Despite Will Smith stealing the show by slapping Chris Rock, there are still more noteworthy things to ponder. From best actor to best movie, there are films you should see. But which one should you watch first? Here, we’ll look at the best movies to watch for winning an award in the most recent Oscar Awards 2022.
Encanto
Encanto won the Best Animated Feature, and it has become a meme in so many ways. Released in 2021, the film is about an armed conflict that forces a couple to flee their home. The attackers killed the husband, but the wife’s spells protected their three infant triplets.
The film brings new light to Disney’s failing reputation. Encanto received positive reviews from critics, with a score of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes. Most agree that the story is refreshing, as it highlights a different culture—the movie is about a Columbian family.
The film grossed a total of $251 million with a budget of $150 million. Many critics said that the animation was beautiful, like in video slots from the best casino game providers. Some said that it was spellbinding and intricate.
Encanto is also somewhat a musical, and the vice cast did justice to the film. Mirabel Madrigal, the protagonist, was voiced by Stephanie Beatriz.
The film is a little complex, and yet the creators give the audiences time to understand the development of its characters. It is set in a rich cultural background mixed with magical realism.
CODA
CODA was released in 2021, and it is a remake of the 2014 French film La Famille Bélier. It is about a child of two hearing-impaired adults who attempts to help her parents in their fishing business. At the same time, the lead character, portrayed by Emilia Hones, has aspirations to become a singer.
The film won the Best Picture Award despite having detractors. With a score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, film critics were quick to say that it is a film that is bigger than life.
The film touched the hearts of many as it showed the struggles of a deaf family. It is not only the first streaming film to win the Best Picture but also the first Sundance movie to bag the award.
The film is not one that belongs to a hallmark of fame. It is a story of love. It captures the essence of relationships, and critics are quick to point out that it is a moving piece.
King Richard
King Richard is a biopic where Will Smith won his Best Actor award. It is a story of parental challenges, and some people call it half biopic, half sports movie.
Will Smith’s role is the father of Venus and Serena Williams, two of the most gifted tennis players in the world. The movie showed him as a brash father and a control freak. All in all, it takes the audience into the journey of both his daughters and how they became athletes.
The movie premiered in 2021. It was then released in theatres and HBO Max streaming simultaneously. While not a commercial success, it earned positive reviews from critics, with an aggregated score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.
With a budget of $50 million, it only grossed $38 million. Despite this, people praised the screenplay and Will Smith’s performance, which got him the Oscar Best Actor award. It is Will Smith’s first Oscar award, but he had been nominated in the past for Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Jessica Chastain won the Best Actress in this film. She portrayed the character of Tammy Faye Bakker, an evangelist. A biographical drama, the film is based on the 2000 documentary.
The story tells the rise and fall of Tammy Faye, her marriage to Jim Bakker and how both of them rose to religious power.
Jessica Chastain is also a producer. She is known for producing feminist themes. Apart from wining the Best Actress award, she has other accolades. The most notable is the Best Actress in the Golden Globes for the film, Zero Dark Thirty.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye is about how Tammy fell in love with Jimmy Bakker. They met at the North Central Bible College in Minnesota. They married even if Tammy’s mother disapproved. She dropped out of college to preach. Eventually, she became an influential figure in the Christian community in the United States.
Her husband, Jim, was arrested for fraud. Their financial affairs were in disarray. The movie also shows Tammy’s support for LGBTQ until her death in 2007.
Drive My Car
Drive My Car won the Best International Film Feature. It is a Japanese drama-road film that got a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is about the story of Kafuku, a man struggling to cope with the death of his wife, Oto.
In the movie, Kafuku receives an offer to direct a film two years after the death of his wife. It is in this phase of his life that he meets Toko, a woman who is to be his companion in his new project.
As the movie comes to full production, tensions rise between the actors and the other crew members. Kafuku now has to face some truths about things that his wife did in the past. The movie’s general theme is that of a journey to love, losing it and coming to terms with it.
