The 17 essential films for the Oscars 2023, a few days before the nominations (and where you can see them)

This coming January 24th, the nominations for the 2023 Oscars, an edition in which right now everything seems more open than other years. At Espinof we wanted to take advantage of the closeness of the candidacies to do a little review of the 17 movies that sound the most ahead of the next awards given by the Hollywood Academy:

‘Aftersun’

The example of a little-seen but widely applauded film that needs the last push from the Oscars to reach more audiences and that at first could give the impression of being the filler nominee and then grow. It could be as easy to be a candidate for several awards as to leave completely empty.

Criticism of ‘Aftersun’ (for Randy Meeks)

• You can see it now available in Spanish cinemas

‘Souls in pain in Inisherin’ (‘The Banshees of Inisherin’)

One of the great candidates is this new work by Martin McDonald (‘Three ads on the outskirts’), one of the most awarded, especially highlighting the script by McDonagh himself and the interpretations of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.

• You can see it in Spanish cinemas from February 3

‘Avatar: The sense of water’ (‘Avatar: The Way of Water’)

The first installment has already been nominated and everything indicates that this sequel will also achieve it – and the most likely thing is that history will repeat itself with ‘Avatar 3’-, since to its tremendous commercial success we must add notable support from critics. In addition, it would be a good way to try to recover part of the public lost in recent years.

Review of ‘Avatar: The Sense of Water’ (for Mikel Zorrilla)

• You can see it now available in theaters

‘Babylon’

At the time it became one of the great favourites, but when it began to be seen it became clear that the most it aspires to is the nomination, because the new thing about Damien Chazelle divided critics and the public turned their backs on him.

Criticism of ‘Babylon’ (by Mikel Zorrilla)

• You can see it now available in theaters

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

Marvel It has all the success in the world but at the Oscars it is almost always a loser. The only awards for her so far came with the first installment and the second will surely scratch several awards and also Angela Bassett She has quite a chance in the supporting actress category.

Review of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (by Mikel Zorrilla)

• You can see it now in theaters and on Disney+ from February 1

‘They speak’ (‘Women Talking’)

A powerful drama with a great female cast and Sarah Polley behind the scenes that has been very well received by critics and accumulates multiple nominations in different awards. Someone has also won.

• You can see it in Spanish cinemas from February 17

‘Elvis’

The triumphant return of Baz Luhrmann came with this biopic of the king of rock that left an extraordinary interpretation of Austin Butler. Apart from best film and best actor, it should also add a good number of nominations in technical sections.

Criticism of ‘Elvis’ (for Jorge Loser)

‘The Whale’ (‘The Whale’)

The definitive return to the front line of brendan fraser and with Darren Aronofsky Behind the cameras. It is clear that the best options for him are in the best actor category, but some more nominations will surely fall.

Review of ‘The Whale’ (for Victor Lopez G.)

• You can see it in Spanish cinemas from January 27

‘The Woman King’ (‘The Woman King’)

One of the titles that sounds the strongest to win one of the last places in the best film category is this film directed by Gina Prince Bythewood that offers a particular vision of epic cinema.

• You can see it now available in Spanish cinemas (but it was released months ago and it lasts in a few rooms)

‘The Fabelmans’ (‘The Fabelmans’)

The movie of Steven Spielberg with a clear autobiographical touch, it had been ringing for the Oscars since long before its premiere and not even its failure at the box office in the United States has made that change.

• You can see it in Spanish cinemas from February 10

‘Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro’ (‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio‘)

The great favorite in the animated film category also has the chance to enter the premier category, since the fight for the last positions is so open that making forecasts is more complicated than other years.

Criticism of ‘Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro’ (by Victor Lopez G.)

‘Daggers in the back: The mystery of Glass Onion’ (‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’)

This stupendous sequel has generated such enthusiasm in certain quarters that it could surprise at the last minute and slip into the best picture contenders. I will not be the one to complain if it succeeds, but it smells a lot like movies that are close to entering several categories and perhaps end up empty.

Criticism of ‘Knives in the Back: The Mystery of the Glass Onion’ (by Mikel Zorrilla)

‘rrr’

One of the great phenomena of the year that also cannot compete as an international film since it was not chosen as a pre-candidate by India. Some nomination is going to fall and maybe it can surprise and enter the queen category

Criticism of ‘RRR’ (for Pedro Gallego)

‘No news at the front’ (‘Im Westen Nichts Neues‘)

Netflix’s main bet – it is one of The best platform movies of the past year– facing the Oscars is this adaptation of the novel by Erich Maria Remarque which already served as the basis for a film that won the best film award in 1930. It starts as a favorite in international film and could sneak into the main category.

Review of ‘All Quiet on the Front’ (by Jorge Loser)

‘TÁR’

So convincing is the work of cate blanchett in the new movie Todd Field that many assumed that it was the story of a real person and were surprised to find that it was not true. Both Blanchett and Field, who hadn’t released a film since 2006, are surely nominated for best picture as well.

• You can see it in Spanish cinemas from January 27

‘Everything at once everywhere’ (‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’)

Right now it is the surprising favorite to win the award for best film and it has already won a multitude of awards in the Oscar race, although it is true that at the Golden Globes it was defeated in the premier category.

Criticism of ‘Everything at once everywhere’ (by Jorge Loser)

‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Applauded by the public and critics -this narrative of savior of the cinemas plays in its favor-, the film starring Tom Cruise It has been positioning itself to the point that it is certain that it will have several nominations, including one for Best Picture.

Review of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (by Mikel Zorrilla)