2024 Movies That Should've Been Oscar Contenders
Plus: We podcast about Michael Mann's Thief for the DYLA Movie Club
Every year when the Oscar nominees are announced we always have a bone to pick with the Academy. In fact, we have been doing the “shoulda been an Oscar contender” edition of the newsletter since way back in 2019! The idea is to shout out a movie from last year that got zero Oscar nominations but deserved to be represented. We’ve got two very worthy 2024 movies that we loved for you this week.
Drew recommends…
Rebel Ridge
Netflix action-thrillers are a dime a dozen these days, but there are always exceptions that stand above the rest. This isn’t an entirely fair label for Rebel Ridge, which has smarter, loftier ambitions than your run-of-the-mill streaming actioner. Written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier (Green Room, Blue Ruin), this is the rare Netflix-distributed thriller that can both entertain and educate.
A black man is on his bike riding through rural Louisiana when two white police officers in a cruiser clip him from behind, sending him crashing to the pavement. This provocative scene opens Rebel Ridge, a smart and taut film that both fulfills and complicates the expectations laid by this introduction. It turns out the man, Terry (Aaron Pierre), is a former Marine on his way to post bail for his cousin, but now his bail money has been seized by the police and he decides to face off against this small town force led by its corrupt police chief played by Don Johnson.
Saulnier is known for his gripping, edge-of-your-seat action and suspense, and Rebel Ridge is no different. Along with Pierre’s star-making (an overused term, but apt here) performance, there are a couple of knockout sequences where time seems to stand still, including one where the cops find out just a little too late the nature of Terry’s Marine background and training. Let’s just say he has a very particular set of skills that make him a nightmare for people like them.
While Rebel Ridge is extremely watchable as a piece of entertainment, Saulnier adds in intelligent and layered writing that highlights the injustice of civil forfeiture, a process in which law enforcement can take assets from people who are suspected of criminal involvement without ever charging them with anything. While this is a fictional movie, this type of scenario is all too relevant, which gives Rebel Ridge a timely urgency. And while there’s no doubt the audience is on Terry’s side, Saulnier’s writing – which should’ve been considered for Best Original Screenplay – examines the external pressures on all parties that could create this environment. Rebel Ridge is one of the only streaming movies in 2024 that belonged in the Oscars conversation, but unfortunately its existence on Netflix probably held it back from ever having a chance.
Streaming on Netflix
Billy recommends…
Challengers
Every year I try to remove myself from the emotion that comes with seeing one of my favorite movies be snubbed at the Oscars. And then the most layup of all layups in a nomination was snubbed. NOT EVEN THE SCORE!? You’re telling me the score that had me smoking my elbow against the arch way in my home when aggressively dancing at my dog while “Challengers: Match Point” was blaring doesn’t deserve a nomination?
Challengers was the most rewarding experience this year, a mid-budget star-studded tennis drama with box office appeal feels like a lock. Especially in a year that is looking for a film to be the marquee identifier. A sexy, tension-filled romp that shows an incredible amount of restraint when everyone thought it was gonna go more explicit. Zendaya continues her masterful picking of projects, working with some of the best talent, and enhancing all of her co-stars around her. Josh O’Connor being the biggest benefactor from her power. And that is why I am mystified by the lack of Oscar attention. So much of what the Oscars claims to want is here and yet it is seen as lesser.
Ultimately, this is where I have landed: The Oscars hate directors that work consistently and have their own identity. Luca Guadagnino had the writers/actors strike work against him with Challengers being pushed from 2023 to 2024, leading to two movies (Queer being the other) this year. Challengers didn’t have the hype of being a “life's work” in The Brutalist way. Or a film festival darling like Emilia Perez or Anora. It is uniquely a Luca movie. Not surprising enough for the voting body that has already given Luca some nomination love in years past. With all the controversies surrounding this year's nominations we could have had a steady presence of something like Challengers. In response I will be eating churros suggestively playing mediocre tennis, and injuring myself again while moshing in my house to “Challengers: Match Point.”
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
DYLA Podcast
In the latest edition of the DYLA Movie Club, we broke down Thief, Michael Mann’s neo-noir heist movie. James Caan plays an expert safecracker that plans to take one last job from a dangerous Chicago gangster before he retires with the life he wants.
We talk through the story, characters, themes, and key figures behind this influential 1981 film. We also discuss how Thief works in the heist genre, other great Chicago movies, and some behind the scenes stories. Watch Thief and then listen in on the discussion!
Apple Podcasts:
Spotify: