Ten Movies From The 94th Oscar-Nomination List You Shouldn’t Miss

Here are ten of AMM NEXTGEN’s favorite picks!

The Power of the Dog || R 2021 ‧ Western/Drama ‧ 2h 5m

This is a story where you can only understand the whole picture until the last moment—you’ll need to pay attention to the narration at the very beginning of the film. Directed by Jane Campion, the first woman to be nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Director, Power of the Dog has 12 nominations this year. It’s a story about hidden love and revenge.

Dune || PG-13 2021 ‧ Sci-fi/Adventure ‧ 2h 35m

An American epic science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve, based on the first of a two-part 1965 novel by Frank Herbert. The film is the third adaptation of Dune following David Lynch’s 1984 film, and John Harrison’s 2000 miniseries.

Drive My Car || 2021 ‧ Drama ‧ 2h 59m

Adapted from Haruki Murakami’s short story. An aging widowed actor seeks a chauffeur, and ends up with a 20-year-old girl. A very special relationship develops between the two, and they gradually find their life road, to “drive my car” eventually.

Flee || PG-13 2021 ‧ Documentary/Animation ‧ 1h 30m

An animated documentary directed by Danish filmmaker, Jonas Poher Rasmussen. Nominated for Best Animated Feature, Best international Film and Best documentary feature. This film tells a man’s refugee experience from Afghanistan to Demark, that been hidden for twenty years.

CODA || PG-13 2021 ‧ Drama/Romance ‧ 1h 51m

A touching story around a deaf family from Gloucester, Massachusetts. This film follows Ruby, the only hearing person in the house, and her college application experience. It’s a film about following your dreams and familial love.

Parallel Mothers || R 2021 ‧ Drama/Comedy ‧ 2 hours

Directed by Pedro Almodóvar, the story is about two single women who meet in a hospital room where they are both going to give birth. One is middle aged, while the other is younger and scared. However, when they meet again after their children are born, they suddenly have an unexpected connection, which influences their life ahead.

Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom || 2019 ‧ Drama/Adventure ‧ 1h 49m

The film had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. It was selected as the Bhutanese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards. The story is about an aspiring singer who lives in the capital of Bhutan. He dreams of getting a visa to relocate to Australia, but he’s assigned to teaching position at a very rural area.

Compartment No. 6 || 2021 ‧ Romance/Drama ‧ 1h 47m

This film is selected as the Finnish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards. The story spins around a Finnish student’s relationship between her and a boorish miner during a journey across Russia. The film was also selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

Belfast || PG-13 2021 ‧ Drama/Comedy-drama ‧ 1h 38m

This a semi-autobiographical film which chronicles the life of a working class family and their young son’s childhood during the tumult of the late 1960s. The film takes place in the Northern Ireland capital , with gorgeous black and white images.

tick, tick…BOOM! || PG-13 2021 ‧ Musical/Drama ‧ 1h 55m

If you a fan of “Rent,” then you have to watch this film based on the autobiographical musical by playwright Jonathan Larson. Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, it’s the story of an aspiring composer in New York City who is navigating under pressure between career and love.