“Did the Oscars Get It Right?”
By Jack Fenner and Ashton Slaughter
The Best Picture category at the Academy Awards is a very high-bar for any film to meet. If nominated for this prestigious award, the film immediately has some expectations for it, considering how limited films are able to be nominated. At this past Oscars, eight films were nominated for Best Picture. This means that these eight movies were so highly sought after that they had a chance to win the biggest award in the entertainment industry. “Nomadland,” ended up coming out on top with the award, after winning various other Oscars. Naturally, this film gained a lot of traction, with people wanting to watch it to see if it lived up to the hype. Jack & I then decided to sit down and watch all eight Best Picture nominated films to answer one question– did the Oscars get it right?
The “Nomadland” cast/crew with their various Oscar trophies after the ceremony, photo from the Wall Street Journal.
Now, before I start. I want to make one thing clear with this list– this list is based purely off of the film techniques used and what films I enjoyed the most. However, it is mainly based on my personal entertainment, and the rewatchability factor these movies present… now with that being said:
Ashton’s Best Picture Nominees Ranked:
8. “Mank” directed by David Fincher
Yawn. This film was all over the place, as I never bought into the storyline because of how scattered the plot was. With David Fincher being one of my favorite directors, I was thoroughly disappointed with this film. With outdated pop culture references and old-timey political dialogue all throughout, the movie felt like gibberish to me. Maybe that’s just my Gen-Z showing, but I truly don’t think it is. I would only recommend it if you like cinematography, as that’s truly the only memorable thing I took away from this film.
7. “Nomadland” directed by Chloé Zhao
Yeah so… the Oscars got it wrong. This Oscar-sweeping film was nowhere near as great as it should have been, as my expectations were through-the-roof for such an acclaimed film. But no, just a slow-paced movie, with acting that was lackluster compared to other nominees and a plotline that continued to make me ask: “Is this movie over yet?” On the bright side, it’s a very pretty movie, as dessert sunsets look jaw-dropping.
6. “Minari” directed by Lee Issac Chung
Although I didn’t love this film, I would definitely go back to it before the previous two listed films. The acting was great, especially from the women in this film. Since this movie was shot in Oklahoma, it makes the gorgeous landscape even better, reminding you how breathtaking our state can be. Still didn’t love it, but found a lot more interest in it than the others.
5. “Judas and the Black Messiah” directed by Shaka King
I can easily say that this was the biggest disappointment to me personally out of the eight nominees. Now let me get this clear– it’s a lot better than the other previous films mentioned, as this becomes the first “middle tier” film on this list. Even with this film being better, I was still underwhelmed, as my expectations for this movie were very high. An incredible acting ensemble mostly faded into the back, as the only standout performance for me was LaKeith Standfield, as Danniel Kaluuya (who actually won Best Supporting Actor for his role), seemed to be not as memorable as Standfield. Overall, fine movie… but not amazing.
4. “The Trial of the Chicago 7” directed by Aaron Sorkin
This is when the films really start to increase, as Aaron Sorkin provides not only great dialogue, but great direction for this film as well. This film had a memorable script, with quick and witty dialogue, along with a hilarious and extremely talented acting ensemble, which makes the viewer want to go back and rewatch the film. The ranking may not be completely fair, given that it was the first film we watched and may have grown a little hazy in my memory, however I think that shows it doesn’t deserve to be at the top of my list. Great movie though, I’d recommend it to anyone!
3. “The Father” directed by Florian Zeller
This heartbreaking and relatable drama is a very quick and easy digest for viewers. Anthony Hopkins shows that he rightfully deserved his Best Actor victory, which also has its fair share of controversy, as he plays an aging man with dementia in this film. The former-play adapts great to the big screen, as the theatre-geek in me wishes I had seen it on the stage. Very touching and very well-made movie.
2. “Sound of Metal” directed by Darius Marder
Riz Ahmed. Wow. A stunning performance by a very underrated actor. Ahmed learned how to play the drums and sign language for this role. Luckily, his work doesn’t go unnoticed, as he rightfully got a Best Actor nomination for his work (which he could have just as easily won too). The emotional distress we find his character in throughout the movie as he loses his hearing is amazing. Masterclass performance put on by Ahmed, as he leads the way in this highly-rewatchable film.
1. “Promising Young Woman” directed by Emerald Fennell
Photo of Carey Mulligan from “Promising Young Woman,” photo from The Guardian.
Without a doubt the most entertaining film on this list. Is it the best film I’ve ever seen? No. But when it comes to my list criteria, it definitely takes the top spot. When you take a step back, the structure it follows is pretty basic, but the storyline is so interesting that it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Carey Mulligan puts on an incredible performance, as she (in my opinion) should have won Best Actress for her work in this film. The script is also exceptional, which is why it rightfully deserved the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. This movie is funny, touching, dark and will get any viewer invested until the final credits. Already plan on rewatching it ASAP… go watch it!
Jack’s Best Picture Nominees Ranked:
8. “Mank” directed by David Fincher
“Mank” was a confusing movie to say the least. It was definitely geared toward an older audience that would understand many of the countless historical, political and pop culture references that it has. I struggled to get through this movie as I felt it never really picked up. With me and Ashton in complete agreement about the confusing nature of this movie, I’d say the number eight spot is where this one belongs.
7. “Nomadland” directed by Chloé Zhao
“Nomadland” was one of the shortest films that Ashton and I watched, but it felt like the longest. This film’s plot just felt boring. The story wasn’t completely confusing, which is why this one takes a step up from “Mank,” but this movie had no climax. It was like a flatline in movie-form. Even still, I’m asking myself what the ending really did to impact the story.
6. “Minari” directed by Lee Issac Chung
While this movie suffers from the same problem as “Nomadland,” I think the plot was just a bit more interesting. This movie is really about the trials and tribulations that come with fulfilling your dreams. The acting was fantastic, but the reason this ranked so low for me was ultimately because of how slow it was.
5. “Judas and the Black Messiah” directed by Shaka King
This one was the biggest disappointment for both me and Ashton. I really had my hopes up for this film especially after watching “Trial of the Chicago 7,” which includes one of the main characters of this movie, Fred Hampton. While I think that Lakeith Stanfield did a great job in portraying the mental struggle that his character had while working for the FBI and Black Panthers at the same time, it really wasn’t enough to carry the rest of the film.
4. “The Father” directed by Florian Zeller
Wow… going into this film I thought that surely this would be another to fail to grab my attention, but I was sorely mistaken. This film was one that, for many, will hit close to home. It follows the story of Anthony who is suffering from severe dementia and he creates his own reality as he goes through his days. At parts, this film had me thoroughly confused, which made it that much better. The viewer is fully immersed into the perspective of Anthony as he struggles to understand what is happening around him, which is unfortunately a conclusion he never reaches. A great, emotionally impactful film that I am really glad I was able to watch.
3. “Sound of Metal” directed by Darius Marder
This film was truly an emotional rollercoaster. Reuben, the main character, has to learn how to come to terms with his deafness and is forced to abandon his desires to play the drums. The soundtrack used in this movie was fantastic and when the instruments would play they would be distorted and muffled, putting the viewer straight in Reuben’s shoes. Riz Ahmed did a FANTASTIC job. I sincerely don’t think I have ever felt more sorry for a character than I did Reuben, and it was all because of Ahmed’s performance.
2. “Promising Young Woman” directed by Emerald Fennell
This film was extremely well rounded. Great story, lots of twists and turns, amazing cinematography and even better acting. The performance that Carey Mulligan gave was chilling and immediately reminded me of Micheal C. Hall’s “Dexter” performance. This film is one of the most entertaining I have seen in a long time and it’s one that I wish I could have seen in theaters.
1. “The Trial of the Chicago 7” directed by Aaron Sorkin
The dialogue, the plot, the acting, the realism. I feel like this film checked all of the boxes for me. One of my favorite performances in the film comes from Sacha Baron-Cohen, who played a witty hippy that the audience can’t help but love. I also applaud the way this movie intertwined the real footage of the events leading up to the trial with the scenes in the movie. Most of all this film had a satisfying ending, which I was starting to forget the feeling of after watching some of the other movies on this list. Overall, a great movie that I think anyone will love.