The world of cinema is diverse and imagining life without cinema is impossible. While entertainers do their best to provide the best emotional experience to the people, cinema runs with a hierarchy. In that, the best recognition given to artists and technicians of the 24 crafts is awards. Going further deep, the best and most prestigious honour anyone can get in the world of cinema is the Oscar Awards. Each year when the Oscar race begins, there is a lot of excitement. This year, our focus is on the nominees for the best feature film and here is our insight on the contenders-
1. Call Me by Your Name
Set in the backdrop of 80s in Italy, the story revolves around a 17 year old boy who ends up getting attracted to an American Graduate student who comes to help his father’s academic work. All this happens despite both having their respective girlfriends and at one stage things get physical between both. A tale that revolves around Gay bonding, the film garnered attention for the subtle handling of the emotions.
2. Darkest Hour
This is a British War Drama which takes you back to the Second World War when Hitler decides to invade Great Britain and Winston Churchill is in his early days as Prime Minister. At a time when Churchill carried infamous precedence how he was able to predict the mind of Nazi Germany and their advance and how he faced the darkest hour forms the essence. This is a truly gritty drama with a stellar performance from Gary Oldman as Churchill.
3. Dunkirk
Helmed by the visionary filmmaker Christopher Nolan, the film is set on three backdrops- land, sea and air. It revolves around a young British Soldier stuck at Dunkirk and waiting to get back to England, a RAF Pilot running out of fuel but wanting to save his fleet from invading German Luftwaffe, a father and his two sons on a mission to rescue the stuck soldiers and get them home. A very balanced and dramatic film, this has a strong chance to win the Oscar.
4. Get Out
This is a horror flick helmed by Jordan Peele and it revolves around a black guy Chris who goes to meet the parents of his white girlfriend. He is struck by the weird behavior of the black housekeeper and gardener and eventually the behavior of few guests who comes to meet Chris. A series of events happen which make Chris realize the truth and what happens from there forms the rest. The film got acclaim for it engaging screenplay and actor Daniel Kaluuya’s performance.
5. Lady Bird
This is a comedy-drama movie focusing on a high-school senior and her strained relationship with her mother. The film has garnered acclaim for the lead performance, the direction, the screenplay and the comedy quotient. The film has already won few awards at the famous Golden Globe Awards and it stands as a strong contender for the best film in Oscars.
6. Phantom Thread
This is an American historical drama of the 1950s which deals with a relationship between a well known dressmaker and a stubborn and strong willed waitress barely half his age. The film has won acclaim for the riveting performance of Daniel Day Lewis, the screenplay, the direction and the background score. The film has six nominations in the Oscars and has a good chance to bag the best film.
7. The Post
Perhaps the best ever combination one can see in the form of director Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, this is a political thriller based on true events of the 1970s. A group of media folks trying to bring out the classified documents of the US government related to Vietnam war forms the essence. The film got noted for the performances, the drama and screenplay. Given it’s star power, it is a hot favorite.
8. The Shape of Water
This is a rather unusual film to be in the list because it comes from the fantasy genre and revolves around a mute girl and her connection with a captured humanoid-amphibian creature. The film has won appreciation for the performances, the original score, the screenplay and it has received the Best Film Nomination in the British Awards. While the essence of the movie is good, it doesn’t really stand a chance against the rest for the Oscars.
9. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
This is a black comedy which revolves around a mother who comes up with three billboards drawing attention on the unsolved case of her daughter’s murder. While protests are raging on why this film has been given a nomination, it is the emotional intensity, the screenplay and the sublime performances of the cast which has made it a very promising contender. It has already won numerous awards at the Golden Globe Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
