The Oscars are on Sunday! The weather better not ruin my annual party. In case you didn’t have time to watch all ten Best Picture nominations, let me help you (whether you want the help or not!). See the movies and my mini reviews of them below.
Hamnet — Director: Chloé Zhao. Stars: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal. Summary: Set in Elizabethan England, the film follows the Shakespeare family coping with the devastating loss of their young son, Hamnet. The tragedy reshapes their lives and inspires the writing of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Bridget’s take: This is the only one of the ten I haven’t seen yet, but as a nerdy English major, I’ll probably like it. I hear the last act is bawl-your-eyes-out moving.
One Battle After Another — Director: Paul Thomas Anderson. Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro. Summary: A tense political thriller following activists and operatives tangled in a dangerous conflict involving corruption, ideology, and revenge. As the struggle escalates, personal loyalties are tested in a rapidly shifting power game. Bridget’s take: This was likely my favorite movie among the nominees. It’s edgy and challenging but it is also darkly hilarious and moving. Leonardo DiCaprio is endlessly amusing even in his depressed state. Sean Penn’s performance is completely engrossing, as ‘gross’ as it is.
Sinners — Director: Ryan Coogler. Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo, Jack O’Connell. Summary: Twin war veterans return home only to find themselves pulled into a dark and supernatural struggle. As the mystery unfolds, they must confront both their past and a terrifying force threatening their community. Bridget’s take: This might be a close second as far as my favorites. If you just start watching this movie knowing nothing about it, it’s going to take you somewhere you weren’t expecting. Deep South culture, music, spiritualism and a crazy ending make this one a fun ride.
Bugonia — Director: Yorgos Lanthimos. Stars: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons. Summary: A paranoid beekeeper becomes convinced a powerful businesswoman is secretly an alien planning humanity’s destruction. He kidnaps her with the help of a cousin, triggering a darkly comic battle between conspiracy and reality. Bridget’s take: Weird, weird, weird, as all Yorgos Lanthimos movies are. I really enjoyed his last movie “Poor Things,” but this bloody, head-scratching one wasn’t for me.
F1 — Director: Joseph Kosinski. Stars: Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem. Summary: A former Formula One racing star returns to the track to mentor a talented young driver. As rivalries heat up and pressure mounts, both must confront the dangers and sacrifices of elite motorsport. Bridget’s take: A complete dad movie…in a good way. Action-packed and emotional and a great performance by Brad Pitt make this one a fun ride.
Frankenstein — Director: Guillermo del Toro. Stars: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi. Summary: A brilliant but obsessive scientist becomes determined to conquer death and creates a living being from corpses. His experiment unleashes tragic consequences as the Creature searches for purpose and revenge. Bridget’s take: This one was nominated for LOTS of awards, but afterwards, I kept wondering – was that actually good? I’m still not sure.
Marty Supreme — Director: Josh Safdie. Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow. Summary: A wildly talented but troubled ping-pong prodigy rockets to fame in the competitive table-tennis world. His rise forces him to confront ego, fame, and the chaotic life that comes with sudden success. Bridget’s take: If you are expecting an edge of your seat sports movie, that’s not what this is…mostly. It went many places I wasn’t expecting but overall was entertaining and I’d probably watch again.
The Secret Agent — Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho. Stars: Wagner Moura. Summary: In a politically turbulent Brazil, a man becomes entangled in espionage and conspiracies that threaten both his life and the nation’s future. The story blends suspense with commentary on power and corruption. Bridget’s take: One of the two foreign language films up for best pic, this one kept me wondering. An hour and a half into the movie, I still wasn’t sure what was going on (even with the subtitles on). The ending wasn’t overly satisfying and I’m not sure it was worth the two hour and forty-minute commitment.
Sentimental Value — Director: Joachim Trier. Stars: Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning. Summary: A family reunites after years apart when a filmmaker father returns to reconnect with his daughters. Old wounds, memories, and the complicated legacy of family relationships resurface. Bridget’s take: The other foreign language film, this one is a talky, emotional family drama. It won’t be for everyone, and it was a bit of a slog for me though it had some great performances.
Train Dreams — Director: Clint Bentley. Stars: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones. Summary: Set in the early 20th-century American West, the film follows a quiet railroad worker navigating love, grief, and sweeping social change. His personal story unfolds alongside the rapid transformation of the American frontier. Bridget’s take: The most beautiful of all the movies, this one tore my heart out. Epic western cinematography and majestic locations didn’t quite make up for a slow-moving story…which wasn’t much of a story but still managed to wring the tears out of me.
