There’s an important piece of wisdom I want to share that Hollywood might not want you to embrace: not every film nominated for an Oscar is worth your time. This year, the Academy Awards feature 50 films competing in various categories, but let’s be honest—many of them will fade from memory by next year. While personal taste plays a significant role, I find myself particularly unsatisfied with Emilia Perez. Jacques Audiard’s muddled and vaguely transphobic musical drama trivializes serious social issues and the people affected by them, making it one of the most perplexing choices among this year’s nominations, especially given its number of nods. If you’re looking for films that are truly worthy of your attention, allow me to guide you through a selection that stands out, all but one of which (Sugarcane) are nominated for Best Picture.
The Brutalist
Adrien Brody delivers a heart-wrenching performance as visionary architect Laszlo Toth in The Brutalist (Photo: Universal Pictures/PA). If I had to recommend just one film among the 2025 nominees that you absolutely must see, it would be Brady Corbet’s stunning masterpiece about an immigrant architect navigating mid-century America. Brody’s portrayal of Lazslo Toth, a visionary whose life is upended by World War II, is powerful and unforgettable. Arriving in America with nothing but dreams of rebuilding his life and reuniting with lost family, Toth is hired by a wealthy benefactor (played by Guy Pearce) who admires his unique artistry. The film explores themes of trauma, the American experience, masculinity, ambition, and the quest for creative immortality. Yes, it runs long, but much like The Godfather, The Brutalist moves with such momentum that you might forget the time. This is a film that I’m confident will resonate for years to come.
Nickel Boys
Ethan Herisse stars as the young Elwood in Nickel Boys (Photo: Orion Pictures/Amazon). Ramell Ross’s poignant and heartbreaking adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s bestselling novel is undoubtedly one of the finest films of the past year. Its inventive use of first-person POV camera work adds a compelling layer to the storytelling. The narrative elegantly shifts between the 1960s and the 2010s, chronicling the life of a young Black boy, Elwood, played by Herisse in his youth and Daveed Diggs as an adult, who is wrongly accused of car theft and sent to a horrific segregated reform school during the Jim Crow era. His unjust punishment will haunt him for a lifetime. This film is a powerful exploration of survival, immersing the viewer in the life of a brave young man facing immense challenges.
Anora
Mikey Madison and Mark Eydelshteyn shine in Anora (Photo: Neon/AP). Directed by Sean Baker, known for Tangerine and The Florida Project, this film is a brilliant exploration of the American underbelly. Baker won the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for this thrilling tale of a wedding gone awry. Madison delivers an explosive performance as a stripper and sex worker who marries a nepo baby Russian billionaire. The first half of the film is a fast-paced screwball comedy, while the second half plunges into a surreal, nightmarish quest through the underbelly of Brooklyn in search of an annulment. Anora is a beautifully crafted piece of original filmmaking.
Conclave
The stellar cast of Conclave includes Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci (Photo: Focus Features). From German director Edward Berger comes this tightly woven adaptation exploring the secretive and often cutthroat process of electing a new pope within the Vatican. The film has garnered significant acclaim, winning Best Picture at the BAFTAs. A large part of its success can be attributed to its remarkable cast, featuring nuanced performances from Fiennes, Tucci, and John Lithgow. As conservative and liberal factions vie for influence, Conclave excels with its Machiavellian twists and turns, revealing the personal loyalties and betrayals at play. This film is a battlefield of epic proportions, and if you don’t know its final twist, hang on to your popcorn!
The Substance
In The Substance, Demi Moore delivers a memorable performance (Photo: Mubi/AP). This divisive, audacious indie body horror film directed by French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat has taken audiences by surprise. Initially a sleeper hit, its unique premise quickly gained traction through word-of-mouth and critical acclaim. The story follows Moore as a fading Hollywood actress and fitness guru whose career is stagnating. Desperate to reclaim her youth and beauty, she seeks out a bizarre treatment that promises to create a younger, more vibrant avatar (played with gusto by Margaret Qualley). However, as with many beauty fads, things take a dark turn. Experience this film for its boldness, its unapologetically crude humor, and its provocative feminist themes.
Sugarcane
Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, co-directors of the Oscar-nominated documentary Sugarcane (Photo: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP). I want to highlight a smaller film that deserves recognition among the Oscars contenders; it has received just one nomination, for Best Documentary. Sugarcane, created by indigenous filmmaker NoiseCat and investigative journalist Kassie, is a visually stunning exploration of the notorious Catholic-run residential schools forced upon indigenous children in Canada. The 2021 discovery of unmarked graves at one of these institutions sparked an international reckoning regarding the horrific abuses endured by Native communities. The filmmakers poignantly capture the pain, buried memories, and resilience of the reservation communities affected by this trauma. Notably, Sugarcane makes history as NoiseCat becomes the first North American indigenous filmmaker to receive a nomination in the Oscars’ 97-year history.
