This may become an “every February” thing, since most Best Picture nominees are dramas. I rarely see any of the nominated movies, so this is a great opportunity to rectify that. Also, since I am trying to play the Oscar game again, this can help me make my predictions. If you want to see my predictions, you can head over to that post. In any event, here is the list of Best Picture movies I watched.
Sinners 
Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jack O’Connell, Hailee Steinfeld
My Rating:
I wasn’t sure about watching this movie because I’m not a big horror fan, so it didn’t look like my kind of movie. I’m glad I reconsidered. This is a good movie, and I can see why it’s been nominated. The basic premise is that twin brothers return home after working in the Chicago mafia, but things are a little different, and a new menace threatens their town.
Michael B. Jordan’s performance as the twin brothers is flawless. The cinematography is really great. The glowing eyes effect of the vampires is cool and creepy. This will win some awards, but I don’t know if it’s “Best Picture” material. I’m not sure if I would watch this movie again. It might depend on what kind of mood I’m in and if it’s October.
F1: The Movie
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Javier Bardem
My Rating:
A Formula One driver comes out of retirement to mentor a younger driver. This is a good movie! I will definitely watch this movie again, and I don’t know that much about Formula One racing. The acting is great, the story is great, and I love the music. It’s no surprise that the music is good, since it’s composed by Hans Zimmer.
This should win some awards, too, but probably technical awards. This would be my choice for Best Picture, but I don’t think it checks the right boxes for the Academy.
Bugonia
Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis
My Rating:
The basic premise is that two young men kidnap a CEO because they suspect that she is an alien. This movie is as strange as the premise makes it sound, and the acting is incredible. I think Jesse Plemons was robbed of a Best Supporting Actor nod because he is amazing. A huge shout-out to newcomer Aidan Delbis, who is diagnosed as autistic but absolutely sticks this role! Emma Stone has a good chance at taking Best Actress for this role.
This is one of those movies where they keep you wondering what the truth is. The ending is unexpected and bizarre. If you are squeamish, there are a couple of gruesome moments in the movie. I’d probably watch it again.
Frankenstein
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth
My Rating:
This is another retelling of Victor Frankenstein and his infamous monster. This is another film where I feel like the leading actor was snubbed for a Best Actor in a Leading Role nomination. Oscar Isaac is a fantastic actor and gives a great performance. With that said, Jacob Elrodi, as the Creature, also gives an Oscar-winning performance; he is my pick for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Of the thriller/horror films in this list, I enjoyed this movie the most. I can see myself picking this movie to watch in October. I think this movie has a shot at Costume Design, Hair and Makeup, and perhaps even Production Design.
Marty Supreme
Directed by: Josh Safdie
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow
My Rating:
I’ll admit, the trailer for this movie didn’t really inspire me to watch it. A movie about ping-pong didn’t sound very interesting. When it was nominated for Best Picture, I thought maybe it was a biopic. While it is loosely based on a real person, it is not a biopic, and the premise isn’t really about ping-pong; it’s just a macguffin.
With that said, it is a good movie. Everyone gives a great performance, and I think Timothée Chalamet has a great shot for the Best Actor Oscar. I have to go and watch it again with my full attention. It’s one of those movies where I think I missed a few nuances because I was working at the same time.
Train Dreams
Directed by: Clint Bentley
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones
My Rating:
This is a period piece about a logger and railroad worker navigating the rapidly changing landscape of early 20th-century America. This is your classic drama movie that unites Star Wars veterans Joel Edgerton (Young Owen Lars) and Felicity Jones (Jyn Erso). Joel Edgerton gives a fantastic performance; in fact, he probably should have been nominated for it.
There isn’t a lot of action, but it’s quite captivating. I could watch this movie again just for the performances, but it’s one of those movies you have to be in the mood for. It could be a decent background movie. If you’re easily lulled to sleep by quiet drama, then you probably want to wait until you’re going to be more awake to fully enjoy this film. With that said, I don’t think this has all the right ingredients to win Best Picture.
I’m glad I got around to watching more of the Best Picture nominations; I do wish I had gotten around to One Battle After Another, but it’s quite a long movie. It will be on the list in the future.
How many “Best Picture” movies did you see from 2025?
“The screen is a magic medium. It has such power that it can retain interest as it conveys emotions and moods that no other art form can hope to tackle.”
– Stanley Kubrick
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