Award season is in full swing, and that means the Oscars (the biggest night of the year for film) has come and gone. There were some incredible films that have been released (some not getting the Oscar-worthy attention they deserve), but there are also some movies that had received the Oscars’ attention. Here are the top five Oscar-nominated movies you must watch.
1. Call Me By Your Name
I have written an entire article about why you should see this movie, so I’ll keep this explanation shorter. This movie is about a young man named Eliom who falls in love with a foreign exchange student from America named Oliver. The story navigates family, love, and the strain of different relationships. Timothee Chalamet, who plays Elio, is nominated for Best Actor, and the movie itself is nominated for Best Picture, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It is a must-see, and one of my personal favorites.
2. The Shape of Water
This film is so beautiful in so many ways. The story follows a young woman (Sally Hawkins), who works as a janitor in a government lab facility, who falls in love and tries to help a humanoid-fish who is discovered and mistreated in the lab. It shows love in its most basic form, and the cinematography is one for the books. The film has been nominated for 13 Oscars, including Best Actress, Best Picture, and Best Director (Guillermo Del Toro).
3. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
This film actually surprised me in how great it was. It was an incredibly emotional film, covering incredibly sensitive topics like rape, murder, and revenge. But, it also shows the strong, resilient side of humanity and the corrupt side. It’s been nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Original Screenplay. It’s truly a beautiful story, with some incredible performances by Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell, and Woody Harrelson.
4. Lady Bird
Lady Bird has taken cinema by storm. Directed by Greta Gerwig, one of the few female directors in Hollywood nominated for Best Director, it follows the story of Christine “Lady Bird” a high schooler who navigates relationships with family, love interests, and her own morals. It’s a beautiful portrayal of family and a beautiful display of friendship. It’s nominated for 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Director. Saoirse Ronan leads the film as “Lady Bird” in a beautiful performance, alongside Laura Metcalf as her mother and Beanie Feldstein as her best friend. It’s honestly a fantastic film that anyone can enjoy. This is a must-see.
5. I, Tonya
This is one of the more controversial films on this list, but there’s definitely a reason it’s been nominated for 3 Oscars including Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. The film follows the controversial scandal between figure skater Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, where Kerrigan was suspiciously injured before the Olympics, and all things pointed to Tonya. She was banned from U.S Figure Skating and had a really tough life from the beginning. Margot Robbie gives an incredible performance as the defamed figure skater, and Allison Janney gives an equally stunning performance as her crass mother. The story seems to be in favor of Tonya Harding and gives the impression that she was wronged and didn’t actually have any involvement in Kerrigan’s injury. However, many who lived through the scandal say otherwise. Whatever happened, the film is extremely well-done and gives some impeccable performances.
