Some know the Oscars as the place where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock, while others remember the “La La Land” mix-up. Anyone who visited the movie theater in 2023 will recognize “Barbenheimer” as the term used for the contentious battle between “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” at the 2024 Oscars.
For me, Oscar season means 10 new movies to watch. This year is no different. In honor of Oscar weekend, I present my unsolicited takes on each Best Picture nominee, the night’s biggest award.
My credentials? I’m a religious Letterboxd user. Aside from that, take my opinions with a grain of salt.
This article may contain spoilers.
Bugonia
Director Yorgos Lanthimos is no stranger to wacky movies, and his 2026 Oscar-nominated “Bugonia” is no different. The film follows conspiracy theorist Teddy Gatz (Jesse Plemons) and his cousin Don (Aidan Delbis) in their kidnapping of pharmaceutical CEO Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone). The pair believes Fuller is an alien from the Earth-destroying Andromedan species. Teddy hopes to avenge his mother, who he believes is a victim of the species.
Despite the film's supernatural elements, I appreciated its message about humanity’s tendency to self-destruct and the folly of human greed. Stone and Lanthimos frequently collaborate on films to present an over-discussed theme uniquely, and I appreciated their newest rendition. Gatz's conspiracy theories were so convincing that I continuously questioned my own assessment of the plot. I’m still unsure.
F1
“F1” presents Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a washed-up Formula 1 driver who returns to the track 30 years later. Hayes races alongside rookie Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) to save a failing racing team.
This film was an engineering marvel to create, and it’s clear through the cinematography. Specialized cameras were created to capture the vastness of races. Scenes were shot during actual F1 races. Select F1 drivers were even featured in the film, including Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. The immensity of the cinematography shone; the rest fell flat. Pitt didn’t bring enough characterization to Hayes. I felt as though Pitt was playing himself. The zero-to-hero plot was predictable, and the love story between Hayes and the team’s technical director, Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), felt forced. While “F1” was a visually stunning masterpiece, it didn’t measure up to the other nominees.
Frankenstein
In this adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel “Frankenstein,” director Guillermo del Toro focuses on the soured relationship between the Creature (Jacob Elordi) and Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac). Driven by ambition and the need to be worshipped by society for creating a human, Victor creates the Creature. The Creature’s inability to be fully human causes Victor to abuse him, passing down the generational trauma he gained from his father. The film explores the dangers of ego-driven ambition and abusive patterns. The symbolism of Frankenstein’s father issues through his attachment to milk was an appreciated touch by del Toro.
Elordi’s transformation into the Creature is what carries this movie. He’s utterly unrecognizable from his role as a cringey heartthrob in “The Kissing Booth” trilogy. Even with a visually stunning backdrop such as “Frankenstein,” Elordi stands out. He pulls sympathy out from the viewer, and I cheered for the Creature’s wins.
Hamnet
Set in 16th-century England, “Hamnet” is inspired by the life of William Shakespeare. Director Chloé Zhao’s retelling shows the beginning of the relationship between characters Will (Paul Mescal) and Agnes (Jessie Buckley) through to Shakespeare’s creation of his first play, Hamlet. The movie explores familial bonds and trials.
While I’m typically not a fan of movies set in a different time period, I wasn’t turned off by this period piece. Despite the setting, every aspect of the movie was relatable. The bond between Will, Agnes and their children reminded me of my own family, and it made the son's death and splintering bonds even more heartbreaking. Jessie Buckley earns her Best Actress nomination and is the star of the show despite the character’s famous husband. I felt immersed in the movie’s natural imagery, and the child actors weren’t just there to be cute. They were the heart of the movie. Halfway through the film, I finally accepted the constant stream of tears falling down my face. This is a must-watch and one of my top picks for Best Picture.
Marty Supreme
Directed by Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme” follows Marty Mauser (Timothee Chalamet), a narcissistic table tennis player who hustles his way to greatness. On his path to the finals of the table tennis World Championship, Mauser lies, steals and embarrasses his way to the top. He impregnates his childhood best friend, starts an affair with famous actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow) and injures a mobster, among other events. Despite the movie’s marketing as a sports drama, the film was more about Mauser’s incessant vanity than his journey as a table tennis player.
This gripping sports dramedy left me with an elevated heart rate and disbelief at the destruction Mauser leaves in his wake. I applaud Chalamet for making his character unbelievably unlikable. The rapid dialogue and cinematography heightened the movie's anxiety. The atmosphere in the theater was so intense that when my dad asked the guy next to him to stop talking, he tried to start a fight with my dad.
The film has nine Oscar nominations, including one for Chalamet for Best Actor. Although I don’t expect it to win Best Picture, I never wanted the movie to end.
One Battle After Another
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” is a comedy action film following revolutionary Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his relationships with Perfidia Beverly Hills (Teyana Taylor) and his daughter, Willa Ferguson (Chase Infiniti). After Beverly Hills leaves, Bob Ferguson anxiously protects his daughter, knowing there is a constant threat she’ll be taken away. When his worst fear comes true, Bob Ferguson journeys to reclaim his daughter.
This stunning commentary on the current state of the world is packed with action, plot and unexpected twists, alongside portrayals of immigrant experiences and the dangers of white supremacy. DiCaprio embodies every paranoia-crazed helicopter parent, except his daughter is actually being hunted. The comedy always comes at the right time. The exaggerated white supremacy of antagonist Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) is both hilarious and terrifyingly recognizable.
This movie was flawless and engaging throughout, and its climactic car chase is unforgettable. Its 13 nominations are well deserved, and I would relish in a Best Picture win for the whole cast.
The Secret Agent
Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent” is a Brazilian film set in the 1970s during the Brazilian military dictatorship. It follows Armando Solimões (Wagner Moura), a former researcher hiding from the government. After losing his wife, Solimões reconnects with his son while attempting — and failing — to live a normal life in hiding.
I was pleasantly surprised by my love for this movie. Armando’s quiet resilience and references to Carnaval reflect the Brazilian people’s resistance during the political turmoil of this time. I appreciated the film’s exploration of the dangers of unchecked power and masculinity. The subtle abuses of those in power — especially toward the film’s women — were enraging to watch. I was left speechless when the film ended in a flash-forward, and a shaven Moura was cast as his dead character’s son.
Sentimental Value
“Sentimental Value” is a subtitled Norwegian film directed by Joachim Trier. The film follows sisters Nora Borg (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes Borg Pettersen (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) as they navigate their relationship with their estranged filmmaker father, Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgård). After Nora turns down the lead role in Gustav’s newest film, she must reconcile with a famous American actress playing her role in the film based on the family’s generational trauma.
Despite the film's emotional themes, I failed to connect with the characters. I felt lost in the multitude of plotlines that I couldn’t quite connect until the end. The movie's simplicity couldn’t hold my attention, though the sisters’ childhood home anchored the flashbacks and reminded me of my own home. “Sentimental Value” received a lot of love online for the exact reasons I disliked the film. The suspense in the film's final moments was one of the few things I loved, and I would recommend this movie just to see the ending.
Sinners
Set in 1930s Jim Crow Mississippi, “Sinners” follows twins Smoke and Stack (Michael B. Jordan) as they open a juke joint for the local Black community. The vampire horror film goes beyond traditional horror elements to discuss the systemic oppression that plagued the South after emancipation and the importance of music for minority communities.
“Sinners” received a record 16 Oscar nominations, and the praise is well deserved. Although the movie wasn’t my favorite nomination of this season, its messaging through the soundtrack and the cultural imagery is exemplary. Jordan’s performance as twins was a masterclass in characterization, while the rest of the cast helped immerse me in director Ryan Coogler’s world. My distaste for the movie was two-fold: I really don’t enjoy horror movies, and I made the mistake of watching it on a plane.
Although my poor viewing choices made me disappointed by “Sinners,” the casting, messaging and production quality of this film are undeniable.
Train Dreams
“Train Dreams” follows logger Robert Grainier, from childhood to adulthood, through meeting his wife, his child’s birth and the fire that kills them both. The film explores the constant losses and gains of Grainier and the idea that if you blink, life might pass you by.
I had absolutely no expectations when I began watching this movie, but I was left thoroughly impressed and wet in the face. The solemn tone throughout the film is broken up by the breathtaking cinematography, which showcases the subtle beauties of nature and the horror of humanity’s impact on it. I couldn’t help but appreciate the world around me just a little bit more after the credits rolled. With only four Oscar nominations, “Train Dreams” won’t take home Best Picture, yet I smiled at every inspirational one-liner about loving life.
Viewers can watch the Oscars on ABC and Hulu on March 15 at 6 p.m.
