All of the Academy Award Nominated Films

This may be the first time I’ve ever done this. Over the past several months, I watched all 10 of the movies that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.

It may also be the first time I’ve felt that all of the nominated films deserved to be nominated.

In case you haven’t seen some or all of them and you’re interested in my two cents, here they are in order of my preferences, along with brief notes on each.

1. The Zone of Interest 

A distinctly different Holocaust film, with a clever perspective and great performances.

2. Oppenheimer 

It aimed to be a big and important film, and it met its ambitions completely.

3. Poor Things 

Wild, crazy, inventive, and exuberant, brilliantly shot and with a great performance by Emma Stone.

4. American Fiction 

A simple, straightforward drama about something that never should have happened in American book publishing. Jeffrey Wright’s performance was perfect. He carried the film.

5. Past Lives 

I have a prejudice towards Asian dramas and particularly Korean romantic movies. Past Lives delivered everything you would want from this genre: a good, believable story, emotionally moving visuals and music, and two adorable leads.

6. Killers of the Flower Moon 

The film didn’t quite measure up to the book (which I read for my book club), but it was nonetheless very good, with many good performances and lots of issues to think about later.

7. Anatomy of a Fall 

There are several things about this film that could have and did disappoint many critics, including the unsatisfactory denouement. But the photography, the music, the scenery, and the acting kept me fascinated all the way through.

8. The Holdovers 

You’ve seen this story a dozen times, and yet you won’t be bored or disappointed seeing done again with a great cast and good performances by all.

9. Maestro 

I’ve always been interested in Leonard Bernstein. Not just because of the music he made, but also because of the many rumors I’d read about his personal life. I wouldn’t call Maestro a great film, but it was good enough to earn the nomination.

10. Barbie 

I didn’t know what to expect, but I was prepared to be disappointed. I wasn’t. I was happily entertained and not bothered by the various woke “messages” because the film never took itself very seriously.