The Best Picture category in the Academy Awards is often considered to be the most prestigious and coveted award of the night. This year’s nominees include a diverse range of films from different genres, each with their unique stories and perspectives.
One of the highly anticipated nominees this year is “Nomadland,” directed by Chloe Zhao. The film follows Fern, a woman who embarks on a journey across America after losing everything during the Great Recession. Starring Frances McDormand, “Nomadland” has received critical acclaim for its stunning cinematography and moving performances. With its exploration of themes such as grief, community, and self-discovery, “Nomadland” has become an audience favorite.
Another powerful contender this year is “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” directed by Aaron Sorkin. Based on true events that took place during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the film tells the story of seven individuals who were charged with conspiracy against the government. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, and Mark Rylance among others, “The Trial of Chicago 7” has been praised for its compelling storytelling and timely message about political activism.
“Mank,” directed by David Fincher also made it into this year’s Best Picture nominations list. Set in Hollywood during 1930s-1940s Golden Age era which was influenced heavily by politics leading up to World War II that inspired Herman J Mankiewicz’s screenplay for “Citizen Kane”. The film stars Gary Oldman as Mankiewicz himself along with Amanda Seyfried portraying Marion Davies among other notable actors like Charles Dance playing William Randolph Hearst. As expected from Fincher’s work style -the movie features impressive cinematography techniques combined with powerful performances making it one of his best works yet.
“The Father,” directed by Florian Zeller is another nominee that has touched audiences deeply with its story of an elderly man struggling with dementia. Starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, the film is a poignant and emotional exploration of the effects of aging on family relationships. With its intimate focus on character development and strong performances, “The Father” has been praised for its sensitive portrayal of a difficult subject matter.
Rounding out this year’s Best Picture category is “Minari,” directed by Lee Isaac Chung. The film follows a Korean-American family that moves to Arkansas in pursuit of their American dream, facing challenges along the way as they try to assimilate into their new community. Boasting powerful performances from Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri among others -the movie explores themes such as identity, belongingness and sacrifice making it one of the most heartwarming and relatable stories yet.
This year’s Best Picture nominees showcase a diverse range of storytelling styles while addressing important issues such as social justice, mental health awareness, aging & more. Each nominee stands out in their own unique way and there’s much anticipation around who will take home the coveted award at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.
No matter which film takes home the trophy this year, all five nominees have undoubtedly made significant contributions to cinema through their storytelling techniques combined with remarkable acting performances -making them some of the best films released in recent years.