Hello again! It’s been almost a year since Menshawl Movies has made a post, but that can largely be attributed to an internal strike that was settled after months of back and forth between the CEO of Menshawls and the Founder. Now that I’m all on the same page, it’s time for this years Best Picture gimmick!

Last year I did a bracket that included hypothetical matchups between the movies. The exercise was fun, but this year, while still honoring the bracket, I’ll switch things up a bit. Knowing how much it sucks to be at an Oscars Party without knowing anything about the movies nominated, I decided to summarize the movies (INCLUDING SPOILERS) into bullet points so you can impress your friends. First, here’s the bracket with who I think is going to win:

In a wide open field, and based on the other award shows, I think the three movies with a legitimate chance to win are Anora, The Brutalist, and Conclave. Part of me waffled between The Brutalist and Anora, but I think the AI controversy with The Brutalist, and the long run time will point more towards Anora. A movie like this typically doesn’t win Best Picture, but this year anything can happen.

Here are the Best Picture nominees in descending order based on my personal favorites. The bracket was who I think will win, this is how much I enjoyed the movies. Nominations are only the Big 5 other categories (Director, Actress, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress).

10. Emilia Perez

Why it’s 10th

Couldn’t decide between this and The Substance for 10th, but if I had to rewatch one, I’d rather watch Demi and Margaret cook than the terrible songs of Emila Perez.


Things to know

  • A movie about Mexico made in France by French people.
  • Drug Lord decides to fake death, abandon family, and transition genders. After transitioning, Drug Lord tries to make up for their crimes while also desiring to reunite with family. Zoe Saldana plays a lawyer who helps with this process and gets more entangled in it than she expected or wanted.
  • Terrible song writing.

Nominations:

Actress in a Leading Role (Karla Sofia Gascon), Actress in a Supporting Role (Zoe Saldana), and Director (Jacques Audiard).

9. The Substance

Why it’s 9th

I get the message of this movie, it beats you over the head and down the spine with it. The plot is also too predictable to make the messaging connect.


Things to know

  • Movies like this (body horror) are almost never nominated for Best Picture.
  • Demi Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a fitness icon who is starting to face the harsh realities of aging. To counter this, she learns of The Substance (roll credits) which is a drug that allows for a younger, more perfect version of you to literally climb out of your spine. The catch is you have to switch back to your other self every 7 days. Addiction and deception ensue.
  • Margaret Qualley plays the version born out of Demi Moore’s spine.
  • Demi Moore’s character exhibits remarkable surgical skills.
  • A friends review “Blood and butts”.

Nominations

Actress in a Leading Role (Demi Moore) and Director (Coralie Fargeat).

8. Wicked

Why it’s 8th

I don’t hate musicals, I actually enjoy them! Unlike other high school theater nerds, I just never connected with Wicked. Didn’t love the CGI nor the non musical dialogue (Worst example: You’re green….I am.)


Things to know

  • Cynthia Erivo is an incredible singer.
  • Jeff Goldbloom is the Wizard Oz, and unsurprisingly isn’t as wonderful as he first seems.
  • Ariana Grande’s “Good” witch is a superficial bully who only befriends Erivo’s character after Erivo does her a solid.
  • Many many many CGI flying monkeys are spawned in this movie.


Nominations

Actress in a Leading Role (Cynthia Erivo) and Actress in a Supporting Role (Ariana Grande).

7. I’m Still Here


Why it’s 7th

A very heartbreaking movie, that while well done, doesn’t invite the desire to rewatch anytime soon.

Things to know

  • Based on the true story of Rubens Paiva’s arrest/torture by military forces in Brazil in the early 1970’s. Movie follows his wife juggling the immediate threat to her and their kids, as well as the fallout of Rubens disappearance.
  • Captures the innocence of childhood immediately juxtaposed against the harsh realities of adulthood.
  • Makes you want to visit Brazil and then not want to visit Brazil.

Nominations

Actress in a Leading Role (Fernanda Torres).

6. A Complete Unknown


Why it’s 6th

I’ve been tired of music biopics since the turn of the decade, but there is something magical about Chalamet inhabiting Bob Dylan (in a non-Substance way).

Things to know

  • Follows a young Bob Dylan’s meteoric rise and culminates in the 1975 Newport Folk Festival. Also about relationship with Joan Baez.
  • Timothee Chalamet did all of the singing, guitar playing, and harmonica playing in this movie.
  • Edward Norton plays Pete Seeger who becomes a mentor for a young Bob Dylan.
  • Avoids some of the music biopic cliches thankfully.


Nominations

Actor in a Leading Role (Timothee Chalamet), Actress in a Supporting Role (Monica Barbaro), Actor in a Supporting Role (Edward Norton), and Director (James Mangold).

5.The Brutalist


Why it’s 5th

This one fluctuated the most for me, but always was in my top 5. Good score, great visuals, and incredible performances.

Things to know

  • Adrien Brody plays a Jewish-Hungarian immigrant who comes to America looking to escape persecution in Europe. His architectural talents are soon displayed and then manipulated in pursuit of the American Dream.
  • People complain about movies over 3 hours long, yet they binge a season of their favorite show in one sitting. Plus, the intermission halfway through gives ample time for a potty/snack break.
  • Shot in Vista Vision.
  • There is a controversial sexual assault scene in the second half which proved divisive amongst critics.

Nominations

Actor in a Leading Role (Adrien Brody), Actor in a Supporting Role (Guy Pearce), and Director (Brady Corbet).

4. Conclave


Why it’s 4th

Just your classic rip-roaring high brow drama!

Things to know

  • Ralph Fiennes’s character is tasked with leading the conclave (roll credits) to select a new Pope after the passing of the previous Pope. This process becomes ensnared in controversies, cancel culture, and a twist ending.
  • Stanley Tucci cooks in this movie.
  • Picking a new Pope seems very stressful.
  • Some beautiful cinematography in this film.


Nominations

Best Actor (Ralph Fiennes) and Actress in a Supporting Role (Isabella Rossellini)

3. Nickel Boys


Why it’s 3rd

A super unique way to shoot a movie, which makes the horrific events in the movie even more felt.

Things to know

  • A young black man in the Jim Crow south (played by Ethan Herisse) is wrongfully sent to a notorious correctional facility for young boys. He befriends a fellow inmate, is submitted to abuse, and then attempts to escape with his friend.
  • Shot almost entirely from a first person perspective. You don’t see the main character until the perspective flips a while into the film.
  • Jumps between the events of the 60s and present day.

Nominations

None.

2. Anora


Why it’s 2nd

This movie absolutely roars from the midway point on. It’s a drama packed ride.

Things to know

  • A stripper (Mikey Madison) becomes entangled/in love with a Russian oligarchs shithead son, whom she marries in Vegas, only for the Russian family to attempt to get the marriage nullified.
  • Much like Poor Things a year ago, there is a lot of sexual content, so don’t watch with your parents (unless they’re into that).
  • Once the shithead son abandons Anora, and the Russians have to find him is when the movie really takes off.
  • Also is about wealth and how quickly life can change.


Nominations

Actress in a Leading Role (Mikey Madison), Actor in a Supporting Role (Yura Borisov), and Director (Sean Baker).

1. Dune II


Why it’s 1st

Because Chalamet is the Lisan Al Gaib!!!


Things to know

  • After the events of Dune 1, Paul (Timothee Chalamet) must deal with the burden of being deemed the messiah while also enacting revenge on the Harkonnen.
  • My favorite scene at the movie theater this year was Timmy riding the worm.
  • The Harkonnen arena scene is batshit awesome.
  • Javier Bardem is hilarious in this movie.
  • Zendaya better get her revenge for how Paul did her dirty (I realize I’m inconsistent with character names vs. actor names but when talking to friends at an Oscars party, you just say Zendaya).


Nominations

None.