Oscar season is upon us, which implies movie followers all over the place are debating why their favourite motion pictures need to take dwelling all of the awards. With ten motion pictures now eligible for Finest Image, the competitors has by no means been more durable for the proper to take dwelling the Oscar’s highest honor. Whereas there’ll at all times be front-runners that take dwelling the prize most of the time, typically the Academy will throw a curveball into the combo and choose a film from out of left subject.
RELATED: 10 Actors Who Have Appeared within the Most Finest Image Winners
Whereas the years that observe will determine if the Academy made the proper selection, as evidenced by the winner’s total influence on in style tradition, wanting again on the final ten winners reveals some worthy champions. There’ll at all times be those that declare that different motion pictures ought to have gained as a substitute, however a lot of the previous decade’s Finest Image winners stay in style motion pictures and are simply as well-regarded in the present day, if no more so.
COLLIDER VIDEO OF THE DAY
10 ‘Argo’ (2012)
Letterboxd: 3.6
Directed by Ben Affleck, Argoalso sees the previous Batman pulling double responsibility as main man Tony Mendez. A CIA agent, Mendez goes undercover as a movie producer as a way to conduct a hostage rescue in Iran. Hiring an actual movie crew to make a Sci-Fi film, the crew travels to Tehran for the faux manufacturing and actual rescue.
Primarily based on an actual incident that occurred in 1979, Argo just isn’t absolutely dedicated to historic accuracy because it weaves an entertaining story. Affleck showcases his super expertise behind the digital camera as he directs an excellent forged of trade professionals together with Alan Arkin, John Goodman, and Bryan Cranston on this satisfying thriller.
9 ‘Inexperienced E book’ (2018)
Letterboxd: 3.7
Set in Nineteen Sixties America, Inexperienced Bookstars Viggo Mortensen as Tony Lip, an Italian-American household man who works as a bouncer. Contacted by African-American pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali), Tony is employed to escort the musician by way of the closely racist South, serving as each his driver and bodyguard.
A controversial winner, some took situation with what they deemed superficial dealing with of racism, particularly when in comparison with fellow nominee BlacKkKlansman. What can’t be denied is the terrific performances from Mortensen and Ali, with the latter successful his second Academy Award for his subdued efficiency as Shirley.
8 ‘The Form of Water’ (2018)
Picture through twentieth Century Fox
Letterboxd: 3.7
Deaf Eliza (Sally Hawkins) leads a lonely life as a cleaner at a authorities analysis facility. When she discovers an amphibian creature being held in a secret lab, she begins to really feel a reference to the captive being and hatches a plan to free him from those that want to experiment on him.
One in every of Guillermo del Toro’s greatest motion pictures, The Form of Water incorporates his signature style storytelling whereas nonetheless showcasing a charming love story. The romance that blossoms between Eliza and the Amphibian Man is nice, and the movie proved to be a well-liked winner because it was a refreshing selection for the Academy.
7 ‘Nomadland’ (2020)
Picture through IMDb
Letterboxd: 3.8
Shedding her long-time job after the corporate she works for shuts down, Fern (Frances McDormand) decides to promote all of her belongings and journey round America in a van. All through her journey, she meets all method of others dwelling the nomad way of life, who every educate her new expertise they discovered dwelling on the street.
Nomadland acquired acclaim at launch, being one of many highest-rated motion pictures on IMDB since 2020. Together with Finest Image, McDormand gained her third Finest Actress Oscar for her efficiency, whereas Chloé Zhao gained Finest Director, turning into solely the second feminine filmmaker to take action.
Watch on Hulu
6 ‘CODA’ (2021)
Letterboxd: 3.9
A remake of the French-Belgian movie La Famille Belier, CODAcenters across the Rossi household, who’re all deaf apart from teenage daughter Ruby (Emilia Jones). Together with her household’s fishing enterprise on the breaking point, Ruby spends her days serving to out whereas discovering a newfound ardour for singing by becoming a member of the native Choir Membership.
Whereas CODA acquired optimistic critiques at launch, many noticed it as a secure selection for Finest Image by the Academy, because the movie itself may have taken extra dangers in its portrayal of the deaf group. Regardless, it stays a feel-good story about household that may go away most viewers with a smile because it wraps up its healthful story.
Watch on Apple TV
5 ‘Birdman’ (2014)
Letterboxd: 3.9
A comeback car for Michael Keaton, Birdmansees the favored actor enjoying Riggan Thomson, a light actor well-known for taking part in the superhero ‘Birdman’. Attempting to recapture his former recognition, Riggan makes an attempt to direct and star in a Broadway play, all whereas his relationships with these round him crumble.
It’s simple to see the parallels between Keaton and his previous performances as Batman in Birdman’s story of an actor nonetheless typecast by their superhero alter ego. It permits Keaton to ship probably the greatest performances of his profession, whereas the movie itself is a masterwork of writing and directing.
4 ‘Highlight’ (2015)
Picture through Participant/First Look Media
Letterboxd: 4.0
Whereas an authentic story, Spotlightis based mostly on the work of The Boston Globe’s “Highlight” workforce who uncovered the rampant circumstances of sexual abuse dedicated towards youngsters by Catholic monks. Regardless of its confronting topic, the film is gripping as its forged of reporters makes an attempt to search out some justice for the victims of such heinous crimes.
Critics hailed the film for its sincere but cautious dealing with of the real-life story, and it rode this wave of acclaim to its Finest Image win. Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams acquired performing nominations within the supporting classes, whereas the proficient forged additionally contains Michael Keaton and Liev Schreiber.
Watch on HBO Max
3 ’12 Years a Slave’ (2013)
Letterboxd: 4.1
Primarily based on the harrowing true story, 12 Years a Slave follows Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) a free African-American man dwelling in Washington in 1841. After he’s kidnaped and bought into slavery, Northup is compelled to endure 12 years of hell as he works for a merciless plantation proprietor and experiences the worst of humanity.
A strong true story, 12 Years a Slave showcases the energy of the human spirit, as Northup refuses to surrender regardless of his hopeless state of affairs. Ejiofor is unbelievable as Northup, incomes an performing nomination, whereas the movie itself took dwelling Finest Image, Finest Tailored Screenplay, and Finest Supporting Actress for Lupita Nyong’o.
Watch on HBO Max
2 ‘Moonlight’ (2016)
Letterboxd: 4.2
Centered across the lifetime of Chiron, Moonlightchecks in with the youth all through three necessary levels of his life: childhood, adolescence, and early grownup years. As Chiron struggles to return to phrases along with his id and sexuality as he grows older, he displays on those that have helped him as he tries to search out his place on this planet.
Some of the celebrated motion pictures of the 2010s, Moonlight was a stunning however in style selection for Finest Image. Its LGBTQ focus, particularly by way of the lens of African-American youth, made it a groundbreaking selection for the highest honor, particularly because it overcame the glitzy Hollywood love story La La Land in a surprising style.
Watch on Showtime
1 ‘Parasite’ (2019)
Letterboxd: 4.6
A world sensation, Parasitequickly swept the world by way of phrase of mouth and social media. The movie follows the Kim household as they wrestle to keep away from poverty. When their son will get a job tutoring the daughter of the wealthy Park household, the Kims see a chance to assimilate themselves into the Park’s life and use them for his or her cash.
The primary non-English language movie to win Finest Image, Parasite was a welcome change from the Academy’s voters. A masterwork of movie manufacturing, the film additionally took dwelling Oscars for Finest Authentic Screenplay and Finest Director for Bong Joon-ho. Additionally it is one of many highest-rated motion pictures of all time on Letterboxd.
Watch on Hulu
KEEP READING: 10 2022 Films That Deserved An Oscar Nomination for Finest Image