Each year, the race for the best
picture is a highly competitive one, and it is no different as
the entertainment world heads into the 92nd Academy Awards on Sunday night.
Many contenders have fallen by the wayside, but the competition still remains as
fierce.
There are several cinematic
blockbusters, book adaptations, streaming favorites, crowd-pleasers, and even a
foreign-language film thrown into the mix, all hoping to clinch the best
picture award.
Let’s take a look at some of the films that might have won and taken home the gold by the end of the Academy Awards night:
The
Irishman
Martin Scorsese directs this
crime drama and has top actors like Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and
Harvey Keitel in his camera frame. “The Irishman,”
with a collection of such brilliant and veteran actors is an instant contender
for an Oscar, thanks to the master filmmaker.
Only a few movie directors
can pull off what Scorsese has, and with “The Irishman” pegged at 209 minutes, it will be pretty
difficult to beat.
Joker
“Joker” was released in an era where superhero films were the clear
favorites – by ruling the box office. But somehow, despite the absence of good
guys, Todd Phillips managed to spin a story around a comic book supervillain
that became an instant hit.
Joaquin Phoenix’s bold and
transformative performance has made him the clear favorite for best actor,
which lends more weight – and love – in the movie’s direction. If there is any
film that will usurp “The Irishman,”
this is it.
Ford
v Ferrari
If you are looking for the #1
underdog story of the year, “Ford v
Ferrari” is it. However, the inspiring can-do story – and its raw power –
can make you or any other non-enthusiast of racing films giddy with excitement.
Matt Damon perfectly
interprets the character Carroll Shelby, a car designer while his stubborn –
and perfectionist – engineer Ken Miles (portrayed by Christian Bale) completes
the duo.
And together, under the
careful directorship of James Mangold, the duo takes the audience on an exhilarating
ride.
1917
“1917” is one cleverly-filmed picture in one long take that puts
both character and emotion at the very center of a wartime narrative. Director
Sam Mendes scores another hit with this one as he puts viewers through two long
hours of a ticking-clock, harrowing ordeal in this remarkable World War I
thriller.
The film is about two British
soldiers – Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay – who are thrust into a
life-or-death situation in order to make a delivery of an important order with
about 1,600 lives at risk.
These soldiers are not cannon
fodder in any way as their mission matters significantly in the middle of
constant obstacles and tragic circumstances.
“1917” is nothing but an
instant classic, to be ranked among other Oscar mainstays like “Saving Private
Ryan,” “Dunkirk, ”etc.
Jojo
Rabbit
Writer/director Taika Waititi
makes a very brilliant World
War II film that battles intolerance and hate while
juicing it up with a story of acceptance and love.
Young Jojo (portrayed by
Roman Griffin Davis) is one of the members of Hitler Youth who is captivated by
the fuhrer (played by Waititi himself). Jojo makes the fuhrer an imaginary
friend of his, and things pick up from there until he starts to befriend a
Jewish girl (portrayed by Thomasin McKenzie).
