The Oscars: Best Picture Nominees Part 1

I am back with another blog post surrounding the Oscars! As I said in my previous post, Oscar Films: Best Animated Feature Nominees, my next post would revolve around the Best Picture films. But if you have not read my previous post, please go over to the Blog section and you will see the article. Thank you so much for all the support so far as I am excited to continue writing about film during this busy time of the year. For this current blog post, I have been trying to think of the best way to write about all 10 films in the Best Picture category, and I have determined I am going to write a part 1 and part 2. Part 2 will release closer to when the Oscars will be occurring. So be on the lookout for that in early March. Today's post will be about 5 of the Best Picture nominees, with those being, American Fiction, Killers of the Flower Moon, The Holdovers, Anatomy of a Fall, and Barbie. So let's just dive right on it to these films.

American Fiction|86/100

Director: Cord Jefferson

Main Cast: Jeffrey Wright (Actor in a Leading Role Nominee), Sterling K. Brown (Actor in a Supporting Role Nominee), Issa Rae

I feel like this was a film that did not get a lot of publicity and marketing before it was released into theaters. But, American Fiction is a funny and heartwarming film that is all about an author (Jeffrey Wright) trying to reignite his career. As he battles both his family and his career, Jeffrey Wright has to become someone he is not and write a book that the people are asking for, even though it is extremely funny, inappropriate, and rude. This is a film that is well worth your time and will most definitely make you laugh out loud.

Jeffrey Wright isn't the only big name in the film, Sterling K. Brown plays Jeffrey Wright's brother, only he is lost, wild, and trying to figure himself out as well. Wright and Brown balance each other out really nicely in the film when they interact with each other and this is not a role I have seen Brown have before. While Wright is trying to succeed as an author, he is also battling a relationship with a woman, figuring out what is the best pathway for his moms health, and trying to keep the family in one piece. I do think Wright being nominated for Actor in a Leading Role is justified after watching this film.

I don't think this will win Best Picture, but it is a heartwarming film that sprinkles in comedy throughout. I did expect more comedy based on the trailer, so I was a little let down by that while watching the film. Nevertheless, if I had to rank this film amongst the other Best Picture nominees, it would fall somewhere in the middle. It isn't one of the best, but it also isn't one of the worst.

Anatomy of a Fall|84/100

Director: Justine Triet (Director Nominee)

Main Cast: Sandra Huller (Actress in a Lead Role Nominee)

The more I think about Anatomy of a Fall, the more I determined that compared to the other Best Picture nominees, I did not rate this one as well, and I think I know why. But first, I want to make sure everyone is aware that Sandra Huller puts on a mesmerizing performance and her nomination is well deserved for Actress in a Lead Role.

The film is well shot and tells a simple but complex story. Huller's character is married to a man and has a kid, but all of a sudden her husband is found dead and she is accused of his murder. Throughout the film you learn about her and her husbands relationship while also trying to determine whether or not she is guilty or innocent. It ends up becoming a huge case and the son plays a really large role in determining the outcome of the case. Of course, I won't spoil the ending because what fun is that? This film won multiple awards at the Critic Choice Awards and is an International nominee. I can see why it has won what it has, but I find this film to be a touch slow and underwhelming. That isn't to say it is bad, because it is very good, but compared to the other nominees for Best Picture, this falls in the middle of the table at best. Films like Oppenheimer, The Holdovers, Barbie, and Killers of the Flower Moon are all better and more enjoyable. But, this is a good film and well worth the watch if you enjoy the mystery, drama, and crime thriller vibes.

The Holdovers|94/100

Director: Alexander Payne

Main Cast: Paul Giamatti (Actor in a Lead Role Nominee), Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Actress in a Supporting Role Nominee), Dominic Sessa

This may be the most surprised I have been at the end of a film. The Holdovers was absolutely outstanding and one of my favorite films I have seen in a long time. From the acting to the story, this film was magnificent and I can't wait to talk more about it in the coming paragraph.

To start off, this movie is all about character development and relationships between the three main characters. Paul Giamatti is a grumpy professor at the boarding school that he attended as a kid. Da'Vine Joy Randolph is the cook at the school and Dominic Sessa is a student. These three stay at the school during Winter Break when all the other students and staff are gone and at home. At the beginning, these three characters have to learn how to deal with each other, but as the movie progresses you see each one grow substantially and build a relationship with not only one another, but themselves as well. Paul Giamatti is well deserving of his Actor in a Lead Role nominee. What a performance he puts on, and even though the students dislike him, you find yourself feeling for him throughout the film. Da'Vine Joy Randolph is also deserving of her nomination and she makes the audience feel for her from the very first scene she is in. I don't want to spoil anything about what happens because if you even remotely enjoy film, this is one you have to make sure you watch. It is top three out of the 10 movies nominated. I would not be surprised if it/the cast won multiple awards at The Oscars.

Killers of the Flower Moon|87/100

Director: Martin Scorsese (Director Nominee)

Main Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Di Niro (Actor in a Supporting Role Nominee), Lily Gladstone (Actress in a Supporting Role Nominee)

Anytime you see Martin Scorsese as the Director, you know the film is going to most likely be really long, but also well thought out and engaging. Killer of the Flower Moon is all of those things in the best way possible. For the movie being three and a half hours, it doesn't feel nearly that long. It tells an important historical story for everyone to watch and learn about.

This film takes place in Oklahoma during the 1920s when the Osage people discovered oil on their land. Obviously, that oil makes the Osage people extremely wealthy and valuable. Now enter the traditional white Americans, all of whom want to marry Osage women for obvious reasons. Well, throughout the film, the Osage men and women are being murdered one by one and money is being taken from their families and being handed towards the ones they were married too. You learn more and more about who is really running the show behind the scenes, Robert Di Niro, aka William Hale. He is the one gaining all the money and wealth thanks to the deaths of the Osage people. You also have Leonardo DiCaprio, who is related to William Hale (Di Niro). He marries Mollie (Lily Gladstone) and makes her sick by giving her poison in her insulin. It takes about two hours before the FBI, who at the time were very new, thanks to current President during those years, J Edgar Hoover, the founder of the FBI. Once the FBI is involved you get a much better understanding of what is happening and it brings everything together very nicely. I won't spoil the ending for anyone.

Robert Di Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Lily Gladstone are all fantastic in this film. Even though DiCaprio is the main character, I think Di Niro steals the show and Gladstone does extremely well herself. This is a movie you have to commit to if you are going to watch it, but it is one of the better Best Picture nominees that I have seen.

Barbie|88/100

Director: Greta Gerwig

Main Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling (Actor in a Supporting Role Nominee), America Ferrera (Actress in a Supporting Role Nominee), Issa Rae, Simu Liu

Where to start with this film... There is a lot to unpack and talk about, but I am going to only hit on a few things from Barbie. First off, hats off to Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie for taking a risk and delivering on this box office hit. For Gerwig and Robbie to not be nominated for their respective categories is shocking to me, but I don't make any decisions.

I haven't even mentioned how good Ryan Gosling is in this film. Barbie is all about Margot Robbie (the ideal Barbie) going into the real world to learn more about what it is like and see how man runs everything compared to women in Barbie Land. However, Ken (Ryan Gosling) also sees how man runs everything and attempts to do the same in Barbie Land. As he succeeds and has all the Kens running Barbie Land, Barbie brings all the Barbie's together and makes a plan to turn the Kens against each other. That is a really simplistic and mundane version of the film as so much more is happening from start to finish. The comedy hits home really nicely and the film tells an important story that people should pay attention to today. But, I found myself wanting more, which I understand isn't what other people were saying at the end of the movie. When I am comparing this to other Best Picture nominees, I would put it in the top half, but it isn't as good as the top two or three. Yes, an important message is being told and this movie is monumental because of its achievements, accolades, and box office success, but something was missing for me and I can't quite put my finger on what it was.

Closing Thoughts

Best Picture is the biggest award of the night at the Oscars and it is always the last one to be announced. These five films all have their positives and negatives, and in my opinion, some have a better chance than others. But being able to watch these first five, rate them, and talk about them is really fun and gives me a better understanding on what I expect in Best Picture films while having to pay close attention to the little things in order to separate each one.

Stay on the lookout for Part 2 of the Best Picture nominees blog post as there is still so much to talk about. Also, I think the best film and the film with the best shot at winning Best Picture, hasn't even been mentioned yet because it will be discussed in Part 2. Thanks for reading this blog post and remember to subscribe to my mailing channel to get updates when each blog post is released.

Nick Kuster