Oscar season is one of the most exciting times of the year for film addicts. It shines light on all the beautiful works of art created in the last year worthy of an award. The following movies are nominated for “Best Picture” in this 2022 awards season. 

“The Power of the Dog” (nominated for Best Actor, two nominees for Best Supporting Actor , Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Directing, Best Film Editing, Best Original score, Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Sound, and Best Adapted Screenplay).

“The Power of the Dog” is an absolute marvel of a film. It was nominated for 12 Oscars this year and all are well deserved. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, with supporting actors Kodi Smit-Mcphee, Jesse Plemons, and supporting actress Kirsten Dunst, this movie is a western film about a man whose brother brings his wife and stepson to live with him on their farm where things go horribly awry. The entire film is filled with uneasy suspense which makes viewers anxious for the final tragedy that seems to be foreshadowed during the entire movie. It is a masterpiece of cinematography and acting. Director and screenwriter Jane Campion is one of only seven women to have ever been nominated for an Oscar as Best Director and only one has ever won. This an incredible win for women everywhere aspiring to be directors or screenwriters.

“Dune” (nominated for Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Picture, Best Production Design, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects).

This sci-fi movie based on a book of the same name is an interesting choice for best picture. Although the plot of this film is slightly confusing if viewers are not familiar with the contents of the book, it is a cinematically beautiful film with wonderful special effects and a very unique music score. The composer Hans Zimmer is an absolute genius when it comes to making original scores. He has composed music for “The Dark Knight,” “Interstellar,” “Inception,” “The Lion King,” “Gladiator,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and many others. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that he was nominated for this award. Though the film is unlikely to win best picture, it is still beautifully made and worth appreciating.

“Don’t Look Up” (nominated for Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay).

This movie is a shocking nomination for best picture. Although it has an incredible cast featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Timothee Chalamet, Meryl Streep and many others, the plot is nothing spectacular. It focuses on a comet that is heading directly toward Earth and the scientists trying to convince the government of its severity. 

“West Side Story” (nominated for Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Directing, Best Picture, Best Production Design, and Best Sound).

This enchanting remake of the 1961 film by the same name is a wonderful nomination for best picture. The original film won best picture in 1962 and director Stephen Speilberg has a shot at repeated history with his adaptation. The plot follows two young people who fall in love which ultimately helps fuel the rivalry between two gangs. This film also includes a historic nomination with Ariana DeBose (best supporting actress). If she wins she will be the first openly queer woman of color to win an award in her category. This is an incredible accomplishment for these communities. She has already won a Golden Globe this year for this same role.

“Nightmare Alley” (nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Picture, and Best Production Design).

This film, starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, and directed by Guillermo del Toro, is an interesting thriller about a scheme to try and con a very dangerous man. The film has a decent shot at best picture considering del Toro already directed a best picture film in 2017 for “The Shape of Water.” Though it is not the most well known film this year, it is an exciting pick filled with captivating cinematography and an intriguing plot.

“Licorice Pizza” (nominated for Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay).

This film set in the 1970’s is an interesting romance story directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It follows two people who grow up and fall in love in California. It is somewhat controversial because it is about a 25 year old woman pursuing a 15 year old boy. However, it is considered one of Anderson’s best films. He has never won an Oscar before although he is considered one of the biggest directors of our current time, therefore it would make sense for one of his best films to win best director. The best picture award may not be in the cards for Anderson but it is definitely one to consider.

“King Richard” (nominated for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Film Editing, Best Original Song, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay).

“King Richard” is the true story of the rise of Serena and Venus Williams. Tennis stars from a young age, their father (Will Smith) encouraged them and helped them on their path to stardom. Smith was nominated for best actor, of which he has a very likely shot of winning. As a long known actor in Hollywood, Smith has yet to win an Oscar for his efforts. Many believe this will finally be the film that brings him to that award. This is a unique story and one that deserves to be shared with the world.

“Drive My Car” (nominated for Best Director, Best International Feature Film, Best Picture, and Best Adapted Screenplay).

This film is an international film created in Japan about a widower who seeks a new chauffeur. On this search he finds a young woman with whom he develops a significant bond. After “Parasite” won best picture in 2019 it would be another big step for a new non-english film to win best picture considering “Parasite” was the first film in history to do so. 

“CODA” (nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Best Picture, and Best Adapted Screenplay).

“CODA,” standing for child of deaf adult, is a unique film about a girl who is a member of an all deaf family. She is the only hearing member of her household and has an incredible talent for singing. Being able to communicate the desire to sing to her family and follow her dream is something she desperately wants to do. This movie represents a very underrepresented group of people in movies – the deaf community. This group is rarely featured in movies, and when they are it is never as the main characters or essential to the plot line; this movie is revolutionary for representation.

“Belfast” (nominated for Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Original Song, Best Picture, Best Sound, and Best Original Screenplay).

This story chronicles the life of a family living in Northern Ireland in the 1960s. This was a unique time to have lived there as it was during a conflict between Catholics and Protestants that spanned 30 years. The movie is told from the director’s perspective about his life as a child in Belfast during this time. It is a unique movie as it is in black and white, which is an interesting stylistic choice.

Although only one of these movies nominated for best picture will win, all of these films are individually unique and deserve the recognition that they will receive by the nomination alone.