Every year, my project is to see each and every Oscar-nominated film in the 8 main categories (cinematography, directing, acting, and screenplay). And now that I’ve ticked off all the biggest Oscar-winning videos of 2024, I can see that it’s a very strong box this year.
Just by taking a look at the 10 nominees in the Best Picture category, you might not find a bad movie in the bunch. But if you’re short on time and just need to take a look at the most productive of the best, I’ve rounded up My 7 Most Sensible Favorite Picks below.
From a courtroom drama that had me so close to the edge of my seat that I was in danger of falling to the floor, to a heartfelt comedy-drama that’s the cinematic equivalent of a warm hug. This year’s Oscar movies are of the highest quality, here’s the 7 you should watch first.
Much to my disappointment, “Anatomy of a Fall” looks set to walk away from Oscar night empty-handed. This French courtroom drama is nominated in five categories, including Best Picture and Best Director (for Justine Trent), but it faces stiff competition in all of them. At least it’s already got a major trophy to its name having won the prestigious Palme d’Or at last year’s 76th Cannes Film Festival.
One of the most engrossing movies of 2023, “Anatomy of a Fall” follows a successful novelist (Sandra Hüller) who is accused of murdering her husband (Samuel Theis) by pushing him out of a third-story window. While she protests her innocence, her blind son (Milo Machado-Graner) is caught in the middle as the sole witness to the events. Hüller gives a true acting masterclass in the lead role, but the performances across the board are stellar. Plus, the twisting plot will keep you hooked up until the end.
When the credits rolled on “The Holdovers,” my jaw started hurting from smiling too much. They don’t make movies like this anymore, but Alexander Payne’s Christmas comedy is a testament to the enduring appeal of a sincere, brash person. movie. This charming movie will have you laughing one moment and tearing you apart the next, and you might claim it as your new favorite movie until the very end.
“The Holdout” sees Paul Giamatti deliver the most productive performance of his career, as Paul Hunham, a grumpy teacher at a posh New England boarding school. Forced to stay on campus during the Christmas break to care for students who have nowhere else to go. The unbreakable educator develops an unexpected bond with an exhausted young man (Dominic Sessa) and the school’s cook (Da’Vin Joy Randolph), who is still mourning the death of her son. This odd trio is an unlikely companion, but during the holiday season their bond develops in a way that will warm your soul.
Buy/rent on Amazon or Apple
“Oppenheimer” has dominated pre-Oscar awards ceremonies, and the narrative builds that this year is Nolan’s finest time in the spotlight. So if “Oppenheimer” turns out to be the film that ultimately wins the British filmmaker’s Best Film award (and almost in fact Best Director), then there couldn’t be a more deserving film.
This biopic, which chronicles the life of Robert J. Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project, which gave rise to the first atomic bomb, has almost everything you need from a movie. For starters, the cast list offers the best performances of his career, none more so than Cillian Murphy in the lead role, while Nolan’s direction is masterful with creative touches like the series depicting Oppenheimer’s speech after the bomb dropped. Plus, it’s a three-hour movie that unfolds in an instant. In a very strong year for cinema, “Oppenheimer” would be a worthy winner, and it’s no surprise that lately it’s the favorite to win.
Buy/rent on Amazon or Apple
I’m pretty pleased with this year’s Oscar nominations, but there was one slap in the face that broke my heart: Greta Lee didn’t get a Best Actress nomination for her tough role in “Past Lives. “Lee plays Nora Moon, a South Korean immigrant who moved to Canada as a child, and she embodies this stunningly beautiful drama.
A semi-autobiographical debut from director Celine Song, “Past Lives” chronicles the shifting dynamic between two childhood friends, Nora and Hae (Teo Yoo), over more than two decades, as they grow apart, come back together and reflect on the choices they’ve made (and didn’t make) over a fateful week. What could have been a cheap “will they, won’t they” narrative is elevated by Song’s impressively tender screenplay and two wonderfully subtle performances from its leads. The whole movie is utterly enchanting, but it’s the melancholic ending that leaves the biggest mark.
Rent/buy on Amazon or Apple
“Poor Things” is a devilishly funny comedy with a glorious lead role through Emma Stone as Bella Baxter, a young woman brought back to life through a mad scientist (Willem Dafoe) who embarks on an adventure of self-discovery with a libertine lawyer. (Mark Ruffalo) next to him. Along the way, she discovers herself and the world around her.
A word of caution: “Poor Things” is rarely a movie to watch with your parents (there are a lot of dangerous curtains here), but if some dirty scenes don’t bother you, it’s by far the funniest movie of 2023. The lead actors obviously had a lot of fun making this movie, and director Yorgos Lanthimos brings that side to the screen in spades. Only a rushed third act hurts “Poor Things,” because otherwise, it’s probably the most entertaining selection on this list.
Calling “The Zone of Interest” a must-watch feels strange because it’s the one movie on this list I have absolutely zero intention of ever rewatching. Or at least, not rewatching for a very long time. But that’s not because of its quality, but rather because my first watch was such a haunting experience that I’m not sure I’m ready to endure this harrowing drama a second time quite yet. Nevertheless, it’s a movie of such importance that I strongly implore you to watch it at least once.
Based on the 2014 novel of the same name, “The Area of Interest” follows German officer Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), who is tasked with overseeing the operation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. The heartbreaking film begins with Höss and his wife, Hedwig. (Sandra Hüller), have adapted to the stage with eerie ease and the couple are now, thankfully, raising their five children just steps away from the site of the atrocities. “The Zone of Interest” is a brutal watch, but it’s also an important piece of time. Take a look at a dark breakdown of history that never deserves to be forgotten.
Watch on Netflix
Rory is a Senior Deals Writer at Tom’s Guide, which was founded in the UK. It covers a wide diversity of topics, but concentrates specifically on offerings, gaming, and streaming. When he’s not scouring stores in search of the lowest costs ever recorded or writing enticing releases of the newest gaming hardware and streaming movies, he can be found attending music festivals and getting too emotionally involved in his favorite football team.
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