Each year, 10 movies are nominated for Oscars Best Picture, an accomplishment that highlights the years of hard work and talent that are put into making a film that will touch the hearts of people all over the world. Here is a review of all ten films, critiqued based on my overall experience watching each nominated picture. 

The Secret Agent

“The Secret Agent,” directed by Kleber Mendonça, is a powerful film set in 1977 during Brazil’s two-decade dictatorship, uncovering the reality and cruelty of this time period. Wagner Maura, a Brazilian native, takes on the leading role of scientist Marcelo. Marcelo leaves Brazil with his son, Fernando, played by Enzo Nunes, searching for an escape plan from this dictatorship while running from hit men. l All the while, keeping one goal in mind: leave his past behind and create a brighter future and a new start to his life. This film is a tense, political thriller with scenes of danger and a slow-burning aspect. “The Secret Agent” at times felt hard to understand due to the Portuguese language barrier, along with complex background information and crucial points that require knowledge of Brazilian history. Overall, a great film and labeled as a “masterpiece” by multiple critics. 

Marty Supreme

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “pingpong”? Do you think of a constant, fast pace, back-and-forth motion with a hollow pinging sound that you can’t get out of your brain, no matter how hard you try? For me, I think of “Marty Supreme,” a sports drama film starring Timothée Chalamet as Marty Mouser, loosely based on Marty Reisman, a world-class table tennis player in pursuit of not only greatness but also the possibility of success matched with a hustling ambition. Directed by Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme” would not be as successful as it is today, with a 93 percent Rotten Tomatoes score and nine Academy nominations after its boost in popularity online due to Timothee Chalamet’s marketing strategies. What stood out to me most was the movie’s ambition and drive to make it possible which goes along with its motto “dream big.” The acting was passionate and the storytelling was extremely engaging, with numerous plot twists and scenes where you can’t help but wonder how we got to this point and what we will do to get out of it, contributing to the overall experience, almost like a ping pong ball bouncing back and forth. Despite these positives, a few scenes felt too long or unnecessary, making them hard to watch as they dragged out the conflicts, which distracted from the message as a whole. Though “Marty Supreme” is a must-watch with great actors, directors and producers who allowed this movie to feel like a play of conflict, resolution and questionable decisions.

F1

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, “F1” honors Sonny Hayes, a former F1 racer who grew to fame in the 1990s. Yet, at the peak of his career, Hayes was involved in a technical racing crash and had endured a long-term spinal injury. Oscar winning actor Brad Pitt highlights Hayes’ return to the sport, soon becoming one of the best F1 racers in the world. First off, I thought the editing was brilliant, highlighting the pressures of F1 in a proper way by using quick flashing scenes. “F1” realistically portrays what being an F1 racer is like. Its accurate portrayal of Hayes’s life resonates with many F1 fans who feel for his story and his drive to excel in such a high-stakes sport. Though this movie is definitely for a specific genre, it attracts people interested in watching F1 as a sport. This is something to be aware of because, although this is exactly what is expected, for those who are not interested in F1 and are thinking of watching this movie, it should be something to take into account.

Frankenstein

Curiosity, fantasy and creation are a few words that highlight the overall feeling that Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” exudes. Told through Toro’s, this powerful movie is based on novelist Mary Shelley’s original 1818 “Frankenstein” edition. This film adaptation first follows scientist Victor Frankenstein, played by Oscar Issac,  who establishes a creature much more powerful than expected. The Creature is perceived as monstrous and unable to follow directions or establish a sustainable life for itself. Jacob Elordi, who plays the Creature, is fully immersed in the prosthetic process where he sat for up to 11 hours a day in preparation for becoming the creature and understanding how to rewire the way he speaks, moves, walks and even detailing the creature’s breath. The dedication to this piece is visually ambitious while paying homage to those fascinated with humanity, compassion and character development. Its complexity and attention to nuanced details offer emotional depth mainly within the Creature, but also throughout the film.

Bugonia

Going into this film, I knew that a movie starring Emma Stone and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos was going to be nothing but odd. “Bugonia,” a dark comedy, definitely fits under this category, following two conspiracy-obsessed men, Don and Teddy, who are convinced that the CEO of a major company is an alien. They end up kidnapping her and treating her as if she is from another planet. Whether or not this is true is something the audience must decide, but it is evident that Don and Teddy have a complicated relationship and believe they must “save the world” by capturing this “alien”. Personally, I felt these two characters to be aggravating and hard to make sense of, making it difficult to fully enjoy the film because of the ruthless actions of Don and Teddy (mainly Teddy). Though this feeling is made up for through great acting and dedication to the film, as Stone had to shave her head for this role. To conclude, “Bugonia” was definitely an interesting experience, and a niche film that is worth watching, but leaves the viewer with many questions to follow. 

Train Dreams

“Train Dreams,” directed by Clint Bentley,  was an exceptionally stunning and beautifully shot film. Its slow and mesmerizing camera work fully encapsulates what it was like to live and work in the 20th century as a logger and railroad construction worker. Not only is it a beautiful creation with amazing actors starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones as Robert and Gladys Grainier, but it also portrays family relationships and sacrifice in a profound way while dealing with grief after the disappearance of his family. It plays with imagery by focusing on small details that highlight the movie’s elegance and emotional toll. All in all, this movie was like no other, and it plays as an ode to those who had worked tirelessly for hours chopping trees while handling family and relationships and sacrifice.

Sinners

I went into “Sinners” not knowing anything about the plot, main topics or honestly anything about the film. Because of this, “Sinners” became one of my favorite movies of the year. A Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler collaboration is always a must-watch, as Coogler was able to capture such a historically dense story while incorporating nuanced elements such as “doubling up” to create twins played by the same actor, in this case, Michael B. Jordan, starring as both [character] and [character]. “Sinners” blends horror, historical elements and blues to follow two twin brothers, Stack and Smoke, in their pursuits to leave home, yet are stuck with uncovering the dark truth of their small town of Clarksdale, Mississippi and an evil that awaits to be revealed. This film was unbelievably captivating, an ode to incredible original storytelling that embodies knowledge and talent within each scene.  These qualities weren’t unnoticed as “Sinners” was nominated for 16 Oscar nominations, becoming the most-nominated film in Oscar history. 

Hamnet

“Hamnet,” directed by Chloé Zhao, illustrates William Shakespeare’s life and his battles with grief and family dynamics through the portrayal of pain and emotion. Essentially, this story is about William and Agnes Shakespeare’s loss of their son Hamlet, and is followed by Shakespeare’s work to create the fictional play “Hamnet”, which is roughly inspired by the pain he endured when he lost his son. What stood out to me the most was the film’s ability to show different ways of expressing grief and how complicated it is to navigate your relationships in the aftermath. Agnes and William are dealing with a conflict that divides their family, incorporating themes of blame and guilt. Jessie Buckey, in particular, gave an exceptional performance with her raw emotion, rewarding her as a nominee for best leading actress. This film left viewers speechless and served not only as a knowledgeable experience, but also one that connects storytellers, writers and Shakespeare fans and how similar we may be to these highly praised individuals who experience a very real and vulnerable experience that reflects onto Shakespeare’s revolutionary work.  

Sentimental Value

If I were to tell anyone to watch any particular movie within this list, I would recommend “Sentimental Value” as a must-watch. Its maturity and graciousness battle depression, family dynamics, mental health and father-daughter relationships in an astounding way. This film follows Nora and Gustav Borg, played by Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård. Once Nora’s mother has passed, she must deal with the return of her father, who offers her a position as the lead actress in the new play he is conducting. As a playwright and movie director, he casts Rachel Kemp, played by Elle Fanning, after the role was turned down by Nora. Though, because of a disconnect with the characters’ relationship, it seems apparent that Nora and Gustav have a lot of family conflict to uncover. Though this movie is in Norwegian, it didn’t feel like any other foreign language film, and its storytelling and directing by Joachim Trier made a well-deserved nomination for the Oscar’s Best Picture award. 

One Battle After Another

“One Battle After Another,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, takes a different approach from the others, leaning into a more intense and complex narrative that may not appeal to everyone in the same way. “One Battle After Another” follows a revolutionary group whose actions are often violent, with an emphasis on maintaining racial purity, highlighting the moral ambiguity of their cause. Willa Ferguson, played by Chase Infiniti, goes through a journey shaped by her complex family history, particularly the nuanced and sometimes strained father-daughter relationship with Bob Ferguson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, raising deeper questions about the role and definition of a parental figure. The film also explores role reversal, portraying women in more aggressive and dominant positions, adding to its thematic depth. At the same time, it includes very graphic content and addresses difficult topics such as rape and sexual assault, making it important for viewers to be aware of trigger warnings beforehand. Overall, the characters’ dangerous and often impulsive actions contribute to the story’s layered plot. To me, it was not my favorite, but it had many intriguing storylines portrayed throughout the cinematic experience, producing a compelling experience overall.

Infographic by Adela Tabak