelling enough to sit through that long. On the surface, the story is solid, focusing on greedy Ernest (Leonardo DiCaprio) who gets manipulated by his uncle William Hale (Robert De Niro) into committing wrongful acts, including murders. The setting among the Osage Indian Tribe in Oklahoma during the 1920s, with the backdrop of oil discovery, is beautifully portrayed.
Performance-wise, everyone delivers well, including newcomer Lily
Gladstone, but nothing stands out as exceptional or Oscar-worthy to me. Jesse
Plemons, whom I've grown fond of in recent years, feels underutilized in a very
small role. If the editing were tighter and the movie were an hour shorter, I
might have connected with or enjoyed it more. The Scorsese magic is evident in
many places throughout the film but fails to come together as a cohesive whole.
Overall, it's just a one-time watch for me.
19. Io Capitano
"Io Capitano" is a dramatic tale (not sure if it's based on a real story) about two teenage cousins, Seydou and Moussa, living in Senegal, who dream of becoming famous and believe Europe is the only place that can help them achieve it. The entire premise revolves around how thugs and frauds exploit innocent people, leading to physical and mental harm. It's a tough watch, mainly because from the start, the warnings Seydou and Moussa receive suggest they will soon land in trouble, and witnessing the kind of torture they endure is not easy. Even the final scene, where Seydou declares himself as Captain steering many of his people to safety, had me closing my eyes, fearing something bad might happen, like the helicopter bombing the ship or something similar. Overall, it's a well-acted movie with a believable story that feels true in any corner of the world. However, it's not a movie I'd watch again.
18. American Symphony
"You have to confront the brutal facts of the reality that you might not pull it off. But at the same time have unwavering faith. Completely unwavering faith. And you have to do both at the same time."
"American Symphony" is a documentary biography of musician Jon Batiste, covering the period when he won five Grammy Awards in the same year while working on a symphony event and supporting his wife through cancer treatment. It's one of those movies that feels like meeting a new person, getting to know their story briefly, and understanding what they are doing these days.
As someone not very familiar with Hollywood musicians, the movie
was both a hit and a miss for me. It was a hit because we get to know Jon
outside of his music life—his beliefs, opinions on others' views of his work,
and his personality outside of work. It was a miss because we see him very
little at work, mostly during the symphony event rehearsals. His other work is
primarily captured through Grammy Awards performances, which was actually my
favorite moment of the film, along with the power cut piano piece he plays at
the end. Overall, I liked "American Symphony."
17. Barbie
To be honest, since the trailers, I felt this wasn't my type of film or that I wasn't part of the target audience. The movie didn't really stray far from that initial impression. It mostly stands out due to the great lead actors, beautiful visuals, and an interesting concept, even if it gets preachy or overdone in the second half. The social commentary, of course, is about feminism, equal rights, patriarchy, etc. There are many fun moments involving Margot Robbie and especially Ryan Gosling, whose behavior in the real world leads to comical situations as he learns about patriarchy and wants to implement it in Barbie Land. I also loved the scene where he lets Barbie know how it feels to live in a place dominated by one gender.
I wish the entire plot of Barbie connecting with the girl who was
depressed had been executed better and more coherently related to the overall
story. The songs "I’m Just Ken" and "What Was I Made For"
are very good, with the former definitely deserving an Oscar nomination.
Overall, "Barbie" was a decent watch.
16. Flamin' Hot
"Every person can be the difference between failure and success."
"Flamin' Hot" is a biographical film about Richard Montañez, a Mexican-American who worked as a janitor at Frito-Lay and, through his innovative ideas, brought Spicy Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Doritos, Popcorn, etc., into the food industry, transforming everything, including his own struggling life. On the surface, the movie follows a simple template: a troubled childhood with a less-than-ideal father, a supportive wife, and a struggling attempt to change life through a meaningful job.
What I liked is how Richard works hard and doesn't lose hope even
after eight years in the same janitor job, continuously looking for that
opportunity when his brain gets an amazing marketing idea. I enjoyed his
commentary on how the CEO meetings would go at PepsiCo conference rooms in his
unique style. The performances from the leads, Jesse Garcia and Annie Gonzalez,
are lovely, well-supported by the rest of the cast, including Dennis Haysbert,
Emilio Rivera, Bobby Soto, and Matt Walsh. Overall, I had a nice time watching
the movie, which felt more commercial than biographical.
15. Rustin
"On your own, you and Martin are fine, but together, you are fire."
"Rustin" is
a pretty good movie, with Colman Domingo's standout performance as the
political activist Bayard Rustin being particularly notable. The film depicts
the process that led to the eventual 250,000-person peaceful protest march in
Washington, DC, in 1963. While the movie has fewer hard-hitting scenes compared
to another recent racism-based film, "Judas and the Black Messiah,"
there are still some impactful moments. I loved the scene where Ella Baker
tries to convince Bayard Rustin to forgive Martin Luther King, as well as the
scene where Bayard sings with Coretta. The portrayal of the gay relationship
between Elias and Bayard felt like the weakest link of the movie for me.
Overall, it's a good watch.
14. The Teachers' Lounge
"A proof needs a derivation. Step by Step."
"The Teachers' Lounge" is a dramatic and, at times, intense story about a school where theft has been on the rise, and one teacher takes it upon herself to find the culprit. I was mostly on the side of the teacher, Carla Nowak, played wonderfully by Leonie Benesch, even though it's tough to fully accept the way she tried to get the recording proof. Maybe she could have easily lied, saying she forgot to switch the camera off and accidentally found the thief stealing money.
The main point, however, is the portrayal of the entire school
system, the strict rules they follow, and how doing the right thing can still
turn out to be bad. It's basically a character study and, to some extent, an
examination of how ugly some (or most) school administration setups can be. For
instance, the way they question a student just because his wallet had too much
money. I loved the scene where Carla Nowak feels too angry and suffocated with
the way proceedings are happening, and to let that out, she has a screaming
exercise in the class, asking everyone to shout as hard as they can by giving
them a demo herself.
The entire school newspaper plot, however, felt very unconvincing
and a bit too much in context with what follows. I did like the ending—it feels
sudden, but if you try to do the math, the tear in Oskar's eyes and that square
Rubik's thing he solves may hint at the conclusion. Overall, at times, the
movie can be frustrating to watch, the characters' actions can get on your
nerves, the school environment's effect on the students, and that parents'
meeting scene too, but it's a good social commentary.
13. Poor Things
"Your sad face makes me discover angry feelings for you."
"Poor Things" tells the story of Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), who is brought back to life by the unorthodox scientist Godwin Baxter (an excellent Willem Dafoe). However, with a slight alteration, her brain now works like that of a child who doesn't understand how the world works. The film begins with a bizarre setup where we see Bella behaving naively before we slowly understand what and how things happen.
The entire bonding between Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) and
Bella Baxter is hilarious, with well-written dialogues. The continents they
travel while Bella tries to comprehend various things prevalent in the
world—from patriarchy to the poor-rich dynamic to the business of brothels and
more—are fascinating. I especially found the dance sequence between Duncan and
Bella a total laugh riot, as well as their scenes on the ship and Duncan's
shock when he learns Bella had money with her all along.
The experimental scenes of Godwin, particularly the body cutting,
are tough to watch but thankfully infrequent. Emma Stone delivers a fantastic
performance (though I'm biased to still say her "La La Land"
performance is the best), and Mark Ruffalo excels in a great comical act. I
appreciate how the film never becomes too dramatic or overly experimental.
Instead, it sticks to the concept it began with, presenting the world through
Bella's eyes and her reactions to her sexual liberation, which might be too bizarre
for some (at times, it was for me too).
The timeline, however, felt questionable—how did Bella start to
make sense of things faster once she was traveling outside? Was it because the
experiment allowed her brain to develop more quickly than normal in an adult
body? Overall, "Poor Things" is entertaining, full of beautiful
cinematography, and largely engaging, though the Victoria angle was slightly
boring. It's somewhat weird, mostly in a good way, and powered by enjoyable
performances.
12. Society of the Snow
"What happens when the world abandons you?"
"Society of the Snow" is a disaster movie that explores the extreme lengths to which people will go to survive in a harsh, life-threatening environment. Based on a true story, the film follows a rugby team that departs from Montevideo, Uruguay, intending to reach Chile, only to have their plane crash in the Andes. The group of forty, mostly under 25 years old and including five crew members, must fight against nature and survive day by day until they can find help.
The movie presents a scenario that prompts viewers to question how
they would manage if they found themselves in such dire circumstances.
Personally, I doubt I could last more than a few days. Similar to other
survival films, "Society of the Snow" portrays the initial high
spirits of the group, which gradually fade as the chances of survival become
increasingly slim. The survivors are faced with a brutal choice: die or eat the
flesh of the deceased.
I appreciated that the director chose not to delve too deeply into
the direction of hallucinations or insanity, which are common themes in
survival stories. Additionally, with only a brief initial flashback of about 10
minutes, we learn very little about the individuals on board, which works in
the film's favor since most of them are meeting for the first time. The
performances by the actors are solid, and there are moments of levity and hope,
such as a small fun scene with a rhyme or when they all cling to the hope of
staying alive.
Overall, "Society of the Snow" is a compelling movie,
though it's a tough watch for obvious reasons. It's not an easy film to
re-watch, but then, how many disaster movies without a romantic subplot
(eliminating "Titanic") are ones you would want to watch again?
11. Nimona
"Once everyone sees you as a villain, that's what you are. They only see you one way, no matter how hard you try."
"Nimona" presents a predictable yet thoroughly enjoyable plot where a knight, Ballister (voiced by Riz Ahmed), is framed for a crime he didn't commit. He teams up with Nimona (voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz), a teen shapeshifting creature he was originally sworn to destroy. The character of Nimona reminded me of 22 from "Soul" with her outspoken nature, mischievous personality, and humorous need to break things to be evil.
Nimona and Ballister share incredible chemistry, bringing a smile
to your face for much of the film. Even though the third act feels somewhat
manipulative, it effectively conveys the message about who truly is a monster.
Overall, "Nimona" is a delightful watch.
10. Elemental
"Yeah, that may work in your rich kid, "follow your heart" family but getting to do what you want is a luxury and not for people like me."
"Elemental" tells a familiar story of a father who wants his daughter to follow in his footsteps, believing her dreams align with his, only for her to later realize that her aspirations are different. The standout feature of the film is its animation and design, showcasing different elements—Air, Earth, Water, and Fire—coexisting in one place. The story primarily focuses on Water and Fire and how their love blossoms. The 'Crying Game' of Water was particularly hilarious.
Despite its clichés, "Elemental" is worth a watch.
9. Perfect Days
"Next time is next time. Now is now."
"Perfect Days" reminded me a lot of the amazing "Paterson" starring Adam Driver. The film revolves around Hirayama (played wonderfully by Koji Yakusho), a toilet cleaner living in Tokyo. It meticulously details his daily routine, which he keeps exactly the same every day, with some changes on his non-working days.
While the self-indulgence in the first hour of the movie went a
bit too far for me—particularly the scenes of him cleaning toilets, which could
have been shortened—the narrative gets a welcome change with the introduction
of Hirayama's comical assistant, who has a habit of rating everything out of
10, and the sudden appearance of Hirayama's niece, Niko.
The film explores the lives of people who live in their own old
world, unaware of modern conveniences like Spotify, yet find immense happiness
in their routine. Hirayama's joy in the smallest moments of life, like looking
up at the sky or taking pictures of trees, is touching. The movie also features
great music, reflecting Hirayama's fondness for using old cassettes while
driving to work. The ending track "Feeling Good" was particularly
impactful, hinting at Hirayama's buried longings and desires.
Overall, "Perfect Days" could have been an excellent
film, but it was still a lovely watch for me.
8. Nyad
"Imagine knowing you could do something that no one else could do."
"Nyad" follows the typical biopic sports movie formula, yet for most parts, it is an engaging watch thanks to the excellent performances from Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, and Rhys Ifans. The film tells the story of marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, who, at the age of 28, failed to achieve her dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida—a grueling 100+ mile stretch lasting over 60 hours. She decides to attempt the swim again at the age of 61.
As expected, the movie delivers a clear message: age is never a
barrier to achieving your dreams, never give up, and always respect those who
support you. This last aspect adds an extra layer to the film, preventing it
from becoming a solo triumph narrative. The screenplay and narration are
well-crafted, particularly for not being entirely linear, utilizing brief
flashbacks at key moments during Nyad's swim.
Overall, it's a pretty good watch.
7. Robot Dreams
One downside is the repetitiveness of the dream sequences, which
probably aligns with the movie title, maybe a different title would have been
better. Despite that, it's enjoyable to watch the various adventures the dog
embarks on, even though most lead to disappointments. I also loved the bonding
sequence between the robot and the small birds.
Overall, "Robot Dreams" was a very good watch.
6. Past Lives
"Its an 'In-Yun', if two strangers even walk by each other in the street and their clothes accidentally brush. Because it means there must have been something between them in their past lives."
"Past Lives" tells the story of two childhood Korean friends, Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), who reconnect after 12 years through an online friendship while living in different countries. They eventually meet in person 12 years later, but by then, Nora is married to an American, Arthur (John Magaro), while Hae Sung's feelings for Nora have never faded.
At first glance, the story might seem like a typical love triangle
or a classic tale of rekindling old romance. However, "Past Lives"
unfolds differently. Nora's character is written to show no regret over her
choices. Her practical nature is hinted at early on when she gives a somewhat
cold goodbye to Hae Sung before immigrating from Korea. On the other hand, Hae
Sung is portrayed as a romantic, someone who travels to New York despite
knowing Nora is married, simply to see her one last time.
The film explores the theme of choices and their impact on our
lives. A notable scene involves Arthur discussing with Nora how, in a book,
everyone would root for her and Hae Sung to end up together, pondering on the
different paths life could have taken. The philosophical concept of 'In-Yun,'
which suggests that even a slight brush with a stranger means a connection in
the past, adds depth to the narrative.
Though "Past Lives" is more restrained in its
exploration of romance, it hits the right emotional notes with its thoughtful
storytelling and lovely performances, especially by Greta Lee. The film prompts
viewers to reflect on their life choices and the alternate paths they might
have taken.
Overall, "Past Lives" is a beautiful and thoughtful
movie that may get you emotional at times.
5. Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3
"You didn't wanna make things perfect. You just hated things the way they are."
Although it's titled "Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3," this film feels more like a solo Rocket movie, and rightfully so. The story begins on an emotional note, raising questions about Rocket's fate. The flashbacks revealing how Rocket became who he is add depth and emotion not just to the movie but also to Rocket's already beloved character. His backstory, especially the loss of his friends, is heart-wrenching.
Drax brings humor with his antics, whether pretending to be angry
or the "joob joob" scene. Peter Quill adds his usual comic touch and
bit of endearing stupidity, along with a fantastic soundtrack. Nebula and
Mantis shine in their roles, while Gamora, initially irritating due to her
current character arc, eventually fits back into the team.
The villain, though slightly over-the-top, delivers a strong
performance, enhanced by an excellent background score. New additions like
Cosmo and Adam Warlock are a welcome presence. While it's uncertain if this is
the final movie of the series, it provides a satisfying conclusion if it is.
This installment is closer in quality to the first film, surpassing the second
one, which I found average.
Overall, "Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3" offers
entertainment, humor, and plenty of moments that might make you cry.
4. Oppenheimer
"Don't alienate the only people in the world that understand what you do. One day, you might need them."
Based on American scientist Robert J. Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb, the movie explores the consequences once he got the tag of 'Father of the Atomic Bomb.' It's a three-hour-long movie that comes after the failure of "Tenet" (I couldn't be blind to like it as a Nolan lover should). What makes this biopic a great watch is Nolan's storytelling. It may not be confusing like most of his films, yet it's not a direct biopic either. The use of two narratives, one in color (present) and the other in black and white (future), makes the story more engaging with the way Nolan mixes these narratives, which he is a genius at by now.
At heart, the movie is all about how you see Oppenheimer—as pro,
against, or neutral. The film never takes sides, and even Oppenheimer himself
comes across as a person who never wanted to build a bomb that would destroy
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yet, he did build it and never openly said anything
against it, possibly due to all the security clearance and loyalty questions he
faced later on. The entire Trinity test sequence is chilling to watch, showing
how they took the risk at an 'almost zero' possibility of destroying the world.
I love the speech scene of Oppenheimer, where Nolan contrasts the
victory words with the cries of dying people in Japan, showing his internal
conflict. The question of whether the bomb was necessary is asked repeatedly by
various characters, and the answer varies from person to person. Despite no
Hans Zimmer for the second time in a row, the background score and sound design
were as good as you'd expect from a Nolan movie. The excellent use of
well-known actors for even the smallest roles, such as Gary Oldman, Florence
Pugh, Rami Malek, Casey Affleck, Matthew Modine, Dane DeHaan, and Benny Safdie,
was impressive. I was surprised Michael Caine didn't feature this time around.
Emily Blunt and Jason Clarke were the only characters that were
less likable—the former for her cold behavior, though she gets an amazing scene
to shine in the boardroom as a witness, and the latter because it felt unjust
to accuse Oppenheimer without a fair debate. It's great to see Robert Downey
Jr. in an excellent supporting role, shining outside the Marvel universe, and
Matt Damon is fun in his supporting role. This is Cillian Murphy's movie, and
after many smaller roles in Nolan's films, he finally has his first lead role
and delivers magnificently. I've seen him in "28 Days Later" and
"A Quiet Place 2," yet to watch "Peaky Blinders," but I’ve
always found him fascinating in whatever little I had seen, so I'm not surprised
to see him nail the character and eventually win the Oscar too.
Overall, "Oppenheimer" might feel lengthy because it's a
serious film, almost a character study of a man who forever changed the world
and how it works today. Yet, in the hands of Nolan, it was a great watch along
with a delightful ending.
3. The Holdovers
"I find the world a bitter and complicated place, and it seems to feel the same way about me."
Among my favorites of the last year. It's a lighthearted drama set in December 1970, following a two-week period until the new year when a teacher at a boarding school is asked to supervise five students who can't go home for various reasons. In a few days, it becomes just one student, Angus Tully (played by Dominic Sessa), who stays with Paul Hunham (played by Paul Giamatti), a history teacher, and the cook Mary Lamb (played wonderfully by Da'Vine Joy Randolph), who is still recovering from the loss of her son who had studied at the same school before. Paul is a guy who nobody likes, whether it’s the students, the faculty, or the head of the department.
The story plays the typical trope of Angus and Paul's bond
developing over time, and by the end, they both are changed people or not
really the same as they were before. You could also call it a coming-of-age
story for Angus to some extent. There are some scenes that may get you
emotional, like the longing Angus has for his parents, especially his dad, or
how Paul tries to use his history quotes to mask the awkwardness he feels at
times, knowing deep down that he is lonely and that no one likes him. Initially,
even I found him to be boring and a typical history teacher, but there’s a lot
more to him as we get to know him better. Both Paul and Dominic deliver lovely,
heartwarming performances, and there are some fun, hilarious scenes, especially
in the second half of the movie. I wish Paul had a different ending than what
he gets.
Overall, The
Holdovers is a delight to watch. The story is not unique, but
the execution makes you enjoy the movie, and you would feel happy to spend two
hours of your time with this film.
2. Anatomy of a Fall
"Since you need to believe one thing but have two choices, you must choose."
An excellent courtroom drama that follows the case of Sandra Voyter (Sandra Huller), a prime suspect in the death of her husband Samuel Maleski (Samuel Theis), who fell from the third-floor balcony of their house. There are many ideas at play here—torn-apart relationships, a guilt-ridden husband who feels he is the reason their son Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner) is visually impaired, a successful wife writer while the husband can't get his writing career to flourish, a wife who uses her husband's draft idea in her own book, Sandra mentioning that her books are both fictional and reality, the chance of Sandra already giving a hint of her husband's death happening through a character in her past book, and a lot more.
We see all these bits through the endless prosecution and defense
conversations that take place in the court. Sandra's son Daniel is the most
complicated character; he changes his statement twice, and both times it works
in favor of Sandra, making you wonder if he actually knows more and is trying
to protect his mother, or if it's just a case of him still being a child who
has already gone through a lot, thanks to the accident at age 4, and now the
death of his father. So finding his mother becoming the main suspect started to
affect his memory. I personally felt his second statement near the end was a
total fictional story, part of his imagination—he didn't want to lose his
mother to jail. The scene preceding it hints at this, as he is pondering over
the idea of what to choose when you have no proof. It might sound odd, but I
didn't rule out the possibility that maybe Daniel pushed his dad down, but it
feels too unrealistic to happen, especially with the entire dog (Snoop) test he
had—it would make no sense then.
Great choice of using 50 Cent's cover "P.I.M.P." as the
main track of the movie, with the hilarious scene where the prosecution lawyer
says the song is deeply misogynist, to which someone from the defense lawyer
side replies, "it was an instrumental version." I like some cutaways
throughout the movie using some piano pieces mostly played by Daniel. The
performances by everyone are spot on, especially Sandra Huller (I was rooting
for her to win the Oscar), who makes it really tough to read her character or analyze
if she has done anything wrong or not, or if she is feeling any sort of guilt.
If so, whether that guilt is about killing her husband or the fact that she
knows she was one of the main reasons why he committed suicide. Though she is
fantastic in the entire movie, I particularly loved that long 10-minute
recording scene where, from being polite and calm, she goes into an angry,
full-of-rage mode over Samuel's accusations.
The open ending with the final 10 minutes is a total tease. You
just feel Sandra or her son is about to shock with a reveal, but that doesn't
happen. It's up to us to believe a story—either Sandra was innocent as the
judge declares, which means that Samuel accidentally fell or committed suicide,
or the other scenario is that she acted out a big plan successfully to finally
get rid of her husband with whom the relationship had been sore for a while.
Overall, Anatomy of a Fall is
a very engaging watch, the kind of crime thriller that hooks you and, despite
not giving a clear answer at the end, gives enough hints to take a side, very
much like how Daniel does in his final statement to the court.
1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
"Everyone keeps telling me how my story is supposed to go. Nah. I am gonna do my own thing."
I wonder if, out of all the superheroes, Spider-Man is the one who suffers the most. It's a thought that came to mind while watching this film. Lots of interesting and surprising things take place right from the start, as we are told the story first about Gwen before we go back into the world of Miles. I like how much more complex the movie gets as we learn more about everyone's world and the total chaos that ensues when Miles meets Miguel and we shift into different dimensions.
For me, Miguel has to be the first Spider-Man that you don't feel
like rooting for, even if he is just doing his duty and prioritizing saving the
world rather than just particular people. I love how they even included some
scenes from various past Spider-Man movies, especially the ones where they all
lose some loved ones, and of course, the great use of the famous "You,
You?" Spider-Man meme. The tease to where this Gwen-Miles story would go
is pretty good, and despite knowing it would be tragic, you are still hoping
this one will have a different ending.
The animation is top-class, the humor is excellent throughout, and
the family angle is fully explored as we get to see Gwen with her father and
Miles trying to keep his parents happy. Lastly, the final 30-40 minutes, with
some epic background score (intro, falling apart, and start a band are my
favorites) and a darkish tone, take the movie to a very emotional high and
promise a tougher villain, "Spot" (love his transition from comical
to revenge to beat me if you can), that Miles has yet to tackle in the next
movie, along with saving his dad's life.
I love that they included an Indian (Mumbai-based) Spider-Man with
an entire story on that world shown, and the funny "chai tea"
dialogue. I just hope we see more of Miguel, and his character doesn't become
one-dimensional in the next movie. Overall, I was a little skeptical that this
might not live up to the mark of the first movie, but it totally does, even a
little better than the first one as we have fewer new characters to build this
time.
Final Thoughts on the 2024 Oscar Nominations
I think it was a mixed bag, very much like last year. Some films felt overhyped or didn't deserve a nomination, while others were truly exceptional.
