And the nominees are…
Those four words carry a tremendous amount of weight, eliciting rounds of applause or vitriolic rants from movie fans as names and film titles are revealed. Reactions to last week’s Academy Awards announcement ran the gamut, particularly over news that Netflix’s controversial quasi-musical “Emilia Pérez” nabbed 13 nominations—a first for a non-English contender. Does the equally maligned and beloved “Perez” deserve such adulation from Academy voters? Read on for opinions on that as well as the other nine nominees in the best picture category. This week, we take a critical look at each.
Also, Bay Area movie buffs might want to also check out the best documentary category since two contenders have Bay Area roots. The outstanding “Sugarcane” (streaming on Disney + and Hulu) probes horrific abuses that Catholic priests and nuns perpetrated upon young Canadian indigenous students at a boarding school. It’s co-directed by Oakland’s Julian Brave NoiseCat. The moving “Porcelain War” (not currently streaming) concentrates on the life and artistic pursuits of a Ukrainian porcelain artist couple—one of whom serves in the special forces—and how they create fragile figurine pieces. It is co-directed by Palo Alto native Brendan Bellomo.
Meanwhile, Emeryville-based Pixar, with “Inside Out 2, is a contender in the best animated category. In the South Bay, folks were saddened by the absence of “Wicked” director Jon M. Chu, a Palo Alto native, in the director’s category.
The happy news is that Oscar watchers have ample time to see all of the films and performances before the 97th Academy Awards ceremony, which airs at 4 p.m. March 2 on ABC and Hulu.
Now, here’s my roundup on the contenders:
“Anora” (Six nominations)
Available: Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home
Does it belong on the list? Absolutely. Sean Baker’s raucous, outside-the-box romcom toggles between being an R-rated slapstick comedy and a raw, intimate indie drama. As Ani, a performer and sex worker, best actress contender Mikey Madison is its TNT while Yura Borisov’s (a supporting actor nominee) soulful bodyguard its low-key rudder. “Anora” is another character-driven gem from Baker who puts a lens on people Hollywood too often shuns and forgets.
“The Brutalist” (10 nominations)
Available: In theaters
Does it belong on the list? Yes. Nominated director/co-screenwriter Brady Corbet fashions a sprawling, timeless immigrant-themed epic (it’s three hours and 45ish minutes long) that keeps viewers enthralled throughout. Best actor nominee Adrien Brody is unforgettable as László Tóth, a Brutalist architect and Hungarian immigrant who comes to Philadelphia in the late 1940s and gets enmeshed into the life and ambitions of an obscenely wealthy mama’s boy (Guy Pearce, best supporting nominee) who hires him to design an epic structure. Corbet’s film isn’t flawless, but it is audacious and ambitious and an incredible feat of filmmaking.
“A Complete Unknown” (Eight nominations)
Available: In theaters
Does it belong on the list? Not really. James Mangold’s undeniably entertaining snapshot of iconic musician Bob Dylan’s (Timothée Chalamet) early years and journey toward going electric is more traditional than its subject, portrayed extremely well by best actor nominee Chalamet. It does sound the right nostalgic notes, particularly in scenes with Dylan and Pete Seeger (supporting actor nominee Edward Norton) and Joan Baez (supporting actress nominee Monica Barbaro), but a subplot involving a composite lover (Elle Fanning) who can’t cope with Dylan’s fame and restless heart falls flat.
“Conclave” (Eight nominations)
Available: Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango at Home, Peacock
Does it belong on the list? From the technical side, yes. Story wise? Not so much. The production design, cinematography and sound are astonishing throughout this intriguing papal-replacement thriller with Ralph Fiennes (a best actor nominee) as a pensive but growing flustered Cardinal Lawrence. He’s the poor guy overseeing the chess-like changing of the guard. Director Edward Berger allows his actors full reign to chew up the Vatican-set action and it’s a hoot to behold. But the twist, while unforeseen, deserved more care and attention. As is, it comes across as a gimmick, and that’s a cardinal sin.
“Dune: Part Two” (Five nominations)
Available: Those who have Netflix or Max, stop reading and watch now; others, rent on Amazon, Apple TV or Google Play.
Does it belong on the list? Without a doubt. Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic is a remarkable achievement on every level—thematically as well as visually. Its detailed storyline about the ascension of Paul Atreides (Chalamet again) on an arid planet swarming with insurrectionists and containing a precious substance serves as a cautionary metaphor in these hot-potato times.
“Emilia Pérez” (13 nominations)
Available: Netflix
Does it belong on the list? No! Jacques Audiard’s quasi-musical about a lawyer (Zoe Saldaña, best supporting actor nominee) helping a former drug cartel figure (Karla Sofía Gascón, best actress nominee and the first trans person ever to be nominated) embark on a new path in life post gender-reassignment surgery is a hot mess. Criticized by many for its stereotypical view of Mexico as well as its dubious portrayal of being trans, Audiard shoves its titular character to the sidelines and curiously focuses more on Saldaña’s Rita Mora Castro. The question remains: Why? For better, more adventurous trans representation on screen, see Jane Schoenbrun’s “I Saw the TV Glow” (streaming on Apple TV and Max).
“I’m Still Here” (Three nominations)
Available: In theaters
Does it belong on the list? Without a doubt. Director Walter Salles’ haunting feature pairs subtle, powerful storytelling with graceful acting from Oscar-nominee lead Fernanda Torres. Based on a true story, it describes the actions and resiliency of family matriarch Eunice (Torres) whose husband, a dissident politician in Brazil, disappears. Salles’ film spans decades and eloquently offers an ending certain to make your heart ache.
“Nickel Boys” (Two nominations)
Available: In theaters
Does it belong on the list? A major yes. Of all the films vying for this honor, director RaMell Ross’ adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize winner is the most audacious; a bold and daring tightrope feat told from the point of view of its two Black teen protagonists (Brandon Wilson and Ethan Herisse). Set in the Jim Crow era in an infamous Florida reform school where cruelty and abuse abound, the film describes how these youngsters retain their humanity and even find transcendent moments. “Nickel Boys” takes a unique approach and redefines how to tell a story and to see the world through different eyes.
“The Substance” (Five nominations)
Available: Mubi, Amazon
Does it belong on the list? Yes. Horror rarely, if ever, merits awards chatter, but director Coralie Fargeat’s in-your-face gory satire with an on-fire Demi Moore as a fired celebrity aerobics instructor who takes drastic measures to stay forever young possesses all the right ingredients. From Moore’s exceptional best actress nominated performance to an insane ending, “The Substance” skewers the puppet masters who make women turn on each other and themselves. The cooking scene alone puts it squarely on the board.
“Wicked” (10 nominations)
Available: In theaters, Apple TV, Fandango at Home
Does it belong on the list? Almost. The film adaptation of the popular stage musical, which hit San Francisco’s Curran before becoming a Broadway blockbuster, is movie magic in many ways; still, the story of how Elphaba turned into the Wicked Witch of the West lags a bit due to an over-extended runtime. And it’s only Part 1! However, acting by Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande (both nominated: Erivo for lead; Grande for supporting) and Jonathan Bailey do make the time pass.
The post Pass the Remote: A look at 2025’s Oscar nominees appeared first on Local News Matters.