10. The Shape of Water- I actively disliked this movie. Left the theater wondering WTF I just sat through. Spoiler alert- the mute chick fcks a fish man. What should have won: Literally anything else.
9. Green Book- Thoroughly mediocre. I believe it was awarded as a safe, middle of the road reaction following The Shape of Water being so fucking weird the year before. Also, just kind of a bad year for Best Picture nominees. I mean, they nominated Bohemian Rhapsody, FFS. What should have won: Roma? ... I guess? Maybe The Favourite?
8. Nomadland- Carried by Frances McDormand being a really good actress. The story itself is thoroughly mediocre. What should have won: Promising Young Woman
7. Anora- I'm still surprised this actually won. It's entertaining, but not particularly memorable. At least it wasn't Emilia Perez, which was memorable for being even worse than The Shape of Water. What should have won: Dune Part 2
6. CODA- Perfectly cromulent Best Picture-y type movie in another bad year for Best Pictures. What should have won: CODA
5. Moonlight- Very good movie in an excellent year for Best Picture nominees. Half of the list from 2016 could win Best Picture in most other years. What should have won: La La Land. Arrival was also fantastic.
4. Spotlight- Captivating story. Brilliantly written and acted. Another great year for Best Pictures. What should have won: Mad Max Fury Road, because I'm a child at heart.
3. Oppenheimer: Not Nolan's best, but it's right up my alley for subject matter. What should have won: Probably Oppenheimer, though The Holdovers was a damn delight.
2. Everything Everywhere All at Once: I loved this weird ass movie, but I also appreciate absurdity. Somehow incredibly touching while being bonkers. What should have won: Everything Everywhere All at Once
1. Parasite: The best movie of the last 10 years. Not gonna lie, I was drifting a bit in the first half of it wondering where they were going. Then it turns into the most gripping hour of movie watching in recent memory. What should have won: Parasite, though 1917 was also excellent. "the sum value of my outfit will always be higher than yours."
I liked Shape of Water way more than I expected to
that's not saying, though, it deserved Best Picture, or that it's some all-timer.
I didn't see CODA, as it just seems pointless and one of those that won so the Academy could pat itself on the back for being inclusive.
Still need to see Anora.
I'd go Parasite, then Opponheimer and Spotlight.
The rest are not overly memorable, though while Green Book was another case of the Academy patting itself on the back, I watched it on a flight and actually enjoyed it. Is it Best Pic worthy? probably not
I remember seeing a trailer for The Shape of Water...
...thinking it was the stupidest looking movie I'd ever seen... and then being stupefied by it being an Oscar nominee...You hear me talking, hillbilly boy?
It wasn't Del Toro's best but I always loved his aesthetic. Nightmare Alley and Frankenstein were
10. The Shape of Water- I actively disliked this movie. Left the theater wondering WTF I just sat through. Spoiler alert- the mute chick fcks a fish man. What should have won: Literally anything else.
9. Green Book- Thoroughly mediocre. I believe it was awarded as a safe, middle of the road reaction following The Shape of Water being so fucking weird the year before. Also, just kind of a bad year for Best Picture nominees. I mean, they nominated Bohemian Rhapsody, FFS. What should have won: Roma? ... I guess? Maybe The Favourite?
8. Nomadland- Carried by Frances McDormand being a really good actress. The story itself is thoroughly mediocre. What should have won: Promising Young Woman
7. Anora- I'm still surprised this actually won. It's entertaining, but not particularly memorable. At least it wasn't Emilia Perez, which was memorable for being even worse than The Shape of Water. What should have won: Dune Part 2
6. CODA- Perfectly cromulent Best Picture-y type movie in another bad year for Best Pictures. What should have won: CODA
5. Moonlight- Very good movie in an excellent year for Best Picture nominees. Half of the list from 2016 could win Best Picture in most other years. What should have won: La La Land. Arrival was also fantastic.
4. Spotlight- Captivating story. Brilliantly written and acted. Another great year for Best Pictures. What should have won: Mad Max Fury Road, because I'm a child at heart.
3. Oppenheimer: Not Nolan's best, but it's right up my alley for subject matter. What should have won: Probably Oppenheimer, though The Holdovers was a damn delight.
2. Everything Everywhere All at Once: I loved this weird ass movie, but I also appreciate absurdity. Somehow incredibly touching while being bonkers. What should have won: Everything Everywhere All at Once
1. Parasite: The best movie of the last 10 years. Not gonna lie, I was drifting a bit in the first half of it wondering where they were going. Then it turns into the most gripping hour of movie watching in recent memory. What should have won: Parasite, though 1917 was also excellent.
on January 29, 2026, 13:12:20
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