8 Oscar-Nominated Films To Watch Now

With the 2022 ceremony looming on 27 March, the Oscars buzz is well and truly upon us. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled its list of nominees earlier this month, featuring an eclectic mixture of sci-fi films, musicals, documentaries and more. Keen to see what the hype is all about? Read on for the Oscar-nominated films to tick off ahead of the big night.

8 Oscar-Nominated Films To Watch Now

House of Gucci

Lady Gaga returns to the big screen in House of Gucci, Ridley Scott’s latest film about the ascent and assassination of Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), former boss of the Italian fashion house. The movie plays out the highly publicised story of his marriage to socialite Patrizia Reggiani (Gaga), examining the tumultuous Gucci family legacy – and eventual murder of Maurizio. Watch it not just for the juicy plot, but for the killer outfits and glitzy filming locations, from luxe ski chalets to the extraordinary Lake Como estate which serves as the house of Aldo Gucci.

Being the Ricardos

American sitcom I Love Lucy was one of the biggest TV shows of the ‘50s. Created by and starring husband-and-wife duo Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the programme saw over sixty million Americans tuning in during its six-year run, scooping up numerous awards along the way. After the series ended, Ball and Arnaz held onto their reign as TV’s funniest married couple for a long time – and fascination surrounding their relationship remains today. That’s why there’s a lot of noise surrounding Aaron Sorkin’s new biopic, Being the Ricardos, starring Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem. The Oscar-nominated film focuses on one turbulent week in the run-up to the broadcast of a live episode, with personal and political fiascos putting their careers and marriage under threat.

The Lost Daughter

Olivia Colman is brilliant as ever in the Netflix adaptation of The Lost Daughter, the new psychological drama based on Elena Ferrante’s novel of the same name. She plays Leda Caruso, a middle-aged languages professor who becomes consumed with young mother Nina (Dakota Johnson) and her daughter during a working holiday in Greece. The A-list cast also stars Normal People’s Paul Mescal, Ed Harris and Peter Sarsgaard – plus the film marks Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut.

Spencer

From Emma Corrin in The Crown to Naomi Watts in the 2013 biopic, numerous great actresses have taken on the role of Princess Diana on-screen. The latest to step into the royal shoes is Kristen Stewart, who stars in Spencer. Directed by Pablo Larraín – best known for Jackie, the acclaimed film about the life of Jackie Kennedy – Spencer focuses on just three days in Diana’s life. Set at Sandringham in 1991, it imagines the late royal as she was about to end her marriage to Prince Charles.

The Power of the Dog

It’s been 28 years since Jane Campion’s The Piano scored big at The Oscars, and it looks like her latest film is set to have a similar effect. Based on the Thomas Savage novel of the same name, The Power of the Dog is an exploration of toxic masculinity and the troubled legacy of the Old West. The film follows two brothers living on a ranch in 1920s Montana: charismatic but domineering Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) and the soft-hearted George (Jesse Plemons). When George marries a widow from the town, Rose (Kirsten Dunst), Phil is outraged, and things take a dark turn.

West Side Story

Steven Spielberg went big for his first ever musical, taking on arguably one of the greatest of all time: West Side Story. Adapted from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story originated as a Broadway musical back in 1957, going on to be adapted into a film a few years later. Spielberg breathes new life into the plot we all know well: in the midst of a turf war between two rival New York city gangs, star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria fall for one another. The Fault in Our Stars’ Ansel Elgort plays Tony alongside newcomer Rachel Zegler as Maria, with all the original tracks appearing in the film – from ‘I Feel Pretty’ to ‘America’.

Licorice Pizza

Paul Thomas Anderson delivers his most upbeat film to date with Licorice Pizza: a sun-drenched exploration of first love set in ’70s LA. It focuses on the mismatched romance between 15-year-old high schooler Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) and 25-year-old photographer’s assistant Alana Kane, played by Alana Haim, part of the eponymous sister pop rock band. It’s a dreamy love letter to the ‘70s, complete with an excellent soundtrack from Anderson’s long-time collaborator, Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood.

Encanto

Encanto proves there’s no sign of the Disney magic wearing off any time soon. Set among the mountains of Colombia, the Oscar-nominated musical is about a family called the Madrigals, who live in a charmed place called Encanto and have all been blessed with a special power – apart from one child, Mirabel. Yet when the magic starts to wane, it’s up to her to save the family legacy. It’s been nominated for Best Original Score: no surprise if you’ve heard the hugely catchy soundtrack, which includes ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ – the hit that has surpassed Frozen’s ‘Let It Go’ as the studio’s highest-charted song in over 26 years.

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