10 Movies to Watch Before the 2021 Oscars

I grew up in a household that loves movies. Not only was a trip to the theater a time-honored event, but we also acquired racks of VHSs, then DVDs, and now streaming services (though I must admit we still enjoy our extensive DVD collection). It only made sense that I would grow up to become a Visual Effects (VFX) Artist, working on films and television series as a Compositor for a respected VFX company. As movie lovers, my family has a long-standing tradition of watching as many of the films nominated for Academy Awards as we could manage, and I now invite you to do the same.

Since instituting this tradition, watching the Oscars has become more enjoyable and entertaining as we can form legitimate discussions and predictions on each of the categories, and not just watch the award ceremony for the celebrities and pretty dresses.

I understand this is an extensive list with just under two weeks to go until big day, but many of the movies nominated this year are available on widely known streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime, that most people reading this should be able to watch at least two or three if they are dedicated—maybe one if simply interested. Chances are, you may have already watch a few.

Below are the top ten movies to watch based on the amount of nominations they have received and are listed in no particular order. If you can watch several, that's amazing; if you can only watch one, that’s great, too! The most important thing is that you enjoy yourself.

On another note, all ten of the movies listed below are live-action films; so if you aren’t into live-action movies, check out the BONUS sections at the end of the article for suggestions on animated films.

You have almost two weeks until Oscar Sunday: April, 25, 2021… may the watching begin!

1. Sound of Metal (Amazon Prime)

Sound of Metal told the tale of heavy metal drummer, Ruben Stone, and his struggle with permanently losing the ability to hear.

It was one of those movies where every department and category came together to produce a wonderful work of art. Sound of Metal was a fantastic movie and one of my favorites on this list.

Though I am no expert in sound mixing and editing, I predict that this movie will win for Sound Mixing. After all, the entire movie was told through sound and greatly depended on the excellence of the sound mixing department to believably convey to the audience that they were hearing through the ears of a deaf man—there was simply no room for error.

2. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom encompasses a day in 1927 at a Chicago recording studio where tensions rise during a recording session for blues singer Ma Rainey and her band.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was not my favorite movie in this line-up, but the screenplay contained such compelling character narratives and dialogue that I think it would be wonderful as a Broadway play or in a stage setting. The movie was good, but the acting was fantastic. Chadwick Boseman could very well take home the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance as the trumpet player, Levee Green.

3. The Father

The Father shows the struggles of an elderly man progressing with dementia and the strain it has on his daughter who attempts to find him a new caretaker.

What an interesting movie! It was an artistic film, but unlike others of that nature, it did not lack in story or audience captivation. I enjoyed the unique perspective from that of the elderly man riddled with dementia that made the audience piece together the entire puzzle along with him.

Olivia Coleman is amazing in everything she does, but Anthony Hopkins stole the show in this film. His performance was incredibly believable and left me in tears as the credits appeared. I predict that either Chadwick Boseman or Anthony Hopkins will win Best Actor for their performances—they were both phenomenal.

4. Mank (Netflix)

Mank is set in the glamorous time of 1930s Hollywood where alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, known as “Mank”, is given the opportunity to create his greatest achievement: the screenplay for the notorious film Citizen Kane.

This was a slow movie, but the acting is excellent and the story of how Citizen Kane came to be is quite intriguing. If you are not familiar with Citizen Kane, it might be fun to do a double feature! That way, you can watch Mank with a greater appreciation and awareness of the parallels between the two films.

My prediction is that this film will win under the category of Cinematography. This is due, in part, to the decision to film in black and white. Black and white cinematography is a little more difficult and takes a little extra thought, especially when it comes to staging, as the scene will greatly depend on the lighting and must be planned accordingly. Fun fact: cinematographers and photographers will sometimes view a colored image in black and white to determine if the shot was lit well, as it will be easier to see if a dynamic range of values was captured.

5. Minari

Minari captures the tale of a family of South Korean immigrants who move to a rural farm in Arkansas and struggle to cultivate the American Dream.

They say that the sign of a good visual effects artist is when there is no sign. In other words, the audience is not supposed to notice the work of a visual effects artist. It might sound strange or contradictory, but the sign of a terrific film is when you don’t even remember that you are watching a carefully planned movie as you are viewing it. Usually, a viewer will notice something about the movie—the acting, sound, score, camera movements, etc.—that made it great, or not so great, as it is being observed. What made Minari a successful movie, was that all the elements flowed together seamlessly into a single absorbing story.

Upon reviewing the movie, Youn Yuh-jung was outstanding in her performance and should strongly be considered for Best Supporting Actress. She may be the underdog in the category, but she is a mighty contender.

6. Promising Young Woman

Promising Young Woman tells the story of a brilliant woman who gave up her pursuit of a medical degree after a traumatic event in her past. She is sweet and witty by day, and leading a double life at night, fueled by vengeance. In this tale of revenge, she takes the opportunity to right the wrong that changed her life forever.

I greatly enjoyed this movie and it kept me entertained from the beginning until the credits began to roll. I particularly appreciated that it was one of a few movies nominated for Best Picture that wasn’t based off historical figures or events—it was a brand new plot that I could escape into for a couple hours.

7. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)

The Trial of the Chicago 7 follows one of the most notorious trials in United States history. These seven defendants were accused of inciting a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention where what was supposed to be a peaceful protest of the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War turned into a violent altercation with the police.

This film excelled at entertaining and retaining the audience’s attention. It was face-paced, thrilling, and enraging at the unjust, corrupt system that these seven defendants and Bobby Seale—co-founder of the Black Panther party who withstood his own mistrial—faced. The Trail is a story of good versus evil at its core, with the viewer rooting for the innocent defendants against the corruption of police and government in the time of the Civil Rights Movement. All around terrific film!

8. Judas and the Black Messiah

In Judas and the Black Messiah, car thief William O’Neal takes a plea deal from the FBI to gather intel on Fred Hampton, the leader of the Black Panther Party, leading to the ultimate form of betrayal.

If you have a basic knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Panther Party, then you know who Fred Hampton was and his powerful influence at that time. But do you know about his death and the spies and betrayal involved? This film is perfect for people who want to delve deeper into the individuals who conspired against Fred and the events that lead to his demise. It was interesting to see the small details and actions that ultimately lead William’s betrayal and Fred’s death. There isn’t much more to say other than great story, great acting, great movie!

9. Nomadland (Hulu)

Nomadland shined a light on the life of modern-day, van-dwelling American nomads by following the story of a woman who joined this nomadic lifestyle after losing everything in the Great Recession.

Out of all the movies on this list, this film surprised me the most. I watched the movie with the full expectation that I would be sound asleep by the end, but instead I found myself thoroughly enjoying this film. Don’t get me wrong—the movie was as slow as a tortoise walking through peanut butter, but it kept my interest as to where the story would go. Before this movie, I never thought about modern-day nomads and their lifestyle. I knew people lived like this, but I never truly gave it much thought and consideration, yet I discovered that I was thinking about the film long after the credits ended.

On another note, Frances McDormand is a notable nominee for Best Actress. Her performances are always brilliant, but she practically carried this entire movie on her lonesome with few other prominent characters to support her—something very difficult to achieve in the realm of acting. There were also some beautiful shots in this film and I would say that this movie is a worthy contender in the Cinematography category.

10. One Night in Miami (Amazon Prime)

One Night in Miami occurs on the night of Feb. 25, 1964, after Cassius Clay’s championship win, where he, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, and Malcolm X spend the night in celebration and discussion on what it means to be successful, influential black men in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement.

The acting was superb in this film—it really felt like I was watching the actual Cassius Clay (soon to be Muhammad Ali), Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, and Malcolm X converse on screen. The concept was enticing, but the movie was a bit slow. However, the pace did not bother me as it usually would because the script and character dialogue were impeccable. This is another movie I would have liked to see as stage performance.

BONUS: Animated Feature Films!

Onward (Disney+)

In this Pixar film, two elven brothers embark on a quest to spend one last day with their deceased father.

Onward is a film about family and adventure. It’s a perfect reminder to enjoy the journey and not obsess over the destination.

Over the Moon (Netflix)

Years after the death of her beloved mother, a young girl struggles to accept her father’s new relationship. She builds a rocket to the moon in hopes to ask the Moon Goddess, Chang’e, for help.

I was not expecting to enjoy this film as much as I did, but it could easily be my favorite in this category. When watching Over the Moon, expect to experience a full range of emotions.

Soul (Disney+)

Jazz musician Joe Gardner gets into an accident before the biggest opportunity of his career and goes on an adventure to discover his life’s purpose.

Soul explores the idea of what makes you “you” and what it means to have a purpose. I eagerly anticipated this film for months before its release, but was slightly disappointed after I watched it. The only thing that prevented me from enjoying this film as much I desired to is that it felt like it was too similar to Inside Out. It seemed as though the creators of Inside Out knew they were on to something great, so they developed another movie that involved a similar concept about what makes people tick, but pushed it in a slightly different direction (Inside Out with emotions and the inner workings of the mind, Soul with the purpose and development of souls). With that said, I still think Soul is an incredible movie for a variety of reasons, including its inspirational and powerful message, and is perfect for people of all ages.

Both Over the Moon and Onward are my favorite animated movies of the year, but Soul is a fantastic movie and I would be happy if any one of these nominees win for Best Animated Feature Film.

EXTRA BONUS: Animated Short Films!

If Anything Happens I Love You (Netflix)

If Anything Happens I Love You explores the effects and familial repercussions of the loss of a child due to school shootings.

Watch this film and have a box of tissues nearby. This short is just as sad at it sounds, but delivers a profound message and is entirely worth watching.

Burrow (Disney+)

In this short, a rabbit dreams of burrowing his perfect home but is afraid to share his plans with others. Instead of asking for help, the rabbit tries to do it all on his/her own and almost destroys the homes of others.

I would suggest watching this short after If Anything Happens I Love You. It’s an emotionally lighter film and is absolutely adorable. Burrow shows the power of teamwork and friendship, and the importance of not being afraid to share and pursue your dreams.