A demonic foray into African-American blues, an eccentric thriller about extremist tendencies in the United States, a Shakespearean tragedy: the 98th edition of the Oscars is worth watching, notes France Presse.
Here are the ten feature films in competition for the statuette that will be awarded on Sunday night to the best film
“Bugonia”
With “Bugonia”, Yorgos Lanthimos, known for films like “Poor Things” or “The Favourite” applies his sarcastic and absurd humor to the conspiracy sphere.
Teddy, played by Jesse Plemons, is convinced that Michelle, the head of a large pharmaceutical company played by Emma Stone, is an evil alien. He convinces his naive cousin to kidnap her to save the planet.
Could his madness be justified? And why does this fanatic inspire so much compassion?
The film keeps the viewer on their toes until a bloody crazy ending. Apparently a little too much for the Academy, as “Bugonia” does not appear to have a chance at the prize, according to AFP.
“F1, The Movie”
The Academy likes to nominate one or two blockbusters each year to honor these big-spending movies that bankroll Hollywood's cutting-edge craftsmanship.
Directed by the filmmaker behind “Top Gun: Maverick,” “F1, The Movie” secured a spot on this year's Oscar nominations list over “Avatar.”
Starring Brad Pitt in the role of a rebel veteran pilot, the plot follows an established pattern, wrapped in a soundtrack worthy of the grand circuits.
Despite the 630 million dollars collected by the film at the box office, the podium of the Oscars seems unattainable.
“Frankenstein”
It is a project of the soul, carried on for decades by Guillermo del Toro, director already covered by Oscars for “The Shape of Water” and “Pinocchio”.
Acclaimed by the Academy, the Mexican filmmaker earns another nomination despite mixed reviews of his latest film.
The masterful costumes, make-up and sets will almost certainly win it an Oscar in the technical categories, but probably not the title of best picture.
“Hamnet”
Based on a novel that depicts the bleak, plague-ravaged lives of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, this film by Chloe Zhao – already an Oscar winner for “Nomadland” – is a heart-wrenching tragedy, sumptuously shot.
It won the grand prize at the Toronto Film Festival. But more than 25 years after “Shakespeare in Love” won the Oscar for best picture, this new take on the British playwright's life isn't starting as a favorite.
“Marty Supreme”
A story loosely inspired by the life of an American table tennis champion, “Marty Supreme” is based entirely on Timothée Chalamet's performance as the cocky athlete.
The film's chances at the Oscars suffer because of this.
The French-American actor may still win the statuette for best actor, despite the recent controversy generated by his statements about opera and ballet. But the film, for its part, has little chance of claiming the ultimate title.
“One Battle After Another”
Paul Thomas Anderson's madcap thriller, which follows the adventures of a former revolutionary destroyed by drugs and alcohol, forced to come together to save his daughter from the clutches of a white supremacist, is the big favorite.
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, with Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro in posh supporting roles, this film about extremist deviance in the United States resonates with today's polarized America.
It has won almost every major award since January.
“Sentimental Value”
Danish-Norwegian director Joachim Trier had already been nominated for the Oscar for best international film with his romantic drama “Julie (in 12 chapters)”.
Now it competes for the top prize thanks to the film “Sentimental Value”, a production with the same leading actress, Renate Reinsve, and a touch of Hollywood glamor thanks to the American Elle Fanning.
A meta-film about the life of a filmmaker and its repercussions on family, this production makes a strong case for Best International Film, but its subject matter remains perhaps too niche and introspective for the Best Picture Oscar.
“Sinners”
This daring film, an ode to black identity where blues melancholy and vampires create a story of America's wounds, makes a spectacular comeback and could very well win the ultimate Oscar.
A hybrid work signed by Ryan Coogler, “Sinners” navigates between historical thriller, horror film and musical. It collected $370 million at the worldwide box office, a performance that crowns a risky creative bet.
Michael B. Jordan stars as twin mobsters who return to their home Mississippi, marked by segregation in the 1930s. They dream of opening a speakeasy, but run into supernatural forces.
Can this feature overcome the Academy's disdain for horror films? Suspense.
“The Secret Agent”
Winning the award for best foreign film would give Brazil its second straight Oscar, following last year's “I'm Still Here.”
Like its predecessor, “The Secret Agent” is set in the country's 1970s military dictatorship. In an oppressive atmosphere, this thriller recounts the disarming ease with which an industrialist can put a price on the head of an academic he has set his sights on.
Is it enough to also claim the Best Picture Oscar? Probably not.
“Train Dreams”
A fascinating insight into the colonization of the American Northwest, anchored in a tragic story, is the little one in the ceremony.
This independent film was selected for the Sundance festival before being bought by Netflix and propelled into the Oscar race. His nomination is already a victory.
By the time we find out what the best movie of last year will be, according to the American Academy, the anti-Oscars, i.e. the Golden Raspberry Awards, have already decided it was the worst movie of 2025.
