Oh. My. Oscar… I cannot believe it is that time of the year again!
The little golden man is back and this year we have some truly spectacular films to take him home. If you are worried you might have missed some of them, worry not! Once again, the Dukes is bringing back some of the cinematic masterpieces of the year to ensure you get to see them for the first time or, if you are like me, a second or a third time. I know, however, that sometimes it might be a bit dauting to approach all of these films, not knowing if they fit your taste. Today I will try to help by walking you through some of the most impressive aspects of each of these films.
Sentimental Value is the newest film by Danish Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier (who you might know from The Worst Person in the World), and it follows two sisters – Nora (Renate Reinsve) and Agnes (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas) – and their relationship with their estranged father Gustav (Stellan Skarsgård). Once a renowned director, Gustav is hoping to get closer with his family by casting Nora as the main character of his comeback film. This is a film of great emotional density, that puts on the balance past trauma and present aspirations; inflated egos and the required humility to mend still-open wounds.
When in his SAG 2025 acceptance speech, Timothee Chalamet declared to be “in pursuit of greatness” many didn’t expect him to deliver his best performance yet just a few months later in Marty Supreme. This sports drama directed by Josh Safdie follows a table tennis player, Marty, who like the actor that plays him, is in pursuit of greatness and world wide recognition. In his attempt to achieve this, he puts himself (and those around him) through some truly despicable circumstances. However, it is a thrill to follow him around.
In what might be a career-best film, Paul Thomas Anderson returns to the big screen with One Battle After Another. The film follows Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), a washed-up paranoid revolutionary who lives o the grid with his daughter Willa (the amazing Chase Infiniti), and is scared of a past that might catch up to him at any time. With a brilliant cast that includes Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro, this film is a true ride for the spectator – who is constantly left at the edge of their seat, not knowing what will happen next. Although this applies to all films of this list, this truly is a film that must be experience in the big screen, especially for what might be the best car chase since 1998’s Ronin.
With the most academy award nominations ever(!!) Sinners is perhaps the best film of the year (at least this writer thinks so…), and it brings vampires to the screen like never before. Returning home to Missisipi, twins Smoke and Stack (both played brilliantly by Michael B. Jordan) try to move past their sins, only to discover a whole new evil lurking after the sunset. This film by Ryan Coogler is a fantastic social critique with astonishing performances by Wunmi Mosaku, Miles Cato, and Heilee Steinfeld. It features a fantastic score by Ludwig Göransson and jaw-dropping cinematography by Autumn Durald Arkapaw (I still think that the long take in during the song I Lied to You might be one of the best ever made).
Later in the month, the Dukes will also be screening, for the first time, some of the other films nominated, like If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, The Secret Agent, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, and Sound of Falling – which should make us all very excited! Until then, I hope you have a happy award season and get to enjoy these days of sun!
Written by João Eduardo Lima Belchior
