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First LookHe survived Hiroshima. What did he think of 鈥極ppenheimer鈥�?鈥淥ppenheimer,鈥� the film about the American scientist who invented the nuclear weapons that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki 79 years ago, opened in Japanese theaters March 29, to mixed reactions and strong emotions.
First LookSeven Oscars for 鈥極ppenheimer,鈥� a fittingly foreboding film for the timesChristopher Nolan鈥檚 鈥淥ppenheimer鈥� swept the Academy Awards show with seven wins, including the Oscar for best picture. The awards show was shadowed by the backdrop of wars in Gaza and Ukraine, with pro-Palestinian protests outside the Dolby Theatre.
鈥楾he Lily Gladstone effect鈥�: Will Native actors get boost at Oscars?If Lily Gladstone wins an Academy Award for her performance in 鈥淜illers of the Flower Moon,鈥� she would be the first Native woman to receive an Oscar. Before her, there was a century of work that tended to go unrecognized.
First LookHat trick: How Oppenheimer鈥檚 iconic topper made it to the screenTo fans of the film, nothing quite says 鈥淥ppenheimer鈥� like the porkpie crown on Cillian Murphy鈥檚 head. That piece of Hollywood history came courtesy of the hat whisperer Mark Mejia, who has been working with costume designers for more than 30 years.
In a year of meaningful roles, who deserves an Oscar?These actors fully embodied their roles, from an Osage survivor to a grieving mother to ... Ken.
鈥楢merican Fiction,鈥� Black culture, and the nature of joyWhether it鈥檚 Blaxploitation, blackface, or navigating the arts space in a country and world not truly honest about their racial past, the duality of being funny and sad 鈥� think the iconic comedy and tragedy masks 鈥� means something different in the Black experience.
鈥楧une: Part Two鈥�: Sandworms, slick villains, and a would-be savior鈥淒une: Part Two鈥� arrives almost 2 1/2 years after the first installment. With the possible exception of 鈥淟awrence of Arabia,鈥� our film critic writes, he鈥檚 never seen so much sand in one movie.
Lyrical, harrowing 鈥業o Capitano鈥� offers epic immigration taleHow far would someone go to have a better life? Italy鈥檚 Oscar nominee offers an immigration story that features searing realism 鈥� and resilience.聽聽
Beauty and the feast: Savoring 鈥楾he Taste of Things鈥�What happens when you combine sumptuous food with a tender drama? French film 鈥淭he Taste of Things鈥� features one of the most romantic movie moments our critic has ever seen.
鈥楶erfect Days鈥� asks, what constitutes a happy life?What does it mean to live a life of meaning? Wim Wenders鈥� new film argues for the importance of moments.
Oscars go global: Most international best picture lineup in historyFor the first time, two international films have been nominated for best picture. And every nominee for best documentary feature is international, another first.
First LookFantasies and epics: Oscar nominations celebrate whimsy and scope鈥淥ppenheimer鈥� topped Oscar contenders with 13 nominations, followed by 鈥淧oor Things鈥� with 11 nominations. Martin Scorsese鈥檚 dark Western, 鈥淜illers of the Flower Moon,鈥� received 10 nominations, and Greta Gerwig鈥檚 near-musical 鈥淏arbie鈥� received 8.
From 鈥榃onka鈥� to war: The 10 best films of 2023Our critic鈥檚 Top 10 list for 2023 features contenders outside typical studio fare 鈥� ones that offer new perspectives on war and fabulous finds for foodies.
The Candy Man can: 鈥榃onka鈥� is scrumpdiddlyumptiousThe cheery prequel 鈥淲onka鈥� imagines the origin story of Roald Dahl鈥檚 chocolatier while celebrating 鈥渢he knockabout joys of unfettered high spirits,鈥� our critic says.聽
鈥楾he Zone of Interest鈥� asks us to consider the unthinkableWhat lessons lie in a Nazi officer鈥檚 effort to create an idyllic family life? 鈥淭he Zone of Interest鈥� juxtaposes the Arcadian and the hellish in what the Monitor鈥檚 critic says is the most powerful film he鈥檚 seen this year.
鈥楢merican Fiction鈥� asks: What, in our society, should a Black writer be?Full of serious-minded humor, 鈥淎merican Fiction鈥� uses satire to poke at both race and publishing in America. Will the film change the discourse on either one?
鈥楪odzilla Minus One鈥�: How a 70-year-old monster stays evergreenSetting a new record for Japanese live-action films, 鈥淕odzilla Minus One鈥� has become the highest-grossing foreign language film of 2023, with a global take of $52 million after two weeks.
Bring your appetite: Wiseman鈥檚 latest film is a feast for the eyesIn Frederick Wiseman鈥檚 latest documentary, he trains his lens on a family-run French restaurant. Besides being a delight for foodies, says the Monitor鈥檚 film critic, it鈥檚 also a moving commentary on life.聽
They can鈥檛 all be Scrooge: How holiday films shineAs two Christmas classics turn 20, we鈥檙e reminded of the genre鈥檚 true gifts. More than making you laugh or cry, good holiday films often reinforce that life has meaning.
At the 100-year mark, Disney offers nostalgia, hope, and 鈥榃ish鈥�Disney鈥檚 latest animated offering leans heavily on references to a century鈥檚 worth of prior films. Our columnist suggests that the retelling of familiar narratives helps people 鈥� motivating them to work together for common goals.