SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) — Sunday marks the close of award season for films released in 2025, culminating with the Academy Awards on ABC at 6pm CT on March 15. Conan O’Brien is returning to host for the second year in a row.
(Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)
This year offers one of the most complete years in terms of contenders for the highly coveted Best Picture award. An array of horror, drama, action, and thrillers make up this year’s field of ten, one that I have just completed. Below, I’ll lay out my thoughts on each: what worked, what didn’t, and what kind of chance it has at walking away with the Oscar. As for my qualifications, let’s not get caught too much in the details. However, at my peak of a movie podcast I co-hosted for 5 years, I went 22/24 on my predictions for the 2020 Oscars, so I at least knew something at one point in my life. Regardless, here are my thoughts on the Best Picture nominees.
Bugonia (Producers: Ed Guiney & Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos, Emma Stone and Lars Knudsen)
Synopsis: Two young men (Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis), who are convinced the planet is being invaded and overthrown by aliens, kidnap a CEO (Emma Stone) and demand answers.
What worked: The acting and concept are just so fun for me. It plays heavily on the current social climate, with the proliferation of conspiracy theories and behavior as a result. The excellent performances from Plemons, Delbis, and Stone make for an awesome watch, one that I consider to be my favorite of the year.
What didn’t: More than anything, the ending slowed things down for me. I liked it, but it started to lose some steam the longer it went on.
My rating: 4.5/5
Best Picture chances: Minimal.
Other nominations (3): Best Original Score, Best Lead Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay
F1 (Producers: Chad Oman, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer)
Synopsis: Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the two-and-a-half hour racing epic details the return to F1 racing for Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt). It’s his job to mentor the up-and-coming Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) as they pursue a championship.
What worked: How can you not enjoy a racing movie? I like seeing cars go fast and this film certainly fits that criteria. It’s got some fantastic driving sequences, shot and edited wonderfully, and a star-studded cast that performs well. It also gave us an incredible GIF with Javier Bardem in disbelief as fireworks go off behind him.
What didn’t: Two-and-a-half hour movies aren’t uncommon, but this one definitely felt long at points. Pacing in both a race and a movie are important, and for me, the pacing just didn’t quite keep me invested throughout.
My rating: 4/5
Best Picture chances: Minimal.
Other nominations (3): Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Editing
Frankenstein (produced by Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Scott Stuber)
Synopsis: A new iteration on the iconic Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley novel, Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) seeks to make man anew. He eventually does, as The Creature (Jacob Elordi) begins to learn about the world.
What worked: There’s a reason why it is dominating design nominations: it’s a wonder to watch. Excellent costume and set design, and the makeup done on Elordi was masterful. Elordi himself delivers an excellent performance, stealing the show.
What didn’t: Like I said, Elordi steals the show. By the midpoint of it, I cared far less about Isaac and only wanted to see what was next for the Creature.
My rating: 4/5
Best Picture chances: Minimal.
Other nominations (8): Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design
Hamnet (produced by Liza Marshall, Pippa Harris, Nicolas Gonda, Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes)
Synopsis: Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and Will (Paul Mescal) fall in love and as their lives progress together, they experience the highs and lows of life.
What worked: The last 10 minutes are impeccable; I cried for the entirety of it. Another excellent performance-laden film, with Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, and Jacobi Jupe really delivering some incredible scenes. The score by Max Richter was great as expected, and it’s a wonderful film to look at.
What didn’t: If you’re a history buff, you may take issue with some liberties the film takes. The film also takes a bit to get going. It really takes its time to establish our characters, which is great, but for a bit, I struggled to see where things were going (it was resolved by the end).
My rating: 4/5
Best Picture chances: Unlikely.
Other nominations (7): Best Casting, Best Original Score, Best Director, Best Lead Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design
Marty Supreme (produced by Eli Bush, Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, Anthony Katagas and Timothée Chalamet)
Synopsis: Dreaming of becoming the ping-pong world champion, Marty Mauser (Timothee Chalamet) embarks on a chaotic journey full of deception, trickery, and willpower to achieve it.
What worked: It’s true: I’m in the camp that thinks Timothee Chalamet should win the award for leading actor. I’m not ashamed of it, and if you’ve also seen the movie, that’s a likely takeaway as well. Chalamet dominates the screen as his performance and character demand attention. The editing and score make for an intense viewing, allowing some moments to catch your breath, but not for very long.
What didn’t: There’s definitely some clunkiness here and there. The flow of the film gets a little weird sometimes, but then again, so is Marty Mauser.
My rating: 4.5/5
Best Picture chances: Minimal.
Other nominations (8): Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Lead Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Editing
One Battle After Another (produced by Adam Somner, Sara Murphy and Paul Thomas Anderson)
Synopsis: After his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti) is kidnapped by Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio) must call upon his mentor, Sensei Sergio St. Carlos (Benicio del Toro) and his former revolutionary group to save her.
What worked: Possibly one of the best movies of the past 25 years. There are 4 acting nominations and arguably could have had a fifth in Chase Infiniti. Sean Penn is simultaneously horrifying and comedic, making for a tense viewing, but one with breaks for laughter. It’s one of the most beautifully shot movies in recent memory, as one would expect from a household name like Paul Thomas Anderson.
What didn’t: MAYBE the momentum slowed down at one point, but I don’t remember having an issue with it.
My rating: 5/5
Best Picture chances: Neck-and-neck for the lead.
Other nominations (12): Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Director, Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actor (2x), Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Editing
The Secret Agent (produced by Emilie Lesclaux)
Synopsis: Set in 1977 Brazil, Marcelo (Wagner Moura) is hoping to return to a normal life, but his past is hot on his trail.
What worked: Wagner Moura delivers an awesome performance in a setting that I haven’t seen portrayed in many films that I’ve seen. I enjoyed meeting the wide variety of people in the film, and while not all of them left a particularly lasting impact, their presence helped the film as a whole
What didn’t: I didn’t love a particular subplot, which resulted in a choice that didn’t leave me satisfied. The way the story was told was interesting, but I’m not sure if I caught everything on the first go.
My rating: 4/5
Best Picture chances: Unlikely
Other nominations (3): Best Casting, Best International Feature Film, Best Lead Actor
Sentimental Value (produced by Maria Ekerhovd and Andrea Berentsen Ottmar)
Synopsis: Nora (Renate Reinsve) and her sister Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) reunite with their father Gustav (Stellan Skarsgard), who offers Nora a part in his return to film. They try to navigate the trauma that remains from a tumultuous childhood.
What worked: Another excellent cast for Joachim Trier, and he does a fantastic job with them and the film as a whole. It’s a powerful story told in an intimate way, allowing viewers to connect with the characters as they see fit.
What didn’t: I felt a little detached from some of the characters. It could have been a mindset thing, but I definitely knew I was watching a movie when I was watching it, instead of starting to feel the emotions presented by the film.
My rating: 4/5
Best Picture chances: Unlikely
Other nominations (8): Best International Feature Film, Best Director, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actress (2x), Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing
Sinners (produced by Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Ryan Coogler)
Synopsis: Sammie (Miles Caton) wants to play the guitar and play it well, and his opportunity presents itself when his twin cousins Smoke and Stack (Michael B. Jordan for both) return from their time in Chicago. They plan the biggest night of their lives, while evil lurks in the night.
What worked: Everything. Excellent performances throughout, though the best in my opinion came from Miles Caton for his role as Sammie. Alas, it’s a fantastic watch; the perfect blend of action, blockbuster, technical detail, and story. There’s a reason why it now holds the record for most nominations at the Academy Awards, and I’m interested to see if it ends up winning the most awards of the night and in the Academy’s history.
What didn’t: There is very little to complain about. If I’m getting nitpicky, there were some points where the CGI in the background didn’t quite work, and there’s a slight dip in the momentum. It recovers very well though.
My rating: 4.5/5
Best Picture chances: Neck-and-neck for the lead
Other nominations (15): Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Director, Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Editing
Train Dreams (produced by: Marissa McMahon, Teddy Schwarzman, Will Janowitz, Ashley Schlaifer and Michael Heimler)
Synopsis: Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton) works as a logger in the early 20th Century. As he grows older, he experiences love, loss, and everything in between as he watches the world change around him.
What worked: I found this to be an incredibly moving drama, especially the last 10 minutes. The score throughout is wonderful, and the theme of watching things change around you and being unsure if that is what you want was strong. Edgerton delivers an excellent performance, arguably a Best Actor-worthy one, and the cast alongside him do well with the time they’re given.
What didn’t: Like a 20th century steam engine, this takes a bit to get going. Emotional dramas like to take their time and this one is no different, despite being about an hour and forty minutes.
My rating: 4/5
Best Picture chances: Minimal.
Other nominations (3): Best Cinematography, Best Original Song, Best Adapted Screenplay
To close, I present the ballot I would cast if I were able to vote on the category:
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One Battle After Another
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Bugonia
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Sinners
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Marty Supreme
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Hamnet
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Sentimental Value
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The Secret Agent
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Frankenstein
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Train Dreams
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F1
What do you think? Don’t forget to tune at 6 CT Sunday on ABC!