Bringing a close to awards season are the 2018 Oscars, which are barely a week away. You know what that means, right? Oscar viewing party with plenty of popcorn. Sure the red carpet is bound to be fabulous, the event won't make much sense if aren't cued into the very essence of the night i.e. the movies. Often enough, award nominated movies can seem to fly right past us but not these picks. Before Oscar night 2018 hits, make sure you catch up on these 10 movies because the night is going to be all about them.
1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
The movie follows a grieving mother, her daughter's untimely death and the search for answers. The investigation seems to lead nowhere and the frustrated mother rents three billboards with a message directed at the administration to find the killer. The same technique was even used to call out administration about gun control post the Florida shooting, as reported by The Guardian. The movie has received seven nominations at the upcoming Academy Awards, including one for Frances McDormand (who plays the mother) for Best Actress - Drama.
2. The Shape Of Water
This fantasy drama is about the life of a mute government custodian and how it changes dramatically when she connects with a humanoid-amphibian creature which has been captured from a river and how she aims to set it free. The uniquely captivating film won praise for its production design and has 13 Oscar nominations, including one for film editing.
3. Lady Bird
The story revolves around Christine; who nicknames herself Lady Bird, and her upbringing, which is ridden with financial struggles. It highlights her relationship with her mother, quest to be in a big city and trials and tribulations she faces along the way. Lady Bird stars the incredible Saoirse Ronan as the lead, who has been nominated for the Best Actress award.
4. Phantom Thread
Phantom Thread is a period drama based in London during the 1950s. It follows the life of an obsessive couturier who grieves the death of his late mother and falls in love with a waitress. The movie follows their relationship and life in the era. Daniel Day-Lewis plays the fashion designer in his last role before retirement and has been nominated for the Best Actor award among six nominations overall.
5. All The Money In The World
This crime flick follows the kidnapping of J. Paul Getty's grandson in the 70s as Getty was then the world's richest private citizen. The thriller follows the story of how he is being held hostage and the ransom being asked for Getty III's freedom. Kevin Spacey was replaced by Christopher Plummer in the movie, who went on to receive a nomination for Best Supporting Actor and is the oldest nominee at 88 years.
6. Coco
While animated movies are often stereotyped as candy-floss laden children films, that's not true of Pixar's Coco. Based on the Mexican Day Of The Dead holiday that celebrates spirits, Coco revolves around young Miguel, a boy who gets caught in the land of the dead and his journey back to the living. Coco is definitely unlike any other animated movie you've ever seen and is nominated in two categories - for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
7. Call Me By Your Name
The much-talked about Call Me By Your Name follows the story of a young boy and his relationship with his father's student in the quiet Italian countryside. The plot details their relationship, sexuality and their discovery of it. The movie has been a vehicle for Timothee Chalamet's spot in the limelight as one of Hollywood's youngest stars and the 22-year-old is also nominated for the Best Actor award.
8. Get Out
It may be strange to see a horror movie make its way to Oscar ranks but Get Out is not just any ordinary jeepers-creepers flick. It follows the story of an African-American man who visits his Caucasian girlfriend's family and comes across some disturbing secrets in the bargain. The movie deals with racism through its narrative and is nominated in four categories. According to Consequences Of Sound, director Jordan Peele is also the third person in history to be nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay with their directorial debut.
9. I, Tonya
This movie follows the life of Tonya Harding who was forced into ice-skating as a child but went on to become one of the best figure skaters in the United States. It also details her criminal involvement and the downfall of her career. I, Tonya stars Margot Robbie as the lead and received three nominations overall, along with a Best Actress nomination for Margot.
10. Baby Driver
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Now here's an Oscar pick that almost everyone can get behind. Baby Driver follows the life of a driver of a criminal gang who has a hearing disorder but superb driving skills. Action sequences in the film are brilliantly choreographed with music, which has earned the film three nominations for Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Film Editing.
