What Are We Watching? Oscars 2025 Edition

In honor of the 97th Academy Awards ceremony taking place on March 2, we decided to discuss which nominated films we loved the most. You’ll be surprised which film each partner chose, but you’ll definitely want to grab a ticket and head to your local cinema to check each film out!

‍

‍RUFUS

Over the summer we took our kids to THE WILD ROBOT at the 4DX REGAL CINEMAS in Union Square. While at first I was a little disturbed by the water spray and shaking seats, 30-minutes into the film I was hooked. The film is an exploration of the power of community and love to transcend the boundaries of speciation and tribalism. To see it in a theater was just the right move — hearing all those downtown kids’ gasps and shrieks (and for many of us, crying through the more heartwrenching scenes) — was a reminder of how stories can make us all feel closer together.

‍

MIGUEL

I loved every minute of THE SUBSTANCE, a true "they don't make 'em like that anymore" instant classic fairytale with a superlative screenplay, cinematography, and projectile bodily fluids. Cheering for the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and especially Best Actor Demi Moore Oscar nominations. Thrilled that this movie, which crosses a certain threshold into niche Bad Taste-style cinema heretofore unrecognized, is packing theaters. 

‍

‍MICHAEL

This month my household is watching WICKED — again and again and again — because since taking her to see it in theaters, my eight-year old daughter has been obsessed! And to be honest, I don’t mind one bit. Because beyond the truly extraordinary performances and candy-colored worldbuilding, WICKED is a timely lesson to her that fascism often disguises itself in forms that can appear benign, even cartoonish… Now hand me some tissues because Elphaba just arrived at the Ozdust Ballroom.

‍
‍

COREY

NO OTHER LAND is a nominee for Best Feature Length Documentary. It was made by a Palestinian and Israeli collective that shows the destruction of Palestinian homes in the West Bank at the hands of the Israeli military and settlers, when Israel decided that the land these people have lived on and loved for generations is now a military training zone. (I could not help but draw a parallel between this story and the so-called "Cop Cities" currently being built all over the United States.) The film shows the brutal truth of the apartheid system in the West Bank as well as the complacency of the mainstream media to ignore the story that these incredibly brave filmmakers are telling. In fact, despite the film's Oscar nomination, they cannot get distribution in the US so they are distributing it themselves. So go see NO OTHER LAND! It's playing in theaters and if you're in NYC, catch it at Film Forum through May 10th.

‍

MATT

Many people told me I'd like A REAL PAIN and they were right! I enjoyed both Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg's performances, and the general simplicity of the film. It's a great combination of sadness and humor, which go hand-in-hand perfectly.

ADRIAN

One particular film nominated exceeded my expectations and that was NOSFERATU. Robert Eggers upscaled this classic in ways I never thought possible. The end scene haunts my dreams. In my opinion that film is a masterclass in how to do a reboot.

‍

‍