2022 Best Picture Nominees

For the last two or three years, I’ve tried with varying levels of success to watch all the movies nominated for Best Picture before the Oscars. This year, not only did I accomplish that goal, but I even managed to review and rank them! So in case you’re dying to know my opinion or you’re trying to decide which film to squeeze in last-minute before Sunday night, here is my ranking (from lowest to highest) of the 94th Academy Awards nominees for Best Picture.

#10. Don’t Look Up – ⭐️

If you can show me someone who needed to be convinced of the message of this movie and was persuaded by it – or even sat through the whole thing ­– I’ll bump my rating up to 2 stars.

#9. Nightmare Alley – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the geek.

#8. The Power of the Dog – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Benedict Cumberbatch’s performance deserves the win for leading actor, but it also gave me anxiety.

#7. Licorice Pizza – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one had similar vibes to Lady Bird, but with less direction and more… pedophilia?

#6. Belfast – ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Endearingly Irish.

#5. Coda – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I came from the trailer prepared for “another singing movie” and was pleasantly surprised by the depth of dynamics portrayed in this film.

#4. Drive My Car – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“If you really want to look at someone, then your only option is to look at yourself squarely and deeply.” Dang, okay.

#3. West Side Story – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Very rarely do remakes surpass their originals, but this one absolutely did. (Rita Moreno’s appearance makes up for Ansel Elgort.)

#2. King Richard – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I hate it when movies about sports make me cry.

#1. Dune: Part One – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn’t realize until I was watching the title sequence that Dune would be coming out in multiple installments, but I’m so glad it is. Dune: Part One stayed true to the pacing of the original book (as well as much of the content), keeping the hero’s character development central in the emotionally charged and visually stunning first act.