An “Oscar bait film” may not be as simple to outline as a horror movie, a comedy, or a thriller, however there are particular traits discovered inside such definable motion pictures. Oscar bait movies will be good, after all, they usually will also be something however, with the worst ones doubtlessly feeling extra like bait than the great ones, given they’ve sure qualities meant to attraction to Academy Awards voters, however current such issues cynically, with out ardour, or simply for the sake of getting some awards love.

If a film tackles weighty points, tells a real story, or offers with sweeping/broad feelings, it is likely to be Oscar bait. All through the primary half of the 2020s, no Oscar bait has been as unhealthy (or as profitable) as one thing like Crash, no less than, however the next motion pictures did appear overly eager to win Academy Awards whereas themselves not being nice, quality-wise. Some nonetheless discovered a little bit success, however even the first rate ones under nonetheless carry a sure stink related to Oscar bait, and you’ll solely maintain your nostril for thus lengthy whereas watching these till you are feeling too uncomfortable and simply quit.

10

‘Malcolm & Marie’ (2021)

Directed by Sam Levinson

Although Malcolm & Marie will not be an outdated film, and given it additionally starred the very well-known Zendaya and the reasonably well-known John David Washington, it’s been just about forgotten during the last a number of years. It was clearly making an attempt to be one thing artsy and daring, although, with a stripped-down story and scope centering on simply two folks inside a single location for the movie’s entire period. Plus, it was shot in black and white as a result of… um… as a result of that’s artsier? Or one thing.

One of many characters is a filmmaker, and Oscar voters have cherished motion pictures about filmmaking previously. It additionally tries to go large and showy with its performing, and Malcolm & Marie additionally simply feels prefer it insists on a form of significance that it doesn’t solely have. Zendaya and Washington aren’t unhealthy, contemplating what they’re working with, however this does really feel a bit like a film that wished to be adored come Awards season, and as an alternative received (largely) ignored.

9

‘Amsterdam’ (2022)

Directed by David O. Russell

Amsterdam has a ridiculous solid contemplating the precise deserves of the film itself, however no less than most people who have been featured right here got here out the opposite finish with their careers typically unscathed. It takes place all the way in which again within the Nineteen Thirties, and has ambitions that run uncontrolled with its story about a fancy sequence of occasions following a homicide, and the way such a criminal offense is likely to be a part of a broader historic conspiracy.

Fairly actually dropping the plot and by no means getting it again, (and never in a enjoyable Thomas Pynchon-like method or something), Amsterdam is only a mess throughout. Each in entrance of the digital camera and behind it, there have been proficient folks concerned who aren’t precisely strangers to consideration from the Academy Awards, however this movie wasn’t it; this one swayed only a few, and it’s not too exhausting to grasp why.

8

‘Being the Ricardos’ (2021)

Directed by Aaron Sorkin

With a narrative that takes place a long time in the past, and a deal with two individuals who have been concerned in present enterprise, it’s not exhausting to outline one thing like Being the Ricardos as attainable Oscar bait. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz are the 2 central figures right here: a pair of people that have been married in actual life and have become well-known for enjoying a pair on the legendary sitcom I Love Lucy.

It needs to be acknowledged that, so far as Oscar bait goes, Being the Ricardos discovered some success, with three solid members – Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, and J. Ok. Simmons – all receiving nominations for his or her performances. However exterior the performing, it’s a reasonably bland and by-the-numbers biographical movie, doing little to raise issues dramatically or visually in ways in which would make the non-acting elements of the film additionally nice.

7

‘Do not Look Up’ (2021)

Directed by Adam McKay

It might have had aspirations of being an important science fiction movie of types (one very “of the occasions,” admittedly), however Don’t Look Up had too many flaws to be actually outstanding. That being stated, you possibly can virtually respect what it’s going for in its exploration of uniquely Twenty first-century insanity and division, and the way in which sure folks/teams stand in the way in which of humanity’s potential salvation.

political and environmental points with as little subtlety as attainable, Don’t Look Up typically works as an indignant, impassioned, and chaotic movie. It does get misplaced a couple of occasions, and it most likely might’ve benefited from dialing issues again just a bit… however no less than it’s one of many extra formidable Oscar bait-y sorts of flicks on the market. A swing and a disappointing hit is best than a swing and a miss, in spite of everything.

6

‘Golda’ (2023)

Directed by Man Nattiv

A dicey story is dealt with/advised in a less-than-stellar method in Golda, which might most likely rely itself as one of many worst warfare motion pictures in current reminiscence, even when it does showcase Helen Mirren’s performing chops. She performs Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, with the movie primarily targeted on her involvement within the Yom Kippur Warfare, which was fought for a number of weeks in October 1973.

Israel was on one facet of the battle, and the first nations on the opposite facet have been Egypt and Syria. Golda, as a movie, tries a little bit to deal with this controversial occasion from Israel’s historical past, however there are issues handed over or de-emphasized which will rub some viewers the incorrect method. Possibly it’s finest to depart it at that; Golda is not solely a failure, however neither is it going to be for everybody, nor really feel solely coherent/full, so far as telling a historic story is worried.

5

‘Home of Gucci’ (2021)

Directed by Ridley Scott

There are some mildly good issues that may be stated about Home of Gucci. So far as Ridley Scott motion pictures go, the person’s actually made worse. Additionally, Adam Driver is right here, and he’s all the time watchable. Plus, the remainder of the solid is made up of proficient actors, and it may be enjoyable seeing numerous them ham it up in what’s a typically campy crime film (Woman Gaga and Al Pacino do entertain, on this regard).

However Home of Gucci by no means commits totally to darkish comedy or camp, and chunk of it feels as if it is likely to be making an attempt to take itself extra severely as a criminal offense/drama movie that tells a real-life story. In that sense, and owing to the caliber of performing expertise right here, in addition to the unwaveringly lengthy runtime, this does qualify as gentle Oscar bait. However, if you could find a couple of enjoyable issues right here and there inside this overlong film, it may be typically watchable.

4

‘Maestro’ (2023)

Directed by Bradley Cooper

Few folks have so blatantly wished to win an Oscar (or a number of Oscars) fairly like Bradley Cooper did when he made Maestro. This was clearly a ardour venture for him, seeing as he co-wrote, co-produced, starred in, and directed Maestro, a daring and seemingly formidable movie all concerning the lifetime of Leonard Bernstein. It spanned years and went large in some ways, however by no means actually received to the guts of what made Bernstein such a legendary determine.

One comes away from Maestro feeling weirdly chilly about the entire thing. It’s a movie that seemingly means an important deal to Cooper himself, and you’ll perceive or coldly assess that keenness… you simply can’t actually really feel it. Ultimately, it makes Maestro really feel form of determined in a method. It’s like a good-looking and charismatic particular person regularly insisting upon their handsomeness and charisma till such insistence makes the tangible optimistic qualities diminish, if not dry up solely. If Cooper dialed every thing again a short while nonetheless placing a good quantity of effort into his subsequent movie, the Oscars could effectively come his method.

3

‘The Son’ (2022)

Directed by Florian Zeller

Youthful than Malcolm & Marie, however in some way much more forgettable, The Son was Florian Zeller’s follow-up to The Father. That 2020 movie is also described as Oscar bait, given it was all about highlighting nice performing and coping with troublesome material, but it surely was additionally a high-quality film, so its seeming want to win large on the Oscars could possibly be neglected. Actually, it was too gripping an exploration of dementia to care, and Anthony Hopkins was additionally phenomenal.

In distinction, The Son falls flat dramatically and emotionally, noticeably as a result of not all of the central performances listed here are as robust as they must be. With that weak point, flaws within the writing and directing additionally begin shining by, and so, at a degree, The Son simply form of collapses in on itself, faltering about as a lot as The Father thrived. Speak about disappointing one’s mum or dad!

2

‘Hillbilly Elegy’ (2020)

Directed by Ron Howard

Whereas it created a little bit little bit of a stir in 2020, Hillbilly Elegy ended up again on folks’s radars in 2024, because of the supply materials’s author, J.D. Vance, turning into Donald Trump’s choose for Vice-President. All that apart, although, the movie does really feel as if it’s making an attempt to be an awards contender; then as a lot as now, particularly with the lengths its two essential stars – Amy Adams and Glenn Shut – go to right here to play in opposition to sort.

Narratively, Hillbilly Elegy does additionally strive to have a look at critical points affecting America, trying on the historical past of a comparatively poor household throughout a number of generations. It’s a pretty mawkish film, in the long run, and apparently ended up being represented at each the Oscars and the Razzies, with Glenn Shut getting a Finest Supporting Actress nomination on the Oscars and a Worst Supporting Actress nomination on the Golden Raspberry Awards.

1

‘Again to Black’ (2024)

Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson

Amy Winehouse was on the middle of among the best documentaries in current occasions (2015’s Amy), and was additionally highlighted and depicted within the extra commonplace biographical movie, Again to Black (2024). The previous is clearly superior to the latter, with the second of these Winehouse motion pictures solely actually having worth as a feature-length instance of what to not do when making a film concerning the lifetime of a superb but troubled musician.

Again to Black got here out early in 2024, which might disqualify it from being thought of 100% Oscar bait, given so many motion pictures that need Academy Awards come out nearer to the Academy Awards themselves. But it surely’s unlikely anybody would’ve responded very effectively to this mess of a biopic no matter when it was finally launched. Significantly, simply watch – or rewatch – 2015’s Amy as an alternative.

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