As movie lovers around the world eagerly await the results from the 96th Academy Awards on March 10, film critic and UQ alum Matt Toomey (Bachelor of Commerce ’98) shares his take on the must-see movies this awards season.

We live in an era when major Hollywood studios play it increasingly safe with sequels, reboots, and established universes. In 2022, the top 10 movies at the US box-office all fit into that description (Elvis was the highest original film in 12th place). The last original movie to top the annual global box-office was Frozen in 2013.

Few therefore could have predicted what transpired in 2023. From mid-July, cinemas across the world were packed with people wanting to see a movie based on a 1950s kids fashion doll, that utilised 10 different hues of pink, and a movie centered on an American physicist developing an atomic bomb that clocked in at an epic 180 minutes.

Released on the same date (20 July 2023) here in Australia, Barbie and Oppenheimer became 2 of the 3 highest grossing movies of the year (The Super Mario Bros. Movie was the other). Barbie reeled in over $1.4 billion globally, while Oppenheimer came in a shade under the $1 billion mark. In the decades to come, people will still look back and refer to the cultural phenomenon that was ‘Barbenheimer’.

Read more: How does Barbie stack up to the feminist ideals of 2023?

The same 2 films get to fight a new battle at the upcoming Academy Awards and, this time, it’s Oppenheimer that will take the crown. Director Christopher Nolan has wowed audiences over the past 2 decades with intense blockbusters such as The Dark Knight, Inception, and Interstellar. In transitioning from action to drama with Oppenheimer, it provides an opportunity for Nolan to be recognised with his first Academy Award and is reminiscent of what Steven Spielberg did in winning for Schindler’s List in 1993.

This year’s Oscars ceremony will take place on Sunday 10 March and, since almost everyone on the planet has now seen Barbie and Oppenheimer, I thought I’d recommend a few of the lesser-known titles that are equally worthy of your attention.

1. Anatomy of a Fall

Anatomy of a Fall (currently in Australian cinemas) is an unforgettable French drama that won the top prize at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. A woman is on trial for her husband's murder and it's as if we, as the audience, are members of the jury trying to decide if she committed the crime. It’s a riveting character study that shows how a facial expression or turn of phrase can be used to judge someone, rightly or wrongly.  Nominated for 5 Oscars including best picture, best director, and best actress (Sandra Hüller).

2. The Holdovers

The Holdovers (currently in Australian cinemas) is an exquisitely told tale. Marking the first period piece film by director Alexander Payne (Sideways), it's a 1970s college tale about 3 ‘broken’ people forced to spend the Christmas holidays together. Humour and drama are skillfully blended through well-written one-liners, and expressive faces. If you love a stingingly good insult, this is a must see!  Nominated for 5 Oscars including best picture, best actor (Paul Giamatti), and best supporting actress (Da’Vine Joy Randolph – she can’t lose).

3. The Zone of Interest

The Zone of Interest (currently in Australian cinemas) is set in 1943 and is centered on the Nazi family who lived in the 2-story home which bordered the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.  It’s hard to watch this and not feel its deliberate coldness. Folks make innocuous small talk in the backyard garden while smoke billows from furnaces in the background. With distinctive cinematography and sound, it’s the kind of movie that makes you think about events back then… and events today. Nominated for 5 Oscars including best picture, best director, and best sound (great to see it nominated there).

4. Past Lives

Past Lives (now available to rent on streaming platforms) is a sensational romantic drama set in New York City, which highlights both the simplicity and complexity of the human condition. First-time writer-director Celine Song enhances the already great material with a brilliant cast, a beautiful film score, and the use of long, unedited takes during key conversations. Nominated for 2 Oscars including best picture.

5. May December

May December (currently in Australian cinemas) is a sensational film about a Hollywood starlet (Natalie Portman) who befriends a convicted pedophile schoolteacher (Julianne Moore) to work out how best to play her in a new movie. On one hand, it’s a thought-provoking drama about an unthinkable family unit. On the other, it’s an uncomfortable thriller about the way such stories are exploited for financial gain. Nominated for best original screenplay.