Oscars 2025: An Overview

Something has gone terribly wrong with the best picture nominations at The Academy. Fortunately, whatever is wrong there has not bled over, for there is great delight in what we might call the drop down categories. Particularly the International Film and Animated Film categories.

I’m breaking up this blog post into three parts. It should probably be three different posts, but we’re here for it now so here we go. First I will give you my top ten films from the Oscar list. Then, I will analyze the ten movies nominated for best picture. Finally, I’ll spend some time on snubs.

Greenbean’s Top Ten

I’ll start with the more family friendly entries and then move toward the harsher films I liked. Other than that distinction, there is no specific order.

The Wild Robot — This movie should be in the best picture nomination, hands down. In fact, I think it might be the best picture. So many great themes of love, family, adoption, friendship, and perseverance. I can’t sing the praises of this movie enough.

Flow — This movie has no words and no humans. It is an enchanting film about a world where humans have disappeared and the water keeps rising, but a spunky boatful of animals find a way to form a community. Did I mention a lovely capybara?

Inside Out 2 — This is the third best animated film, and you know how much I love Inside Out! This second installment is not as good as Inside Out, but I still hold the two films should be required viewing of all parents and those who care for children and teens.

Wicked — Wicked is a strong contender for best picture. The cast is amazing, and so is the music. There are continuity problems the film inherited from the play (which, I was blessed to see in London last year). This is also a relatively safe family film that would give parents a great chance to talk about friendships, good and evil, and whom we should trust.

Conclave — This has a better than 50% chance of winning best picture. Dominant performances by Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and bravo to Isabella Rossellini.

The Seed and the Sacred Fig — This movie is long — a long, slow burn. The amazing thing about this film is the way it was made. The director filmed it in secret in Tehran during the uprising and protests in Iran in 2022. Then the raw takes were smuggled out of the country and finished in exile. This film is not only good, but compelling.

Gladiator II– This is the first film on this list I would not show anyone under the age of fifteen. Lots of blood and lots of violence. Lots. Mrs. Greenbean was all in on this one talking back to the screen like it was some kind of soap opera. It wasn’t as good as the original Gladiator, but it was very enjoyable storytelling. Historically it was a disaster. And no, there were never sharks in the Colosseum.

Sing Sing — I can’t for the life of me figure out why this wasn’t a best picture nomination. The language is strong, but man, this film will get to you in all the good ways. This is one of those films that were it not an Oscar film, I would never have seen it. I am glad that I did. So glad.

A Real Pain — This movie is great character development set against issues like history, family trauma, mental health issues, and grief. Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg are fantastic together. I want to see more movies with them in it. In fact, a sequel would be spectacular.

I’m Still Here — This movie should have been in the production design and editing categories as well for it captures the 1970s marvelously. The acting — those children are superstars. The teen girl, the second oldest daughter played by Luiza Kosovski should have been nominated for best supporting actress. Although it is set fifty plus years ago, it feels shockingly contemporary.

Those are my ten best films. If you ignore all the others and work through this list, you’ll be enjoying the best cinema produced this past year. Forget the popularity contest and the talking heads. These are straight up quality movies. If you have time for one more, watch September 5th.

The Best Picture Nominations: An Analysis

Half of these are bilge and will be given the treatment here that trash should be given. I will take them in order of their listing on the Oscar homepage.

Anora — Interesting plot, but garbage because of unnecessary and exploitive sexual content. Dialogue is poorly and sloppily written. Interesting idea for a movie, but gross. Everyone knows to never trust a Russian oligarch. Never.

The Brutalist — This movie has no redeeming qualities, other than the soundtrack, which is very good and could win an Oscar. It is long, pretentious, and filled with on non sequitur after another. Trash. Three-and-a-half hour trash.

A Complete Unknown — This is a pleasant movie, especially if you like Bob Dylan. However, Johnny Cash was never Dylan’s friend as depicted in the film and so much is simply conjecture and simplification. The acting is wonderful, but just not good enough to win best picture.

Conclave — Overall, this is a well put together movie. It’s also in my wheelhouse — middle aged men talking about politics, religion, wearing great hats in a beautiful historical setting. The ending is a fascinating, and challenging, to Roman Catholic teaching which makes it even more enjoyable for this Baptist. Bonus: If the Pope dies soon, as he is in very bad health, this movie could be somewhat prescient this year.

Dune: Part Two — I liked this movie, but it was so long, kinda preachy, and to be honest, a little dull. It reminds me of a Star Wars movie where the cast is loaded with great actors but they are handcuffed by a plodding plot and heavy handed editing.

Emilia Perez — Fun concept, and a musical about a transgendered drug lord is brave. It doesn’t work for me, though, except for Zoe Saldana. She is a treasure and one of the best actresses on the planet right now.

I’m Still Here — This movie has a sluggers chance at winning best picture, and it is my pick. As I said above, fantastic acting highlighted by the powerful Fernanda Torres. If you’re only going to watch one movie, make it this one. Not family friendly as there is strong language, mature themes, and brief nudity. Mrs. Greenbean and I both left the movie theater thinking this was he best movie we’ve seen in a couple of years.

Nickel Boys — Very important subject about a terrible tragedy in our nations past. The natural drama of the story is lost, though, in the quirky and eccentric editing. It felt like it had the same editorial style as The Blair Witch Project — odd camera angels — and the time jumping were hard to keep up with.

The Substance — Fantastic big idea that lost its way halfway through and couldn’t find a logical ending that made sense. In fact, the second half felt like it was written by twenty year old frat boys. Final evaluation is this is garbage. Painful to watch.

Wicked — I liked this movie and it could win best picture. Strong narrative, well defined characters, beautiful acting, humor and tragedy, joy and sorrow all woven together. Well done.

Only Wicked, Conclave, A Complete Unknown, and I’m Still Here are worthy of consideration. That doesn’t mean the Brutalist might not win because, you know, Hollywood is weird.

Snubs

I’ll only address two here, although there are plenty. The first is where is Furiosa? Furiosa was completely forgotten by Oscar, but that was one of the best movies this year and why wasn’t Chris Hemsworth given a best supporting actor nomination? He was soooooo good.

The second snub is my man Denzel. He should have been nominated for his delightful portrayal of a Roman baddie.

I’ll be back later this week with some predictions on the main categories. I still have some documentaries to watch. However, in case you haven’t noticed by now, the documentary style is employed by a lot of these movies. History, and historical moments, are dominant in September 5th, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, Sing Sing, The Seed and the Sacred Fig, and The Brutalist.