Is 2024 the best group of best picture nominees we’ve had since the category was expanded? There’s only one way to find out.
Ever since the motion picture academy super-sized the Oscars’ best picture category up from five in 2009, there has been constant complaining about how the prestige of a nomination has been diluted, almost as if there was a collective amnesia about the scores of cringe-worthy movies that have picked up the honor over the decades.
This year, though, the grumblers went silent as Oscar voters delivered an unimpeachable best picture field, a group of 10 movies that only a self-proclaimed Scrooge could find fault with.
Is it the best group of best picture nominees we’ve had since the category was expanded? There’s one way to find out. But before we begin, a note on the rankings:
The tiers:
Absolutely: I’d be happy to re-watch this movie right now. In fact, I may even be doing so while writing this.
Sure: If I was on a flight and this was an in-flight entertainment option, I’d gladly re-watch.
Meh: If I was on a flight, I’d only re-watch if I had a lot of time to kill, like maybe on a 15-hour trip to Australia.
No: I would not re-watch this movie under any circumstances, even if I was flying to Australia and this was the only film available.
Hell no: If, given the option between re-watching this movie and my plane crashing into the side of a mountain, I would choose a quick and painless death.
And now, to the highly subjective rankings, from worst to best, with the years corresponding to when the films were released.
15. 2020: The year we didn’t go to the movies
Sure: “Nomadland,” “Sound of Metal,” “Minari,” “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Mank,” “Promising Young Woman,” “Mank,” “The Father,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
“Nomadland” is the only one of these pandemic-year movies I’ve seen on the big screen, and that was at a Rose Bowl drive-in. None of these films, save for perhaps “Nomadland,” is great, but they all have something to recommend, notably the acting. Some repertory film theater should spotlight this group with a week of programming, if only to properly see “Mank” cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt’s deep focus “Citizen Kane” hat tips.
14. 2011: The Weinstein era’s last hurrah year
Absolutely: “The Tree of Life”
Sure: “The Descendants,” “Hugo,” “Midnight in Paris,” “Moneyball”
Meh: “The Artist,” “The Help,” “War Horse”
Hell no: “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
Slight entries from Spielberg and Scorsese, plus perhaps the most insufferable movie to ever be nominated for best picture. Say what you will about “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but at least you could close your eyes and just listen to the music.
