Oscar Best Picture Nominees Ranked
- Mar 3, 2018
- 3 min read
Now that I've finally gotten a chance to see all nine films nominated for a Best Picture Oscar at this year's Academy Awards, it's time to rank them. These are the nominees: Phantom Thread, Call Me by Your Name, Darkest Hour, The Shape of Water, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Lady Bird, Dunkirk, Get Out, and The Post. I will be ranking them by which films I believe are better and should deserve to win, not by which ones I think will win. I am not predicting but ranking.
Onto the nominees:
9. Darkest Hour
This is the only film on this list that I disliked. I didn't hate it, but I don't think it deserved to be nominated for best picture. There are at least five other films that I think were better pictures. It wasn't a terrible film, and it wasn't even bad. It was pretty good. But it was average and bland and formulaic. Essentially Lincoln in London. Yes, Gary Oldman was great. But he shouldn't need to be Churchill just to win an Oscar. This movie feels like it was created just to give a great performance. And not disrespecting Oldman, but any actor playing Churchill will do at least a very good job. Darkest Hour hits all the historical drama cliches and isn't the better for it.
8. The Post
I'm not trying to hate on historical dramas, but this year, they just ended up at the bottom of the pile. The Post was an excellent film, but I don't think it was better than the others on this list. It felt like a prequel to All the President's Men, and it wasn't as good. However, when in the hands of Spielberg and John Williams, the product can't be bad. The Post was slow and couldn't find its footing in the first half, but the second half was very riveting. Unfortunately, Streep and Hanks weren't at the top of their game for this one, in my opinion, so it ranks down here.
7. Dunkirk
I loved Dunkirk. It was an excellent tale of survival and war, with brilliant cinematography and sound. But that's really all it was. On its own, its amazing. But when compared to the other films on this list, it falls slightly short.
6. The Shape of Water
Call me crazy for putting the frontrunner at number 6. I think The Shape of Water is just a little bit overrated. It's very good, don't get me wrong. I feel like many people are giving it props for originality, which doesn't make sense. First off, it's not that extraordinary out of the gate. We're also starting to learn it may have not even been Del Toro's idea. And even if it was original, that doesn't make a great film. The rest on this list were a little more deserving.
5. Get Out
A very well made film, for sure, but not Best Picture worthy, in my opinion. The concept is genius and it is very revealing and timely, yes. But the execution of that concept is little more than one of the most entertaining and thrilling films all year long.
4. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
When I first saw this one, it was my favorite. But over time I've realized it's basically a wannabe Coen brothers film. That said, it is good, and it's got depth, as well as the most unique characters on this list.
3. Phantom Thread
A complex and sympathetic tale, that takes very bizarre and distressing ideas and puts them on display for everyone to see. Beautifully shot, acted, and scored.
2. Lady Bird
A refreshing take on a coming of age story with relatable characters and genuinely hilarious moments. It feels real and inspiring. Coming of age like you've never seen it before.
1. Call Me by Your Name
Easily the most lush film on this list, the story of one Italian summer in 1983 hits the right notes everywhere. It feels real and dreamy at the same time. It has the emotion and the actors to pull it off. The camerawork is impeccable.
What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Comment down below
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