It’s unfortunate that despite the self-effacing Leonardo DiCaprio leading role, Melanie Lynsky as the film’s beating heart.
9
Nightmare Alley throws light into the human soul’s cavernous caverns, but a big-hearted filmmakercan’t help but scour the darkness for indications of hope.
8
Belfast” is hard to shake its predictability. Perhaps the Academy wants a historical, painful look back to suggest a route forward.
7
Reinaldo Marcus Green’s “King Richard,” a “tear-jerking family drama about a clan merely attempting to keep it together in the face of harsh outside influences.
6
“CODA,” which stars Emilia Jones as rebellious adolescent Ruby Rossi, draws its title from Ruby’s upbringing:
5
Denis Villeneuve dared to try again in “Dune,” where many others had tried and (admirably) failed.
4
Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza” is the most laid-back Best Picture nominee this year, but also the most contentious on numerous fronts.
3
“West Side Story” might have smacked like a retreat. Then we watched what he accomplished with it, and it was evident Spielberg is still unique.
2
“Drive My Car” is up for Best Picture, but even now, at the tail end of an Oscar season so long that no one can remember when it started.