This is such a good film that I feel has gone under the radar too much really as it dares to say everything that has been wrong with society and shows that people will then go too far the other way. The performances within the film are fantastic and make it such an easy watch.
This film had so much hype surrounding it and is multi-language as it moves between French, German and English which is an impressive challenge that is for sure. It shows how much doubt can be raised surrounding a murder and that being a witness to a crime and attempting to remember exactly what you saw and found isn’t always easy.
Barbie
Rememember when everyone joked about Barbie being nominated for Oscars? Well, it happened and rightly so as this film really pushed those feminst boundaries and I truly adored the film, seeing it twice at the cinema as I found so many moments to be inspiring and engaging, whilst also heartbreaking if you have ever been made to feel a certain way because you are a woman.
The Holdovers
This is a wonderful film. That is the easiest way to explain it, doesn’t follow that everything will end happily ever after as that is just not real life. Three characters all going through the motions and dealing with loss, and longing for more from their lives. The way it was balanced with humor added in was a delight, this would seriously be a more than worthy winner.
Killers of the Flower Moon
An epic film from legendary Martin Scorsese which is a slow burner but has some important history to make everyone aware of, throwing in some top class performances. It’s one of those films that I can fully accept why it has been nominated but I don’t imagine I will watch it again.
Maestro
I didn’t hate this film, but I also didn’t love or even like it all that much so it is the only one I don’t feel deserves to be on the list, certianly a few films that didn’t make the top 10 that should have taken this place. It just felt disjointed and didn’t fully focus on enough to make it engaging.
Oppenheimer
It is an epic film with some truly incredible and fantastic scenes, it has been picking up the all the awards and has to be the frontrunner to win Best Picture. While it isn’t my personal top choice I can fully appreciate and understand why it is probably going to win.
Past Lives
This was my top and favorite film of 2023, I just truly adore it! I also feel sorry for it, in the sense that not many people have been talking about it around awards season at all. It has an incredible Korean theory at its core when it comes to Past Lives and romance/love and I found that it be utterly amazing and devastating as well. I guess considering we had a foreign language best picture winner with Parasite it makes it more difficult for another so soon. This would be my top pick for the winner though!
Poor Things
This is an utterly crazy and bonkers film which would be outstanding to see win Best Picture, mainly becasue it is a true love or hate with it being that off the wall. I mean the opening 15-20 minutes even I was thinking this is way too much, but then I ended up truly enjoying the nature of it all.
The Zone of Interest
This is a truly terrifying film. Showing the impact of the holocaust on a German family going about life as if one of the worst things ever done wasn’t happening right over their garden wall. It was filmed in such a unique manner and really hit nerves as you watch it all unfold. It is an extremely difficult watch.
What I want to win – Past Lives (The Holdovers would be in second place)
What I think will win – Oppenheimer
Outside chance – Maybe Poor Things?