Eight films made the cut as a nominee for Oscar's prestigious Best Picture and this year there is no stinker in the bunch. Or should I say "no Joker in the bunch." Every film on this list is ten-buck worthy and (streaming on your TV by Friday of this week. Seven of them are on your TV as I write this, no joke. Enjoy!
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| Judas and the Black Messiah |
Offered a plea deal by the FBI, Bill O'Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton (Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya). If you think it sounds more like an undercover rat and gangster thriller than a Black Panther biopic, you are correct.
Nominated for: Best picture, supporting actor (2), 0riginal screenplay, and cinematography
Director David Fincher (Se7en, Zodiac, The Social Network) tells the bittersweet story of fabled '30s screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and the creation of Hollywood's most honored film, Citizen Kane. This black-and-white film is for cinephiles and insomniacs only, but I loved it and Amanda Seyfried's (Les Miserables, Mamma Mia) performance too.
Nominated for: Best picture, director, actor, supporting actress, cinematography, production design, score, sound, costume design, and makeup and hairstyling.
Streaming on: Netflix
This unforgettable (but slow-paced) journey features the story of a woman (Frances McDormand) who embarks on a journey through the American West after losing everything during the recession. It's a well-timed film starring one of our best actresses with only one way to go on the front-runner list. It's a beautiful film that stays with you days after the ride.
Nominated for: Best picture, director, actress, adapted screenplay, cinematography and editing.
Streaming on: Hulu
Newcomer director Emerald Fennell and actress Carey Mulligan (An Education) lead this energetic black-comedy revenge story that is the buzziest film of the year.
Nominated for: Best picture, director, actress, original screenplay and editing.
Streaming on: VOD (Rent it on Amazon, Apple, Google Play, Vudu)
Sound is my favorite 2020 movie and the film I'd most likely see again in a theater one day. It follows the story of a punk-metal drummer who is losing his hearing. Writer-Director Darius Marder (The Place Beyond The Pines), actor Riz Ahmed (Nightcrawler), and supporting actor Paul Raci don't miss a beat. It's a frontrunner for Best Sound (which it will win).
Nominated for: Best picture, actor, supporting actor, original screenplay, sound and editing.
Streaming on: Amazon Prime
Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Coleman star in this empathetic film about aging and dementia. I can't wait to see it Friday.
Nominated for: Best picture, actor, supporting actress, adapted screenplay, production design, film editing
Streaming on: VOD, starting Friday March 26
The 8th nominated film follows an infamous trial of seven charged with conspiracy arising from counterculture protests. Sacha Baron Cohen is a standout in his role as left-wing provocateur Abbie Hoffman. If it feels like a TV show not a movie, well, Aaron Sorkin wrote the screenplay and directed this film.
Nominated for: Best picture, supporting actor, original screenplay, cinematography, song and editing.
Streaming on: Netflix
Bonus Features
Likely winner of Best Animated Feature: Soul. Pixar Animation Studios takes you on a journey from the streets of New York City to the Great Beyond and it's beyond great. My soul was touched by very few 2020 films in 2020. Sound of Metal, Nomadland, Da 5 Bloods — and this.
Nominated for: Best picture, animated feature, original score, sound
Streaming on: Disney+
Nominated for: Best picture, supporting actor (2), 0riginal screenplay, and cinematography
Streaming on: Netflix
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| Mank |
Nominated for: Best picture, director, actor, supporting actress, cinematography, production design, score, sound, costume design, and makeup and hairstyling.
Streaming on: Netflix
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| Minari |
A Korean American family moves to an Arkansas farm in search of its own American dream in this beautifully paced film. Golden Globes’ rule to exclude non-English language films from competing for Best Drama Film, relegating this to just Best Foreign Feature Film, has certainly raised its chances of winning here.
Nominated for: Best picture, director, actor, supporting actress, original screenplay and score.
Streaming on: VOD (Rent it on Amazon, Apple, Google Play, Vudu)
Nominated for: Best picture, director, actor, supporting actress, original screenplay and score.
Streaming on: VOD (Rent it on Amazon, Apple, Google Play, Vudu)
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| Nomadland |
This unforgettable (but slow-paced) journey features the story of a woman (Frances McDormand) who embarks on a journey through the American West after losing everything during the recession. It's a well-timed film starring one of our best actresses with only one way to go on the front-runner list. It's a beautiful film that stays with you days after the ride.
Nominated for: Best picture, director, actress, adapted screenplay, cinematography and editing.
Streaming on: Hulu
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| Promising Young Woman |
Newcomer director Emerald Fennell and actress Carey Mulligan (An Education) lead this energetic black-comedy revenge story that is the buzziest film of the year.
Nominated for: Best picture, director, actress, original screenplay and editing.
Streaming on: VOD (Rent it on Amazon, Apple, Google Play, Vudu)
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| Sound of Metal |
Sound is my favorite 2020 movie and the film I'd most likely see again in a theater one day. It follows the story of a punk-metal drummer who is losing his hearing. Writer-Director Darius Marder (The Place Beyond The Pines), actor Riz Ahmed (Nightcrawler), and supporting actor Paul Raci don't miss a beat. It's a frontrunner for Best Sound (which it will win).
Nominated for: Best picture, actor, supporting actor, original screenplay, sound and editing.
Streaming on: Amazon Prime
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| The Father |
Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Coleman star in this empathetic film about aging and dementia. I can't wait to see it Friday.
Nominated for: Best picture, actor, supporting actress, adapted screenplay, production design, film editing
Streaming on: VOD, starting Friday March 26
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| The Trial of the Chicago 7 |
The 8th nominated film follows an infamous trial of seven charged with conspiracy arising from counterculture protests. Sacha Baron Cohen is a standout in his role as left-wing provocateur Abbie Hoffman. If it feels like a TV show not a movie, well, Aaron Sorkin wrote the screenplay and directed this film.
Nominated for: Best picture, supporting actor, original screenplay, cinematography, song and editing.
Streaming on: Netflix
Bonus Features
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| Soul |
Likely winner of Best Animated Feature: Soul. Pixar Animation Studios takes you on a journey from the streets of New York City to the Great Beyond and it's beyond great. My soul was touched by very few 2020 films in 2020. Sound of Metal, Nomadland, Da 5 Bloods — and this.
Nominated for: Best picture, animated feature, original score, sound
Streaming on: Disney+
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| Another Round |
Likely winner of Best International Feature Film: Another Round. Only five directors get nominated each year, and Thomas Vinterberg did for this intoxicatingly good Danish film about a group a group of middle-aged teachers who make a pact to keep their blood alcohol content at a constant level each day in the hope it will improve the quality of their lives.
Nominated for: Best international feature film, director
Streaming on: Hulu
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