Last Sunday we saw a successful Oscars Awards Ceremony which amassed 19.5 million viewers, increasing from 18.8 million viewers last year, revealing the biggest viewership in 4 years. In this article, I delve into some highly discussed movies such as Barbie, Oppenheimer, Poor Things and many more, ranging from thrillers to war dramas with touches of romance. Keep reading to discover the reason these movies have been conversed about so intently, I cover five different nominated movies of 2024, including those that earned awards at the Academy Awards this year.
Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Scorsese’s most recent movie, Killers of the Flower Moon is an epic Western crime drama that has obtained 10 Oscar nominations including ‘Actress in a Leading Role’ Lily Gladstone has made Academy Award history, being the first Native American woman ever to be nominated for best actress. The movie itself, with an impressive cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and many more, follows a story that takes place in the 1920s, focusing on the Osage Indian tribe who are being murdered one by one upon discovering oil. Based on David Grann’s nonfiction book of the same name, Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio), nephew of William Hale (De Niro) who is the mastermind behind the numerous murders adds naïve Ernest to the moneymaking scheme that is killing the Osage people.
DiCaprio’s marvellous performance is a refreshing switch from his usual quick-witted character to a more clueless persona. Gladstone’s character Mollie, a pure Osage woman holds a magnetic performance acting as the heart of the film, adding more depth to a fitting bass-filled score with gripping editing, building crisp momentum.
Poor Things
Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel Poor Things has been adapted into a fantastical movie, following a young woman, Bella (Emma Stone) who is brought back to life by an unethical scientist Dr Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe)Director Yorgos Lanthimos encapsulates themes of breaking free from societal restraints and exploring personal transformation. Stone’s performance – which earned her ‘Best Actress’ at the Oscars this past Sunday – is portrayed notably through her expressive eyes, proving her ability to show a true sense of humanity.
A seemingly feminist take, loosely based on Shelley’s Frankenstein, shown as Bella takes part in an adventure with lawyer Duncan (Mark Ruffalo), freeing her from prejudices, developing a purpose, and exalting her into freedom and equality. The peculiar, Gothic atmosphere is created, though the colour shifts from black and white to technicolour after leaving Godwin’s home. Along with the intricacy of the music that perfectly reflects Bella’s journey and intellectual growth, this movie uplifts those who watch through Bella’s fascinating liberation.
Barbie
Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated film obtained 8 Oscar nominations including ‘Best Picture’, ‘Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)’ and many more. It follows the seemingly perfect life in Barbie Land, showing the everyday ongoings of Ken and Barbie. However, upon the opportunity of visiting the real world, they soon discover the life of humans, experiencing its joys and pitfalls. Margot Robbie shines as Barbie, showing her awareness of the repetitive life in Barbie Land, allowing her to explore her desire to break free from the cycle.
This self-conscious film sheds light on the still-lacking equality today, made obvious through America Ferrera’s moving speech on the pressures of being a woman in modern society. Some of the nominations included America’s ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ for her performance and work on the film, along with Ryan Gosling for ‘Best Actor in a Supporting Role’, yet surprisingly a lack of nominations for Greta and Margot. Barbie however did win ‘Best Music (Original Song)’ with Billie Eilish’s ‘What Was I Made For?’. Gerwig’s movie lives up to its fun and quirky persona, presented with a more in-depth meaning that is sure to inspire its target audience.
The Zone of Interest
The Zone of Interest won ‘Best International Feature Film’ at the Oscars on Sunday, with director Johnathon Glazer accepting the award with an impactful speech. The movie was inspired by the real-life Rudolf Höss (Christian Friedel), commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, following Höss’ life with his family in an idyllic house directly next to the camp. An immediate juxtaposition of lifestyle that only highlights the monstrosity of the Holocaust. Glazer has described his characters as people who can turn profound evil into mere white noise, with Steven Spielberg calling it “the best Holocaust movie I’ve witnessed since my own” (referring to Schindler’s list).
The atmosphere of The Zone of Interest is one of solemnity and destruction, showing how genocide has become ambient in the victims’ lives; Glazer wants this film to evoke uneasy thoughts of the darkening world surrounding us. It is hard to ignore the echoes of the ongoings today; perhaps the naivety of the family living conjoined to the camp acts as a metaphor for the ignorance of modern society for the conflict in Gaza. This brutal masterpiece with a permeating sense of dread created through its score and cinematography plants uncomfortable but necessary realisations into viewers’ heads.
Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer, the highest grossing‘Best Picture’ winner since Lord of the Rings:Return of the King in 2004, swept the Oscars with wins on Sunday; earning Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr their first Oscars, winning a total of 7 overall. Nolan’s biographical thriller, following the ‘father of the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer i.e. the American Prometheus (the name of a biography that inspired the screenplay), combines courtroom drama, romance, and scientific thrill through its intelligent screenplay and similarity to the story of Frankenstein, as Oppenheimer acts as the scientist who transgresses, realising the destruction of his creation when it’s too late.
The picture of the movie itself certainly lives up to its win of “Best Picture”, with no surprise that Nolan’s direction shines through. The building suspense and tension throughout the film are created through the direction, cutting scenes, abstract moments and of course the sound and score which Oppenheimer also won at the Oscars, done by Ludwig Göransson. The score moulds perfectly with the picture, creating an unforgettable and threatening piece of cinema.
