Barbie
A hilarious, yet intricate depiction of Barbie coming to life is a story that unexpectedly has a bigger meaning than you would think. The film makes you appreciate life and develop an affinity for human curiosity. The costume and set designs were done incredibly well which brought Barbie Land in life-size justice. With Margot Robbie’s performance, she portrays so much depth of discovering the world and its reality for women and their experiences. Greta Gerwig displays the depth of both authenticity and idealism of what girlhood and motherhood are. The composition was one of the best and most emotional scores as it resonates with Robbie’s character arc. I don’t think there is enough that can be said about just how relatable seeing this movie has made me and other women feel. A truly anticipated film that exceeded all expectations, the cast and crew have more than earned their spot on the Oscars nomination for Best Picture.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Scorsese. That’s all I can really start with when it comes to this film, as I don’t really know where to begin. I was scared, to say the least, when I saw that 3-hour and 26-minute running time, but I am so incredibly glad I gave this film a chance. It’s more than a moving story, it’s one of the most eye-opening, beautiful tellings of a real story I have ever seen. Out of all of the acting performances in these Best Picture nominations, Lily Gladstone, who plays our leading woman, performs for a lifetime. There are no words to describe her acting performance, and I want nothing more than to see her take home an Oscar for her role in this film. Leonardo Dicaprio also does a fantastic job, but Gladstone just shines through this entire film, and she brings the story together. Overall this is a love story that is filled with crime, greed, drama, and some western hints that you do not want to miss. If there’s any film I would recommend on this list, it would be this one.
The Holdovers
Set in 1970, New England, a mismatched dynamic between a prudent detestable teacher, a smart-alek student, and a grieving tender lunch lady get stuck together during winter break in their boarding school. I genuinely enjoyed the film as it became a clear reminder that everyone carries their struggles they hide from people. The cinematography brings an authentic atmosphere of the time, where, unlike other period pieces of this decade, it doesn’t try to push onto any vibrancy or extremity but rather revels in the simplicity of this era. There’s this philosophical notion about human connection and how loneliness and neglect can take effect but also heal if one is willing to acknowledge it. Paul Giammati’s performance reigns in so much wisdom, as is noticeable with his facial work on his eyes. His chemistry with Dominic Sessa’s character is so hysterical that it’s one of the main reasons that this film will become a future cult classic.
The Zone of Interest
A holocaust movie is hard to pull off without coming off as insensitive, or a fear that you’re going to get something wrong. This movie executed it perfectly without showing a single snippet of the atrocities that occurred. The whole time we are behind a wall of blindness, only left with our imaginations and knowledge to figure out what is going on the other side of this morally challenged family’s garden wall. The scene that sticks out to me the most in this film is none other than the beginning, a black screen with nothing but a song backing it up. It helps fit the rest of the film, as the audience is forced to truly listen when watching. Whether it be the rather different soundtrack that is provided or the sounds of the victims at Auschwitz, which the family doesn’t seem to ever take notice of. This film really makes you think and even compare the indifference of this commander’s family to the people we currently see every day. It’s an eye-opening film that is so uniquely different and goes against nearly everything that a film should be.
Oppenheimer
If you know director Christopher Nolan, then this movie came as no surprise to you. Another film about an awful man, Nolan’s favorite. But besides that this movie is wonderful. With a gorgeous mix of black and white and colored scenes, this movie is unforgettable. Cillian Murphy, as usual, put his all into this performance and Robert Downey Jr. should take home the award for best-supporting actor. This film is jam-packed with beautiful performances, and an even more beautiful soundtrack/score. Overall this film is going to make you think for hours after watching it, about human nature, and watching someone use their gift for something awful is eye-opening. This film showcases the duality of man and the confusing nature of life in general. It tells history in a way that I didn’t think I would ever be this interested in. Nolan does a fantastic job as usual, and just overall this movie was beautifully executed and it’s definitely one you should have on your watch list.
American Fiction
With an all-star cast, this satirical comedy focuses on talented but struggling Thelonius “Monk” Elison, who is daunted by the media’s portrayal of the “African American experience” and succumbs to writing a satire of it, taking every stereotype to the extreme which unexpectedly becomes a selling hit. I loved how the film revealed deeper insights into the treatment of Black demographics and their ingenious portrayals on screen, told in an incredibly blunt and confrontational, yet ignorant and exploitative manner. There were so many well-thought-out juxtapositions between Monk’s life and his caricature, but there was a sense of rushing in the movie. Although it held its ground to its message criticizing Black entertainment, there wasn’t a chance to see the characters fully fleshed out. However, its mix of melodrama, humor and dysfunctional characters earned its way to being one of its most creative and provoking stories of the year.
Anatomy of a Fall
I’ll start by saying, I didn’t enjoy this film very much. If you like a good “courtroom drama” this film is for you, but for me, it came off rather slow and at times very boring. Nothing stuck out to me very much, and I didn’t have any thoughts while watching it. However, I can say that Milo Machado-Graner did an absolutely fantastic job while playing the role of the lead’s son. Every scene that he’s in, you can almost feel his emotions through the screen, and it’s about the only reason why I was able to keep this movie on. You feel for him throughout the entire movie, and you are trying to put yourself in his shoes the whole time. With every dilemma he goes through, you feel his panic deep in your chest and it is the redeeming factor for this film. However, I can say that there were some choices made by the director that I did appreciate such as the overlapping of a recording during a flashback scene, helping to show how the jurors are trying to put themselves at the scene. This film definitely wasn’t my favorite but overall I think it has some redeeming qualities that would make it enjoyed by others.
Poor Things
One of the most explicit and raunchiest films of the year, it’s set in a steampunk-esque fantasy of the Victorian era. We follow Bella Baxter, a woman who was brought back to life by an unorthodox surgeon. With the mind of a growing child, she ventures into the world anew and experiences the philosophical, physical wonders and tragedies that human life has to offer. My favorite aspect was the cinematography and colorations that bring this film to life as it takes you in on not just discovering this strange alternate world but through Bella’s eyes. Every experience is stripped down to its raw form and while it doesn’t shy away from the explicit details, the amount was too much for my taste. It sends a very interesting yet obscure message of society’s treatment of women, furthermore on resisting the societal expectations of them. I thought that Emma Stone brought a strong and innovative presence to her performance as she represents the strong-willed and curious desires that girls go through. Simply put, to just call this film unique would be considered an understatement.
Maestro
The story of Leonardo Bernstein, an American composer, whose career began in the 1940s. Played by Bradly Cooper, it is a performance you really won’t forget. It’s a great biography that bounces from different time frames to help keep you fully engaged for the entire movie duration. These bounces also bring a difference in coloring that helps the audience keep track of where we are in time, and it was one of my favorite aspects of the film. The soundtrack, which mainly consisted of Bernstein’s music, was beautifully played within the movie, and its transitions into the music constantly impressed me as I watched. However, the one scene that stuck out to me was a more comedic one, as we get a shot of a huge snoopy balloon floating past a window after a heated argument, it’s a brilliantly timed moment, and it is one that I will think about always whenever this film gets brought up.
Past Lives
If you love sad endings, then I suggest you see Past Lives. When old childhood sweethearts Nora and Hae Sung are finally reunited in their adult years, they get to learn and figure out how their lives have turned out differently since their last encounter. As Nora is already married at this point, there builds an aching sensation where it leaves the audience wondering what could happen between them, however, all those probabilities could only exist in another life. This film uses beautiful cinematography to handle such a raw and gentle atmosphere that centers around two people who hold a strong tether to each other. What I truly loved about this film was how it personified the constant idea and wonder that a person has about the “what if” in a realistic yet heartbreaking way. Rather than being a confrontation of what Nora’s life could have been, it goes into another direction that cuts deeper. Greta Lee and Teo Yoo hold a compelling performance that has made this film a worthy watch.
