Oscar Best Picture Nominations 2020 Ranked

I always enjoy awards season. Not because I want to see my favourite films of the year get awarded, but just because I'm interested to see what's getting the praise. This year, for the first time ever, I have seen every single best picture nominee. So, let's rank them all from worst to best! Remember, this is my opinion, and not all these films are for me, so don't get annoyed if your favourite is at the bottom. 

Also, I haven't reviewed all of these movies, and for those that I haven't, I'll explain everything I like and dislike as briefly as possible, and thus won't write a review in the future - everything that I feel the need to mention will be covered so you won't be missing out on any important aspect of my opinion. For those I have reviewed, I will reiterate what I liked/disliked, but will also go into detail about my thoughts on them connected to awards and such. Here we go!

9. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Quentin Tarantino)

Actually, I haven't seen every nominee this year, but my mum watched this and didn't like it. I'm only just about getting old enough to watch and appreciate the work of Quentin Tarantino, so I haven't seen any of his work, including this. But, I'm guessing it'll rank near the bottom.

Rating: Don't know/10

8. The Irishman (Martin Scorsese)

I'm sorry, Scorsese. Out of the two 3+ hour movies I saw in 2019, I preferred the one that was a comic book movie over yours. The Irishman is incredibly watchable, anything with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and all this excellent cinematography is. However, the story didn't really have me engaged. It started off great, but after passing the one hour mark, it lost my interest. It did get back on track for me towards the end, which I began to really enjoy, and it left me keen to revisit it. However, the overly-long runtime and long chunk of boredom in the middle keeps me from doing so. I don't think it'll win this unless the Academy embraces the traditionalist nature that I believe they have.   

Rating: 7.0/10

7. Marriage Story (Noah Baumbach)

Once again, another film that just isn't for me. However, I enjoyed this movie quite a bit. The two lead performances from Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson were terrific and powerful, the screenplay was well constructed and conveyed all the necessary emotion, especially in the infamous argument scene, and it was overall a well-made film. One of my issues was that despite the great performances, I did feel like I was watching performances than actual people. Additionally, it is also a bit too long, and the score was far too whimsical and felt tonally wrong. That said, I enjoyed the movie just fine and wouldn't mind another watch. It could win, and I'd be fine if it did, although I think others higher up deserve it more.

Rating: 7.0/10

6. Joker (Todd Phillips)

Months after watching, this film is still lingering in my mind. Joaquin Phoenix is truly unbelievable and his performance is off the charts. The film does an excellent job of building suspense and making the audience feel uneasy. Certain scenes are just haunting, the bathroom dance in particular. Any problems? Well, as good as the score is, I didn't think it was particularly memorable, unlike two films higher up on the list that is more deserving than this. On top of that, the efficiency of the haunts do prevent me from wanting to revisit, so that does devalue it. That said, the film has left a large impression on me, and I can vividly remember many moments, so maybe that's not a problem at all. Overall, I think it's a really impressive and interesting piece of work. I'd love if it won as that'd just be the most controversial thing in human history. 

Rating: 8.5/10

5. Le Mans '66 (James Mangold)

Or as Americans call it, Ford v Ferrari. This is a really fun and engaging take on a story that could easily have not been so. The race scenes are well edited with some brilliant use of sound, and the two lead performances are likeable and believable. It is a tad too long and certain scenes could be cut with little difference, but that doesn't stop it from being a great time. This is the best picture nominee with no chance of winning, but not to say I don't think it deserves it. This makes me hope that this film will live in my life like The Martian, which was another film I enjoyed at first, was nominated for best picture with little chance of winning, but has slowly become one of my favourite films of all time. I can't say for sure if Le Mans '66 will do just that, but there's a chance. 

Rating: 8.5/10

4. Parasite (Bong-Joon Ho)

If there's one film that is completely unique compared to anything else I've seen, it's Parasite. This film begins as a really fun and quirky comedy that I was really on board with and enjoyed. But then it takes a sharp turn into very different territory. It becomes something a lot more gripping and shocking - and that's all I'll say. I really enjoyed this film. The characters are all well-executed and the story was also really inventive. My biggest issue is that, even though I enjoyed the second half, I wish it remained as what it was, to begin with. That said, I found this an utterly fascinating experience and would happily watch it again, even if I'm not leaping at the chance to do so. I'd also love if this won, as foreign representation is a step in the right direction for the Oscars. 

Rating: 8.5/10

3. Little Women (Greta Gerwig)

This is the definition of a complete and utter surprise - I loved Little Women. I'm not a fan of dramas, period pieces, or the original novel, so I didn't think I'd get much out of this, but I'm so glad to say that I did! Greta Gerwig is becoming a formidable directing force, and I'd say this is even better than her previous film, Lady Bird. The four central characters are all endearing and beautifully executed. Saoirse Ronan is magnetic as Jo, and I adored her portrayal of this character enormously. She is now one of my favourite actresses and I will try to seek out more of her work. Additionally, Florence Pugh is also fabulous, and 2019 has very much been her year with three completely different but equally successful films. I also usually find Emma Watson quite irritating, but she was actually good in this movie, she may have just redeemed herself after her robotic performance as Belle a few years ago. On top of the characters that glue the film together, the production and costume design is top-notch, the cinematography is exciting, and Alexandre Desplat's score is just a delight - I left with countless scenes that I could remember the music from. But, one of the best aspects of the film is that it just made me smile. A film like this that's cheerful and universal is exactly what we all need. I only have a few problems with the out of sequence storytelling being a bit flippant at points, but I can overlook that easily. Of course, I'd love this to win, as Gerwig has been unforgivably snubbed for her directing work, and a bit more love would be much appreciated. 

Rating: 9.0/10

2. Jojo Rabbit (Taika Waititi)

If you saw my favourite films of the decade, the most prominently featured director on the list was Taika Waititi, and rightfully so. Jojo Rabbit is another example of his amazing work as a director, writer and actor. The story is really sweet, and cleverly constructed from an impressionable child, enabling many hilarious jokes. The relationship between Jojo and Elsa grows so naturally, and the chemistry between them is wonderful to watch. Scarlett Johansson is also lovely as the caring mother and Waititi as imaginary Hitler was just terrific, the performance I never knew I needed. On top of all this, the film delivers an important message about questioning authority and not accepting all you're told is true, and there are plenty of heartfelt moments peppered throughout. It's a little sad that Waititi is only now getting recognised with awards for his work. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a much better film in my opinion and should've been met with equal, if not more, amounts of recognition from awards. But, I can't complain, because at least he has finally been acknowledged and should go on to do more great stuff in the future.

Rating: 9.0/10

1. 1917 (Sam Mendes)

Yeah, of course, it's this. But, why? Well, not just because of Roger Deakins' amazing cinematography, the strong lead performances that make you feel for these characters and want to see them succeed on this perilous journey, the memorable score that intensifies the impact of many scenes, the gripping action scenes that put me on the edge of my seat, and the fact that the film phenomenally depicts the horrors of war and makes a surface level plot feel powerful and emotional. One of the key reasons why 1917 tops the list is because it is the only film on this list, and maybe the only film of the entire year, that lends itself to the cinematic experience. In an age where now two best picture nominees have gone straight to a streaming service and thus not been shown on cinema screens, I feel a greater need to praise anything that is. But this is not just a regular film you catch in the cinema, there are tons of those on this list. This is a film that uses the cinema to its advantage. It is truly an experience when watching on a big screen. My breath was taken away while sitting through this, and even after a second viewing, I still sat in awe of what I was watching. This deserves to win most of all to me because, at a time when cinema could slowly be fading away, a film that uses it to its advantage is important. 

Rating: 9.5/10     

So that was my ranking of all the best picture nominees this year aside from one. I'm so glad that I have seen so many of these great movies, and I'm fine with the majority taking home the award, even though I have my personal preference. I look forward to Sunday night, and I hope the Academy make good choices with the wins, even if they haven't with the nominations in places. I'm still not over the snubs of Knives Out's everything, Rocketman's lead performance, Apollo 11 being a documentary, and Avengers: Endgame's score, OSCAR!