1. Dune: Part 2: Dennis Vilenevue

2. Killers of the Flower Moon: Martin Scorsese

3. Oppenheimer: Christopher Nolan

4. Maestro: Bradley Cooper

5. Rustin: Colman Domingo

6. Barbie: Greta Gerwig

7. Blitz: Steve McQueen

8. Saltburn: Emerald Fennell

9. Napoleon: Ridley Scott

10. Lee: Kate Winslet

11. May December: Todd Haynes

13. The Way of the Wild: Terrence Malik

14. Poor Things: Yorgos Lanthimos

15. The Colour Purple: Halle Berry

16. Nosferatu: Willem Dafoe

17. The Killer: David Fincher

18. Next Goal Wins: Taika Waititi

19. Asteroid City: Wes Anderson

20. Past Lives: Celine Song

21. Challengers: Luca Guadagnino

22. Wonka: Timothee Chalamet

23. The Holdovers: Alexander Payne

24. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar: Wes Anderson

25. Foe: Paul Mescal

26. Ferrari: Adam Driver

27. Beau Is Afraid: Joaquin Phoenix

28. Shirley: Regina King

29. Spider-Man: Across the spider verse

30. Priscilla: Sophia Coppola

31. Civil War: Jennifer Lawrence

When my partner and I finished the film and left the cinema we were approached by a marketing person from the cinema to do an on camera post film interview. What I said to the camera I’d say in my review: never bet against James Cameron, he always delivers, epic, epic, epic. People seem often ready to doubt Cameron and yet time and time again he creates many of the most memorable movie experiences of my life. Titanic one of my all time favourite films, I would argue is the best romance/epic/disaster film ever made. The King of the sequels Cameron has also gave us one of the greatest sci fi films ever Terminator 2; one of the scariest films ever in Aliens 2, even excellent action/comedy in True Lies. A true master of cinema and a pioneer of technology. In an age where cinema has become streaming ‘content’ and most studio blockbuster films are unoriginal factory franchises, that seem to blur together, it’s almost a miracle when you see truly original content that is this epic in scale. I felt many of the same emotions watching Avatar 2 as I did to watching last years Dune: awe in a world so perfectly realised on such a monumental scale. It’s true that nothing will quite capture the original feeling of first seeing Avatar in the cinema in 3D in 2009. However in Avatar 2 when we first go to the underwater world I would say surpasses the visual effects of the first. Pandora feels like the most vividly created sci fiction world ever put to screen. The highlights of the film are easily the underwater scenes showcasing Cameron’s well documented love of the ocean and it’s protection. Especially breathtaking are the calmer scenes in the film where the cinematography of Russell Carpenter, who also did Titanic, takes your breath away. A common criticism of Cameron is his use of storyline’s that are on the simpler side. I would argue tap into archetypes of the collective unconsciousness, universal themes writ large. Yes the story is simple and the environmental messages of the film are as obvious and powerful as the last, however in avatar 2 this is combined with anti-colonialism, protecting wildlife and the strength of family message which make for a more emotional impact. I was moved to tears 3 times in the film. I highly recommend you watch it in 3D which in this context makes you want to dive into the world. Apart from the simple narrative my only other main fault with the film is that the first act requires a lot of exposition which pays off much more effectively in the 2nd and 3rd acts. The finally battle scene feels like the culmination of all his previous films with events of Terminator and Titanic. The budget for the film is between 350-400 million, which if it is at that upper reach it would make it the most expensive film of all time. You’ve got to see this in the cinema. At a time when epic original studio film experiences at the cinema seem to be dying in the face of tv and streaming, Cameron’s film feels like salvation for a vanishing art. Whatever minor flaws of the film melt away in the face of a cinematic experience that I haven’t had in over a decade. We are so lucky to have James Cameron making films, the master of the epic. 9/10

I watched Blonde last night, the new film about Marilyn Monroe. By now I’m sure most people already know she had a terrible life, was abused by Hollywood and died tragically. Although Ana de Armas does a commendable job with a script that only really allows her to, a) cry, b) suffer gratuitously, and c) recreate famous iconic moments of her career, that is the beginning and end of what is good about this movie. I really hated this movie. That doesn’t happen often. A film about the exploitation of Marilyn becomes itself the epitome of exploitation. I don’t think the male director even likes Marilyn, with a cold gaze he seems only interested in dissecting her suffering like a surgeon of misery. A one note litany of pain and woe that reduces all of Marilyn’s psychological complexity and intelligence into a daddy issues and fear of abandonment soap opera. Marilyn spends the choppily edited film lurching from one horror to the next, searching for her daddy, and being abused in the most unsettling and gruesome ways. What is the point of this film? Beyond showing us that she suffered terribly, it feels so hollow and empty. One of the greatest movie stars of all time in Blonde is a victim to predations of men, and the predations of its own director. I highly doubt a woman director could have made a film like this. Despite its 2hour and 40 min run time I felt I knew less about Marilyn than when I started. There’s so much more to Marilyn, her art, her mind and her impact. This misery porn is a betrayal of her and the incredible performance of Ana de Armas. Do yourself a favour and avoid this film. 3/10

Jaw drop. Just finished watching the new film ‘Everything, Everywhere All At Once’. When the credits rolled I was speechless trying to comprehend what I had just seen. Having had time to think about it, I think it’s the most fun I’ve had in the cinema in years. Hilarious, insane, shocking, a wild ride of sci fi, fantasy, martial arts action and comedy that ends with something moving and profound. The plot is hard to describe, but in the simplest terms it follows an anxious Asian American woman as she set on a bonkers adventure to save the universe by accessing multiple versions of herself through the multiverse. Yet the feeling of watching the film is hard to put into words. Some of the images I saw I couldn’t believe I was seeing in a cinema. I laughed along with the whole cinema harder and longer than any other movie in years. It’s unbelievably original, like a Rick and Morty episode meets the Matrix meets an acid trip. But more than the action and comedy it’s real power lies in its philosophical message that was so wise and profound I teared up. The editing is like bullets, Michelle Yeoh is Olympic in her acting feats, the zany humour is unlike anything I’ve seen in years. The word of mouth of the film is growing. This film is one of the most original films of this century. Do yourself a favour and watch movie history being made. 10/10

Best Picture:

Will win: The Power of the Dog

Could win: CODA

Should win: The Power of the Dog

Best Director:

Will win: Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog

Should win: Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog.

Best Actress:

Will win: Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Could win: Nicole Kidman, Being The Ricardos

Should win: Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter

Best Actor:

Will win: Will Smith, King Richard

Could win: Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog

Should win: Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog

Best Supporting Actress:

Will win: Ariana DeBose, Westside Story

Could win: Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog

Should win: Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog

Best Supporting Actor:

Will win: Troy Kotsur, CODA

Could win: Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

Should win: Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Will win: The Power of the Dog

Could win: CODA

Should win: The Power of the Dog

Best Original Screenplay:

Will win: Belfast

Could win: Licorice Pizza

Should win: Licorice Pizza

Best Cinematography:

Will win: Dune

Could win: The Power of the Dog

Should win: Dune

Best Costume Design:

Will Win: Cruella

Could win: Dune

Should win: Dune

Best Film Editing:

Will win: Dune

Could win: The Power of the Dog

Should win: The Power of the Dog

Best Hair and Makeup:

Will win: The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Could win: Dune

Should win: Dune

Best Production Design:

Will win: Dune

Could win: Nightmare Alley

Should win: Dune

Best Score:

Will win: Dune

Could win: The Power of the Dog

Should win: Dune

Best Song:

Will win: No Time To Die

Could Win: Dos Oruguitas, Encanto

Should win: No Time To Die

Best Visual Effects:

Will win: Dune

Should win: Dune

Best Sound:

Will win: Dune

Should win: Dune

Best Animated Feature:

Will win: Encanto

Could win: The Mitchell’s vs the Machines

Should win: The Mitchell’s vs the Machines

Best Documentary Feature:

Will Win: Summer of Soul

Could Win: Flee

Should win: Summer of Soul

Best International Feature:

Will win: Drive My Car

Could win: The Worst Person In The World

Should win: Drive My Car.

Final Predictions for the 94th Academy Awards:

Best Picture:

1. The Power of the Dog

2. Belfast

3. West Side Story

4. Dune

5. Licorice Pizza

6. King Richard

7. CODA

8. Tick, tick… Boom!

9. Drive My Car

10. Don’t Look Up

Alt: Nightmare Alley

.

Best Director:

1. Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog

2. Denis Villeneuve, Dune

3. Kenneth Branagh, Belfast

4. Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza

5. Steven Speilberg, West Side Story

Alt: Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Drive My Car

.

Best Actress

1. Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter

2. Nicole Kidman, Being The Ricardos

3. Kirsten Stewart, Spencer

4. Lady Gaga, House of Gucci

5. Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Alt: Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza

.

Best Actor:

1. Will Smith, King Richard

2. Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog

3. Andrew Garfield, tick, tick… BOOM!

4. Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

5. Peter Dinklage, Cyrano

Alt: Javier Bardem, Being The Ricardos

.

Best Supporting Actress:

1. Ariana DeBose, West Side Story

2. Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog

3. Caitriona Balfe, Belfast

4. Ruth Negga, Passing

5. Cate Blanchett, Nightmare Alley

Alt: Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard

.

Best Supporting Actor:

1. Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

2. Ciaran Hinds, Belfast

3. Troy Kotsur, CODA

4. Bradley Cooper, Licorice Pizza

5. Mike Faist, West Side Story

Alt: Jamie Dornan, Belfast

.

Best Adapted Screenplay:

1. The Power of the Dog

2. The Lost Daughter

3. CODA

4. Dune

5. Drive My Car

Alt: West Side Story

.

Best Original Screenplay:

1. Belfast

2. Licorice Pizza

3. King Richard

4. Being The Ricardos

5. Don’t Look Up

Alt: Parallel Mothers

.

Best Documentary:

1. Summer of Soul

2. Flee

3. Procession

4. Ascension

5. The Rescue

Alt: The First Wave

.

Best Foreign Language Film:

1. Drive My Car

2. Flee

3. The Worst Person In The World

4. A Hero

5. The Hand of God

Alt: Compartment No. 6

.

Best Animated Film:

1. The Mitchells vs the Machines

2. Encanto

3. Luca

4. Flee

5. Raya and the Last Dragon

Alt: Sing 2

.

Best Cinematography:

1. The Power of the Dog

2. Dune

3. The Tragedy of Macbeth

4. Belfast

5. West Side Story

Alt: Nightmare Alley

.

Best Costume Design:

1. Dune

2. Cruella

3. West Side Story

4. Nightmare Alley

5. Cyrano

Alt: House of Gucci

.

Best Film Editing:

1. Dune

2. The Power of the Dog

3. Belfast

4. Licorice Pizza

5. West Side Story

Alt: King Richard

.

Best Production Design:

1. Dune

2. Nightmare Alley

3. The French Dispatch

4. Nightmare Alley

5. The Tragedy of Macbeth

Alt: Belfast

.

Best Sound:

1. Dune

2. West Side Story

3. No Time To Die

4. The Power of the Dog

5. Tick, tick… Boom!

Alt: Spiderman: No Way Home

.

Best Hair And Makeup:

1. Dune

2. The Eyes of Tammy Faye

3. Cruella

4. House of Gucci

5. Cyrano

Alt: Nightmare Alley

.

Best Original Score:

1. Dune

2. The Power of the Dog

3. The French Dispatch

4. Parallel Mothers

5. No Time To Die

Alt: Don’t Look Up

.

Best Song:

1. No Time To Die, No Time To Die

2. Encanto, Dos Oruguitas

3. King Richard, Be Alive

4. Belfast, Down To Joy

5. Don’t Look Up, Just Look Up

Alt: Respect, I Am Signing My Way Home

.

Best Visual Effects:

1. Dune

2. Spiderman: No Way Home

3. Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

4. The Matrix Resurrections

5. No Time To Die

Alt: Godzilla vs. Kong