Right here we go. It is Oscar time.
With the 2025 Academy Awards proper across the nook, I knew it was time for me to make this record. Again in 2024, I wrote an Academy Award piece in regards to the Finest Image nominees of that yr, and my clear favourite was The Holdovers. Whereas the film itself did not win Finest Image, it did earn a number of different awards, so I can not actually complain.
And now, right here we’re, a yr later, and we’re about to get into the 2025 picks. From some films that I do not suppose ought to be there to movies that I believe deserve much more reward, here’s what I consider each 2025 Finest Image nominee – and who I genuinely need to win.
Emilia Pérez Is… There
Yeah, the Emilia Perez hate prepare from me won’t cease immediately and possibly by no means will at this level.
Except for the information relating to the movie’s lead actress and her previous controversial tweets, there are actually lots of causes I am not a fan of Emilia Perez. I do not even suppose it needs to be within the Academy Awards class by any means—I believe the film is ok and might have been nice, however to have it on the most important awards stage for a movie ever is type of a slap to the face of cinema.
As a Latina, I watched Emilia Perez and was not an enormous fan. However as a film lover, there are different causes it shouldn’t be right here amongst a few of these nice contenders. My solely hope is that, one way or the other, it doesn’t earn a single win—however I do not suppose I will be that fortunate with how these awards reveals have been going.
Anora Is A Heck Of A Enjoyable Time, However Mikey Madison Is Actually The Finest Half
So this is the factor with Anora. It is a fantastic film, but it surely’s virtually an excessive amount of for me to deal with at sure factors. Perhaps that is simply me, however this movie—a couple of intercourse employee who marries the son of a Russian oligarch and will get into a really darkish world—will get tremendous intense very rapidly.
That is not essentially a nasty factor, however the first components of this movie are painted very in a different way than what we’re given in a while, the place it seems like there’s an intense tone shift. Mikey Madison’s Oscar nomination is deserved, as she was the most effective a part of Anora, but it surely wasn’t my favourite movie.
The Brutalist Is Definitely An Unbelievable Epic, However Its Size Stunts Its Perfection
God, this movie is SO LONGGGGGGG.
I do know, I most likely sound tremendous immature writing that, however I am sorry – no movie on the market needs to be three and a half hours lengthy, even when there’s an intermission like The Brutalist. Do not get me flawed, that is undoubtedly an epic movie – there’s nothing fairly just like the story of a Holocaust survivor who needs to inherit the American Dream.
A few of my co-workers suppose the size works – at the very least one even sat via The Brutalist twice. I don’t just like the size, and it stunts the epicness of the movie. I believe if it had been two and a half hours, it might have labored higher.
Dune: Half Two Is A Masterpiece Of Cinematography And Design, However Not Good Sufficient For Finest Image
As somebody who adores watching the finest fantasy films or sci-fi films, Dune: Half Two is my type of movie. Its story is fascinating, however the visible elements are in contrast to some other. It delivers on a scale that hasn’t been seen by most and is shot to perfection, the place you possibly can’t assist however salivate on the gorgeous magnificence captured on the large display screen.
…however Finest Image worthy? I do not suppose it is there. Sci-fi can win the celebrated award, but when we’re being sincere, this sort of movie might be recognized for its visuals for the remainder of its life, not for its story – and it isn’t even Timothée Chalamet’s finest efficiency of 2024.
Timothée Chalamet Delivers A Compelling Efficiency In A Full Unknown
A Full Unknown is the proper mixture. You may have an excellent director with James Mangold, an fascinating topic relating to the lifetime of Bob Dylan, and a compelling efficiency from Timothée Chalamet.
And it really works. Actually, if Adrien Brody weren’t nominated for The Brutalist, I’d say Chalamet had it on lock-down. The actor was as plausible as Dylan and knocked it out of the park. The story is just not basically Finest Image worthy, but it surely deserves loads of awards.
I am Nonetheless Right here Is A Landmark In Brazilian Movie From Starting To Finish
It at all times shocks me to see how few individuals find out about I am Nonetheless Right here, however I suppose that is what occurs when a movie will get a restricted launch or is barely out there to see. I solely acquired to see it via a press screener. The film, based mostly on the novel of the identical title, is a real story about Eunice Paiva, a mom whose husband is pressured to vanish due to Brazil’s corrupt authorities within the Seventies.
I actually want far more individuals acquired to see this movie. It captures the resilience of girls so superbly, and the story not solely goals to show you one thing about historical past but it surely’s additionally well-directed. It is a sin that Walter Salles was not nominated for Finest Director.
The Substance Is A Movie I Will NEVER Watch Once more, However Man, Was Demi Moore Phenomenal
I do not need to get into The Substance spoilers. Let’s simply say this movie gave me nightmares, and one scene turned my abdomen the other way up.
However apart from its moments of physique horror that rival a number of the finest physique horror movies of all time, The Substance is a well-written, shot, and directed movie. In fact, the star is Demi Moore. I do not suppose it will get Finest Image, however I do suppose Moore will win for Finest Lead Actress. It is genuinely excellent—and just a little creepy.
Depraved Is The Finest Musical Adaptation In A Lengthy Time
There are some nice musical films on the market, and Depraved has joined that record. I do know that at this level, we’re all ready for Depraved: For Good, even whether it is popping out as a part of the 2025 film schedule, however the hype for this film retains going.
Will it win Finest Image? I do not suppose so. There are different films on this record that deserve it extra. However this movie deserves the reward it will get. It is the most effective musical movies in many years, and truthfully, any award it does win on the Oscars might be well-deserved.
Nickel Boys Is Criminally Underrated
Nickel Boys is one other case the place this film didn’t get a widespread launch, which implies that nobody is aware of about it. And it’s criminally underrated.
This movie is emotionally my favourite. The forged, the story, the setting—it’s all performed completely, and it is one of many solely movies on right here that made me sob in a great way. It’s an absolute gem of a movie, and the truth that it was solely nominated for 2 awards—Finest Image and Finest Tailored Screenplay—bothers me so deeply.
It is not my absolute choose for Finest Image, but when I have been judging solely on emotion, this could be my win.
Conclave, By Far Is My Decide, Particularly For Its Story, Twists, And Unbelievable Performances
Yeah, I’ve to present it to Conclave.
I do know that The Brutalist has been successful many ‘finest film’ awards lately, however there’s simply one thing about Conclave that I completely adore. Whether or not it is the performing from Ralph Fiennes and the remainder of the forged, the twists and turns we continuously discover ourselves in, or the cinematography that one way or the other wasn’t nominated, this film is simply phenomenally performed.
Sadly, I do not suppose the Academy will find yourself choosing Conclave for Finest Image if different awards reveals are any indication. But it surely’ll find yourself leaving with lots of wins. The story is one which had me on the sting of my seat, and one I will not neglect for a very long time.
The 2025 Academy Awards might be coming on March 2nd. What are you excited to win? I, for one, must have one other film marathon beforehand.