Oscars: Your Best Picture cheatsheet

It could be the most difficult decision since the inception of the Academy Awards. From heartbreak to fairytale romance and funny, dark murder investigations, the nine contenders for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards are all already winners in the eyes of moviegoers.

Here is a brief summary of all the films in the running:

The shape of water

Is it bestiality or a display of the phenomenon of love? The Shape of Water shows you that love conquers everything. Sally Hawkins plays a cleaning lady tasked to clean a room in a high security government facility which captured a creature possessing abilities unheard-of. Unable to extract these abilities and scared of the possibility that it might favour the opposition, officials set out to kill the animal. The leading lady, Elisa a mute and living a highly isolated life goes beyond to continue their affair and conspires a plan to steal it.

This move, truly a feast for the eyes, shows the unwavering effort needed to walk outside the lines as prescribed by society. Her drive and stamina can be contextualise in any circumstances which makes the movie relatable. One of the favourites to take home an Oscar.

Call me by your name

The judges might not be in favour of another story of a young boy falling in love with an older man. The story is not new, nor is there a new spin except perhaps the two living happily ever after. It’s the standard coming-of-age story, with Elio figuring out whether he loves the opposite sex or prefers men. What could be argued as ‘never-seen-before’ is Armie Hammer’s stunning performance. He is a doctoral student working as intern for the Elio’s father. Stunned by his appeal and confidence Elio engages in a relationship with him.

The Post

It is one of Meryl Streep’s best. The unappreciated power of a woman comes to the fore in this truly nail-biting film about the battle for press freedom. It takes us back to the Pentagon Papers and the behind-the-scene story of The Washington Post and the events leading up to the biggest breech in government intelligence for decades to come. Streep takes over the publication after her husband’s death which was given to him by her father. Overlooked by her father, she struggles to be heard and taken seriously until the Pentagon Paper leak. She is confronted with difficult decisions and a group of men waiting for her to fail. Streep’s character addresses patriarchy in a way that’s inspiring. It is a given that this Steven Spielberg spectacular is a top contender.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

A mother struggling to come to terms with the brutal killing of her daughter launches a campaign to create awareness about the incompetence of their local police. Frances McDorman, portrays a fierce mother of two from Missouri, shows the pain experienced when a parent has to bury their child in a way never seen before. Unaware of the degree of her son’s grief and the police chief’s fatal illness she erects three billboards outside Ebbing along a deserted road to plead an arrest in the case. The billboards caused much distress in the small town but she remain adamant that she wanted someone to pay for rapping, killing and setting her daughter alight after she refused to borrow the car.

To be honest the storyline is overdone; society hears everyday about a brutal killing. However, the script and acting seen McDorman, Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson is close to perfection.

Get out

Director Jordan Peele captures those events in life which still gives a chill down the spine. This movie grapples with extreme race relations. It takes you a while to understand the satire in this thriller. The boyfriend in an interatrial relationship played by Daniel Kaluuya meets the parents but discovers disturbing facts about her parents. It is weird (probably cause it’s never been done) but credit has to be given where its due to the fact that never had I ever walked out a cinema trying to comprehend what I’ve just experienced.

Lady Bird

You often get the ‘did that just happen’ in this movie. Directed and written by Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird puts much more than just a smile on the face. This kind of film, modest with no extravagant special effects is a gem because it encapsulates societal problems. The humour by Christine aka Lady Bird is worth rewinding about brings about that ugly 'cry-laugh'. On the other hand it presents the battle between rich and poor, the powerful journey of Danny discovering his sexuality and pressures from society for the everyday adolescent.

Critics have dubbed it the most overrated of the Oscars films, and I’m probably part of people perpetuating the greatness of this film but lead actress Saorise Ronon holds a film together you would want to watch multiple times.

Dunkirk

If you think you’ve seen it all, Dunkirk truly shows the horror of war. The Second World War drama shows the documented beach where thousands were killed tapped by enemy forces awaiting to be rescued. There is no outstanding monologue or tissue-moment but rather a rude awaking how what war did to nations. The renowned Christopher Noland directed a picture spectacular; your eyes won’t believe what it’s seeing. It’s powerful in the sense that its shows the complexity of war and what people would do to fight a battle seemed lost already.

Critics are against it winning. Oh, and the handsome Harry Styles is also in the film.

Darkest hour

The British war like you never seen it before. Gary Oldman completely transforms into Winston Churchill, giving his best performance to date. As Prime Minister, opposed by many Oldman gives a chilling recount of the hours leading up to Nazi Germany sweeping across Western Europe.

Oldman gives life to the great Churchill, but more importantly the defining trails he had faced deciding whether they would negotiating peace. It makes a great effort to go deeper but only showcases Oldman’s abilities and lacks truly engaging and displaying the true horror felt by those on the ground. It remains a strong contender for the Oscars.