Ten films have been nominated for Best Picture at the forthcoming 94th Academy Awards: Belfast, CODA, Don't Look Up, Drive My Car, Dune, King Richard, Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, The Power of the Dog and West Side Story. As ever, it's an eclectic bunch, from the wholesome to the sweeping, the gothic to the singing and dancing. But how do they, in my eyes anyway, stack up against each other?
10. Don't Look Up
The movie equivalent of the "Imagine" video a bunch of celebrities released at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, it's a crying shame that such a tremendously stacked and prestigious cast had to be directed by Adam McKay. A global warming warning satire, Don't Look Up features the pervading smugness that very often defines McKay's work, and while it never hits the insufferable heights of his two previous Best Picture-nominated efforts, it's a tedious affair that preaches to the converted and truly believes it's making a difference. It's not, and it's the worst in this year's line-up as a result.
9. West Side Story
Dir. Steven Spielberg
Proving that remakes and reimaginings aren't exclusive to the superhero and animated genre, West Side Story is, I believe, the first remake of a Best Picture winner to score a nomination in the same genre. Steven Spielberg has remained rather faithful to the original and infused some impressive camerawork into the piece, but the unfulfilling central romance lacks the same dynamic approach and the emotional highs are out of reach.
8. Licorice Pizza
Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson
Paul Thomas Anderson's love letter of a 70s Hollywood is bathed in a nostalgia that the Academy has found impossible to resist - but those less enamored will find difficulty being swept up in the unlikely central romance. While the two lead performances in Licorice Pizza are admirably naturalistic and the technique in Anderson's filmmaking reliably robust, the screenplay just doesn't offer enough for (some) audiences to engage with and, at 134 minutes, can seem a little one-note.
7. King Richard
Dir. Reinaldo Marcus Green
A good helping of comedy, a goodhearted tale and crowd-pleasing approach has earned King Richard a Best Picture nomination, and star Will Smith an almost-definite acting Oscar. While undoubtedly generic and painted with broad brushstrokes, it's easy to see why the Academy has gravitated towards a celebration of greatness -- it's what they supposedly do, after all.
6. Nightmare Alley
Dir. Guillermo Del Toro
Another remake, but this time its source material didn't score so well with the Academy first time round, Guillermo Del Toro brings his gothic sensibilities to Nightmare Alley, with decidedly mixed results. His visionary approach continues to dazzle from a technical and visual level but the screenplay's themes are underbaked and the emotional arc is lacking. Still, such a solid cast offers something to tune in for, with Bradley Cooper and Toni Collette, in particular, delivering strong turns.
5. Drive My Car
Dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi
An ambitious mediation on the importance of connection, Ryusuke Hamaguchi's Drive My Car's appearance in the line-up stands out as an inspiring one. A dense affair, bloated and arguably weakened by extensive moments of silence, Drive My Car requires a great deal of patience, but when it lands on its richly-layered moments of emotion, it is worth the ride.
4. CODA
Dir. Sian Heder
CODA is a sweet and lovely film that doesn't break new ground from a narrative point of view, but does so in its representation of an underseen demographic. CODA - named after the acronym for a Child of Deaf Adults - has an ensemble of strong performances and a heart of gold that could propel it to a somewhat surprising win. Both Sides Now hasn't had a day in the sun quite this wonderful since Love Actually.
3. Belfast
A beautiful balance of comedy and drama, narrative and character work, Belfast completely charmed me. An earnest and sincere piece of work from Kenneth Branagh, inspired by his own life, Belfast's uniformly excellent cast - led by the fantastic Jude Hill, who deserved to be part of the leading actor conversation - and its depiction of family and community over hate through young eyes make it an inspiring watch. For a film presented predominantly in black and white, Belfast is bursting with colour.
2. The Power of the Dog
Dir. Jane Campion
An intelligent picture that calibrates character, atmosphere and narrative terrifically in a beautifully-shot, thoughtful character study and examination of masculinity, identity, and environment, The Power of the Dog is powerful indeed. Benedict Cumberbatch delivers perhaps the finest performance of his career to date, with especially excellent support from the ever-reliable Kirsten Dunst and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Jane Campion is a director completely in control of her craft, with not one moment of screentime going unwasted. It is rather marvelous work.
1. Dune
Dir. Denis Villeneuve
While Denis Villeneuve's Dune is a contemplative and somewhat sombre tone poem, it is also a euphoric cinematic experience -- one built to overwhelm the senses, and does so with such attention to craft, illustrating the immense possibilities of smart science-fiction in the process. Taking time, care and energy to build the foundations of a universe so that future installments can truly thrive with greater ease, Dune's long-term prospects are at the forefront of the picture, all while thoroughly absorbing you in the meantime. Thanks to Timothee Chalamet's exemplary lead performance, the power of the supporting cast, and a craft team all operating on top form, all helmed with the enormous vision from Villeneuve, Dune is a towering, dazzling achievement.