At present, Oscar 2021 looks a tad bizarre. It requires no second mention of what rendered the previous year impossible, and naturally, that affected the entertainment scenario. From theatres closing down to cancellations of festivals galore, the delay in almost every film release has made the 2020-21 season of Oscar highly unusual. That doesn’t imply the race has come to a stop. We have some of the best films lined up to compete for this season. And that too, from a host of renowned contenders.
However, the only change that you might get to see this year is the allowance of streaming and VOD movies- all of which were eyeing theatrical releases, to make it to the Academy Awards. Whether or not these films would actually contend with each other this time or even get some campaigns backed by studios is best left to time. For now, it’s wise to check out an impressive list of movies that you can’t afford to miss out on.
The Forty-Year-Old Version
The Sundance Film Festival ensured Radha Blank grabbed the ‘Best Director’ prize for this movie last year. And now this year, it’s fetched the Gotham Award in the ‘Best Screenplay’ category. Written, directed, and acted by Blank herself- this one’s a quirky comedy. We sincerely appreciate how the creator being in the lead has helped the film grab more eyeballs!
This movie has an amazingly poignant, adorable, and vulnerable portrayal of an artist dealing with an aging Black woman, a rarity indeed. She is in a dilemma between selling or staying true to herself. Legacy says that Academy is not the best platform for comedies. Still, with the ‘infectious’ energy this one brings, we hope the ‘Best Original Screenplay’ award is conferred to Radha’s creation.
Sound of Metal
Among the best movies of 2020′, it would be an injustice not considering Sound of Metal. The movie explores the world of Ruben, a heavy-metal drummer who went deaf. Riz Ahmed has enacted to perfection and brought to life a character who has to deal with the complexities of the mind after finding no connection with the world around him.
This movie has one of the best works in sound design, reflecting Darius Marder’s efforts, as the writer and director. What stands brilliant is how he weaves a world where Ruben fails to relate to the world, yet makes every attempt to cut through the wreak and build something anew. Even when there’s absolute silence, Ahmed has brought to life a sound-scape we least thought of.
Mank
Few things are worth the wait, and David Fincher has not disappointed us (as usual). Perhaps one of the ‘greatest re-enactments’ of the Golden Age in Hollywood, it’s no surprise that most reviewers have termed it the “best movie” after ‘The Social Network.’ A brave attempt at recreating the typical black and white mode and complex sounds of the yesteryears, this one deserves all the praise for the resurrection of an era.
And it doesn’t stop there. It actually ‘reverberates’ to the current times! You would practically lose count of the number of Hollywood movies that stay behind the scenes. But ‘Mank,’ with its unique storyline and the director spearheading the same, is all about meaning and depth.
The Assistant
No matter how many contenders line up, we bet Julia Garner, who has already won an Emmy for ‘Ozark,’ actually deserves to take away the ‘Best Actress’ award. Kitty Green’s movie showcases Garner in the role of an assistant of a certain film industry honcho, notable for being powerful and abusive. Sources suggest that Harvey Weinstein’s life story partly inspires it.
The script, is crafted with suspense from the beginning till the end. And it is all about a day with Garner’s character, who has to keep up with her employer’s not-so-pleasant behavior. One can call it a “master class of small, uncertain gestures,” Julia has bowled over everyone with her performance. A must-watch if you wish to believe how aptly she’s fitted in the shoes of the assistant.
Are you feeling the need to catch up with these already? Wait! There are more, and we believe you should make a list first and then begin a movie viewing spree. We can’t guarantee when you would stop, though!
