The 98th Academy Awards: Best Picture Nominees

Krissen’s Thoughts

I think it’s time for me to accept that I just don’t quite connect with and/or understand Yorgos Lanthimos movies. After liking The Lobster (2015) and The Favourite (2018), I haven’t really enjoyed another of his films. The ending, in particular, really didn’t work for me, and I felt like most of the themes just didn’t land or were muddled by questionable storytelling choices. Stone really is always doing the most, and while her collaboration with Lanthimos seems to be working for her on an awards level, I hope to see her break free from his directorial spell. 

I rate it 5/10.

Nolan’s Thoughts

It has the trademark eerie weirdness we expect from Lanthimos, but a lot of the elements didn’t quite work for me. It mostly held my interest, yet the ending message fell flat. After spending so much time with the gritty incel conspiracy theorist—who’s apparently right about everything—the sudden reveal that aliens are ending humanity felt too jarring. Lanthimos is one of a kind, but I always feel like I need a shower after his films.

I rate it 3/10.

Krissen’s Thoughts

This is the one nominee this year that is riding the coattails of blockbuster popularity. This did well in cinemas and certainly it’s an entertaining time. But, given that this was also directed by Kosinski, it does seem to be trying to recreate what Top Gun: Maverick (2022) achieved. Maybe it was Pitt’s performance or maybe it was the writing, but I didn’t connect with an ounce of any emotional journey. Perhaps if this had been more focused on Idris’s character and less on Pitt’s, I would have found it more engaging.

I rate it 6/10.

Nolan’s Thoughts

This was very entertaining, but lacked the real substance that made Kosinski’s previous action movie Top Gun: Maverick so engaging. The production design and editing of all the racing was very well done and exciting, but I didn’t really feel like the story was strong enough to balance being paired with the high octane F1 setting. Also cutting all scenes involving Simone Ashley immediately drops my rating here.

I rate it 5/10.

Krissen’s Thoughts

I can’t say I’ve seen many previous adaptations of Frankenstein, but what del Toro puts together is wonderful. Visually, everything is stunning from costumes to sets, and brought well to life through great performances. The biggest surprise to me was Elordi’s Creature. I had mostly only seen him in The Kissing Booth films before and hadn’t expected much, but his portrayal was a great balance of intensity and tenderness. I also really enjoyed how well the film captured the narrative device of Victor and the Creature telling their stories to Captain Anderson.

I rate it 8/10.

Nolan’s Thoughts

Del Toro always brings his signature detailed production design, and this film is no exception. It looks beautiful even in its darkest, goriest moments. He also delivers the kind of strong yet tender female character he does so well. Mia Goth brings a quiet warmth to an otherwise sinister world. She along with the rest of the small cast bring a new layer of intimacy to this classic story. Jacob Elordi’s committed performance also injects new energy into the legendary character.

I rate it 7/10.

Krissen’s Thoughts

There was a point midway through where I was taken aback by how beautifully written and executed the visual storytelling is handled throughout this film. To me, Hamnet is nothing short of a masterpiece. Buckley’s performance is transcendent and the last scene is one of the most moving things I have ever witnessed on film. Zhao’s translation of this story from book to screen is so well done, I felt like every second of screen time was well used and necessary. Jupe is beyond excellent at so young an age. 

I rate it 10/10.

Nolan’s Thoughts

I was deeply and profoundly moved by everything this masterpiece offered. Every actor, children included, gave powerhouse performances and Jesse Buckley was absolutely incredible. It breaks your heart and then heals it in extremely powerful ways. It’s also filled with beautiful scenery and edited very well. It took me well after the credits finished rolling to recover emotionally from this experience. About as perfect as a film can be to me.

I rate it 10/10.

Krissen’s Thoughts

This has almost the exact same vibes as the Safdie brothers’ Uncut Gems (2019) and while enjoyable and entertaining as it is, the more I thought about the film the less I liked it. The chaos is done well, but I couldn’t help feeling like the journey was pointless when all was said and done. The production design is great and Chalamet does give a strong performance, but ultimately I feel like this had less to say about hubris and consequences than Uncut Gems. And as good as Kevin O’Leary was at basically playing himself, why are we giving this man movie roles? 

I rate it 7/10.

Nolan’s Thoughts

I thought I was walking into a dramatic table tennis biopic, but it quickly goes off the rails with some outrageous twists. It’s a messy, entertaining blast, though some of the substance gets lost in the constant arguments, anxiety-inducing moments, and out-of-control characters. Flawed protagonists can work, but Marty often crosses into outright unlikeable territory. Even so, the eclectic cast of Kevin O’Leary, Tyler the Creator, and Penn Gillette works surprisingly well together.

I rate it 6/10.

Krissen’s Thoughts

This was enjoyable and certainly timely, and while there is a decent amount of broad commentary, it never fully lands. The story is mostly interesting, but I did feel like the subplot of “The Christmas Adventurer’s Club” isn’t fleshed out enough to warrant the amount of screen time it gets. Penn’s Lockjaw is disturbing but well acted, while DiCaprio’s humor is entertaining, but ultimately lacking any character depth. Infiniti is definitely the bright spot of the film. 

I rate it 7/10.

Nolan’s Thoughts

Even though I can hardly stand him in real life, I have to admit I do love watching Leo act like a lunatic on film. It’s extremely relevant to the racism, sexism, and hate going on in the country right now and it’s definitely worth a watch. I did enjoy some of the more intense moments, especially how the car chase finale was done, but I do think it was a little too surface level in how it approached the main issues. It’s very easy to hate the villains, a little harder to love the others. Maybe if the film dove a little deeper into them rather than the more bizarre elements I would have liked it a little more.

I give it a 6/10.

Krissen’s Thoughts

I’ll admit that if I were Brazillian, I’d probably appreciate this film more, especially if I were at an age to fully understand what went on during the 1970s there. But as an international viewer, the film felt disjointed. We are told to be invested in Armando’s story from the beginning, but by the end I think we’ve meandered too far for it to be hard hitting. And what could have been a very interesting framing device is introduced late in the game and executed a bit sloppily for my tastes. A positive is how vibrantly executed the 1970s vibe is throughout.

I rate it 6/10.

Nolan’s Thoughts

I scratched my head a bit after this one. I don’t usually mind a slow build kind of film, but here the slow pace and time spent telling this story was a little frustrating by the end. It focused most of its time and energy on the less direct aspects and the supporting players than the main character and in turn still only gives us glimpses into the big picture. The ending is what really lost me. It felt odd following Armando’s story for so long only to skip over its absolute climax and just bail out into the modern day storyline. I really wanted to like it a lot more than I did. 

I rate it 5/10.

Krissen’s Thoughts

Foremost an intimate family drama, Sentimental Value is an interesting watch. The main cast is mostly four actors, and all are recognized with awards. It was lovely to see Skarsgård in a non-English speaking role, but Ibsdotter Lilleas really stole the show for me. It was a bit slow in moments, but the emotional climax is done very well and I loved the last scene. I think a lot of catharsis can be found here when thinking about family and generational trauma.

I rate it 8/10.

Nolan’s Thoughts

The simpleness of the story allows the small cast and terrific emotional performances to take center stage. The fragile bond between the sisters affected me the most. I especially liked how the film balanced family drama with the characters’ personal goals and lives long after. It has a sadness to it that’s hard to pin down, but through that it shows the resilience human beings can have to keep going.

I rate it 8/10.

Krissen’s Thoughts

The Ryan Coogler-Michael B. Jordan partnership continues with a spectacular result in Sinners. I’m always leery with actors in double roles, but Jordan’s differentiations between Smoke and Stack go well beyond mere costuming. It’s wonderful to see the stereotypical vampire story through a specific, cultural lens. The “I Lied to You” scene is so powerful and moving. The film is rightfully recognized with its record-breaking nominations and I hope will be the recipient of many Oscars. 

I rate it 9/10. 

Nolan’s Thoughts

Ryan Coogler created a truly unique vampire film. I loved seeing Micheal B. Jordan’s incredibly intricate performance playing twins with very different vibes. And the supporting cast was excellent as well. My favorite scene was the one-shot take during the dance where we see all the characters enjoying themselves just before the night takes a horrifying turn. Well warranted with all its nominations, this film fires on all cylinders from start to finish.

I rate it 9/10.

Krissen’s Thoughts

I was genuinely so surprised and struck by the beauty of this movie. The simplicity in storytelling is magnified by incredible cinematography and a gentle, quiet reminder of life and the human spirit. Edgerton has a really great presence throughout, and the brief scenes of those who come and go in Grainier’s life are well acted by all. The last scene, in particular, is incredibly moving. I’m annoyed that Netflix didn’t promote this movie more, as it deserves way more viewership and hype.

I rate it 9/10. 

Nolan’s Thoughts

This might be the most beautifully shot film on this list. Excellent use of natural light, the gorgeous forest settings, and uniquely emotional story culminated in a wonderfully deep and intimate experience. A film like this warmly reminds us that the simplest life, even if burdened by sadness, is still worth living.

I give it a 9/10.

Krissen’s Ranking

1. Hamnet
2. Sinners
3. Train Dreams
4. Frankenstein
5. Sentimental Value
6. One Battle After Another
7. Marty Supreme
8. The Secret Agent
9. F1
10. Bugonia

Nolan’s Ranking

1. Hamnet
2. Sinners
3. Train Dreams
4. Sentimental Value
5. Frankenstein
6. One Battle After Another
7. The Secret Agent
8. Marty Supreme
9. Bugonia
10. F1