Be honest, how many of this year’s Oscar nominated films have you seen? One, maybe two? You’ve been re-watching Seinfeld from the start again, haven’t you?
With the running time of the average Award-nominated film clocking in around two-and-a-half-hours, we don’t blame you. But it's worth clearing some space in your box-watching diary, as there are some great films vying for the little golden lad this year.
With that in mind, here’s how – and where – to watch every Best Picture nominee ahead of the ceremony, which starts at just after midnight UK time on Monday 13 March. Give ‘em a watch, for how else will you join in on ~ the discourse ~ after the big night?
All Quiet On The Western Front
It’s harrowing, yes, but by god it’s good. This adaptation of the 1929 novel of the same name – in which we follow 17-year-old German boy Paul to the frontline horrors of World War I – cleared the board at the recent BAFTA awards and has even been dubbed as “making a strong case for being the finest First World War film to date.”
What’s Esquire’s take on it? “The film – directed by Edward Berger – warrants all the accolades: the cinematography is seismic… while the lead actor, Felix Kammerer, making his screen debut with such a staggering performance is also rightly headline-making.”
Where can I watch it? On Netflix, as they proudly trumpeted at the beginning of award season. A Netflix subscription starts from £6.99 a month.
Aftersun
This quietly devastating, nostalgia-tinged tale of a trip a single father Calum (played with understated power by Paul Mescal) takes with his daughter, Sophie (Frankie Corio) was seen as a bit of a surprise addition to the Best Picture list; well, to all of those who hadn’t watched watched director Charlotte Wells’ highly affecting debut.
What’s Esquire’s take on it? “What’s important is that Wells knows there’s nothing more visceral than a holiday memory… These details draw an audience in close, and show how Sophie is still trying to make sense of this week-long stay many years later. Fittingly, the film mostly lets you draw your own conclusions about Calum and Sophie’s lives.”
Where can I watch it? Mubi, Amazon Prime Video – there is a 30-day free trial available here – or rent from Curzon.
Avatar: The Way Of Water
It might have been 13 years in the making, but James Cameron was right to keep on plugging his sequel tale of the blue folk: it’s now the third-highest grossing film of all-time.
What’s Esquire’s take on it? “It’s very much three hours and 12 minutes long, but its charm is in the way it really means what it’s saying: don’t destroy your environment, and don’t accept the idea that everything is going to shit.”
Where can I watch it? It’s not available on Disney+... yet, it’s expected to arrive on the streamer at the end of the year - so at the cinema is the only option for now.
The Banshees Of Inisherin
What a joy it is to see Colin Farrell back in his rightful place on the awards circuit, as more than anything, he brings some much-needed humour to the often stuffy events. This already award-winning film (Baftas and Golden Globes) film follows Colm (Brendan Gleeson), who tries to ditch his mate Pádraic (Farrell), but Pádraic just can’t – or isn’t willing – to take the news onboard.
What’s Esquire’s take on it? “The Banshees of Inisherin is a genius Irish comedy blacker than a badly poured pint of Guinness. A hilarious and occasionally horrifying study of the male ego and Not Talking. It’s also, given the time period, location and meticulous work of the costume department, a great film for menswear.”
Where can I watch it? It’s on Disney+ right now, but as they no longer run a 7-day-free trial, you’re looking at £7.99 for a month’s subscription.
Elvis
Austin Butler triumphed as the swivel-hipped King – and even adopted his trademark drawl IRL – in this all-singing, all-dancing Baz Luhrmann production of the life and times of Elvis.
What’s Esquire’s take on it? “Elvis is characteristically overwhelming and maddening and exciting… what Luhrmann sets out to do, and what he accomplishes so thrillingly, is to make the shock of Elvis once again fresh.”
Where can I watch it? Rent it on Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Is it a superhero movie? Or a family drama? Or surrealistic flight of fancy? It’s likely that even the directors The Daniels had issues in summing up EEAAO in an elevator pitch, but whatever alchemy they dreamt-up for this Michelle Yeoh-fronted genre-bending wild ride, it worked: just count the many, many awards it’s already racked up.
What’s Esquire’s take on it? “The storyline is whacky, sure – Chinese immigrant Evelyn Wang (Yeoh) stumbles upon the multiverse during a fractious IRS session – but it has very well-worn themes at its manic, kaleidoscopic heart: family, regret, love’s ability to overcome.”
Where can I watch it? First stop is Amazon Prime Video, where you can watch it for free, if you get a 30-day free trial. Otherwise be prepared to put your hand in your pocket and rent from Apple TV or Google Play.
The Fabelmans
Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film was always going to be a contender for the industry execs' movie of choice. It tells the story of Steven Sammy (newcomer Gabriel LaBelle) and how his love for filmmaking is sparked living in 1950’s America, and how that plays out among his family.
What’s Esquire’s take on it? “The more Spielberg draws you into this semi-autobiographical adolescence, the more alienating it becomes. It doesn’t help that Williams, a very fine actor and ostensible heart of this story, acts as if she is in a completely different film, spinning about making declarations about art, buying monkeys, longing after Seth Rogen.”
Where can I watch it? It’s only available at cinemas at the moment.
Tár
As per the much-memed Ariana DeBose Bafta rap: “Blanchett, Cate, you're a genius.” She’s not lying: Blanchett puts in a total star turn as Lydia Tár, a highly-strung divisive conductor, in this film that documents her fraught fall from grace.
What’s Esquire’s take on it? “Tár is a satire of the high-minded cultural elite — and a very amusing one. Confirmation that at least some of the film’s excellence is situated in its mirroring effect: you see what you want to see in it, even if the only thing you see is yourself.”
Where can I watch it? It’s available to stream at £15.99 at various prices from Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Top Gun: Maverick
It was another long-time-coming moment for this sequel – almost 40 years, in fact – as Tom Cruise trained a new band of elite pilots ready for all-new missions.
What’s Esquire’s take on it? “Top Gun: Maverick is a big, loud, knowingly ridiculous sequel that will have you air-punching your way out of the multiplex (at the screening I attended there were multiple bouts of spontaneous whooping).”
Where can I watch it? It’s available for rent at Paramount Plus, or cop a free watch by signing up for a free trial with Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.
Triangle Of Sadness
Another timely take-down of the one-percenters? Why not. This mainly luxury-boat based social satire – directed by Ruben Östlund – won the Palme D’Or at Cannes, and could be a leftfield contender for success again at the Oscars.
What’s Esquire’s take on it? “Maybe Östlund’s argument is that all that subtle skewering – the observation of insidious mannerisms and blithe hypocrisies, as seen is The White Lotus, or Succession, or even his own 2017 art world satire, The Square – is not really doing the trick…In Triangle of Sadness, he doesn’t posit eating the rich so much as eviscerating them in the most disgusting of ways.”
Where can I watch it? A free trial to Amazon Prime Video will secure a viewing, elsewhere it’s available at Apple TV, Google Play and Curzon.
The Whale
Brendan Fraser’s ‘I’m going all out for an Oscar” role has both seen him in receipt of a standing ovation at film festival screening and calls of fatphobia. This controversial film, which sees Fraser – in a fat suit – play a morbidly obese teacher trying to reconnect with his daughter, has split critics.
What’s Esquire’s take on it? “This film marks a return to movies following years in the Hollywood wilderness after Fraser called out the industry for its permissive culture of sexual harassment.”
Where can I watch it? As it was only released on February 3, the cinemas are still the only place to watch this film.
Women Talking
Rounding off the Best Picture list is another harrowing and brutal story, focusing on a group of Mennonite women who are drugged and raped by the men in their community. Starring Rooney Mara, Claire Foy and Frances McDormand, this movie has picked up accolades at film festivals all over the globe.
What’s Esquire’s take on it? As yet unreviewed.
Where can I watch it? Again, as it’s only just been released, you’ll need to head to the cinema.
