With the 97th Academy Awards taking place on March 2, it is time to look at the 10 nominees up for Best Picture. Viewers tuning in may wonder which films are genuinely worth their time and which deserve the honor of best picture. This list will help answer those questions.
No. 10: “Emilia Pérez”
By far, the most controversial film embraced by the academy this year was “Emilia Pérez.” This genre-bending musical about a cartel boss who undergoes gender-affirming surgery in order to start a new life earned a whopping 13 Oscar nominations (tied for second most of all time) . The film has baffled audiences, achieving historically low review scores for a Best Picture nominee. In addition to being a trainwreck on a technical level, transgender and Mexican critics (the two groups this film claims to represent) have criticized the movie for its offensive portrayal of their communities and culture.
Few would have likely remembered “Emilia Pérez” had it not been showered with awards recognition. However, the academy’s approval of such an offensive and problematic film provides a reminder that there is still a long way to go before complex and positive transgender stories are recognized by the broader film industry.
No. 9: “A Complete Unknown”
"A Complete Unknown" examines Bob Dylan's rise to fame and subsequent controversy surrounding going electric at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. While it is more grounded and dramatic than some music biopics we have gotten recently, this film functions more as an Oscar vehicle for lead actor Timothée Chalamet than as an exploration of Bob Dylan's life. With how mysterious of a figure Dylan is, this film underwhelms with how little it is interested in actually digging into who he was as a person.
While “A Complete Unknown” is a harmless entry in the Best Picture race, it is ultimately a boring one. Despite outstanding performances from the entire cast and an engaging visual look, this film does not distinguish itself from the slew of Oscar-bait biopics Hollywood has become so fond of in the last decade. Between this, "Elvis" and "Bohemian Rhapsody," it seems like Hollywood trends towards churning out formulaic films about singers for awards rather than looking at their subjects with complexity.
No. 8: “Conclave”
Two years after his massive awards success with “All Quiet on the Western Front,” director Edward Berger is back with another film poised to win multiple awards, possibly even Best Picture. “Conclave” follows Cardinal Lawrence, played by Ralph Fiennes, who is tasked with overseeing the election of the next pope. As the story unfolds, secrets and conspiracies about the leading candidates come to light.
A thrilling crowd-pleaser through and through, “Conclave” is a well-assembled film with no weak points. However, even though every element of the movie is good, there is no one particular aspect that stands out as excellent. So, while this is an agreeable movie for a broad audience to enjoy, it would still be an underwhelming winner if it takes home the biggest prize of the night on March 2.
No. 7: “Wicked”
With a domestic gross higher than every other nominee combined, “Wicked” is the film that has found the largest audience on this list. Following Elphaba Thropp before becoming the Wicked Witch of the West, this rousing crowdpleaser will have audiences invested in its story and characters. Much of that is because of the magnetic performances of the two Oscar-nominated leads, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
While criticisms of the film’s visual look and unfinished character arcs (which will be closed out in 2025’s “Wicked: For Good”) are fair, this is ultimately a worthy nominee for Best Picture.
No. 6: “I’m Still Here”
This tragic story of a military dictatorship separating families in 1970s Brazil is one of the most emotionally powerful films of the year. Featuring one of the best performances of the year from Fernanda Torres as Eunice Paiva, “I’m Still Here” captures the human element of this horrifying time in history.
Audiences will be moved to tears while also leaving the film feeling inspired by Paiva's perseverance in the face of such a cruel system. While it does not have a chance to win Best Picture, taking home the award for Best International Feature would be well deserved.
No. 5: “The Substance”
Director Coralie Fargeat presents a scathing critique of society’s absurd beauty standards for women in the form of a grotesque body horror thrill ride with "The Substance." Fargeat’s maximalist style of filmmaking injects a shot of adrenaline into this film as it gets crazier the longer it goes on. Demi Moore delivers a career-best performance that has a chance of winning her an Academy Award for Best Actress. The makeup/practical effects of the body horror will amaze audiences with how extreme it goes.
While some may not be fans of its blunt messaging and over-the-top third act, there is no denying that “The Substance” is one of the year's most entertaining movies. Given how rare it is for horror to be recognized by the academy, this film's ability to break through the genre barrier is an accomplishment that all should champion.
No. 4: “Dune: Part Two”
Continuing where Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” left off, this sequel improves upon the 2021 film in every way. Villeneuve immerses audiences in the world of Arrakis, making everyone buy into these characters and their journeys. Seeing Paul Atreides’ alarming rise to power facilitated by the Fremen's acceptance of him as their messiah, “Dune: Part Two” becomes a cautionary tale about worshipping leaders.
While it will not win the biggest prize of the night this Sunday, this film, and the "Dune" franchise in general, will not need accolades to be remembered as some of the best in the sci-fi genre because of its technical craft, breathtaking action and relevant themes that can be applied to the real world.
No. 3: “Nickel Boys”
Shot entirely in first person point-of-view, “Nickel Boys” follows two boys, Elwood and Turner, as they navigate through the horrors of an abusive reform school. Seeing the boys take on different ways of fighting back against this terrifying system will inspire audiences to make a difference in the real world by the time the credits roll.
Through this inventive way of shooting the film, RaMell Ross pushes the limits of how cinema can tell stories. “Nickel Boys” is the one film this year where audiences can undoubtedly say, “I have never seen anything like that before.”
No. 2: “Anora”
If “Anora” could be described in one word, authentic would be that word. Director Sean Baker has been committed to telling human stories around sex work for his entire career, and this film is no different. Baker’s career-best follows Ani, a stripper who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. She gets to live her Cinderella story before it all comes crashing down.
The presumed frontrunner for Best Picture going into Oscar night, “Anora” provides laughter, anger, drama and a gut punch at the end, making audiences feel every emotion possible. If it does take home the top prize of the night, “Anora” would be an incredibly deserving winner.
No. 1: “The Brutalist”
“The Brutalist” tackles complex themes around the American dream, the patron/artist relationship and the immigrant experience in a towering fashion. Following Hungarian immigrant architect László Tóth, the film's first half looks optimistic as he works hard to find success in America. However, as the rotten core of that dream begins to reveal itself, László spirals down in the second half. Adrien Brody’s portrayal of László is one of the best acting performances of the 21st century, making him feel like a real person and not a character in a film.
What director Brady Corbet accomplished on such a massive scale will alone be enough to study “The Brutalist” for years to come. However, it is how the film explores its ideas and critiques of American capitalism’s oppression of immigrants that will let it live on forever with the great American epics of old like “The Godfather” and “Once Upon a Time in America.”
Despite some underwhelming entries, there is still something for everyone to enjoy in this year's Best Picture lineup. From the populist blockbusters "Wicked" and "Dune: Part Two" to the critically acclaimed dramas "The Brutalist" and "Nickel Boys," audiences of all kinds will find films they love nominated at the 97th Academy Awards.