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Big movie gal here. Every year, it is my mission to see all of the Best Picture nominated movies for the Academy Awards before I delve into the rest of the list. Last night, I finished the collection of 9 movies and let me tell you, this was a superb year for movies. Compared to the last few years, there were movies I enjoyed than did not enjoy and they were all unique in so many different ways. In order from least to most favorite, here are my thoughts on the Best Picture nominees:

1. Marriage Story – I did not like this movie very much aside from Adam Driver. I have a bit of a Laura Dern problem, so this was an automatic knock-down for me, but there were many other negative attributes as well. I never notice the sound mixing and editing in movies because it is normally done so seamlessly, but I noticed it in this movie because it just did not match the movie in many instances. I found this and Scarlett Joh’s performance to be incredibly subpar and distracting. This slow-moving movie was not my favorite by a mile.
2. The Irishman – Scorsese, Scorsese, Scorsese… That was a LONG movie. It was wonderfully done, but WOW does 3 and a half hours not go by quickly. This lies at the bottom of my list because I don’t think that I had the prior knowledge of Jimmy Hoffa and mobsters that would allow me to enjoy this movie. Instead of noticing the story and the cinematic work, all I could think about was finishing the movie.
3. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – This is the start of the list where I really enjoy the movies. Tarantino really showed up with this movie and while it deserves the recognition, I don’t believe it is Best Picture worthy. Tarantino’s love letter to Los Angeles was wrapped up in a star-studded flick that changed the narrative about one of the biggest Manson murders. Brad Pitt’s performance was superb and definitely Supporting-Actor winner worthy.
4. Little Women – This classic tale was beautifully told by Greta Gerwig and headlined by Saoirse Ronan, a stellar actor at the mere age of 25. Her and Timothee Chalamet have an undeniable on screen connection and understanding that meshes so well and lends to the story so beautifully. The costume design of the movie was delightful and really allowed you to delve into their world, feel their pains, and mourns their losses.
5. Joker – This one was surprising to me. What a performance by Joaquin Phoenix! I was very skeptical of this movie as I truly dislike superhero, marvel like movies, which this easily could’ve been made into to become a box office hit and make millions. Rather, they took a dramatic spin on a rather action filled realm and it was very successful. The music that went along with the story was beautiful and the performances were fantastic.
6. Jojo Rabbit – Little kids can act, too! What a rollercoaster of a movie. This story was absolutely superb and really showed the path from light to dark that poor Jojo went through during this time. The way he and his imaginary friend, Hitler, changed over time as he learned more about Jewish people and how they were just like him, his world got darker and he realized he was not in a safe haven, and Hitler became less of a friend and more of, well, Hitler. The sway from laughing to crying took me completely by surprise, and the ending tied the story up with a little bow.
7. Ford vs Ferrari – Ah, Matt Damon and Christian Bale. What a duo. I did not expect to like this movie as much as I did, but I thought it was absolutely phenomenal. I have seen my fair share of racing movies and they are all about the speed, the race, with not much of a story to go along with it. This movie took you through all the trials and tribulations that both men took in the car racing industry and how they prevailed at a still popular race. It was a very well done true story that really highlighted their life off of the track and all of the work they had to do both within themselves, beating Ferrari, and even beating some of those within Ford.
8. Parasite – W O W. Parasite kept me on the edge of my seat if nothing else. I am not a fan of subtitles on Netflix unlike many other people, but I did not mind them at all during Parasite. This story was so unlike anything I have ever seen before and I couldn’t have been more captivated. I often try to decode movies and figure out what’s going to happen next, but most of my guesses for this movie were far off. The attention to detail that was put into this movie was beautifully captivating and pivotal in the progression of the story. The ending leaving the main character in the same place he was in at the beginning and putting the symbolic wealth rock in the river was incredible. Will he ever be rich enough to buy the house so that he can see his dad again?
9. 1917 – 1917 was some of the best cinematography that I have ever seen. Had I not been a huge stickler and have a keen eye with a sense of how they could hide the cuts, I would’ve thought that the movie was 2 long shots. That is an incredible feat, and it really lended itself to the story as it took you on the same adventure as the soldiers, always moving forward and taking in everything around you. The constantly forward moving camera that never went backward, the 360 pans, and the beautiful score I believe are what took this movie from great to amazing. This movie made me cry, gasp, mad, sit on the edge of my seat, and it made me feel as though I was walking along with him on this journey. The beginning and end scenes of serene and calm tree views were the bookends on an action and energy packed movie. George MacKay was also superb in one of his first major roles (snubbed?) in a very difficult role and movie to be a part of. I could watch this movie again and again, and I am not a person who rewatches most movies. What a stellar film.

All of my reviews aside, I think this was a great year for movies. In this day and age, it’s hard to find a good movie that’s not a remake, a sequel, a superhero movie, or a just straight up bad movie. This year really showed out for the film industry and I am very excited to see what the academy thinks!

Don’t forget to fill out a ballot, grab a glass of wine, and catch the Oscars Sunday, February 9 at 8:00!

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