Now that the dust has settled and the critics have had their opinions on The 92
nd Academy Awards (Oscars 2020) nominations, we want to take a second to break down the must-watch movies amongst all the nominations that got a nod from the prestigious panel.
If last year has taught us anything about the Oscars, it is to expect the unexpected. It isn’t just a popularity contest.
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While it might be worth arguing that ALL Oscar nominated movies must be watched because, well, they got nominated for the Oscars?! So why wouldn’t you? We’re here to argue not ALL Oscar-nominated features are truly that great or spectacular; some unfortunately are plain average and only feature one or two Oscar-worthy moments in the film, and some of them are so long you might actually age a little by the end of the movie (you know the one we're talking about!). Thankfully, some of them are absolutely splendid – beginning to end. And we will happily be that filter (read: voice of reason) for you.
We’re here to break down the quintessential movies of 2019 and why you shouldn’t miss these before the awards ceremony on 9 February at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
(Editor’s Facts: Dolby Theatre has been hosting the Academy Awards since 2002).
Before Hollywood’s brightest stars come out to play, we’re going to go through every single nomination and handpick the best ones for you. Why? Because we care. (Also, who doesn’t want to watch movies at work?)
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We hope you’re ready though, because watching all these movies is going to be colossally time-consuming – so you better be ready to get your binge on. So settle in for our definitive list of must-watch Oscar nominated movies that you cannot miss! In no particular order, here we goOoOo!
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Nominated for the Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects, this final installment in the ‘Skywalker Saga’ definitely earns its place in our list. If you ask the general audience, their reviews for this film will split right down the middle, some loved it, some hated it, and some just made their peace with it. However, it is the end of era as we know it (or is it?) – and thus, this film makes its way to our must-watch list.
Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood
Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design. That’s 10 Oscar nominations. Need we really say more? Yes, you simply must watch this film. We can’t possibly hype it up for you anymore than the nominations already have. Insiders say this has got a great chance of winning Best Picture at the awards, what do you think?
Bombshell
Nominated for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Makeup and Hairstyling, this expose features some of the best performances you will see by Charlize Theron and Morgot Robbie. Bombshell tells a messy tale about women empowerment in the wake of the #MeToo movement involving Fox News.
Frozen II
Nominated for Best Original Song, this franchise is absolutely adored by kids all over the world – and for good reason; it is great storytelling in fantasyland with a happy ending. This sequel might not have gotten the big reviews the first movie got, but it’s still sure to be a hit with your little ones.
How to Train your Dragon: The Hidden World
Nominated for Best Animated Feature, the third and latest installment of this series keeps up with the first two hits and then delivers some more. Filled with stunning animation, epic scenes and beautiful, scenic shots, How to Train your Dragon: The Hidden World isn’t just for the young, but also the young at heart.
Joker
Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Costume Design and Best Film Editing, Joker clearly stole the spotlight at the Oscar nominations. For those that weren’t keeping track, that’s a whopping 11 nominations! Arguably one of the best movies of 2019, Joker is an absolute-must-watch for any movie buff – whether you’re a fan of the DC character or not.
Toy Story 4
Nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, the fourth installment of this series came in fast and strong in 2019. As you would expect, it is brilliantly animated, featuring some of our old friends and bringing to life some new ones. Let’s be honest, millennials that grew up watching Toy Story will definitely want to watch this.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Nominated for Best Supporting Actor, this is one of the most genuinely feel-good movies of 2019. Tom Hanks gave the performance of a lifetime, and if there’s one movie you must watch from this list, let it be this. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is nothing short of genius and makes for a wholesome experience.
Knives Out
Nominated for Best Original Screenplay, this movie is filled with a stellar cast that are all considered Hollywood royalty. An almost Agatha Christie-like murder mystery Knives Out is a fun time out if you ever liked playing (or still play) Cluedo.
Rocketman
Nominated for Best Original Song, this fantastic biopic about music legend, Sir Elton John hits a lot of high notes. Taron Egerton, who was unfortunately snubbed for Best Actor, goes all in as Elton John displaying his performance on screen yet. We get a peek into the glamorous life of Elton John, one soundtrack at a time – a definite delight.
Avengers: Endgame
Nominated for Best Visual Effects, the final saga of this Marvel Cinemaverse was a gigantic hit throughout the world, breaking records for the most $ racked in. Marvel Studios somehow managed to turn this cinematic universe in to a grand experiment and fully succeeded. To combine 24 Marvel movies, into one beautifully crafted finale is nothing short of heroic. And for that Marvel, you deserve to be on this list.
Little Women
Nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score and Best Costume Design, Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig is perfectly cast and brilliantly shot. This funny, sad, adorable but definitely unforgettable film is terribly underrated and needs to be watched by everyone.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Disney's most memorable villain is back, and is all set to celebrate young Aurora's wedding with Prince Philip... that's until she meets a cunning queen with an evil plot. It's not quite the sequel we hoped for, but the production value of this film is absolutely splendid. Need tips for your next Halloween outfit? Here you go.
The Lion King
Nominated for Best Visual Effects, the remake of this classic Disney tale raked in over 1 billion dollars; so I guess that sums up how successful it was. While they did manage to capture the essence of the original animated film (1994), the heart, soul and emotion behind the characters were lost. Most people complained about not crying at the most crucial part of the film (you know the one). That being said, we love the fact that Disney remakes these classics for every generation to enjoy, so you know what Disney? Job well done. Bring it on!
AND THAT SUMS IT UP!
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