Oscar Szn
let's talk about the the 2021 Oscar nominations
Before I started writing down thoughts on movies, I would just talk about them with my friends. Different friend groups would talk about different types of movies, but the one question that I could always count on came after the Oscar nominations were announced: “What Oscar movies should I actually watch/pay attention to?”
For a little bit, my answer was “well, all of them” which is a little unfeasible but younger me wanted to appear cultured. Obviously, watching every Oscar-nominated film isn’t going to be something you can just sit down and do, but with a little over a month until the actual ceremony, there is definitely time to watch some of them.
I like to think of this newsletter as a conversation amongst friends and so I’m going to answer that question like I would as if we were sitting around a table at an outside bar. This will be a quick little newsletter of recommendations for films and performances that I think are worth your time to check out if you can before the actual ceremony.
The two reasons to do this are 1. it’s a good way to see some good movies! and 2. it’s kind of fun to have a rooting interest during the ceremony if you choose to watch it.
One thing this is not is a prediction newsletter. I am definitely going to write one of those so you hopefully win your Oscar pool, but for now, this is just a quick little rundown of what films and performances you should try to check out if you get the chance. I’ll go by category (not every single one, that would be way too long) but I’ll hit the major ones. If you see a film that I don’t mention or that you want to check out, by all means, please do! It’s not a personal decision to not talk about one film or the other. I just am giving you what I think is worth your time, and like all tastes, mine is subjective.
Best Picture Nominees
THE FATHER
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
MANK
MINARI
NOMADLAND
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
SOUND OF METAL
Highlights: I have not seen THE FATHER, so I can’t really speak to it. That said I think my favorites out of the nominees are JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH (HBO MAX), MINARI (my favorite film of the year so far, rent on Amazon Prime), MANK (Netflix), and SOUND OF METAL (free on Amazon Prime). If you like Aaron Sorkin, you should definitely check out TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7, but it didn’t really hit as hard as I thought it would, although I do enjoy several of the performances (more on that in a bit). NOMADLAND is a very good film and a rewards rewatches. PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN was a movie that challenged me but I also don’t think it was made for me (white guy) and I thought the ending undid a lot of the good points the film made, but you can find it on Amazon Prime to rent.
Actor In A Supporting Role Nominees
Sacha Baron Cohen, TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
Daniel Kaluuya, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Leslie Odom, ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI…
Paul Raci, THE SOUND OF METAL
Lakeith Stanfield, JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Highlights: It’s been pointed out that both Lakeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya garnering nominations in the same category is a travesty because they both deserve to win, although Kaluuya is the obvious frontrunner. He’s absolutely on fire in JUDAS and Stanfield goes toe to toe with him with a beautifully restrained, quiet performance. Both are must-sees. Cohen is the best part of CHICAGO 7 and for all the rightly deserved talk Riz Ahmed is getting for SOM, it is, in my opinion, Paul Raci’s movie from the second he steps on screen.
Actress In A Supporting Role
Maria Backalova, BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM
Glenn Close, HILLBILLY ELEGY
Olivia Coleman, THE FATHER
Amanda Seyfried, MANK
Yuh-Jung Youn, MINARI
Highlights: If I was giving out the award, I would split it in half and give it both to Seyfried, who is the best part of MANK, and Youn who is the quiet soul of MINARI. Maria Backalova goes toe-to-toe with Sacha Baron Cohen in a VERY funny performance. The less said about HILLBILLY ELEGY the better (Close was nominated for both an Oscar and a Razzie if that tells you anything)
Actor In A Lead Performance Nominees
Steven Yeun, MINARI
Riz Ahmed, SOUND OF METAL
Chadwick Boseman, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Gary Oldman, MANK
Anthony Hopkins, THE FATHER
Highlights: What’s really great here are the historical nominations of both Riz Ahmed and Steven Yeun, and both deserve it, turning in stellar turns in SOUND OF METAL and MINARI, respectively. The Oscar is clearly going to go to Chadwick Boseman, and it should. He’s a livewire in his last performance as Levee Green in BLACK BOTTOM.
Actress In A Lead Role
Viola Davis, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM
Andra Day, THE UNITED STATES VS BILLIE HOLLIDAY
Vanessa Kirby, PIECES OF A WOMAN
Frances McDormand, NOMADLAND
Carey Mulligan, PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Highlights: McDormand, Davis, and Mulligan are all the highlights for me (and that pains me to say as a member of the Vanessa Kirby Hive), and all three of these performances are remarkable or fun or brilliant in their own way. I still haven’t had the chance to see VS BILLIE HOLLIDAY, but I’ve heard good things and I look forward to finally getting a chance to watch.
Best Director Nominees
Emerald Fennell, PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Lee Issac Chung, MINARI
Chloé Zhao, NOMADLAND
David Fincher, MANK
Thomas Vinterberg, ANOTHER ROUND
Highlights: Zhao seems to be the frontrunner, while my personal pick is Chung for MINARI. I want to make a special note of Thomas Vinterberg for ANOTHER ROUND here. ANOTHER ROUND is an incredible film (it’s up for another Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category) starring Mads Mikkelsen. This film took me completely by surprise. It’s on Hulu. Go watch it. Don’t google it. Don’t learn anything about it if you can avoid it, just watch it. It’s a beautiful piece of filmmaking with the whole thing building till the final 10 minutes. One of the best finds of the year.