1. Past Lives
Past Lives is a beautifully layered film, restrained and yet grand, about the aching meditations of memory, time and identity. A universal story about life choices and what is left behind, told with caution, delicacy, and empathy for the characters. It provides an ideal focus for self-reflection, so relatable to your life, no matter who you are. Past Lives may seem simple, but it’s a hyper-sophisticated film,
2. Anatomy of the Fall
Directed with confidence and precision, applying a forensic gaze to everything, this surgically controlled drama operates as both a courtroom thriller and an investigation of the mysterious recesses of domestic life. An examination of marriage executed with overwhelming narrative precision, dissecting the unspoken prejudices about relationships, gender roles, parental responsibility, and justice. Led by tour de force performance by Sandra Hüller (best of the year).
3. The Zone of Interest
A haunting, surreal perspective of The Holocaust. Trust me, you have never been a film about the Holocaust quite like The Zone of Interest. Jonathan Glazer pushes the boundaries of conventional storytelling, showing how the mundane coexists with horror by presenting the Hösses as believable people without once tempting us to sympathize with them. Glazer avoids empathy but also avoids presenting the protagonists as despicable monsters.
4. All of us strangers
A remarkably profound film that questions our ideas about absence and presence in human experience. The movie is carnal and metaphysical at once, so remarkably convincing that we find ourselves believing despite the mystery and surrealness of the scenes. It is a film about love, in all its complexity, with potency in storytelling. The results are both beautiful and haunting.
5. Fallen Leaves
Kaurismäki makes his film feel light and trivial but-in fact it is small scale wonder, proving how the most moving works of cinema can come from the simplest of places. A rare romantic comedy without pretense and false sentimentality about two lonely souls connecting. A poignant message that, even during the bleakest, worst of times, human connection is vital.
6. Oppenheimer
Nolan blows up the traditional biopic and rebuilds it into a cinematic explosion and experience. Nolan's marriage of visuals and sound design is often dazzling- visually and sonically stimulating. The result is an absolute achievement in spectacle and sensorial experience. The explosion of the test bomb is a bravura dance of imagery and sound in thrilling, dynamic fashion.
7. The Holdovers
Some may pull back at the conventional structure, but Payne, who is a master of lowkey narratives about average people, makes no pretense about being anything other than a feel-good film with a wonderful performance from Paul Giamatti. It is affecting without ever being treacly or sentimental and the rest of the performances are tremendous. Payne has once again crafted a wonderful story of loneliness and isolation that manages to be both inspirational and uplifting.
8. Passages
A pointed, revealing study of selfishness, bolstered by three excellent lead performances.
The movie not only acknowledges what damage the careless create, but also to what extent they also conspire in their own obliteration. It also feels so refreshing because it flips the usual redemption formula. Rogowski’s performance makes the character a fascinating subject to observe, a portrait of a rascal and his helplessness.
9. Saltburn
This boundary-pushing, modern gothic thriller is disgustingly mesmerizing. It is hard not to admire SALTBURN's boldness, even if brought down by a poorly written ending. In its own weird way, it's effective. through shocking scenes or gorgeous shots and a perverted performance by Barry Keoghan. Fennell's filmmaking skills have vastly improved since her previous (highly overrated) film Promising Young Woman.
10. May December
A stylistic and moral puzzle, a film rich with intricate layers, keeping the viewer off balance, forcing them to ask themselves at every turn if they are empathizing with anyone on screen. The film also looks at the biases inherent in the stories we tell, embodying all the complexity of characters trapped in circumstances where they are utterly incapable of reflection.
Oscar Predictions
1) Best Picture
Who should win: Past Lives
Who is going to win: Oppenheimer
Comment: I am a proponent of distinguishing between best film and best director awards. This is another year where I think they should be a split. However, Oppenheimer will win both awards.
2) Best Director
Who should win: Oppenheimer
Who is going to win: Oppenheimer
Comment: What Nolan did with this story requires recognition, and although I still think he should have won the director Oscar for Dunkirk (still Nolan’s best)- he has earned this one as well.
3) Best Actor
Who should win: Cillian Murphy
Who is going to win: Cillian Murphy
Comment: I think this is a weak year for acting nominees. But of the actors that are nominated, Cillian deserves it.
4) Best Actress
Who should win: Sandra Hüller
Who is going to win: Emma Stone
Comment: I was not that impressed by Emma’s over the top performance, but I believe she was constrained by a unbearable script. I do give her credit for taking acting risks and going for it. I was even less impressed by Lilly Gladstone (she shouldn’t been nominated in the first place). Huller was in a league of her own this year, and if it wasn’t for her lack of name recognition, she could have been the favorite. That been said, it is a very tight race between Stone and Gladstone but think Emma will pick up her second trophy.
5) Best Supporting Actor
Who should win: Robert Downey Jr
Who is going to win: Robert Downey Jr
Comment: Very weak category this year, which favorites a very good (but not great) performance by Downey Jr.
6) Best Supporting Actress
Who should win: Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Who is going to win: Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Comment: Very weak category as well. But I must say, I was deeply moved by Da’ Vine performance, and happy she will get recognized.
7) Best Original Screenplay
Who should win: Anatomy of a Fall
Who is going to win: Anatomy of a Fall
Comment: Anatomy of the Fall was one of the best original screenplays in years, and I hope it wins. But wouldn’t be that upset if Past Lives (another great screenplay) wins.
8) Best Adapted Screenplay
Who should win: The Zone of Interest
Who is going to win: American Fiction
Comment: I didn’t like American Fiction, and the worse thing about the movie was precisely the screenplay. It looks like it is the favorite to win, which would be unfortunate.
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