We haven’t had a great anti-war film in years—this WWI piece comes just as timely in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and is as technically accomplished and emotionally involving as some of the finest entries of the genre.
As per tradition, here are my predictions for the Oscars 2023!
WW: Will Win
DH: Dark Horse
Prediction Results: 19/23 (21/23 if including dark horses)
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The Daniels’ wacky vision of a ‘multiverse’ action-comedy somewhat revels in its outlandish excess, and is blessed with a cast (headlined by a superb Michelle Yeoh) pretty much game to realise it to its fullest potential.
An antecedent to the likes of ‘Tenet‘, this low-budget cult sci-fi sensation about two engineers who discover that they can manipulate time feels so raw and indecipherable that it could just be paralyzingly real.
Sandrine Bonnaire announces herself as one of French cinema’s most compelling actresses in what could be one of Pialat’s most beloved works, which charts the sexual awakening of a teenage girl living with her dysfunctional family.
The second film of Inarritu’s ‘hyperlink’ trilogy may occasionally feel overwrought by design, but the top-tier performances from Naomi Watts, Sean Penn and Benicio Del Toro give it the requisite emotional intensity to work.
Arguably the Czech New Wave’s most fiercely anarchic entry, this experimental cult film’s wild portrayal of two young women’s decision to give the middle finger to authoritarianism and the patriarchy remains as effective as ever.
De Sica is in a more commercial mode here before he caught the neorealist bug as he tells a largely compelling story of rivalry and friendship in a convent for girls, with a bout of action as nationalist politics get in the way.
Escalante’s sophomore feature is slow and deliberate, yet extremely exacting in what it wants to do, which is to portray with docu-style authenticity one day in the life of two illegal Mexican labourers, with shocking results.
The strong bond between two young boys is tested in Dhont’s nuanced if straightforward sophomore feature about the nature of guilt and responsibility, boasting naturally affecting performances.
Eternality Tan 