Month: March 2025

Posted in 2020-2029, Film Review

Snow White (2025)

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen
© Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Snow White (2025) – Film Review

Cast: Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, Andrew Burnap, Ansu Kabia, Patrick Page, Andrew Barth Feldman, Tituss Burgess, Martin Klebba, Jason Kravits, George Salazar, Jeremy Swift,  Andy Grotelueschen

Director: Marc Webb

Synopsis: After her evil stepmother usurps the throne, a young princess must join forces with seven dwarves to save her people…

Review: Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s off to work Disney goes as the House of Mouse continues to beaver away in its mission to remake all its animated classics. While some live-action remakes have breathed new life into the classic stories on which they are based, others have felt like soulless cash grabs with no reason to justify their existence other than to use audiences’ nostalgia to print money. It was therefore only a matter of time before attention was turned towards remaking the first animated film Disney ever made, the first animated film to be produced in the United States and one of the most influential animated films of all time, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

In the same vein as the previous reinterpretations, the story’s core remains the same as its animated predecessor. During a fierce snowstorm, the king and queen of a benevolent kingdom welcome their daughter – Snow White – into the world. Her name is in honour of the wintry weather during the night she was born. After the tragic death of her mother, her father remarries another woman and quickly rushes off to see to an urgent matter he never returns from. The new Queen seizes the throne for herself, and her vanity causes the lives of her citizens to quickly take a turn for the worse, while Snow White is forced to become a servant. After being told that Snow White is the fairest of them all, the Queen furiously orders her huntsman to kill Snow White, causing her to flee the kingdom, where she runs into the forest and meets and befriends the seven dwarves.

Magic mirror on the wall, does this latest live-action remake bring anything new or noteworthy to the table at all? It is slim pickings, however despite all the absurd, and let’s be honest racist and sexist backlash that has come her way ever since she was cast, Zegler delivers a beautiful portrayal of the titular princess. She is given more agency and independence and is not simply reduced to waiting for her Prince Charming to swoop in and save her. Like her animated counterpart, she possesses a kind heart and compassion for the kingdom’s other citizens, which is timely and pertinent given the poisonous hate dominating too much of modern discourse. As well as new iterations of “Whistle While You Work” and “Heigh-Ho”, it also includes new songs to further emphasise Snow White’s independence including “Waiting on a Wish” penned by Oscar-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, which gives Zegler a chance to show her incredible singing ability.

However, despite Zegler giving everything she has in this role and hitting all the right notes, everything around her possibly took a bite out of a poisoned apple as it doesn’t match up to her performance. Aside from the aforementioned changes to Snow White’s character, Erin Cressida Wilson’s script mostly sticks to the original source material, namely the 1812 fairytale by the Brothers Grimm. However, in place of the handsome Prince Charming, her love interest is now in the form of the leader of a group of bandits named Jonathan (Burnap), who is looking to rebel against the tyrannical Evil Queen. The film allows time for their romance to blossom, and their chemistry is sincere. Unfortunately, Burnap’s performance lacks sufficient charisma to differentiate him from any would-be love interests looking to win the princess’s heart.

Talking of someone looking to win cut out the princess’s heart, Gal Gadot looks the part of the Evil Queen, in no small part due to the excellent costume design by the legendary Sandy Powell. However, elegant costumes cannot hide the reality that Gadot’s performance is so painfully wooden that you may wonder if she was mistakenly on the set of another live-action reimagining of Pinocchio. It does not even bear thinking about. Furthermore, her singing may give you flashbacks to a certain viral video. As if a flat and dull villain wasn’t enough, to add further insult to injury, the dwarves are ghastly CGI abominations with none of the charm that their animated counterparts had. The debate raged as to whether the film should have opted to use real-life actors, and while it was a case of damned if they did and damned if they didn’t, these magical creatures are nightmare fuel personified.

Despite some solid production design, this feels inadequate for the House of Mouse, especially given the reported production budget of between $240 million to $270 million, especially as not even such a large budget can hide some very apparent green screen for those scenes in that not-so-magical woodland. Marc Webb has proven himself to be a talented director, but the whole film has a very directed-by-committee feel to it and pales in comparison to certain other musicals that have graced the big screen in recent times.  You would hope this might give Disney pause to reconsider its plans to remake all its films and instead return to crafting original stories and reminding audiences of bringing the magic that they are more than capable of. Yet, even with this setback, the live-action remake train unfortunately shows no sign of stopping.

Even with a radiant and beautiful performance from Rachel Zegler, a horrid combination of some ugly visuals and uncharismatic supporting characters ensures this live-action remake is most definitely not the fairest one of all. 

Posted in 2020-2029, Awards Season, Film Feature, Oscars

97th Academy Awards: Final Predictions

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

Another awards season is drawing to a close and Hollywood’s biggest night is upon us once again as the world of film prepares to celebrate the 97th Academy Awards. This year’s ceremony will undoubtedly be filled with all the usual glitz and glamour, but through it all, there will be an air of sombreness as the wildfires earlier this year caused massive devastation in their wake with countless homes destroyed. The ceremony is set to honour the city of Los Angeles and pay will also be “highlighting the strength, creativity, and optimism that defines Los Angeles”. My heart goes out to all affected by this terrible tragedy.

As the old saying goes, the show must go on, and there are 23 Oscars up for grabs, so who will have their name etched into one of those gold statuettes and etch their name into history? Here are my predictions for the 2025 Oscars. Sadly, my predictions will not include the documentaries or the short films, as I haven’t had the time to watch them.

Best Supporting Actress

  • Monica Barbaro  – A Complete Unknown 
  • Ariana Grande  – Wicked 
  • Felicity Jones – The Brutalist 
  • Isabella Rossellini  – Conclave
  • Zoe Saldaña  – Emilia Pérez

Kicking us off, we have the first acting race and much like last year, this is pretty much a guaranteed lock. Apart from Felicity Jones, all the other nominees are receiving their first nominations, which is always beautiful to see. She doesn’t appear in the film until after the intermission, but Jones more than makes her presence known once she does arrive. Monica Barbaro delivers a very compelling performance as folk music singer Joan Baez opposite Timothee Chalamet’s Bob Dylan. While she has comparatively the least amount of screen time as her fellow nominees, Rossellini leaves a lasting impression. Grande made a seamless transition from certified popstar to one half of the wonderful Wicked double act that effortlessly charmed audiences and no doubt had them singing “Popular” and “Defying Gravity” for days on end. For that reason, I would love to see her win, but I don’t see it happening.

Even with the controversy that has engulfed the Emilia Pérez campaign in recent weeks (more on that later), Zoe Saldaña has not let it derail her own campaign. She has been a prominent figure in the industry for several years with her work in the Avatar franchise and the Marvel Cinematic Universe which has made her one of the highest-grossing actresses of all time. She has swept all before her this awards season and it is guaranteed that she will get an Oscar, I just wish it was for a better film.

Will Win: Zoe Saldaña

Should Win: Isabella Rossellini

Could have been nominated: Margaret Qualley for The Substance

Best Animated Feature Film

  • Flow – Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža, Ron Dyens, and Gregory Zalcman 
  • Inside Out 2   – Kelsey Mann and Mark Nielsen 
  • Memoir of a Snail   – Adam Elliot and Liz Kearney 
  • Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl  – Nick Park, Merlin Crossingham and Richard Beek
  • The Wild Robot  – Chris Sanders and Jeff Hermann

Throughout this year’s awards season, this category has been consistent, with these five films consistently competing in this category. Since this award began in 2001, on only eight occasions has a film which has not been made by Disney or its subsidiary Pixar emerged triumphant, with two of those wins coming in the last two years with the triumphs of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and The Boy and the Heron. The predecessors to both Inside Out 2 and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl both took home the Oscar. However, those emotions will need to keep themselves in check as neither they nor everyone’s favourite Northern inventor and his lovable mute dog will replicate their success, despite the latter’s success as Bafta, as this award should have The Wild Robot‘s name on it and becomes Dreamworks’ third win after The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Shrek.

Will Win: The Wild Robot 

Should Win: The Wild Robot 

Best Original Screenplay

  • Anora   – Written by  Sean Baker 
  • The Brutalist  – Written by Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold 
  • A Real Pain  – Written by Jesse Eisenberg
  • September 5  – Written by Moritz Binder, Tim Fehlbaum and Alex David 
  • The Substance  – Written by Coralie Fargeat 

Given that this represents its only nomination, September 5 is unlikely to cause an upset here. Also without an Oscar nomination, it should be enough to count Jesse Eisenberg’s moving and contemplative story about two cousins travelling around Europe to honour their late grandmother out of the race. However, the film’s success at BAFTA could be a sign that it has gained momentum at just the right time and upstage one of the three Best Picture contenders in this race. If anyone says there are no more original ideas left in Hollywood these days, these three excellent films demonstrate that this simply isn’t the case.

The Brutalist themes of striving to create something that will leave a lasting impression and the immigrant experience of trying to fulfil the American Dream are incredibly timely, while Coralie Fargeat’s script is filled with biting social satire on the pressures women to maintain their beauty standards as they get older. I would love to see her triumph but I think for his hilarious and chaotic take on a classic Cinderella story, this is Baker’s to lose.

Will Win: Anora 

Should Win: The Substance 

Should have been nominated: Justin Kuritzkes for Challengers

Best Adapted Screenplay

  • A Complete Unknown   – Written by James Mangold and Jay Cocks 
  • Conclave  – Written by Peter Straughan 
  • Emilia Pérez   – Written by Jacques Audiard in collaboration with Thomas Bidegainm, Lea Mysius and Nicolas Livecchi 
  • Nickel Boys – Written by RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes 
  • Sing Sing  – Written by Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley; story by Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley, Clarence Maclin, and John “Divine G” Whitfield

If the Best Picture lineup had been a bit different, this could have been a spicy race featuring five Best Picture nominees. However, since Sing Sing unfortunately didn’t obtain that Best Picture nomination, its chances of winning are sadly slim to none. Simply given the fact that the Mexican and transgender community have voiced their criticism against the film, Emilia Pérez‘s already fading hopes are now all but gone. A Complete Unknown is unlikely to surprise here too as the last musical biopic to win here was Amadeus in 1985.

Had Nickel Boys got more nominations, it might have stood more of a chance here but nothing is going to stop Peter Straughan from adding to his triumph at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice and BAFTA for his adaptation of Robert Harris’s novel. A dialogue-driven film such as Conclave wouldn’t have worked if the script wasn’t as brilliant as it was.

However, given the first film got a screenplay nod the lack of nomination for Dune: Part Two has me scratching my head, especially as many consider it to be a better film than its predecessor. Clearly, the spice didn’t flow sufficiently enough for the Academy…

Will Win: Conclave

Should Win: Conclave

Should have been nominated: Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve for Dune: Part Two

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

  • A Different Man –Mike Marino, David Presto, and Crystal Jurado
  • Emilia Pérez – Julia Floch Carbonel, Emmanuel Janvier, and Jean-Christophe Spadaccini
  • Nosferatu – David White, Traci Loader, and Suzanne Stokes-Munton
  • The Substance  –Pierre-Oliver Persin, Stéphanie Guillon, and Marilyne Scarselli
  • Wicked  – Frances Hannon, Laura Blount, and Sarah Nuth

Despite some truly excellent work from the hair and makeup teams of Wicked and Nosferatu, anyone who has seen the third and bonkers final act of The Substance will realise that there is only one winner here, particularly as this category so often correlates with one of the acting categories.

Will Win:  The Substance

Should Win: The Substance

Should have been nominated: Dune: Part Two

Best Production Design

  • The Brutalist  – Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Patricia Cuccia
  • Conclave – Production Design: Suzy Davies; Set Decoration: Cynthia Sleiter 
  • Dune: Part Two – Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau
  • Nosferatu  – Production Design: Craig Lathrop; Set Decoration: Beatrice Brentnerová
  • Wicked  – Production Design: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Given Wicked is unlikely to garner much success in the major categories, I anticipate the Academy will look to reward it in some of the technical categories, and the filmmakers’ emphasis on practical sets is likely to help them fly to victory here.

Will Win: Wicked 

Should Win: Wicked

Best Costume Design

  • A Complete Unknown  – Arianne Phillips 
  • Conclave  – Lisy Christl
  • Gladiator II  – Janty Yates and David Crossman 
  • Nosferatu   – Linda Muir  
  • Wicked  – Paul Tazewell 

The Academy loves a period piece, so Nosferatu could be a blood-sucking spoiler on Wicked’s parade here, but I expect the bright and memorable costumes on display should be enough to repel the villainous Count back into the darkness from whence he came and take the Oscar.

Will Win: Wicked 

Should Win: Wicked

Should have been nominated: Jacqueline West for Dune: Part Two

Best International Feature Film

  • Emilia Pérez  (France)  – directed by Jacques Audiard
  • Flow (Latvia)  – directed by Gints Zilbalodis
  • The Girl with the Needle  (Denmark)  – directed by Magnus von Horn
  • I’m Still Here  (Brazil)  – directed by Walter Salles
  • The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)  – directed by Mohammad Rasoulof

As the two Best Picture contenders, this is a straight fight between Emilia Pérez and I’m Still Here. The controversy surrounding the former was happening during the voting, and while it could be the flip of a coin, I fully expect this will sink any chances it had of winning what would have seemed like a sure bet mere weeks ago.

Will Win: I’m Still Here

Should Win: I’m Still Here

Best Supporting Actor

 

  • Yura Borisov – Anora
  • Kieran Culkin – A Real Pain
  • Edward Norton – A Complete Unknown
  • Guy Pearce – The Brutalist
  • Jeremy Strong  – The Apprentice

Much like the Supporting Actress category, four of the five nominees are first-time nominees, with Edward Norton collecting his fourth nomination. Borisov becomes the first Russian to be nominated for an Oscar since 1977, and a richly deserved nomination for giving humanity to a henchman, which is not an easy feat. The fact this is Pearce’s first nomination is massively surprising given his prolific career, and as talented as Norton undoubtedly is, this shouldn’t and won’t be the film that ends his wait for a first Oscar.

What is the most eye-catching fact about this race is that after years starring for years as Kendall and Roman Roy in HBO’s Succession, Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin will be swapping boardroom drama for awards drama. Not for the first time either, as they went toe-to-toe with each other during the Emmys in 2023. Strong’s portrayal of the vulgar and unpleasant lawyer Roy Cohn showcases Cohn’s thoroughly repulsive character, yet he manages to add a layer of sympathy for someone we should have not one iota of sympathy for, given Cohn helped to create the monster that his protege became, while Culkin plays a not nearly as rich version of Roman Roy.

I would love to see one of Guy Pearce or Jeremy Strong win, but much like the Emmys race, Culkin will get the better of his on-screen brother as he has swept all before him in this awards season and will put him halfway towards becoming an EGOT.

Will Win: Kieran Culkin 

Should Win: Guy Pearce

Could have been nominated: Clarence Maclin for Sing Sing or Denzel Washington for Gladiator II 

Best Visual Effects

  • Alien: Romulus  –  Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin, and Shane Mahan
  • Better Man  – Luke Millar, David Clayton, Keith Herft, and Peter Stubbs
  • Dune: Part Two  – Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe, and Gerd Nefzer 
  • Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – Erik Winquist, Stephen Unterfranz, Paul Story, and Rodney Burke
  • Wicked  – Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, David Shirk, and Paul Corbould

In a competition between Xenomorphs, incredibly realistic CGI apes, the wild animals of Oz and Sandworms, the power of the sandworms should be power over all of its competitors.

Will Win: Dune: Part Two

Should Win: Dune: Part Two 

 

Best Cinematography

  • The Brutalist   – Lol Crawley
  • Dune: Part Two  – Greig Fraser 
  • Emilia Pérez – Paul Guilhaume
  • Maria – Ed Lachman
  • Nosferatu – Jarin Blaschke

Another nomination for Emilia Pérez which has me scratching my head, as while the cinematography wasn’t bad, it pales in comparison to the brilliant work of the other four cinematographers on display here. Fraser’s work on Dune: Part Two is mesmerising to look at and could very well bag him another Oscar after he won for his work on the first Dune film. Ed Lachman collects his fourth nomination and is his film’s sole shot at bagging an Oscar, while Jarin Blaschke continues to reap the rewards of his incredible partnership with Robert Eggers. His work in Nosferatu was truly atmospheric and haunting and should be a stake through the heart of its competitors.

However, Lol Crawley’s breathtaking work, shooting the film in VistaVision revived that format, and the results were simply stunning to look at.

Will Win: The Brutalist 

Should Win: Nosferatu

Could have been nominated:  Stéphane Fontaine for Conclave Sayombhu Mukdeeprom for Challengers 

Best Original Score

  • The Brutalist  – Daniel Blumberg 
  • Conclave  – Volker Bertelmann 
  • Emilia Pérez – Clément Ducol and Camille
  • Wicked  – John Powell and Camille Stephen Schwartz
  • The Wild Robot  – Kris Bowers 

Justice for Hans Zimmer, who should have been nominated and be winning again for his magnificent work on Dune: Part Two, yet he was disqualified as it failed to meet the eligibility requirements, as Academy rules state that a nominee must have at least 80% original content in their composition. I would love to see Kris Bowers win for his wonderful work on The Wild Robot, while past winner Volker Bertelmann’s string-heavy score is also a contender, the “Overture” track from The Brutalist, which plays during that very memorable intro scene as Laszlo Toth arrives in the USA, is undeniably powerful and so that will probably propel Blumberg to victory.

Will Win: The Brutalist 

Should Win: The Wild Robot

Should have been nominated: Hans Zimmer for Dune: Part Two 

Best Sound

  • A Complete Unknown  – Tod A. Maitland, Donald Sylvester, Ted Caplan, Paul Massey and David Giammarco
  • Dune: Part Two – Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett, and Doug Hemphill
  • Emilia Pérez – Erwan Kerzanet, Aymeric Devoldère, Maxence Dussère, Cyril Holtz and Niels Barletta
  • Wicked  – Simon Hayes, Nancy Nugent Title, Jack Dolman, Andy Nelson, and John Marquis
  • The Wild Robot – Randy Thom, Brian Chumney, Gary A. Rizzo, and Leff Lefferts

Anyone who felt the thunderous roar of the sandworms, particularly in IMAX, will know there should be no contest here.

Will Win: Dune: Part Two

Should Win: Dune: Part Two

Should have been nominated: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Best Original Song

  • “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez – Music by Clément Ducol and Camille; lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille, and Jacques Audiard
  • “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight – Music and lyrics by Dianne Warren
  • “Like a Bird” from Sing Sing – Music and lyrics by Abraham Alexander and Adrian Quesada
  • “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez – Music and lyrics by Clément Ducol and Camille
  • “Never Too Late” from Elton John: Never Too Late –  Music and lyrics by Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt, and Bernie Taupin

Another year, another nomination for Dianne Warren, which brings her total number of nominations to 16 without a single victory. Surely her run of no victories has to come to an end at some point, but it will not be this year as this award will unfortunately go to one of the two songs from Emilia Pérez. Although, two songs from Emilia Pérez received nominations, while Maren Morris’s beautiful “Kiss The Sky” from The Wild Robot has been snubbed will remain as mystifying as how Emilia Perez got all those nominations in the first place.

Will Win: Emilia Pérez

Should Win: Sing Sing

Should have been nominated: “Kiss the Sky” from The Wild Robot

Best Film Editing

  • Anora – Sean Baker 
  • The Brutalist  –  Dávid Jancsó
  • Conclave – Nick Emerson 
  • Emilia Pérez – Juliette Welfling
  • Wicked – Myron Kerstein

Sound and editing often go hand in hand here, but given Dune: Part Two is nowhere to be found here, this feels like all of the nominees have a shot. Musicals like Emilia Perez and Wicked have very flashy editing, while Sean Baker’s editing for Anora helps the film to be the wild chaotic ride that it is, I do feel it stalls a little bit towards the end. Even with the built-in intermission, to make three-and-a-half hours fly by is a testament to Dávid Jancsó’s work on The Brutalist, so that could prevail here. However, Conclave’s editing is taut and well-paced in a very dialogue-driven film, so the divine powers that be should help it win here.

Will Win: Conclave 

Should Win: Conclave

Best Director

  • Sean Baker – Anora
  • Brady Corbet   – The Brutalist
  • James Mangold  – A Complete Unknown
  • Jacques Audiard – Emilia Pérez
  • Coralie Fargeat – The Substance

There was much speculation on nominations morning as to whether Coralie Fargeat would miss out on a nomination, but thankfully, she secured a well-deserved nomination and became only the tenth woman to be nominated in this category. I would love to see her become the fourth woman to win and follow in the footsteps of Kathryn Bigelow, Chloe Zhao and Jane Campion, for her bold and brilliant satirical body horror, but this race is essentially a battle between Sean Baker and Brady Corbet. There is a chance Baker could, assuming my prediction is correct, add this award to his potential screenplay win. Although, given what Corbet managed to accomplish with his vast and ambitious historical epic, and on a budget of just $10m, that is a seriously impressive achievement and so I have a sneaky feeling that may just tip the scales in Corbet’s favour and ensure he adds to his BAFTA win. Much as though I want Fargeat to win, which is really saying something for me as I am most definitely not an avid horror fan, Corbet would be a deserving winner.

Although, yet again, how the Academy has failed to recognise the phenomenal accomplishment of Denis Villeneuve for Dune: Part Two when he made the best film of last year is just… le sigh 

Will Win: Brady Corbet 

Should Win: Brady Corbet

Could have been nominated: Denis Villeneuve for Dune: Part Two or Edward Berger for Conclave

Best Actress in a Leading Role

  • Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
  • Karla Sofia Gascon – Emilia Perez 
  • Mikey Madison  – Anora
  • Demi Moore – The Substance  
  • Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here

Unlike the supporting actor categories which are pretty much foregone conclusions. there is a chance the other two acting categories could throw up some surprises. Best Actress, in particular, is looking like it might be heading that way, but there is still a chance for something unpredictable to happen. First of all, despite the controversy surrounding her old tweets, Gascon’s nomination is historic as she is the first openly transgender actor to be nominated for an Academy Award, which is historic and hopefully the first of many more to come. The controversy surrounding her means she is unlikely to win. Erivo’s nomination is also significant as she became only the second black woman, after Viola Davis, to receive multiple nominations in this category, which shows there is much progress to be made. However, she too is probably unlikely to win as this is shaping up to be a battle between industry veteran Moore and relative newcomer Madison.

Moore has a slight advantage following her wins at the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice awards, and she continued that streak with a win at BAFTA, this likely would have also been a nailed-on win for Moore, yet Madison’s win at BAFTA has catapulted her back into the race. Although with her win at the Screen Actors Guild awards, Moore clearly has the love and backing of her fellow actors, plus has the comeback narrative on her side as well and we have seen in recent years that translate into a win. Chaos can very easily ensue with this award but, Moore should come through.

Will Win: Demi Moore

Should Win: Demi Moore

Best Actor in a Leading Role

  • Adrien Brody – The Brutalist 
  • Timothee Chalamet  – A Complete Unknown
  • Colman Domingo – Sing Sing  
  • Ralph Fiennes  – Conclave
  • Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice 

Much like with Best Actress, this race between these five gentlemen is looking like it is pointing towards a foregone conclusion. It was always going to be interesting – given the current resident in the White House – if the Academy would nominate Stan for his portrayal of a younger Trump in his younger days before he became the most divisive of political figures. Stan becomes the eighth actor to be nominated for portraying a US president, but he is highly unlikely to be the first. Without that Best Picture nomination, Domingo is also unlikely to win. However given this is his second nomination in as many years, I fully expect he will get his moment in the spotlight sooner rather than later.

Ralph Fiennes has been consistently brilliant across a glittering career having garnered three Oscar nominations, yet somehow hasn’t won, so there is an overdue narrative on his side. Had he won at the BAFTAs, it could have made this race very interesting and despite BAFTA showering Conclave with numerous awards, he was not among them. Chalamet became the third youngest nominee for Best Actor when he received his first nomination in 2018 and became the youngest two-time Best Actor nominee, a record previously held by James Dean. Much like Domingo, it is surely a case if when not if Chalamet collects an Oscar. If he did win, he would become the youngest Best Actor winner of all time and would break a record held by a certain Adrien Brody, who won his first Oscar for The Pianist back in 2003. If Brody did emerge triumphant, he would become the first actor to win in this category with his first two nominations.

Chalamet’s win at SAG could throw a spanner into the works, yet I am backing Brody to make history for his towering portrayal of a Hungarian-Jewish immigrant looking to fulfil the American Dream after emigrating from post-WW2 Europe. A fitting victory given the hostile and foul rhetoric being spewed towards immigrants by the current US administration.

Will Win: Adrien Brody

Should Win: Ralph Fiennes

And, last and certainly by no means least…

Best Picture

  • Anora  – Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Sean Baker
  • The Brutalist – Nick Gordon, Brian Young, Andrew Morrison, D.J. Gugenheim, and Brady Corbet
  • A Complete Unknown  – Fred Berger, James Mangold and Alex Heineman
  • Conclave  – Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, and Michael A. Jackman
  • Dune: Part Two – Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, and Denis Villeneuve
  • Emilia Pérez  – Pascal Caucheteux and Jacques Audiard
  • I’m Still Here  –Maria Carlota Bruno and Rodrigo Teixeira
  • Nickel Boys – Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and Joslyn Barnes
  • The Substance  – Coralie Fargeat, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner
  • Wicked  – Marc Platt

Click here to see my ranking of the Best Picture contenders.

Last but not least, the big prize. In the past two years, this race has been a pretty foregone conclusion with Everything Everywhere All At Once and Oppenheimer both collecting seven awards before sweeping their way to winning Best Picture at the 95th and 96th Oscars respectively. This year however, there is no clear and obvious frontrunner, and is the most wide-open race we have had in quite some time. If I had my way, Dune: Part Two would be powering its way to victory like a Sandworm traversing the desert plains of Arrakis, but that is very unlikely to happen.

Up until a few weeks ago, since it secured the most nominations, Emilia Pérez might have taken this, but the controversy over its leading actress has brought any momentum it might have had. Conclave‘s success at the BAFTAs means it could be a potential spoiler to rain on Anora’s parade. Academy voters determine the winner using a preferential ballot and so in such a race where there is no frontrunner, with Conclave being generally well-liked across the board, it may pull off a surprise of biblical proportions. The only film I would have been majorly dissatisfied to see win would be Emilia Pérez, but with that film’s chances of winning all but over, I will be delighted for whoever does take home the big prize of the night.

Will Win: Anora 

Should Win: Dune: Part Two 

Should have been nominated: Sing Sing 

————————————————–

Final counts

Will win:

  • The Brutalist – 4 (Director, Leading Actor, Score,  and Cinematography)  
  • Anora – 2 (Picture and Original Screenplay)  
  • Conclave – 2 (Adapted Screenplay and Editing)
  • Dune: Part Two – 2 (Sound and Visual Effects)  
  • Emilia Perez – 2 (Supporting Actress and Original Song)  
  • The Substance – 2 (Best Actress and Makeup and Hairstyling)   
  • Wicked – 2 (Best Costumes and Production Design)   
  • A Real Pain – 1 (Supporting Actor)    
  • I’m Still Here – 1 (International Feature)  
  • The Wild Robot – 1 (Animated Feature)  

Should win:

  • Conclave – 4 (Leading Actor, Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay and Editing)  
  • Dune: Part Two – 3 (Picture, Visual Effects and Sound)   
  • The Substance – 3 (Best Actress, Original Screenplay and Makeup and Hairstyling)   
  • The Brutalist – 2 (Supporting Actor and Director)  
  • The Wild Robot – 2 (Animated Feature and Score)  
  • Wicked – 2 (Best Costumes and Production Design) 
  • I’m Still Here – 1 (International Feature) 
  • Nosferatu – 1 (Cinematography)  
  • Sing Sing – 1 (Orignal Song)
Posted in 2020-2029, Awards Season, Oscars, Ranking

97th Academy Awards: Best Picture Nominees ranked

Posted on by Martin: Through the Silver Screen

As the curtain comes down on another awards season, it is time for Hollywood to mark its biggest night. The damage caused by the LA wildfires in January has brought things into perspective and although it promises to be a night filled with usual celebrations, glamour and parties, there is undoubtedly a sombre backdrop to this year’s awards. My heart goes out to all those affected by these terrible tragedies.

Nevertheless, ten more films are looking to bag the top prize and walk away with the coveted prize of Best Picture and join an illustrious company of films which includes Parasite, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and The Silence of the Lambs. In a year which gave us the first half of an adaptation of a beloved musical, a tense thriller set in the Vatican, a gnarly body horror, a musical biopic of one of the most influential artists of all time, a hilarious take on a not-so-Disney fairytale, and a 215-minute long historical epic. Not as strong as last year’s crop, but some excellent films nonetheless, and one that really doesn’t belong in this company.

Without further ado, here is my ranking of these films from worst to best, starting with…

10. Emilia Pérez

I always say that for every awards season, there is always going to be one film that I, for whatever reason, just do not vibe with or cannot understand why it has been nominated. This year, the film that stands out by quite a long way is Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez. I give this film all the points in the world for its originality and for the big audacious swings it takes. Anyone who says there is no originality left in cinema these days needs to look no further than this, a musical about a Mexican drug lord who undergoes gender reassignment surgery. You can’t get more original than that, however, originality does not make a good film.

The performances of its central three characters played by Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez are all strong and it hits on some important themes. However, a key requirement for any musical is to have memorable musical numbers that will leave you singing them for days and weeks afterwards, and the musical numbers here just didn’t have that. Furthermore, given the film has attracted strong criticism from Mexico and the transgender community combined with the controversy of resurfaced tweets from Gascon cannot and should not be ignored. All these factors should severely damage its chances of winning any awards. The fact it is the most nominated film this year is truly head-scratching.

 

9. A Complete Unknown

 

Bob Dylan, a name instantly recognisable to countless people worldwide, is considered one of the greatest artists of all time. 40 studio albums and 21 live albums across a more than 60-year career is an extraordinary legacy, and it is no surprise that many filmmakers such as Todd Haynes and Martin Scorsese have made films centred on such a remarkable musician. Having directed 2005’s Walk The Line, a music biopic about Johnny Cash, James Mangold stage dives back into this world for another film about the man who has sold 125 million albums worldwide.

James Mangold could have easily taken the standard biopic approach and chronicled Bob Dylan’s life from his early years to the present. However, he focuses specifically on the early days of Dylan’s career in the 1960s, highlighting his encounters with his idol, Woody Guthrie, and his whirlwind romances with Elle Fanning’s Sylvie Russo, and Monica Barbaro’s Joan Baez. Throughout this period, Dylan grapples with the desire for artistic freedom while rising to mega-stardom. Timothée Chalamet delivers a strong, transformative performance as Dylan and Mangold’s direction hits the right notes. However, I just wasn’t invested in the story as much as I wanted to, and I feel this film is primarily aimed at passionate fans of Dylan, which is not me. That being said, ‘The Times They Are A-Changin'” is one hell of a banger.

 

 

8. I’m Still Here

In every awards show of the 2020s so far, at least one international film has competed for the top prize. Walter Salles’s film, representing Brazil, tells the harrowing true story of a woman’s struggle to uncover the truth about her husband’s disappearance during the 1970s, a time when the country was under military dictatorship. The film portrays a warm and sincere family dynamic set against the backdrop of sunny Rio de Janeiro, despite the ominous sounds of military aircraft flying overhead. It also highlights a historical period that many viewers may not be aware of, making it depressingly relevant given the alarming rise in dictators or aspiring dictators around the world today.

While the film could have conveyed more urgency, considering the family’s desperate situation, Fernanda Torres’s excellent and restrained performance in the face of authoritarian brutality makes it a worthwhile watch. Torres thoroughly deserves her nomination for Best Actress.

 

7. Nickel Boys

Throughout the years, many filmmakers have portrayed the harsh realities of racism in the United States, an insidious presence that unfortunately persists not only in the U.S. but around the world. However, these films have rarely explored this theme from a first-person perspective. This is what makes RaMell Ross’s film so visually striking, entirely unique, and profoundly unsettling to watch. Based on the 2019 novel by Colson Whitehead, the film centres on the friendship of two boys who are sent to an abusive reform school in Florida, where they must endure and survive the brutality they encounter.

The decision to tell this story from the first-person perspective is bold, powerful and innovative and captures the cruelty of this “school” unequivocally. However, it does get to a point where as ground-breaking as telling such a story from the perspective of these two the way the film is directed can work against it. Nevertheless,  it remains an important and necessary watch given the pervasive ugliness of racism that remains pervasive in the US right to the present day.

 

6. The Brutalist

review

In today’s world of smartphones and social media, any film which exceeds three hours is bound to spark debate over whether such a lengthy runtime is justified. Even for the most ardent cinephile, a runtime of 3 hours and 35 minutes can feel like an endurance test. However, with the help of an intermission built into that runtime, Brady Corbet’s ambitious and pertinent drama of a Hungarian-Jewish architect striving to achieve the American Dream, filmed in glorious VistaVision, feels like a film that could have been made and released several decades ago. Unfortunately, the cacophonous bile spewed by supposed world leaders demonising immigrants and their legal bid to emigrate to a brand new country to make a new life for themselves, makes it all the more relevant in today’s political climate.

Its themes of striving to create something to leave a lasting legacy in your respective field, only to have numerous obstacles thrown in your way, are also very timely and topical. Despite that lengthy runtime, the clever use of a built-in intermission ensures the film seldom drags and I could have happily watched more, particularly as I felt the third act came to a sharp and abrupt halt which really took me out of the film and prevents it from becoming a true modern masterpiece.

 

5. The Substance

The sole film among this year’s nominees to be directed by a woman, and the first horror film to receive a best picture nomination since Get Out was nominated at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. The Academy has not often embraced horror, particularly such gnarly body horror on display here. There has been an array of fantastic performances in horror films not getting the recognition they deserved (Toni Collette, Florence Pugh and Lupita Nyong’o in Hereditary, Midsommar and Us respectively to name but a few).

To see Demi Moore succeed where those aforementioned performances didn’t get the nomination they deserved is immensely satisfying. Coralie Fargeat’s fierce script is filled with biting social commentary about the ridiculous pressure society places on women, the absurd beauty standards women have to put up with compared to men and the pressures to maintain those standards in the face of getting old. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley both give tour-de-force performances, with an absolutely insane third act that you will not be forgetting in a hurry.

4. Anora

review

I was quite nervous about watching the follow-up film directed by Sean Baker, even knowing that it had won the coveted Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. This anxiety stemmed from my experience with his previous film, Red Rocket, which I found to be thoroughly repulsive and predatory. Thankfully, my worries about his latest film were quickly put to rest. Despite my many gripes with Red Rocket, Baker’s films give a voice to the marginalized in American society, and this theme is prominent in his hilarious and chaotic take on the classic Cinderella fairytale. The film follows a young New York sex worker who believes she has found her Prince Charming, only to discover that this particular prince has some rather unwelcoming parents and henchmen.

The entire film rests on her shoulders, and after delivering memorable supporting performances in recent years, Mikey Madison finally gets her well-deserved moment in the spotlight as the princess of this unconventional love story. Just don’t expect any ballgowns or happy-ever-afters.

 

3. Wicked

The first film of this year’s crop which was an undisputed box office juggernaut in 2024. It would be fair to say that given how popular (pun most definitely intended) the musical which inspired this film is, expectations were sky high as to whether the musical would translate to the big screen, which hasn’t always been an easy path. Fortunately, in the very capable hands of Jon M. Chu, the first part of this journey back to the land of Oz to explore the friendship of Shiz University students Galinda and Elphaba before their paths diverge into becoming the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good hit all the right notes. With those irresistibly catchy songs, and the incredible performances of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the film defied expectations (and gravity), and we’re only halfway through the story. Wicked: For Good cannot get here soon enough.

2. Conclave

review

On paper, a film about a group of religious men in fancy robes going through a lengthy process of choosing their next leader doesn’t sound like it would be ripe material for a tense thriller. Yet in the same vein as The Brutalist, in a year when countless people went to the polls across the world, the release couldn’t have been more apt in a tense political climate. We have seen all too often in recent years, political figures who shouldn’t be anywhere near the seats of world government, scramble to obtain and retain power by any means necessary.

This kind of vain and power-hungry behaviour is unexpected from those who have dedicated their lives to serving an institution like the Catholic Church. However, Peter Straughan’s gripping script keeps the audience engaged as agendas clash, long-hidden secrets emerge, and these men participate in a nearly Game of Thrones-style struggle for the right to become the next Pope. Meanwhile, others grapple with crises of faith, questioning the very institutions they have devoted themselves to. A pulsating papal drama, with magnificent work from its ensemble cast, led by the ever-reliable Ralph Fiennes.

1. Dune: Part Two

review

The second film in this year’s crop that was an absolute behemoth at the box office, with the spice flowing in plentiful supply, as it continued the journey of Paul Atriedes on the vast and inhospitable world of Arrakis in his quest for revenge against the Harkonnens. Denis Villeneuve picked up where he left off to deliver a sequel that built on the foundations of its predecessor to give audiences a much bigger, darker and yes better film than its predecessor. The first instalment garnered ten nominations -and won six – at the 94th Oscars in 2022.

The fact that the second half of this masterful adaptation of Frank Herbert’s book only garnered six nominations is a gargantuan sandworm-sized injustice. I can only hope that the Academy is waiting for Dune: Messiah to give this visionary director his well-deserved dues. It is only a matter of time before Villeneuve gets an Oscar given his incredible contributions to cinema since he gained wider recognition in Hollywood in 2013.

 

Could/should have been nominated…

So, there we have it, there is my ranking of the ten films competing for Best Picture. However, with this, I always like to imagine what could have been. It is safe to say that even with some great films in this year’s crop of nominees, one film really stands out like a sore thumb as being unworthy of its place as a Best Picture contender, while with another I can see why it has received a Best Picture nominee, it wouldn’t have been my choice.

So with that in mind, if I had a ballot, out would go Emilia Perez and A Complete Unknown, and in their place, I would choose to nominate two from the following three films:

Sing Sing – It really surprises me, for a film which is all about the arts and the restorative power they can have to transform our lives and offer any of us an outlet to express ourselves, Greg Kweda’s life-affirming and powerful prison drama, would be a sure bet to receive a nomination for Best Picture, particularly given this wasn’t the strongest year for cinema. Colman Domingo continues his remarkable trajectory with a phenomenal leading performance which should be putting him in the running for Best Actor. His time will come soon, I am absolutely sure of that.

We Live in Time – Okay, cards on the table, I am a huge fan of Florence Pugh. Therefore, any film she stars in automatically captures my attention. Adding Andrew Garfield into the equation, in a heartachingly beautiful and devastating film about two people who meet and fall in love while battling a heartbreaking medical diagnosis. It all seems like the perfect combination to merit awards attention, particularly given the devastating performances of Pugh and Garfield. Yet throughout this awards season, this film has been completely overlooked and I am genuinely flummoxed as to why.

Challengers – Like We Live in Time, Luca Guadagnino’s steamy tennis drama is another film to have completely overlooked in this awards season, and while it admittedly was a bit of a long shot particularly given how early in the year it was released, I firmly believe it was good enough to have received awards attention for the incredible performances of Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, its sharp screenplay, and the absolute serve that is the tubthumping score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.