Ten films have been nominated for Best Picture at the upcoming Academy Awards on Sunday, March 2. The genres of these films vary, providing options that cater to a diverse range of audiences. Before the event, here are our thoughts on which nominations are worth watching and which you can skip.
A Complete Unknown
“A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold and starring Timothée Chalamet, retells the early years of the famous singer Bob Dylan. Centered in New York City during the 1960s, Chalamet plays an excellent antihero as he constantly pushes the people trying to help him away, under the impression that they are forcing him to conform to society. An element that gave a sense of authenticity to the film was Chalamet’s ability to play the guitar and sing just like Dylan himself. A strong move by Mangold was casting Chalamet not just because of his commitment to the role, but also taking someone so prevalent and loved by our generation to draw viewers and offer a glimpse into the turbulent time of social turmoil that the ‘60s held. While today’s movies seem to be competing with each other for the most profound message, the driving purpose of Mangold’s biopic is to educate younger generations of the enigmatic genius who had the rare ability to blend raw talent with unmatched lyrical depth.
Anora
In Mikey Madison’s breakout movie “Anora,” directed by Sean Baker, we follow the titular character Ani, an exotic dancer from Brooklyn who breaks away from her survivalist lifestyle on a perspective-changing journey through New York. After years of her routine, Ani’s manager assigns her to entertain Ivan, played by Mark Eidelstein, the spoiled son of a Russian oligarch. After joining his wild Vegas trip, they impulsively marry, sparking outrage from Ivan’s family. His godfather, Toros, played by Karren Karagulian, is sent to annul the marriage, but Ivan flees, leaving Ani with Toros and his henchmen. After much debate, Ani agrees to help them find Ivan. The four spend the rest of the night chasing Ivan around Brooklyn while he takes off on a bender. This movie isn’t groundbreaking but what makes it so captivating is the complexity of the character Ani. The way she views the world alongside her character development is incredibly written, especially with Madison’s beautiful performance that deserves Best Actress in a Leading Role. Alongside Ani’s character development, the themes of class disparity and objectification were well executed. This is a gripping film that I would recommend and am excited to see it play out at the Oscars.
The Brutalist
“The Brutalist,” starring Academy Award nominee Adrien Brody follows a Hungarian architect’s journey through America after his detainment in a concentration camp. The character faces struggles with finding jobs, his relationship, drug abuse and passion, ultimately leading to an emotional build-up, ending the film. This film’s production was outstanding, a result of the seven years it took to film. Despite its length of three hours and 35 minutes, even containing an intermission for viewers to take a break from the action, it took home “Best Drama Film” at the Golden Globes and is predicted to win “Best Picture” at the Academy Awards by many Hollywood sites. This film features complex characters, thorough storytelling and a profoundly moving and thought-provoking impact on the viewer. However, the target audience is more mature viewers as the somber topics and historical premise can feel slow for someone
Conclave
Directed by Edward Berger, “Conclave” follows Academy Award-nominated Ralph Fiennes as his character, a cardinal at the Vatican, navigates through the sequestered process of electing a new pope after the strange death of the last one. By far the most impressive aspects of the film were the beautiful sets, portraying the architecture of Vatican City, as well as the outfits designed for each person of the congregation. The pacing was a bit slow at times, with a rather quiet score and frequent language switch-up, but overall the plot stayed engaging throughout the film. The acting by Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini and Stanley Tucci contributed to the movie’s quality and brought the election process to life. “Conclave” offers a new perspective into The Vatican as the film takes you through a dramatized process of the Roman Catholic Church and is worth the watch before this year’s Oscars.
Dune: Part 2
Denis Villenueve’s “Dune: Part Two” picks up immediately after the first movie ends, with Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet and his mother, Lady Jessica, played by Rebecca Ferguson, fleeing into the desert to join the local Fremen after the great House Atreides has all but been destroyed by the rival House Harkonnen and the Emperor. Paul strikes up a love interest with Fremen Chani (Zendaya) while struggling with whether or not to assume the Messiah role the Fremen expect from him as he leads them in a successful campaign to disrupt spice production on the desert planet. “Dune: Part Two” was nominated for fewer Oscars than Part One, with only five Oscars, including Best Picture and the technical achievements for production design, sound, cinematography and visual effects. However, there has been controversy over the absence of nominations for Villeneuve himself in the writing categories. Villeneuve was given credit for his intention to stay true to the novel’s original form, yet this can come across as confusing for viewers.
Overall “Dune: Part Two” was well produced yet dense and hard to fully comprehend the significance. I would not recommend this movie purely due to its complexity but it’s a great option for those that are fans of this unique genre.
Emilia Pérez
Sweeping the 2025 Oscars with 13 nominations, “Emilia Pérez” by Jacques Audiard has taken the award season by storm. Taking place in Mexico City, cartel kingpin Juan “Manitas” Del Monte, played by Karla Sofía Gascón, recruits struggling attorney Rita, played by Zoe Saldaña, for a top-secret mission to which he reveals his desire to transition into a woman. Rita accepts the mission and helps him acquire all necessary surgeries, fake his death and relocate his wife and two kids so Manitas can become “Emilia Pérez.” This all happens in the first 40 minutes of the movie. The rest is centered around Pérez and Rita creating a non-profit organization to help families of cartel victims get closure on their missing relatives. However, the cheesy music and off-putting choreography completely overshadow the movie. While this movie is different from any that has come out this past year, I don’t believe it deserves the amount of nominations it has received due to its subpar acting and cinematography.
I’m Still Here
“I’m Still Here”, an adapted screenplay directed by Walter Salles starring Academy Award-nominee Fernanda Torres, follows the true story of the disappearance of former congressman Rubens Paiva during a Brazilian Military Coup. Torres’s character, Eunice, attempts to keep her family under control as they grapple with the vanishing of her husband, leading to complicated, violent situations for her and her loved ones. The film is entirely in Portuguese with English subtitles and snagged the Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes as well as the “Audience Award” at The Mill Valley Film Festival. This tragically breathtaking movie features an engaging plot that is certainly more suited for a mature audience, along with compelling characters, eye-opening storytelling and a new knowledge of Rio De Janeiro in the 1970s. Overall, Salles did a great job with the production of the film, making it worth the watch to those who like historical dramas with authentic period details and compelling action.
Nickel Boys
Adapted from Colson Whitehead’s 2019 novel, “Nickel Boys,” director RaMell Ross explores injustice and resilience throughout the film. In 1962, in Tallahassee, Florida, a young African-American boy Elwood Curtis, played by Ethan Herisse, is accepted to a tuition-free accelerated study program. As he hitchhikes, the man driving him is arrested and found guilty of stealing the car, resulting in Elwood being charged as an accomplice. Elwood, being a minor, is sent to Nickel Academy, a segregated reform school for boys. The rest of the movie explores the horrors of this house during a tense, Jim Crow time period. A standout feature of this film is the first-person cinematography. Blurring the boundary between observer and participant, you are truly forced to acknowledge the horrible conditions the boys are facing at this “horror house.” All are amplified through the most stunning screen visuals with brilliant lighting. Although this movie could be seen as obfuscatory through extensive artistic choices, the movie should remain one of the best of the year and deserve all the praise it has received.
The Substance
With an eerie take on modern pressures, Academy Award-nominee Demi Moore gave a chilling performance in this film, leaving the audience both impressed and disturbed at the curtain call. This screenplay is the most original you can get, following an aging celebrity as she navigates through the struggles of accepting her age, ultimately forcing her to fall back on “the substance.” While Moore and Margaret Qualley do an excellent job portraying the leads, the film lacks a supporting cast as they are the only two characters you get to know. While missing deliberate humor written in the script, “The Substance” makes up for it with its grotesquely hilarious body horror and inconceivable plot. This gruesome comment on society did a perfect job of encapsulating the costs of being a Hollywood star. This may not be considered anyone’s “comfort” movie, but its thought-provoking impact makes it worth the watch before this year’s Oscars.
Wicked
This long-awaited Broadway adaptation will leave you singing in the theater as Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande steal the show with their astounding performances. Directed by Jon M. Chu, “Wicked” transports you to the Land of Oz as the two protagonists journey through prep school and begin the search for “the wizard.” The most notable factor of this production was the score, featuring 11 songs from the original Broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz. Besides the music, the costumes, sets, hair, makeup and visual effects all do a great job of setting the magical scene. One interesting component of “Wicked” is that the entire storyline will be released in two parts. The first part reenacts the first act of the musical, with the second being released in November 2025. Overall, “Wicked” was entertaining with great visual storytelling, a deeply compelling cast, well-integrated humor and effective direction. However, if you are looking for a deep, thought-provoking film, look elsewhere.
