All 56 2021 Oscar Nominees, Ranked

There have been more than enough articles by now about what an unusual year 2020 was. The pandemic, the injustice, the chaos, the fires, the violence. It was a year to remember, one in which society will hopefully learn from as we move forward. (I think we're all still not sure if 2021 is that much better.) The motion pictures arts industry, though, persevered and continued doing what it does. Remarkably, the 56 films nominated for Oscars at the 93rd Academy Awards more or less feel like films nominated in any other year. That's either a plus or a minus, depending on your perspective. 

One noteworthy aspect of these nominees is that, slowly but surely, attempts to increase the diversity of the nominees seems to be working. There is an international feeling to these films, for example, and it's possible that all four winners in the acting categories could be non-white, which would be a first. It's also worth remembering that films like Judas and the Black Messiah would have hardly stood a chance at being nominated for Best Picture even ten years ago. The Academy still has a long way to go, though they've done so much better than the Golden Globes, which notoriously has not.  

What's my overall take on these nominated films? Like most years, there are good, bad, and ugly movies on this list. I am disappointed that some of my favorite films from the previous year, like Miss Juneteenth, His House, Never Rarely Sometimes Always, Saint Frances, Boys State, Host, The Invisible Man, On the Record, and Disclosure were not nominated, but this always happens. Most of the films that have been nominated by the Academy, however, are certainly worth a watch.

Without further ado, here is my ranking of all 56 films nominated for Oscars this year:  

56. A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon 
Animated Feature Film (Richard Phelan, Will Becher, Paul Kewley)

I can't even remember if I finished Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon; that's how much I did not enjoy it.

55. The One and Only Ivan

Visual Effects (Nick Davis, Greg Fisher, Ben Jones, Santiago Colomo Martinez)

The One and Only Ivan feels like a collection of outtakes from the recent Dumbo remake, and it's completely devoid of energy and full of bad Bryan Cranston acting. The effects are great, but the movie is far from it.

54. Hillbilly Elegy 

Actress in a Supporting Role (Glenn Close), Makeup and Hairstyling (Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle, Patricia Dehaney) 

It's fair to say that expectations were a little higher for Hillbilly Elegy, a movie many hoped would finally get Glenn Close an Oscar. Instead, it's a dreadfully boring two-hour film in which people repeatedly scream at each other. Even the Onion poked fun at it.

53. Yes-People
Short Film (Animated) (Gísli Darri Halldórsson, Arnar Gunnarsson)

This short from Iceland features interesting animation, but there isn't much of a plot (or point) to it. 

52. Emma.
Costume Design (Alexandra Byrne), Makeup and Hairstyling (Marese Langan, Laura Allen, Claudia Stolze)

I wish I could say I liked Anya Taylor-Joy's recent work, but I don't. They're either slightly overrated, like The Queen's Gambit, or terribly overrated, like Emma. There is nothing in this newest Jane Austen adaption that's worth remembering. 

51. Pieces of a Woman

Actress in a Leading Role (Vanessa Kirby)

What Pieces of a Woman has going for it mainly is its women actors, especially Venessa Kirby's nominated performance as a woman struggling through the aftermath of a miscarriage. Ellen Burstyn is also fantastic as her overbearing mother. However, Shia LeBeouf is also in it, and he's very...Shia LeBeoufy. Sexual assault allegations against him last year only make some of these moments even more difficult to watch. The film is also challenging to watch past an hour, as it drags on and on.

50. Better Days

International Feature Film (Hong Kong)

Hong Kong's entry in this competition this year is Better Days, a melodrama starring Zhou Dongyu and Jackson Yee that tries to tackle two societal issues: bullying and the immense pressure students (particularly in Asia) are under. (The enormous pressure from school entrance exams in China is unlike that of any other nation.) Better Days is a film I wish I had liked as much as everyone else (it currently has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), but the film is considerably over the top in a way that almost fetishizes bullying, and it unfortunately just feels like a one-note film.

49. Pinocchio 

Costume Design (Massimo Cantini Parrini), Makeup and Hairstyling (Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli, Francesco Pegoretti)

This newest adaption of Pinocchio has a captivating performance by young Federico Ielapi in the title role and marvelous costumes and make-up effects. Also starring in the film is Roberto Benigni as Geppetto, who took a big risk here, given that the last time he appeared in an adaption of this famous story, he was universally trashed for it. This time, though, he does a good job. That being said, it's impossible to watch Pinocchio and not compare it the 1940 animated Disney classic; even if the Disney version didn't exist, this newer film would still suffer because it lacks any kind of emotional punch.

48. The Midnight Sky
Visual Effects (Matthew Kasmir, Christopher Lawrence, Max Solomon, David Watkins)

George Clooney gets to show off his directing and acting abilities in this sci-fi flick about a dying man racing to get a message to a spaceship not to return to Earth because the world has ended. However, Clooney doesn't really offer the others in this impressive cast (which includes Felicity Jones, David Oyelowo, Demián Bachir, and Kyle Chandler) much to do. The end result is a film that may look fascinating at times but ultimately is rather dull.

47. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

Original Song (Savan Kotecha, Fat Max Gsus, Rickard Göransson)

While there are some moments that genuinely work, namely the earnestness and silliness of it (as well as the sweet—yet morbid—humor) and its fantastic songs (especially the Oscar-nominated song "Husavik", which, frankly, is the best of the nominated songs), Eurovision Song Contest is often a rather lazy comedy from people who have made much better and funnier work in the past. 

46. The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Actress in a Leading Role (Andra Day)

Inevitably, there was a major movie about a drug-addicted famous singer. Last year, it was Judy, and this year, it's Billie Holiday, who is depicted being mercilessly harassed by the U.S. government because of she frequently sings the civil rights-themed song "Strange Fruit." Any one of the women nominated for Best Actress would be a fine choice, but perhaps because Andra Day makes her acting debut here, she does her own singing, and there are so many intimate scenes that she pulls of bravely, I'm rooting for her. It's just a pity that her performance is in yet another hackneyed biographical film.

45. Tenet
Production Design (Nathan Crowley, Kathy Lucas), Visual Effects (Andrew Jackson, David Lee, Andrew Lockley, Scott Fisher) 

This Bond-like action flick revolving around time travel seems (on paper) like it utilizes much of the winning formula that writer/director Christopher Nolan used for films like Inception and Dunkirk. Audiences, though, may have reached the limit of their patience, with the consensus among many being that this is a loud and emotionless dud that is insufferable as it is incomprehensible. 

44. Genius Ioci
Short Film (Animated) (Andrien Mérigeau, Amaury Gover)

Genius Ioci, the French animated film directed by Adrien Merigeau, is about a character who sees chaos everywhere. "I find chaos," she says. So, too, will the audience, as this film is a little impenetrable and very French, but the abstract animation is spectacular to look at. 

43. Mulan
Costume Design (Bina Daigeler), Visual Effects (Sean Faden, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury, Steve Ingram)

Mulan was a movie that seemed to consistently drip with more and more controversy each month, whether it was the abhorrent views of its stars, its orientalism, or Disney's bone-headed decision to film it in Xinjiang (where Uighurs and other groups are held in concentration camps). Perhaps because of this, Mulan was not exactly a box office success, and while it wasn't awful, it wasn't particularly good, either.

42. Opera

Short Film (Animated) (Erick Oh)

Opera, directed by Korean animator Erick Oh, may be a bit deep, philosophical, and allegorical (which might mean it's not for everyone), but its elaborate, Renaissance-inspired animation contains what must be over a hundred things going on simultaneously in one long shot lasting about nine minutes. You won't be able to take your eyes off any of it.

41. Over the Moon

Animated Feature Film (Glen Keane, Gennie Rim, Peilin Chou)

You ought to check out Over the Moon for its breathtaking animation alone; there is no other film on this list with such omnipresence of colors. It is also worth noting, especially during a painful and unjust period for Asians and Asian-Americans, that there are more stories like this, although there are still not enough. While Over the Moon is a pleasant watch, especially for children, and its animation is exceptional, the story is a bit peculiar: a young girl whose widower father is starting to date again wants to prevent their union by going to the moon to find the moon goddess Chang'e...or something. It's a bit non-sensical, but if one can get over that and the film's pretty forgettable songs, one should more or less like it.

40. The Man Who Sold His Skin 
International Feature Film (Tunisia)

The Man Who Sold His Skin, written and directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, aims to offer biting simultaneous critiques of the art world and the exploitation of refugees. In this case, the story, an increasingly allegorical one, focuses on a Syrian refugee in Belgium named Sam (played Yahya Mahayni) whose back is elaborately tattooed for it to be shown off and sold as art. Some of the decisions Hania makes in this story regarding the message and Sam's actions might perplex some, particularly with who the film decides is a hero and who is a villain, but it is a compelling story nevertheless. 

39. Another Round
Directing (Thomas Vinterberg), International Feature Film (Denmark)

Another Round, Denmark's nominee for Best International Feature which scored an upset nomination for Best Director when Thomas Vinterberg was nominated over Regina King and Aaron Sorkin, is about four teachers experiencing a bit of a midlife crisis who decide to experiment with Finn Skårderud's idea that humans are born with a blood-alcohol-level deficit of 0.05. While experiencing an initial improvement in their teaching practices, things predictably start to unravel. Though the film's unintended message being that alcohol equals better classroom lessons is a peculiar one, Another Round does well thanks to Mads Mikkelsen's leading performance. 

38. Mank

Best Picture (Ceán Chaffin, Eric Roth, Douglas Urbanski), Actor in a Leading Role (Gary Oldman), Actress in a Supporting Role (Amanda Seyfried), Cinematography (Erik Messerschmidt), Costume Design (Trish Summerville), Makeup and Hairstyling (Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri, Colleen LaBaff), Production Design (Donald Graham Burt, Jan Pascale), Sound (Ren Klyce, Jeremy Molod, David Parker, Nathan Nance, Drew Kunin 

Mank swept the Oscar announcements with ten nominations, and yet it's difficult to see how it will go home with more than a few, if any. It faces stiff competition in its likeliest winning category (Cinematography), and it surprisingly was not nominated for its screenplay by Jack Fincher, the late father of the film's director, David Fincher. The latter Fincher has waited patiently for the top prize (many believe he was robbed a decade ago when The King's Speech defeated The Social Network), but this year, that award is Chloé Zhao's to lose. Mank itself is more or less decent but a little full of itself, and I'm not sure how Gary Oldman was nominated for his clunky performance as the famous screenwriter. 

37. If Anything Happens I Love You
Short Film (Animated) (Will McCormack, Michael Govier)

Halfway through its short runtime, If Anything Happens I Love You takes an unexpected turn. Perhaps, given its title, it won't be unexpected. At any rate, most of the previous moments (detailing a husband and wife falling out of love and their arguments visualized through 2D animation of fighting shadows) struggle to provoke much emotion. One could argue that when the film takes its sudden turn, it is being manipulative, for who wouldn't be moved by such an event? Nevertheless, it's what will help the short stay with you.

36. The Life Ahead
Original Song (Diane Warren, Laura Pausini)

Nominated for Best Song but perhaps surprisingly not for Best International Feature, this Italian film, the third adaptation of the 1975 novel about a young Muslim boy under the care of an older Jewish woman, features the legendary Sophia Loren in her first role in six years. She's supported by fantastic performances by Ibrahima Gueye as Momo, the young boy, and Abril Zamora. The Life Ahead, directed by Edoardo Ponti (Lauren's son) is a bit on the forgettable side, but it's not a bad film. Incidentally, this is Diane Warren's twelfth Oscar nomination, but unfortunately, she hasn't won yet.

35. Burrow
Short Film (Animated) (Madeline Sharafian, Michael Capbarat)

The appropriately named Pixar film Burrow is a breath of 2D-animation fresh air. At only six minutes, the film, written and directed by Madeline Sharafian, is the eighth part of Pixar's SparkShorts series, the group of films Pixar employees made for a limited budget with just six months. Featuring Mozart music and a cast of furry animals with limited space underground who nevertheless team together to overcome difficult odds, Burrow is a quite pleasant, agreeable film for all ages. 

34. Collective
Documentary (Alexander Nanau, Bianca Oana), International Feature Film (Romania)

Similar to the Macedonian film Honeyland last year, Collective is nominated for both Best International Feature and Best Documentary. The film, which focuses on a group of journalists from the Romanian sports newspaper Gazette investigating the government's handing of the aftermath of the 2015 fire tragedy at the Colectiv club and the controversy regarding Hexi Pharma diluting disinfectants, certainly has a variety of admirers, with NPR's Linda Holmes and even Barack Obama being fans. It goes without saying that due to the subject matter of Collective, it may be a difficult watch for some viewers, but it is definitely worth a watch.  

33. A Love Song for Latasha
Documentary (Short Subject) (Sophia Nahil Allison, Janice Duncan)

Directed by Sophia Nahil Allison, this documentary details the painful episode in 1991 in which Latasha Harlins was murdered in a convenience store by Soon Ja Du. (Despite Du being tried and convicted of voluntary manslaughter, Judge Joyce Karlin gave Du a light sentence that included probation and community service. Harlins' murder and the light sentence Du received are credited with contributing to the 1992 Los Angeles riots.) Most of the film contains interviews with Shinese Harlins (Latasha's cousin) and innovative animation and reverse effects. Given that this country is in the midst of more gun violence and racial injustice, this humanizing portrait is necessary viewing. 

32. Colette
Documentary Short (Anthony Giacchino, Alice Doyard)

Colette is a documentary short about a 90-year-old French Resistance fighter named Colette Marin-Catherine who journeys to the German concentration camp where her brother was killed. Accompanying her is an aspiring historian named Lucie Fouble. Both, expectedly, find the experience to be a life-changing and immensely difficult one, with scenes of Colette reacting to the mayor of Nordhausen and both Lucie and Colette moving about the camp being the most memorable. Filmmakers Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard capture, as they say, the authentic experience of someone like Colette. 

31. Greyhound
Sound (Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders, David Wyman)

The World War II thriller Greyhound, directed by Aaron Schneider and written by the film's star, Tom Hanks, certainly possesses flaws: its formula is predictable, making the film at times stale, and its score by Blake Neely too obviously channels the works of Hans Zimmer. Of the two Tom Hanks movies last year, this is the less interesting one. However, its visual effects and sound effects are more or less convincing, and while, with one battle sequence after the other, there is not much room for character development, it still makes for an engaging experience, especially as the Greyhound desperately tries to outmaneuver the U-boats. Schneider and Hanks also deserve credit for packing such a punch in under 90 minutes.

30. My Octopus Teacher 
Documentary (Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed, Craig Foster)

My Octopus Teacher was the last movie I saw in 2020, putting it on Netflix at the end of a restless night. It was a miracle I was able to stay awake, as narrator Craig Foster's soothing voice is a sedative. Still, this documentary, about Foster's year building up trust and perhaps even rapport with an octopus off the coast of South Africa, proves to be a moving and engaging one, especially as we witness all the perils this creature deals with to survive on a daily basis. It definitely seemed like a fitting film to conclude 2020. 

29. Love and Monsters
Visual Effects (Matt Sloan, Genevieve Camilleri, Matt Everitt, Brian Cox)

Love and Monsters is a post-apocalyptic tale about a young man played by Dylan O'Brien and his dog on their way to a colony to find a girl he dated before the world ended. The film's action and horror sequences work better than its comedic moments, and because most of the characters are not particularly interesting, much of the tension will stem from whether or not the dog survives in their battles with giant mutant insects. That being said, if you're into post-apocalyptic films, this one will certainly suffice, and it has earned its nomination for Best Visual Effects.

28. Time

Documentary (Garrett Bradley, Lauren Domino, Kellen Quinn)

Time mostly focuses on Sibil Fox, an entrepreneur and activist who served time for an armed robbery she committed with her husband, Rob, who received a significantly harsher punishment of 60 years. The documentary, directed by Garrett Bradley, takes its 80 minutes to depict Sibil's long fight to free her husband. Time is shot in black and white, a rare thing for documentaries, and its music by Jamieson Shaw and Edwin Montgomery is fantastic. However, its argument that slavery evolved into mass incarceration of people of color was more effectively made in the Ava DuVernay-directed documentary 13th a few years ago. 

27. Hunger Ward

Documentary (Short Subject) (Skye Fitzgerald, Michael Scheuerman)

Of all the films on this list, Hunger Ward is the most difficult to watch. The documentary depicts child malnutrition in Yemen due to the Saudi-led and U.S.-supported war crimes in the Yemeni Civil War. (More than 85,000 children have died of malnutrition in Yemen since 2018.) It goes without saying that one will be witness to some of the children struggling through this terrible conflict, and the film bravely depicts their horrifying conditions. Whether you can make it through the film or not, please consider donating to support Yemeni healthcare workers in hunger wards depicted in this documentary.

26. White Eye

Short Film (Live Action) (Tomer Shushan, Shira Hochman)

White Eye is a short film from Israel in which a man named Omer (played by Daniel Gad) one night discovers his stolen bicycle outside a meat-packaging plant. Through the course of the film's realistically tense twenty minutes, Omer tries to track down the thief and retrieve his bike. Things, though, are more complicated than they seem. The film, directed by Tomer Shushan, offers subtle yet powerful moments that can feel like gut punches, with many viewers around the world (due to the themes involving refugees, race relations, and immigration) likely responding to it. 

25. Wolfwalkers
Animated Feature Film (Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young, Stéphan Roelants)

Wolfwalkers, from Ireland, certainly features some of the most gorgeous animation of any of the animated films on this list. Its traditional 2D animation is very much welcomed in this age of omnipresent 3D animation. Taking, it seems, heavy thematic inspiration from the animated films directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Wolfwalkers also conveys an important reminder about humans' destruction of the environment and other species, as well as gently reminding its audience that for the most part, they have nothing to fear from wolves. Additionally, the voice cast is great, particularly Eva Whittaker, Honor Kneafsey, Simon McBurney, and Sean Bean.

  

24. One Night in Miami
Actor in a Supporting Role (Leslie Odom, Jr.), Original Song (Odom, Sam Ashworth), Adapted Screenplay (Kemp Powers)

One Night in Miami, based on the play by Kemp Powers (who adapted it for the screen and who co-directed Soul), features some of the finest acting of last year. Thus, while I found the film a bit more boring than most others did, it was surprising when the Academy didn't nominate Regina King, the Oscar-winning actor who made her feature film directorial debut and was widely expected to be nominated. (It wasn't that surprising, though. The Academy doesn't appear to be the biggest fan of Black women—or any women, for that matter—directing films.) That being said, the performances by its four leads are quite good, with the best being Leslie Odom Jr.'s role as Sam Cooke. Odom, in either the acting or song category, is the film's best chance at an Oscar win.

23. Onward
Animated Feature (Dan Scanlon, Kori Rae)

Onward, the considerably less memorable Pixar film from last year, is nevertheless a fun, heartfelt one, focusing on the relationship of two elf brothers voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt. Onward is fortunate to feature such moments because its humor is lacking (in a way that Soul, for the most part, is not), and its climactic scene is very Marvel-y, which probably was inevitable given that it stars Spider-Man and Star-Lord. Still, Onward is worth the watch, and kids will likely be enthralled by it; the movie may be more forgettable than Soul, but that doesn't mean it's not good.

22. Feeling Through
Short Film (Live Action) (Doug Roland, Susan Ruzenski)

Making history as the first film to star a Deaf/Blind actor (Robert Tarango) in a lead role, Feeling Through is a humanist piece of art about an unlikely friendship between a Deaf/Blind man named Artie trying to get home late at night and a young man named Tareek (played by Steven Prescod) who helps him along the way. Directed by Doug Roland and executive produced by Oscar-winner Marlene Matlin (who is also deaf), the film has been gaining lots of discussion heading into the contest. It's worth reminding people of the importance of representation in film; even just a decade ago, Artie very likely would have been played by someone who wasn't Deaf/Blind. 

21. Nomadland 
Best Picture (Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey, Chloé Zhao), Actress in a Leading Role (McDormand), Director (Zhao), Cinematography (Joshua James Richards), Film Editing (Zhao), Adapted Screenplay (Zhao)

Nomadland will likely win Best Picture this year, although that would make it one of the most mediocre movies to have won in recent memory. This is not to suggest it's bad. Chloé Zhao, who seems on track to make history as the first woman of color and only the second woman ever to win Best Director, is about as deserving of the word auteur as anyone, given that she could win a whopping four Oscars for her work here. Her ability to take a somewhat different source material and turn it into compelling cinematic narrative is remarkable, and it's always a joy to watch non-actors in films like this (a film in which they constitute the majority of the roles) because it makes everything seem much more authentic.

 

20. The Present
Short Film (Live Action) (Farah Nabulsi, Ossama Bawardi)

The Present, directed by Farah Nabulsi, is the kind of film that very likely will make your blood boil. Depicting the terrible apartheid conditions Palestinians face, Nabulsi and her co-writer Hind Shoufani accomplish such a task in a simplistic, succinct way, showing us a man (played by Saleh Bakri) trying to get through an Israeli checkpoint and back to get to his wife to give her a present. Much of the film's success lies not just in Bakri's performance but also in the guerrilla filmmaking of Nabulsi, as much of the checkpoint footage was shot without official permission. 

19. Quo Vadis, Aida?

Best International Feature (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 

Written, directed, and produced by Jasmila Žbanić, Quo Vadis, Aida? centers on an English-teacher-turned-UN-translator named Aida (played by Jasna Duričić) desperately trying to save her family from the chaos and violence in the lead-up to the Srebrenica massacre during the Bosnian War in 1995, in which more than 8,000 people were slaughtered. The film contains one tense moment after another, especially as as the Dutch UN forces, Bosnian military officials, and everyday Bosniak citizens are caught up in moments in which the audience essentially knows what's coming, even if one is unfamiliar with the Srebrenica massacre. These tense moments, however, are not gratuitous, as they may have been in the hands of weaker filmmakers.

18. The Mole Agent
Documentary (Maite Alberdi, Marcela Santibáñez)

The Mole Agent is the third film to make the shortlist for Chile's Best International Feature (after No and A Fantastic Women), but it suffered a similar fate and was not nominated for that category. However, it has richly earned a nomination for Best Documentary. The film is about an older man named Sergio who is hired by a private investigator to go undercover for a few months at a retirement home where a client believes her mother is being abused. The resulting content is not what I expected; instead of being similar to Collective (a hard-hitting tale of investigative journalism), The Mole Agent is a delightful, tender film that simultaneously submits to its viewers reminders of society's cruelty to older people. 

17. Da 5 Bloods

Original Score (Terrence Blanchard)

Da 5 Bloods, one of two Spike Lee movies of last year (the other being the David Byrne concert movie American Utopia) starts better than it finishes, but it is a movie that impressively changes gears frequently and features amazing performances by its main actors (Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Norm Lewis, and Isiah Whitlock Jr.) as four Vietnam War veterans returning to Vietnam to retrieve gold they had buried during the war. It also features one of the final performances of Chadwick Boseman as the group's squad leader. How Lindo was robbed of a nomination is something I will never understand, but apparently Oscars are still so white, even in this year of slightly more diversity.

16. News of the World 
Original Score (James Newton Howard), Cinematography (Dariusz Wolski), Production Design (David Crank, Elizabeth Keenan), Sound (Oliver Tarney, Mike Prestwood Smith, William Miller, John Pritchett) 

News of the World is a Western (Tom Hanks' first, actually) that shines the most when it engages in moments of thrills, especially as the character Hanks plays (a Civil War veteran who makes a living telling people the news and who tries to reunite a young German girl with her family) engages in tense gun fights with some very bad guys. Other moments, though, certainly have the potential to roll one's eyes, but the film deserves its nominations, especially its gorgeous cinematography.

15. The White Tiger
Adapted Screenplay (Ramin Bahrani)

The White Tiger probably likes to think of itself as a more woke version of the Best Picture-winning Slumdog Millionaire, but it doesn't seem to have succeeded. At its core, it's still a Western-gazing film focusing purely on the struggles of Indians. That being said, what worked in Slumdog Millionaire also works in The White Tiger, with the latter feeling more rightfully combative and shunning Hollywood's liberal do-gooder attitudes about rags-to-riches stories, and it doesn't feel quite as cringy as Slumdog Millionaire. The White Tiger, in addition to its rich screenplay adaption by its director, Ramin Bahrani, features stellar acting from its cast.

14. A Concerto Is a Conversation
Documentary (Short Subject) (Ben Proudfoot, Kris Bowers)

A Concerto Is a Conversation is an intimate, sweet documentary depicting a conversation between composer Kris Bowers (who co-directed the film with Ben Proudfoot) and his grandfather, who doesn't have much time left as he's struggling with cancer. The two discuss their history, particularly the grandfather's struggles growing up in the Jim Crow era. The film, crisply edited and finely accompanied by Powers' music, accomplishes so much with so little time. It's one of the most charming of the films on this list.

13. Do Not Split
Documentary (Short Subject) (Andres Hammer, Charlotte Cook)

The Field of Vision documentary Do Not Split, directed by Anders Hammer, bravely depicts the 2019-2020 protests in Hong Kong with fierce and unhindered determination. Much of the shocking footage in this short documentary contains the brutal tactics by the Chinese Communist Party and the police against the pro-democracy protests in the city, day and night. (The CCP has, shockingly, not been thrilled with the nomination.) Audiences outside of Hong Kong are likely to get their most intimate look at the chaos there they've ever seen, which serves as a potent reminder during these days in which the world is forgetting what happened and what continues to happen there. China is certain to be a topic of Oscar night, as Better Days will represent Hong Kong at the ceremony, Mulan features a Chinese cast, Over the Moon is a China-U.S. production, and Chloé Zhao, who is from China, is nominated for Nomadland. 

12. The Letter Room

Short Film (Live Action) (Elvira Lind, Sofia Sondervan)

This Oscar-nominated short has star power: Oscar Isaac plays a letter inspector at a prison who becomes very interested and invested in correspondence between a woman and a man on death row. The Letter Room has a few humorous moments throughout, but it's a simple tale and very watchable. Isaac, who also is an executive producer of the film, gives yet another commendable performance, making everything he does on screen look so easy. 

11. Two Distant Strangers
Short Film (Live Action) (Travon Free, Martin Desmond Roe)

Two Distant Strangers is a film in which it is better if you know as little as possible about it going in. If you do require at least some information, know that it utilizes a popular formula while engaging in serious societal issues; the reasons for the juxtaposition of the two should be obvious to most viewers. One can debate whether or not marrying the two for a film like this is appropriate or not, but in the end, it's an engaging yet deeply painful story, all the while offering a forceful repudiation of Green Book-mentality that the Academy awarded just a few years ago.

10. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Actor in a Leading Role (Chadwick Boseman), Actress in a Leading Role (Viola Davis), Costume Design (Ann Roth), Makeup and Hairstyling (Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson)

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, the adaption of August Wilson's play directed by George C. Wolfe, while arguably coming across as too theatrical, is worthy of much praise for is its fine performances. Should Chadwick Boseman win, he would be the third actor to have won posthumously, after Peter Finch for Network and Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight. But like Finch and Ledger, Boseman (while he does have stiff competition from Steven Yeun and Riz Ahmed) likely gives the best performance of the bunch. You can't take your eyes off him. Boseman and his fellow-nominated performer, the incomparable Viola Davis, are supported by a great cast that includes Michael Potts, Colman Domingo, and Glynn Turman, all of whom could have been nominated, as well. 

9. The Father
Best Picture (David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi, Philippe Carcassonne), Actor in a Leading Role (Anthony Hopkins), Actress in a Supporting Role (Olivia Colman), Film Editing (Yorgos Lamprinos), Production Design (Peter Francis, Cathy Featherstone), Adapted Screenplay (Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller)

The Father, co-written by director Florian Zeller and adapted from his 2012 play, is the most heartbreaking cinematic undertaking of the pain of dementia yet. The last big Oscar movie to tackle the subject was Still Alice in 2014, but there are notable differences between the two, namely in how theatrical and unpredictable everything is in The Father, with two actors playing each role (except for Anthony Hopkins playing the main character, the one thing that remains constant throughout the film) to help audiences understand what the protagonist is going through. Indeed, it's difficult to tell what is real and what isn't. Like Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, The Father sometimes is too theatrical, but Hopkins' performance as Anthony, an older man suffering from dementia, is able to secure complete empathy from the audience, even as they may cringe at his behavior. Hopkins has been on a roll as of late; this is the Oscar-winner's second consecutive nomination.

8. Judas and the Black Messiah 
Best Picture (Shaka King, Charles D. King, Ryan Coogler), Actor in the Supporting Role (Daniel Kaluuya), Actor in a Supporting Role (Lakeith Stanfield), Original Screenplay (Will Berson, Shaka King, Kenny Lucas, Keitha Lucas), Cinematography (Sean Bobbitt), Original Song (H.E.R, Dernst Emile II, Tiara Thomas)

Judas and the Black Messiah, much like several other films on this list, is certainly a film for our times. This will become more than evident when viewing this given all the turmoil currently in the United States. And while its story is quite an important reminder of the government's history of oppressing its own people (and its storytelling methods will likely engage most viewers), its strongest qualities are its acting performances. Despite the oddity in having both Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield nominated in the Supporting Actor category despite being in lead roles, they are among the most memorable performances of the year. Also great are others in the cast, namely Dominique Fishback, Jesse Plemmons, and Martin Sheen (though his J. Edgar Hoover makeup is distracting).  

7. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Actress in a Supporting Role (Maria Baklova), Adapted Screenplay (Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Swimer, Peter Baynham, Dan Mazer, Jena Friedman, Lee Kern, Nina Pedrad)

One could argue that Cohen and team are nominated for this award because the first Borat didn't win the Oscar in the same category fourteen years ago. (It lost to The Departed.) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is noticeably weaker than the first movie, partly because our tastes have changed and partly because Borat doesn't seem as fresh as he did all those years ago. Still, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is undoubtedly the funniest film on this list, and comedies should be rewarded more. In a year of such deep and painful films, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm offers the right balance of escapism and justifiable alarmism. Furthermore, any movie that takes aim at anti-maskers and Rudy Giuliani is commendable in my book.

6. Soul
Animated Feature Film (Peter Docter, Dana Murray), Original Score (Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste), Sound (Ren Klyce, Coya Elliot, David Parker)

It's difficult not to compare Soul to Inside Out, but given their similarities (and the fact that they were both directed by Peter Docter), it's impossible not to. Unfortunately, Soul falls short compared to Inside Out. Still, Soul contains the usual Pixar magic: stupendous, imaginative animation mixed with complex ideas and emotional moments. How could it not be about such things? There are certainly laughs, too, with moments involving a cat being the funniest. But the thought of the film is what audiences likely will remember the most; a lot of this movie spoke to me, for example. I just wish the filmmakers had gone further with the sentimentality. 

5. Sound of Metal
Best Picture (Bert Hamelinck, Sacha Ben Harroche), Actor in a Lead Role (Riz Ahmed), Actor in a Supporting Role (Riz Ahmed), Film Editing (Mikkel E.G. Nielsen), Sound (Nicolas Becker, Jamie Baksht, Michelle Couttolenc, Carlos Cortés, Phillip Bladh, Original Screenplay (Darius Marder, Abraham Marder, Derek Cianfrance) 

Sound of Metal is able to be didactic without coming across as too offensive, although the film's depiction of deafness and from whose perspective the film should have been has caused some understandable debate. The debate aside, the two performances that will stay with you the longest are Riz Ahmed as the main character, a heavy metal drummer who loses his hearing, and Paul Raci as Joe, the man running the center that helps deaf people. Both acting jobs are earnest and about as naturalistic as any acting from the previous year. If Chadwick Boseman were not the frontrunner this year, this award would very likely go to Ahmed.  

4. Promising Young Woman
Best Picture (Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell, Josey McNamara), Actress in a Leading Role (Carey Mulligan), Directing (Fennell), Film Editing (Frédéric Thoraval)

Promising Young Woman, the revenge thriller written and directed by Oscar-nominated Emerald Fennell in her feature film debut as a director, features a performance by Carey Mulligan that is quite likely her finest so far. With all due respect to Vanessa Kirby and Frances McDormand, this year is a really tough year to pick a winner between Mulligan, Davis, and Day. (With Day's win at the Golden Globes, Davis' SAG win, McDormand winning the BAFTA, and Mulligan being the victor at the Critics Choice Awards, this category is the most challenging to predict this year.) While the film, particularly its climatic moments and resolution, have been a bit divisive, Promising Young Woman is perhaps the most thought-provoking of the films on the list, tackling the most obvious MeToo scenarios and the less discussed versions. 

3. The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Picture (Marc Platt, Stuart Besser), Actor in a Supporting Role (Sacha Baron Cohen), Cinematography (Phedon Papamichael), Film Editing (Alan Baumgarten), Original Song (Daniel Pemberton, Celeste Waite), Original Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin)

The Trial of the Chicago 7 features one of the best ensemble casts of the year (and possibly ever), with stellar performances by Eddie Redmayne, John Carrol Lynch, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Rylance, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Frank Langella, who, in my humble opinion, should have been nominated instead of Sacha Baron Cohen, who got the nomination for his shaky performance as Abby Hoffman. Aaron Sorkin's script is among his best ever, and his direction is quite good, as well. That intro is exhilarating, perfectly edited by Alan Baumgarten, yet it's just so disappointing that Sorkin ends the film in such an unbelievably cheesy and old-fashioned way.

2. Crip Camp

Best Documentary (Nichole Newham, Jim LeBrecht, and Sara Bolder)

Higher Ground Productions is on a roll. The company, founded by the Obamas, also won last year in this category for American Factory, which detailed the cultural complexities when a Chinese company took over a former U.S. car factory. In similar fashion, Crip Camp educates audiences about a tale they ought to be more familiar with: campers with disabilities from a summer camp in the 1970s who later became activists in the disability rights and independent living movements. The film does so in a way that comes across feeling less gazing than Sound of Metal does. Crip Camp is even better than American Factory, featuring a rich amount of power, charm, and exceptional filmmaking. 

1. Minari 

Best Picture (Christina Oh), Actor in a Leading Role (Steven Yeun), Actress in a Supporting Role (Yuh-jung Youn), Directing (Lee Isaac Chung), Original Score (Emile Mosseri), Original Screenplay (Chung)

Lee Isaac Chung's humanist tale is the film on this list that has stayed with me the longest. His semi-autobiographical story is of a Korean-American family in 1980s Arkansas trying to make it as independent farmers. Steven Yeun plays Jacob, the father of the family, who is bitter about Korean city folks and incredibly eager to achieve the American Dream. Yeun, the first Asian-American to be nominated for Best Actor, faces stiff competition from the other nominees, but it is his finest performance in his fantastic career. He's not alone; the entire cast—Han Yen-ri as the mother, Alan S. Kim and Noel Cho as the two children, the legendary Youn Yuh-jung as the grandmother, and Will Patton as a local farmer employed by Jacob—are phenomenal. Like Crip Camp, it was one of the best films of 2020, and I hope it scores an upset and wins the top prize.

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