11 main nominees for "Oscar-2021"

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Many films have six nominations, and one has all 10. You should never miss them.

1. Munk

• Original title: Mank.
• USA, 2020.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 131 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Young director Orson Welles hires famed screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman) to write the screenplay for Citizen Kane.

He, recovering from a broken leg, dictates the text to the secretary. But gradually the script is increasingly intertwined with the memories of Mankiewicz himself, who once communicated with the media mogul William Randolph Hirst, the prototype of the protagonist.

Munk is David Fincher's dream project. The script for the picture was written by his father, and the director tried for many years to transfer the story to the screens. And he basically wanted to shoot "Monka" in black and white, imitating the style of "Citizen Kane" himself. The studios have been abandoning an expensive and risky project for a long time. He was saved by the streaming service Netflix, which gave the author complete creative freedom.

2. Land of nomads

• Original title: Nomadland.
• USA, Germany, 2020.
• Drama.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

After her husband's death and job loss, 60-year-old Fern (Frances McDormand) buys a mobile home and embarks on an endless journey across the United States. On the way, she meets many other nomads, learns to survive, sometimes moonlights to support herself. But most importantly, she begins to perceive life in a new way.

The idea for the film was suggested by Francis McDormand herself after reading Jessica Bruder's non-fiction book The Land of the Nomads: Surviving the America of the 21st Century. The actress not only played the main role, but also produced the film.

Chloe Zhao was invited to the post of director, who perfectly knows how to combine an elegant picture with stories about real people. It is important that most of the minor roles in "Land of the Nomads" were played by the real inhabitants of RVs.

3. The trial of the Chicago seven

• Original title: The Trial of the Chicago 7.
• USA, UK, India, 2020.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 129 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

In 1968, during the convention of the US Democratic Party in Chicago, protests flared up. Young people demand democratic reforms and an end to the Vietnam War. It comes to clashes with the police, in which dozens of participants from both sides are injured. Seven leaders of youth groups are accused of organizing the riots. Together with them, one of the leaders of the black radicals falls into the dock.

Legendary screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, Steve Jobs) dreamed up the story based on true events back in 2007. Initially, he had no plans to direct the film himself. However, it was his directing that made it possible to turn the picture about the trial into an exciting thriller.

The Chicago Seven Trial is mostly based on dialogues, but everything is presented very emotionally. And the topic of protests is relevant now in many countries of the world.

4. Minari

• Original title: Minari.
• USA, 2020.
• Drama.
• Duration: 115 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

A family of Korean expatriates moves to provincial Arkansas. Father Jacob dreams of becoming a farmer and growing food for the national cuisine. However, he has to face difficulties over and over again. All this is overseen by his young son David, who has a serious heart disease.

Director and screenwriter Lee Isaac Chun has brought many memories of his childhood into Minari. That is why the film came out so touching. It is equally important that the picture does not focus only on the problems of migrants. This is a story about the importance of family ties and finding your place in the world.

5. Father

• Original title: The Father.
• UK, France, 2020.
• Drama.
• Duration: 97 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Elderly Anthony (Anthony Hopkins) lives alone in London. His daughter (Olivia Colman) plans to move with her fiancé to France, so she is looking for a nurse for her father. But the quarrelsome Anthony scares away all the workers, because he is sure that he will cope with everything on his own. In fact, the old man is progressing dementia and he does not even always recognize his own daughter.

Florian Zeller's debut feature film is based on his theatrical play. Therefore, the picture turned out to be very intimate: almost all the action takes place in one house. But it is precisely this approach that fully reveals the talent of Anthony Hopkins, who perfectly plays an elderly man who does not want to admit his problems.

And more importantly, "Father" allows you not only to see, but literally feel the problem of dementia, forcing the viewer to get lost together with the main character.

6. The sound of metal

• Original title: Sound of Metal.
• USA, Belgium, 2019.
• Drama, musical.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Ruben (Reese Ahmed) plays drums in a heavy metal band. One day he realizes that he is beginning to lose his hearing. Ruben's condition keeps getting worse, and he goes to a rural shelter for the deaf, where he tries to get used to a new life and find money for implants.

Darius Marder, who directed this film, was previously known only as the writer of Places Beyond the Pines. But his debut in directing feature films turned out to be the most successful.

The film does not go into excessive sentimentality, but simply allows you to observe and feel the experiences of the protagonist. Even the sound in the painting is structured to convey Ruben's feelings. For Riz Ahmed, this emotional role has proven to be one of the most powerful in his career.

7. Judas and the black messiah

• Original title: Judas and the Black Messiah.
• USA, 2021.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 126 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

William O'Neill trades in carjacking with fake FBI IDs in 1960s Chicago. Caught in the hands of the authorities, he agrees to infiltrate the ranks of the "Black Panthers" and get into the credibility of the leader of the organization, Fred Hampton. At this time, he is trying to unite local groups into a general coalition.

This picture is based on a story that actually took place. Moreover, in the finale, the authors even insert real chronicles, showing what happened after the events of the film. Most critics and viewers note that Daniel Kaluuya, who plays Fred Hampton, is drawing all the attention. Therefore, he was noted with nominations for many awards.

8. A promising girl

• Original title: Promising Young Woman.
• UK, USA, 2020.
• Drama, thriller, crime.
• Duration: 113 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Cassandra (Carey Mulligan) is 30 years old, but she works in a coffee shop and lives with her parents in a teenager's room. In the evenings, the girl goes to clubs, where she pretends to be drunk. Everything in order to catch the next man who will try to take advantage of her, and forever discourage him from this habit. But then it begins to seem to her that life could be different.

The screenwriter of the series "Killing Eve" Emirald Fennell surprisingly combined different genres in her film. Visually, the picture is built in the spirit of retrocino: the heroine listens to Britney Spears and writes notes in her diary. But behind the bright surroundings, there is a dark drama about the self-destruction and trauma of youth.

9. Ma Rainey: Mother of the Blues

• Original title: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.
• USA, 2020.
• Drama, biography, musical.
• Duration: 94 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

On a hot day in 1927, the famous blues singer Ma Rainey arrives at a Chicago studio to record her songs. There are experienced and responsible musicians in her group. However, a young, determined trumpet player Levy joined the team. He even wrote his own arrangement for the song Black Bottom. But Ma Rainey wants to do everything his own way, and there is no room for Levi's ambitions.

The chamber film dedicated to the legendary singer tells about just one day in the life of Ma Reini. This makes the picture simple and understandable, but at the same time eventful, since a real tragedy unfolds against the background of the recording. In fact, the trumpet player is even more important for the plot than the performer herself.

Levy is widely recognized as the best role for Chadwick Boseman. Alas, all nominations and awards are awarded to him posthumously. In August 2020, the actor died of cancer.

10. Soul

• Original title: Soul.
• USA, 2020.
• Fantasy, comedy, musical.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 1.

Joe Gardner dreamed of becoming a pianist all his life, but ended up working as a part-time teacher at school. One day the hero has a chance to become a member of a jazz group. After a successful audition, he hurries to get his concert costume and falls through the hatch.

On the brink of life and death, Joe finds himself in a world where souls are preparing to be sent to Earth. He is in a hurry to return to his body, but for this he must motivate soul number 22 to choose its destination.

The gorgeous Pixar cartoon is Pete Docter's return to directing (Up, Puzzle). The new creation combines carefully crafted visuals, a touching storyline and an excellent soundtrack.

Several musicians worked on the latter: the jazz part was performed by John Baptiste, and the Oscar-winning Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross worked on the sounds of the other world. By the way, they also wrote the music for "Monk" and were nominated for both films.

Review of the cartoon?

You will cry, but you will want to live. Why Pixar's Soul is worth seeing for everyone

11. One more

• Original title: Druk.
• Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, 2020.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Four friends teaching at Copenhagen High School gather at a restaurant. One of them tells the theory that a person needs a small dose of alcohol every day to be happy. Then the comrades decide to conduct an experiment: they drink every day and observe how it affects their lives.

Surprisingly, the film by Thomas Winterberg (director of "The Hunt"), with a very controversial topic, does not turn into anti-alcohol propaganda. Each of the heroes has their own problems - the experiment only accelerates and aggravates their development. And of course, everyone appreciated Mads Mikkelsen's excellent acting, and especially his final dance.

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