2025 Oscars Showdown: Meet the 12 Unforgettable Contenders for Best Picture!
What happens when an escort decides to play the high-stakes game with the son of an oligarch? It’s a plot thickening like a rich sauce that’s been simmering for hours, but then, enter the gangsters, turning our melodrama into a deliciously twisted thriller. Reason to Believe: Three of the last four Palme d’Or winners have waltzed their way into the Best Picture cut for Neon, with one even snatching a golden statue (yes, I’m looking at you, Parasite). Reason to Doubt: Will indie darling Baker and his wonderfully weird vision be a bit too avant-garde for the more traditional voters sipping their lattes? Who can say?
Next up, we meet a single mother desperately trying to find her son in the Blitz-era London—the kind of scenario that’s enough to put even the most stoic heart into a tailspin. Reason to Believe: The period cred is palpable, thanks to the director Steve McQueen, a past Oscar darling you can trust with your most sensitive emotions. Reason to Doubt: But let’s not forget the specter of war films that have that tendency of landing with a soft thud, like a poorly executed soufflé—think Saving Private Ryan, Dunkirk, and 1917.
Then there's the architect who bravely escapes the Holocaust, journeying across the pond to live an epic life—no small feat, my friend. Reason to Believe: This sweeping vision clocks in at over three hours, a banquet of storytelling for those with an appetite for depth. Reason to Doubt: But let’s face it, could a three-hour epic run the risk of being a buffet that leaves you feeling a little too full?
Now we diverge into the realm of music, where Bob Dylan plugs in at Newport—a glorious historical moment cloaked in the essence of rock and folk tension. Reason to Believe: After his symphonic sprint with Ford v Ferrari, Mangold seems poised to cross that finish line, while Timothée Chalamet struts forth as an icon. Reason to Doubt: Yet, I ask—will that rock-folk tension feel weighty enough in the year 2024, or will it evaporate like morning mist?
And what’s this? A pope passes on to the great beyond, and the contenders for the throne come rushing in, eagerly maneuvering in their serious attire. Reason to Believe: Oh, the delicious fun wrapped up in the solemnity! Reason to Doubt: But really, how serious can we get without tipping into melodrama?
The saga continues as Paul Atreides sets forth on new adventures, forming unions and waging war as though he’s re-enacting a grand game of chess. Reason to Believe: The franchise and the director have been galloping ahead with momentum, but let’s not ignore the possibility that distant-planet epics released in March could just as easily fade from memory like last week’s leftovers.
Ah, the Spanish-language cartel thriller that also dabbles in trans-themed family drama with a musical twist. Reason to Believe: The audacity and topical relevance can’t be denied, but Reason to Doubt: are we still seeing voters rebuff the 'Never-Netflix' titles?
Rewind to a grown-up Lucius returning to Rome, ready to gladiate and sprinkle nostalgia all around like confetti at a bachelor party. Reason to Believe: There’s a sweet nostalgia for the radiant days of Roman glory mingled with the golden age of studio epics. Reason to Doubt: But hasn’t that ground been trodden before? Didn’t we collectively yawn our way through this back in 2001?
Meanwhile, the political strife in repressive Iran shreds a family apart, a poignant tableau that draws in the viewer like a moth to a flame. Reason to Believe: With guidance from a director who fled Iran clutching his film, the geopolitical resonance is potent. Reason to Doubt: However, let’s not kid ourselves—long foreign-language dramas rarely find their way to Best Picture glory, no matter how moving they may be.
Now, picture a day in Munich during the 1972 Olympics, set in an ABC News control room. Reason to Believe: There’s a palpable Sorkin-esque urgency here, beckoning the audience to pay close attention. Reason to Doubt: But global indies tend to flounder in the murky waters of anonymity, particularly when the Israeli-Palestinian backdrop looms large.
And in the whimsical world of witches, Elphaba and Glinda embark on their journeys. Reason to Believe: Is it Cats or is it Chicago? Reason to Doubt: Honestly, can one tell these days?
Finally, Roz the Robot lands on an animal island and embarks on a quest to uncover the essence of feeling. Reason to Believe: Now here’s an AI movie that’s not just a soulless machine; it’s heartfelt and accessible—it has already charmed audiences after all. Reason to Doubt: You May Like: