2021 Oscar Nominations

If you’ve been around since the days of my old blog you’ll know, but each year I watch every single movie that’s nominated for an Academy Award and it’s one of my favorite traditions.

To be fair, it’s also a slightly insane undertaking for someone who’s job in no way depends on doing this, but it forces me to watch about 30 movies that I likely wouldn’t have watched otherwise, and I always feel happier, more aware, more intelligent, and more connected to a larger conversation because of it.

Movies and story have always been a gateway to a perspective other than your own. And if you, like me, are generally content to rewatch the same sitcom for the tenth time on a normal Tuesday evening, this insane challenge is a great way to break up that routine. It’s a bit like doing a juice cleanse for a month before going back to a hamburger diet.

NOW, all said, watching every movie may be more than you’re willing to take on, which is fair. (Although, has there ever been a better year for it?!) and if that’s the case, I always recommend at least getting through the best picture nominations (although, in my opinion, you can SKIP Mank, but more on that at another time).

Best Picture Nominations:

• The Father

• Judas and the Black Messiah

• Mank

• Minari

• Nomadland

• Promising Young Woman

• Sound of Metal

• The Trial of the Chicago 7

And if you do want to try to watch every, or at least a lot of the, nominations, I’ve made a handy dandy checklist that you can download here (it even includes notes on where you can find the movies!)

So far, I’ve watched nine of the 41 nominated feature films so …. I have some work to do!

Will you watch with me? Are you excited about the Oscars in this weird year? Seen any movies you love? Let me know below because, to be honest, my family is tired of talking about it with me.

as ever,

Keya