The 2021 Oscar nominations were announced Monday morning, which means it’s time to catch up with as many nominated films as possible before the awards ceremony on Sunday, April 25. While a few of the nominees are currently in theaters (“The Father,” and “Judas and the Black Messiah,” post-HBO Max streaming window), there are plenty of nominated films on streaming services, so here’s a guide to furnish your watchlists.
Netflix picked up the most noms for a streamer, with David Fincher’s behind-the-scenes look at “Citizen Kane,” “Mank,” picking up Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress and Best Actor nominations, as well as several technical and craft nominations. Aaron Sorkin’s “The Trial of Chicago 7” earned Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor nominations, as well as a nomination for the screenplay. Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman were both honored with nominations for their performances in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” which also earned a couple of nominations for craft. Vanessa Kirby also received a Best Actress nomination for the family drama “Pieces of a Woman.”
The Netflix comedy “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga” also picked up a nomination, for best song, for the big ballad “Husavik.” In the documentary category, “My Octopus Teacher” surprised with a nomination, and the inspiring “Crip Camp” was also recognized.
On Amazon Prime, do not miss the incredibly special film “Sound of Metal,” about a rock musician grappling with the reality of losing his hearing. Star Riz Ahmed was nominated for Best Actor, while Paul Raci, who was born to deaf parents and plays one of the stewards into deaf culture for Ahmed’s character Ruben, earned a deserved Best Supporting Actor nom. The film also made it into the Best Picture and Screenplay categories.
Also on Amazon Prime, Regina King’s debut “One Night in Miami” garnered nominations for Leslie Odom Jr.’s performance as well as his song, “Speak Now.” Garrett Bradley’s remarkable documentary “Time” was awarded with a Best Documentary nomination. The film is a lovingly crafted patchwork including home movies recorded by Fox Rich during the decades that her husband was incarcerated. It’s a portrait of pure love and devotion within the brutality of the carceral state.
Sacha Baron Cohen’s outrageous sequel “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, and managed to receive nominations for Maria Bakalova in Best Supporting Actress and Adapted Screenplay.
On Hulu, stream Chloe Zhao’s France McDormand-starring look at American life on the fringes, “Nomadland,” which earned Best Picture, Best Actress and a Best Director nomination for Zhao, the first woman of color ever nominated, and nominated alongside another woman (Emerald Fennell, “Promising Young Woman”) for the first time. Best Actress nominee Andra Day stars as the legendary jazz singer in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” also now on Hulu.
The other highly nominated films included Lee Isaac Chung’s gorgeous Korean American homesteading tale “Minari,” and Fennell’s daring rape-revenge film “Promising Young Woman.” Both films earned Best Picture and Director nominations and acting nominations for Steven Yeun and Youn Yuh-jung in “Minari,” and Carey Mulligan as the titular promising young woman. Both of those films are available to rent for a premium video on demand price, on your digital rental platform of choice.
