The Oscars will air on ABC on March 10, 2024.
2023 was a great year for cinema and that’s certainly made clear by the 2024 Oscar nominees for Best Picture. All ten of the nominees have their strengths, and all ten have earned their spot in the lineup. But which is the best-of-the-best? Let’s dive into the nominees with a ranking!
10. The Holdovers
Also Read: The Holdovers BFI London Film Festival Review
Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph are both nominated for their performances in Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers. It’s a solid return to form for the filmmaker following his last effort, Downsizing, which was not very well received by audiences or critics. The film is heartfelt, beautifully written and filled with top-notch performances.
9. American Fiction
Also Read: American Fiction TIFF Review
Jeffrey Wright is finally given the opportunity to lead a film, and it appears the wait was worth it. American Fiction is a smart, comedic look at stereotypes and prejudices that still flourish in society today. The topic of race can be difficult to navigate in film, however writer and director Cord Jefferson navigates the subject matter with precision. Wright and Sterling K. Brown are nominated for their performances
8. Maestro
Also Read: Maestro Venice Film Festival Review
Bradley Cooper follows up A Star is Born with another musical-tinged feature. Maestro tells the true story of American composer Leonard Bernstein and his tumultuous relationship with actress Felicia Montealegre. Cooper has received strong criticism for wearing a prosthetic nose to portray the real-life, Jewish composer, but succeeds in bringing the figure to life on screen. Both Cooper and Carey Mulligan are nominated for their performances.
7. Barbie
Also Read: Barbie Review – Life is Plastic, It’s FANTASTIC
One half of the “Barbenheimer” craze, Barbie succeeded where most films of this type would have failed. That success is largely thanks to Margot Robbie’s portrayal of the iconic toy, as well as Greta Gerwig’s keen direction and writing. The film is funny, creative and surprisingly touching. Ryan Gosling and America Ferrera both received acting nominations for their work.
6. Past Lives
Past Lives took many viewers by surprise. It’s a film from a first-time filmmaker (Celine Song) that examines the complexities of relationships and regrets with much of the dialogue being in Korean. It doesn’t exactly sound like a rousing time at the cinema; however, with intimate performances and a realistic approach to the difficulties of letting go and moving-on, Past Lives instantly became not only a critical-hit, but a crowd-pleaser.
5. Anatomy of a Fall
Sandra Hüller stars in two movies nominated for Best Picture, but its her performance in Anatomy of a Fall that earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Partly an examination of a deteriorating marriage and partly a tense courtroom drama, the film asks audiences to decide wither Sandra murdered her husband or not. With a mix of English, French and German dialogue, the film is a great starting point for viewers interested in international cinema. Justine Triet is nominated for Best Director.
4. The Zone of Interest
Also Read: The Zone of Interest BFI London Film Festival Review
Sandra Hüller’s second film nominated for Best Picture at the 2024 Oscars is The Zone of Interest. Of all the nominees, this is by far the most difficult watch and the film that is least likely to be accepted by general audiences. Examining evil in a way that few films have dared to, The Zone of Interest follows Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss, his wife Hedwig and their family as they about living a normal life filled with gardening, chores and family bonding, all while atrocities are occurring in the camp next door. Jonathan Glazer is also nominated for Best Director.
3. Killers of the Flower Moon
Also Read: Killers of the Flower Moon Review – A Masterful, Poignant Work of Art
Martin Scorsese teams-up with frequent collaborators Robert De Niro and Leonardo Dicaprio for Killers of the Flower Moon. He strips away the Hollywood cliches, for a bareboned, genuine examination of the Osage tribe murders. It’s a difficult subject matter to sell to general audiences, especially with a runtime of over three-hours; however, Scorsese true vision comes to life and it’s as beautiful as it is tragic. Lily Gladstone and Robert DeNiro are nominated for their performances and Scorsese is up for Best Director.
2. Past Lives
Also Read: Poor Things Venice Film Festival Review
My favorite of the nominees is undoubtedly Poor Things. Yorgos Lanthimos brings his signature style of weirdly erotic storytelling to his newest film. With an incredible cast of Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe, the film perfectly adapts the story of Frankenstein’s monster with a unique twist. The role of Bella, a naive, child-like woman experimenting with her sexuality, could have been disastrous; however, Emma Stone perfectly captures the character in a performance that earned her a Best Actress nomination. Mark Ruffalo is also nominated for Best Supporting Actor, along with Lanthimos for Best Director.
1. Oppenheimer
Also Read: Oppenheimer Review – Nolan’s Magnum Opus
While Poor Things is my favorite film of 2023, it’s impossible to deny that Christopher Nolan’s biopic epic Oppenheimer is the best. With a staggering thirteen nominations, the film is almost certain to win in numerous categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and more. Cillian Murphy get’s his first leading part in a Nolan film and received universal praise.
Do you agree with my ranking? Will you be watching the Oscars? Let us know!
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