I last posted on the seven best picture nominated movies I had seen. I have since seen American Fiction and Zone of Interest. The best movie nominees are out. Past Lives is so obscure I may never see it.

American Fiction is really misleading in the trailer. It is more of a family story than a story about trickery in book publishing. But it is a very good family story. I didn’t care for the ending but overall it was worth the trip and I can see it being part of the Big Ten.

Zone of Interest also belongs. Watching kids having a swimming party underneath at wall next to a concentration camp with guns going of and shouting and screaming in the distance sounds very weird.

Well the movie is weird but good weird in the way in focuses on the family whose daddy is in charge of the camp living in bliss next to it. Disgusting but not boring.

So my new countdown order is:

9. Maestro. Didn’t like it at all. A movie about a fascinating man that isn’t really about his accomplishments at all. And the smoking is so prevalent it is distracting. I expected the last puff to match the last breath on his wife.

8. Barbie. Very well made and it has its moments. Just not all that engaging to me.

7. Killers of the Flower Moon. Good movie but far from great movie. Watching De Niro mug and Leonardo portray a cretin for almost four hours doesn’t do that much for me. The female lead was terrific.

6. American Fiction.

5. Zone of Interest.

Here’s where things get interesting. Anatomy of a Fall was a wonderful movie. Can’t wait to see it again. Loved everything about Holdovers. Already watched it twice. Poor Things is an original movie that had me from the start. Also look forward to seeing it again. And Oppenheimer deserves all the accolades it is getting.

But put my feet to the fire and………….

4. Oppenheimer. The section on the first atomic explosion is some of finest filmmaking I’ve ever scene. On the edge of your seat stuff. I thought the hearings dragged a bit and made for a less than exciting final section.

3. Anatomy of a Fall.

2. Poor Things.

1. Holdovers. It had it all for me.