Oscar season is coming! You know what that means- lots of somber movies with crying scenes for A-listers to bear their acting chops. But wait, what’s this? 2023’s Best Picture nominees broke the mold.Â
No one ever accused the Academy Awards of being a popularity contest. Their decisions are often controversial. Members of the academy make note of excellent prose, costuming, cinematography, and acting. But… What if it’s boring?Â
We the public lost sight of the fundamental purpose of movies: to entertain. They may teach us, make us feel, and even question our reality. Fundamentally, all aspects of a movie boil down to being mentally stimulating. The modern Letterbox critic tends to pick their favorite movie based on what they are supposed to like. A slow-burn historical drama with excellent cinematography or an esoteric indie flick with a disturbing element. Comedies, action, and animated movies are sidelined and considered too foolish to be art.Â
This sentiment is shared by film snobs and industry titans alike. Director Quentin Tarantino criticized Marvel films, saying that they “are the only things that seem to be made.” In a 2019 interview with Empire Magazine Martin Scorses described them as “theme parks.” I understand their sentiment: there are too many formulaic movies with nothing to say. However, a serious tone does not equate to having more to say than something silly. Movies can be incredibly silly, and incredibly meaningful.
Many directors choose to channel reality’s turmoil into their movies. This typically results in something somber. The movies that made the biggest noise this year are a lot more fun. Creatives embraced the lighthearted and exciting while maintaining the important messages of more serious fare. Like the public, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences embraced the change.
The best picture nominees this year Include paradigmatic adventure movies, reboots, and comedies- genres the Academy often disregards. The quality and depth of the nominees make them worthy of attention. Feel-good action movies reminiscent of the 80s are back with a vengeance, this time with more nuance. Top Gun: Maverick transforms it’s 80’s predecessor into an emotional, plot-driven epic. Avatar: The Way of Water dives into the rich culture of a fantasy world with beautiful storytelling. One of the most commonly disregarded genres for Best Picture is Comedy. This year Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s comedy Everything Everywhere All At Once broke was nominated. The movie is hilarious, and so much more. It takes its viewers on an indescribably emotional, beautiful, and downright absurd ride. It crosses the intersectionality between humor, entertainment, and profound meaning by posing the question: if anything can happen, what’s the point? Although a historical piece, Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis proves equally captivating. It earns its best picture nomination through Lurmans quintessential glamorous style- and frequent needle drops. By no means is it completely historically accurate, but the artistic liberties are what make it distinctive from the cookie-cutter biopic.
 We faced a decade full of seriousness in and out of the box office. Moviegoers around the world demanded a pick-me-up. Cinema delivered this year, and now the movies we enjoyed are getting their well-deserved recognition. Here are to many more years of fun, zany, important movies.Â