So you realized after seeing the Golden Globes you barely had time to see any movies over the holiday break and want to know what you HAVE to see pre-awards? Don’t worry – I saw many of these movies and am here to help. I’ve decided to do rankings based on what you need to watch for the Oscars based purely on number of nominations but at the bottom I’ll list the order of my actual favorites if you’d rather go based on that instead. Before the Oscars on February 9, I’ll publish a hopes and dreams versus reality predictions list. In the mean time… you have 3 weeks to catch up! Use these next few weekends wisely.
1. Joker
When it came out: October 4, 2019
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Oscar Nominations: 11 Nominations for… Best Picture (Todd Phillips, Bradley Cooper, Emma Tillinger Koskoff), Best Director (Todd Phillips), Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Best Original Score (Hildur Guðnadóttir), Best Cinematography (Lawrence Sher), Best Adapted Screenplay (Todd Phillips, Scott Silver), Best Costume Design (Mark Bridges), Best Film Editing (Jeff Groth), Best Makeup & Hairstyling (Nicki Lederman, Kay Georgiou), Best Sound Editing (Alan Robert Murray), Best Sound Mixing (Tom Ozanich, Dean Zupancic, Tod Maitland)
Awards it won at Golden Globes: Best Actor (Joaquin Phoenix), Best Original Score (Hildur Guðnadóttir)
My Commentary: Not for me, but it clearly was for a lot of people and I can respect that. Further, I definitely respect this outstanding Joaquin performance.
2. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
When it came out: July 26, 2019
Where to watch: You can rent this movie on Prime Video for $3.99 or if you live in New York or L.A. it’s still in select theaters.
Oscar Nominations: 10 Nominations for… Best Picture (Quentin Tarantino, David Heyman, Shannon McIntosh), Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt), Best Cinematography (Robert Richardson), Best Costume Design (Arianne Phillips), Best Director (Quentin Tarantino), Best Production Design (Barbara Ling, Nancy Haigh), Best Sound Editing (Wylie Statement), Best Sound Mixing (Michael Minkler, Christian Minkler, Mark Ulano), Best Original Screenplay (Quentin Tarantino)
Awards it won at Golden Globes: Best Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Screenplay (Quentin Tarantino), Best Supporting Actor (Brad Pitt)
My Commentary: I saw this movie with my parents and two friends. My dad and I were the only ones who came away really liking the movie. I think the last hour of the movie more than makes up for the parts in the beginning that drag a little. I actually would’ve liked a little more Margot Robbie than we received. But the movie had some great cameos – I loved Austin Butler as the cowboy at the Ranch. And of course Brad and Leo were incredible. It may be my favorite Leo performances since Wolf of Wall Street. Plus Brad was so perfect at basically playing himself aka charming and slightly too cool for school. I want to see this movie again and pay more attention to the writing because I was so focused on the performances the first time around. If the Globes are any indication, this movie is going to do very well at the Oscars. I’m interested to see if it will pick up any technical awards like Best Production Design because the movie contained wonderful world-building and helped contribute to Quentin’s sentimental nature in this film, which is especially unique for Tarantino.
3. 1917
When it came out: December 25, 2019
Where to watch: At a theater near you!
Oscar Nominations: 10 Nominations for… Best Picture (Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Jayne-Ann Tenggren, Callum McDougall), Best Director (Sam Mendes), Best Cinematography (Roger Deakins), Best Makeup & Hairstyling (Naomi Donne, Tristan Versluis, Rebecca Cole), Best Original Score (Thomas Newman), Best Production Design (Dennis Gassner, Lee Sandales), Best Sound Editing (Oliver Tarney, Rachel Tate), Best Sound Mixing (Mark Taylor, Stuart Wilson), Best Visual Effects (Guillaume Rocheron, Greg Butler, Dominic Touhy), Best Original Screenplay (Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns)
Awards it won at Golden Globes: Best Picture – Drama, Best Director (Sam Mendes)
My Commentary: I’ve seen a lot of great movies recently that I adore (Little Women, Bombshell, etc.). Still, in all of those movies I still found myself distracted at times. Not with this movie – it was 100% thrilling. I was truly gripped the entire time. My pulse was elevated, my heart racing. It’s exactly the type of movie that proves how important experiencing some movies in the actual theater can be. The score, the direction, the performances, the details (no matter how graphic), were perfection. I love war movies in general, but this was above and beyond what I’ve experienced watching a war movie before. It’s the kind of genius I think Nolan probably wanted to achieve with Dunkirk but didn’t necessarily reach in the same way Mendes does with 1917. I encourage everyone to see this movie in theaters and the Academy to give Mendes all the awards.
4. The Irishman
When it came out: November 1, 2019
Where to watch: Currently streaming on Netflix
Oscar Nominations: 10 Nominations for… Best Picture (Martin Scorcese, Robert DeNiro, Jane Rosenthal, Emma Tillinger Koskoff), Best Director (Martin Scorcese), Best Supporting Actor (Al Pacino), Best Supporting Actor (Joe Pesci), Best Cinematography (Rodrigo Prieto), Best Costume Design (Sandy Powell, Christopher Peterson), Best Film Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker), Best Production Design (Bob Shaw, Regina Graves), Best Visual Effects (Pablo Helman, Leandro Estebecorena, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Stephane Grabli), Best Adapted Screenplay (Steven Zaillian)
Awards it won at Golden Globes: No wins
My Commentary: This movie has been heralded as a masterpiece. Despite the fact that I do not love The Irishman, I understand that people love an old fashioned gangster movie by Scorcese with these iconic actors. I honestly think it may not win any major awards. The acting awards are already locked up, it’s not going to win Best Picture, Director, or Cinematography. It could win visual effects, although people had mixed feelings about the de-aging technology, or another technical award, but I expect a disappointing night for the previous generation.
5. Parasite
When it came out: October 11, 2019
Where to watch: Coming to Amazon Prime Video on January 14
Oscar Nominations: 6 Nominations for… Best Picture (Bong Joon-Ho, Kwak Sin Ae), Best Director (Bong Joon-Ho), Best Original Screenplay (Bong Joon-Ho), Best Film Editing (Yang Jinmo), Best International Film (Bong Joon-Ho), Best Production Design (Lee Ha Jun, Cho Won Woo)
Awards it won at Golden Globes: Best Foreign Language Film
My Commentary: I love this movie and I’m excited for all of the love it’s been getting. While Bong did not win for either Director or Screenplay at the Globes, I think he still might have a chance for Best Director at the Oscars. It will be disappointing if this film doesn’t win anything besides the obligatory Best International Film award.
6. Marriage Story
When it came out: November 6, 2019
Where to watch: Currently streaming on Netflix
Oscar Nominations: 6 Nominations for… Best Picture (Noah Baumbach, David Heyman), Best Actor (Adam Driver), Best Actress (Scarlett Johansson), Best Supporting Actress (Laura Dern), Best Original Score (Randy Newman), Best Original Screenplay (Noah Baumbach)
Awards it won at Golden Globes: Best Supporting Actress (Laura Dern)
My Commentary: One of my favorite movies of the year… my ultimate wish is that Driver is recognized for Best Actor over Joaquin although that’s not going to happen. Excited for Dern to get her Oscar.
7. Little Women
When it came out: December 25, 2019
Where to watch: In a theater near you!
Oscar Nominations: 6 Nominations for… Best Picture (Amy Pascal), Best Actress (Saoirse Ronan), Best Supporting Actress (Florence Pugh), Best Costume Design (Jacqueline Durran), Best Original Score (Alexandre Desplat), Best Adapted Screenplay (Greta Gerwig)
Awards it won at Golden Globes: No wins.
My Commentary: I adored this movie. From the perfect casting to the ingenious re-imagining of a book that I’ve read over 100 times, Gerwig strikes again. Florence Pugh is going to be a star – I don’t care if people thought she was too old for the part. She was the perfect Amy, making her annoying and ambitious while also inherently likable and a great foil for Jo. Saoirse and Timmy are so perfect together and I never wanted to stop watching their chemistry (and expect them to appear together many times in the future, often with Gerwig). I’m extremely upset Gerwig wasn’t nominated for Best Director, but also unfortunately not that surprised.
8. Jojo Rabbit
When it came out: October 18, 2019
Where to watch: Available to stream on Prime Video on February 4
Oscar Nominations: 6 Nominations for… Best Picture (Taika Waititi, Carthew Neal), Best Supporting Actress (Scarlett Johansson), Best Costume Design (Mayes Rubeo), Best Film Editing (Tom Eagles), Best Production Design (Ra Vincent, Nora Sopkova), Best Adapted Screenplay (Taika Waititi)
Awards it won at Golden Globes: No wins.
My Commentary: This is one of the only movies on this list I haven’t seen yet! I will be renting it on Amazon the day it becomes available. I’ve heard very mixed reviews about this movie – it seems people fall on opposite ends of the spectrum of hating it versus loving it with not many people in between. I love Taika Waititi so I’m sure I’ll enjoy this movie, however its Oscar chances may not be that high. Many critics were surprised to see this many nominations from this movie.
9. Ford v. Ferrari
When it came out: November 15, 2019
Where to watch: Still in some theaters, however it will be available on Prime Video January 28
Oscar Nominations: 4 Nominations for… Best Picture (Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, James Mangold), Best Film Editing (Michael McCusker, Andrew Buckland), Best Sound Editing (Donald Sylvester), Best Sound Mixing (Paul Massey, David Giammarco, Steven Morrow)
Awards it won at Golden Globes: No wins.
My Commentary: This movie just never picked up the steam everyone thought it was going to. Bale and Damon were both looked over for actor nods, particularly surprising for Bale given the Academy’s historic love for him. I have yet to see this movie; however I’ve heard only good things. I haven’t heard that it was groundbreaking or anything like that, but it seems enjoyable and a good story with good actors. I look forward to seeing this soon, although I doubt it will seriously compete for any Oscars.
10. The Two Popes
When it came out: November 27, 2019
Where to watch: Currently streaming on Netflix
Oscar Nominations: 3 Nominations for… Best Adapted Screenplay (Anthony McCarten), Best Actor (Jonathan Pryce), Best Supporting Actor (Anthony Hopkins)
Awards it won at Golden Globes: No wins.
My Commentary: I wasn’t expecting to connect with this content. I’m Jewish and while I am aware of the first Argentinian Pope as well as the continuing scandals of the Catholic church, I wasn’t sure this would be a topic I’d be super interested in. I watched this on Netflix on a plane back from vacation and found myself enraptured. Jonathan Pryce was incredible and I found myself really interested in both the content and the performances. I’m not sure how rewatchable this movie is, but I really enjoyed it for what it was. A lot of the momentum was lost when it didn’t win anything at the Globes, and the lack of a Best Picture nod here doesn’t bode well for it winning any of the three awards it’s nominated for here.
11. Bombshell
When it came out: December 20, 2019
Where to watch: At a theater near you!
Oscar Nominations: 3 Nominations for… Best Actress (Charlize Theron), Best Supporting Actress (Margot Robbie), Best Makeup & Hairstyling (Kazu Hiro, Anne Morgan, Vivian Baker)
Awards it won at Golden Globes: No wins.
My Commentary: I wasn’t expecting to like this movie as much as I did. Incredible performances by all three main actresses (Theron, Kidman, Robbie). This was both highly entertaining and culturally relevant without seeming over-the-top. I saw this movie with my mother and I will say that there were no men in the theater. Polarizing movie and topic (although not sure why… believe women!) that was handled very well. Unfortunately I don’t think either Theron or Robbie will win the awards they’re nominated for but I hope it wins makeup and hair styling… just ask anyone who has seen this movie or even a promo for it. Theron is unrecognizable as herself – she truly transformed into Megyn Kelly.
Other nominated feature films (excludes animated movies, documentaries, shorts): Pain & Glory, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Judy, Harriet, Richard Jewell, Rocketman, The Lighthouse, Knives Out, Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, Ad Astra, Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King, Honeyland
If you’re looking for a priority list based on what I enjoyed the most / and hope come away with wins…
1. 1917
2. Parasite
3. Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood
4. Marriage Story
5. Little Women
6. The Two Popes
7. Bombshell
8. Joker
9. The Irishman
***Cannot rank Ford v. Ferrari or Jojo Rabbit because I haven’t seen them yet, however I do not foresee either of these movies coming away with any wins. I will see them before the Oscars though so I can opine on whether or not I’m mad/sad that they don’t win anything (or do).
RIP to a bunch of good movies that deserved nominations: The Farewell, Hustlers, Us, Uncut Gems, The Last Black Man in San Francisco and more…
