The Oscars: A Collection of Best Picture Movie Reviews

Airing April 25th this year, the 93rd Academy Awards, or as they are more commonly known, the Oscars, features many groundbreaking movies up for Best Picture. Some of the nominations include The Father, Mank, Minari, and The Trial of the Chicago Seven. Each movie presents itself as a strong contender for the title, and it is hard to predict the outcome of the award. Here are five of those great movies reviewed.

1. The Father ☆☆☆ 

? 98%

Based on the 2012 play Le Pére, The Father stars legendary actor Anthony Hopkins, who plays an aging father suffering from dementia, as his daughter struggles to care for him. This movie is filled equally with heartache and love, as viewers are given a glimpse into the confusing fragmented mind of an old man who struggles with loss and love. 

This movie was hard to watch, as matters of family are hard to understand. Some elements of the film are mangled in a purposeful attempt to show inside the mind of a man suffering from dementia, and some viewers may find that frustrating to watch. The subtle changes in memory are hard to catch, but they present a vivid story. 

1. Mank ☆☆

? 83%

Set in 1930s Hollywood, Mank is a gorgeously noir-style film about screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, played by Gary Oldman, as he races to finish “Citizen Kane.” It offers a dive back into the glitz and glamor of the time, and surprisingly shines a light on the Hollywood politics of the era. 

Mank, while indeed focusing on how Herman J. Mankiewicz wrote his world famous screenplay for “Citizen Kane,” actually places a stronger focus on why he wrote the script. Who and what inspired him, as well as why he was the only man for the job. For some viewers, the subject matter can definitely appear dry and convoluted, but others may enjoy the philosophy and wit that Oldman brings to the scene. 

1. Minari ☆☆☆☆

? 98%

Transplanting from Korea, in Lee Isaac Chung’s film, the Yi family reverse their dustbowl path from California to the Ozarks to start a new life. Working at a local poultry processing plant, father Jacob has bigger dreams, and the arrival of mother Monica’s own mother sets off a tale of growth and change

A personal favorite, Minari is such a gorgeous and heart wrenching story. Not to spoil too much, the story is a true testament to the power of family and tradition, and it highlights the trials faced by many immigrant families as they struggle to forge their own place. From the movie’s title to the humor and the characters throughout, every element creates a must watch film. 

1. The Trial of the Chicago Seven ☆☆☆

? 89%

A film based on the 1969 trial of seven defendants charged by the federal government with conspiracy and more, arising from the countercultural protests in Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The trial captivated the nation, sparking a conversation about mayhem intended to undermine the U.S. government.

This is a speech film, or a film that relies heavily on dialogue, in which a dramatic speech encapsulates the issue at hand and captivates the attention of all who are present. Some people enjoy speech films, while others may not. The film certainly relates to today’s political climate, and features intense acting and plot development. Some parts appear slightly manufactured and dramatized, but it doesn’t take away from the message.