By Charles Salom | Staff Writer
The Academy Awards race is coming to an end this weekend, on March 15th, where this year’s most popular films, like “Sinners”, “One Battle After Another” and “Hamnet”, will hopefully walk away with the iconic golden statue and ascend into immortalized film history. While I am for the most part satisfied with this year’s group of 10 best picture nominees, I don’t think the Academy got it completely correct. Here are 3 films that should have been nominated for Best Picture.
1.Die My Love
Jennifer Lawrence in “Die My Love.” Credit: Mubi
Pop culture-obsessed fans must have been drooling at the prospect of a romance film between Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson. The Katniss and Edward Cullen actors would provide the next big-screen love story that teens can swoon over.
In reality, ”Die My Love” is a Lynn Ramsey-directed study on post-partum depression. While I am glad to see Jessie Buckley’s success following “Hamnet”, Lawrence should have been in the best actress conversation too with her raw, feral, and empathic portrayal of a post-partum mother. Along with her facing the real-life challenges of being 5 months pregnant during shooting!
“Die My Love” is visceral, challenging, and emotional but the power of cinema is empathy, and I deeply empathized with any mother suffering from postpartum after “Die My Love”.
2.Eddington
Joaquin Phoenix (Left) and Pedro Pascal (Right) in a scene from “Eddington”. Credit: A24
Even more unsettling than my last pick, “Eddington” is a COVID-19 pandemic-set period piece following the rivalry between an anti-vax sheriff and a hypocritical progressive mayor.
“Eddington” is a modern-day American epic, using satire and humor to explain the deranged state of our country. Fringe internet communities influencing our lives, performative activism, and corrupt techno-fascist. It’s all put in this western blender, with a brilliant Daniel Pemberton score and cinematographer Darius Khondji’s brilliant composition.
Many are critical of the film’s centrist messaging, but in reality, it’s a sobering reminder that no matter what “side” you are on, the data center will always get built.
3.No Other Choice
Lee Byung Hun in “No Other Choice.” Credit: Neon
The Academy Awards have never recognized legendary South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-Wook, despite being one of the greatest living filmmakers today.
“No Other Choice” is another example of director Park’s masterful use of innovative camera work and editing. Techniques like superimpositions, transitions and dissolves have never been used so effectively before.
It tells the story of a paper executive who, after being laid off from his job and failing to reenter the competitive job market, decides to kill the other applicants in his field. This twisted comedy reveals the darkness of late-stage capitalism, artificial intelligence and masculinity. All in an exciting thriller package.
Many best picture-nominated films showcase similar themes, like One Battle After Another and Bugonia. But no film this year is as both culturally relevant and technically brilliant as No Other Choice.
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