A Run-down Of The Likely Best Picture Oscar 2021 Contenders: Who Will Make The Cut?
The 93rd Academy Awards have a new date. Thanks to the pandemic, the award ceremony has now been postponed by another two months and are now scheduled for April 25, 2021. With major film festivals like Toronto, Venice and Telluride wrapped up for the season, the guessing game has begun. From Best Picture for Oscars 2021 to Best Actor, Best Actress, Writing, Direction — all categories have some serious contenders this year.
1) Nomadland ((Director – Chloe Zhao)
It’s a foregone conclusion that Nomadland will definitely make the cut among the nine films to be picked by the Academy. With top prizes at Toronto and Venice under its belt, the chances of the film sweeping the Best Picture Oscar 2021 are extremely high. Directed by Chloe Zhao, Nomadland is based on a book by Jessica Bruder titled Surviving America in the Twenty First Century.
Watch: NOMADLAND | Official Teaser Trailer | Searchlight Pictures
The film has Francis McDormand in the lead and talks about a woman who leaves her small town to travel around America’s Midwest after the 2008 economic crisis in the United States. With a filmmaking style evocative of Terrence Mallick, director Chloe Zhao’s film has received universal acclaim. By the time her next movie, Marvel Studios’ ambitious project Eternals’ hit the theatres, Zaho would certainly be an Oscar nominee.
2) One Night in Miami (Director – Regina King)
One Night in Miami is helmed by Academy Award winner Regina King. The film is based on a play by Kemps Power and premised on a fictional situation when Malcolm X, Cassius Clay, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke met at a Miami hotel after Cassius Clay (later Mohammad Ali) defeated Sonny Liston in a bout in February 1964.
Watch: One Night in Miami… | First Look Clip | Amazon Prime
The film boasts some powerful performances and its certain that the male acting categories will receive nominations for this film. At Toronto, the film was trumped by Nomadland and was the runner-up.
3) The Father (Director – Florian Zeller)
It’s certain that both Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins will land acting nominations at the 93rd edition of the Academy Awards, but apart from acting the film is also expected to land Best Film nomination.
The film has old age and dementia at its core and talks mainly from the sufferer’s point of view. The plot revolves around Anthony Hopkins whose memory loss forces him to refuse assistance from his daughter played by Olivia Colman.
4) I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Director – Charlie Kaufman)
I’m Thinking of Ending Things was recently premiered on Netflix. This film by Charlie Kaufman took no time in hogging news columns. The plot revolves around a young woman who takes the journey to her parent’s secluded farm along with her boyfriend. Once at the farm, things slowly begin to unravel which forces the girl to rethink about her choice. Having written films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Being John Malkovich and Confession of a Dangerous Mind, Kaufman’s work has always been keenly awaited in Hollywood. Netflix can feel reassured of a Best Film nomination thanks to I’m Thinking of Ending Things.
Watch: I’m Thinking of Ending Things | A film by Charlie Kaufman | Official Trailer | Netflix
5) Da 5 Blood (Director – Spike Lee)
Da 5 Bloods from Spike Lee received universal acclaim when it was premiered on Netflix in June. It is believed that the story of four African American Vietnam war veterans will compel Academy members once again to consider Spike Lee’s tribute to Apocalypse Now and Platoon for Best Film nomination after BlacKkKlansman. A short and powerful performance by late Chadwick Bosman in the film too should tilt the tidings in Da 5 Bloods favour.
6) Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Director – Eliza Hittman)
NRSA made waves at Berlin, The Sundance Film Festival and even received the honor of Silver Berlin Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. With an approval rating of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, this film has all the potential to gain accolades. The film revolves around two teenage girls who travel to New York after one of them accidently becomes pregnant. The film suffered a terrible fate at the box office as it was released just before the pandemic brought the world to its knees. It played in theatres for just three days before it was pulled out.
7) Ammonite (Director – Francis Lee)
Ammonite saw its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and immediately after the screening became a possible Best Film Oscar contender. The film features Kate Winslet in a powerful role missing from her repertoire. Inspired by the life of British palaeontologist Mary Anning, the film focusses on the romantic relationship she shared with Charlotte Murchison, played by another British heavyweight Saoirse Ronan.
Watch: Ammonite – Official Trailer
It is believed that On the Rocks (directed by Sofia Coppola), The Trial of the Chicago 7 (directed by Aaron Sorkin) and Mank (directed by David Fincher) are also expected to make the cut. Since these films are scheduled to release on streaming platforms in the coming weeks, the reviews are not yet out, but have a very strong buzz.
Who do you think will make the prestigious Oscar Best Picture cut in 2021?
