Welcome to Best Picture Madness where I make a bracket to help me pick which film deserves the most prestigious movie award. I pit the movies head-to-head and decide on a winner. Let’s begin!
Round 1
Frankenstein vs. The Secret Agent
I’m giving The Secret Agent the edge in this matchup. It meandered a lot and didn’t follow traditional story telling techniques, but it was way nicer to look at. I felt like I was transported to 70s Brazil, whereas Frankenstein looked stunning at times but plain awful at others. It had the “Netflix sheen” that so many modern movies have and that I despise. The looming tension and suspense of The Secret Agent were better than the frustration I felt watching Victor Frankenstein get a redemption arc.
Winner: The Secret Agent
Train Dreams vs. Sentimental Value
This one is trickier. Every frame of Train Dreams is a work of art. I love the natural landscapes and sitting around the fire listening to grizzled William H. Macy or grizzled Will Patton telling a story.
Sentimental Value reminds me of Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House and Disney’s Onward in how older siblings can imperfectly yet admirably fill the gap left by a parent. For some reason, that storyline gets me every time. Across the board, the actors in Sentimental Value are acting the heck out of every scene. It’s a beautiful movie that feels like a gift made with great care.
Winner: Sentimental Value
Quarterfinal
Bugonia vs. Marty Supreme
These two movies. I enjoyed neither of them although I respect the impressive craft on display in each. In Bugonia, Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons are acting juggernauts and their scenes rip as they trade blows. In Marty Supreme, the constant, spiraling chaos left me grimacing and rooting against the main character.
Both are insane and shocking and unbelievable as the characters sabotage themselves at every turn. I give Marty the edge for the stunning production design and the better bee scene that will stick with me like honey on a hairy chest.
Winner: Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another vs. Hamnet
Don’t make me do this. I love these movies for completely different reasons. After watching One Battle After Another I wanted to stand up and whoop “Yes! Movies! Viva la revolucion!” and then go hug my children. After Hamnet I wanted to weep, start the movie over again, and go hug my children. One Battle After Another is a tense thrill ride, Hamnet is a test of how much grief I can witness before the catharsis. I want to road trip with Bob Ferguson and Sensei Sergio and “a few small beers”; I want to gather mugwort with Agnes the forest witch and recite The Nine Herbs Charm.
It comes down to this for me: I’m keeping my heart open for Hamnet. Jessie Buckley gives the greatest performance I’ve ever seen. This is a movie I’ll rewatch in 10 years and be transported through time to November 23rd, 2025, and the feelings I had in that movie theater as hands reached out to bridge the gap of life and death.
Winner: Hamnet
Sentimental Value vs. F1
It’s hilarious that I’m comparing these two but that’s the absurdity of movie awards in a nutshell. I can’t deny F1 as a crowd pleaser that I’ve seen multiple times and enjoy each time. The story is a Hollywood template that has been reused over and over and always works. The music and sound are propulsive. It’s edited really well.
Sentimental Value by a landslide.
Winner: Sentimental Value
The Secret Agent vs. Sinners
Another unfair comparison as these are doing completely different things and speaking in entirely different film languages. As period pieces, Sinners is hyper-stylized and The Secret Agent is going for something more grounded. Sinners crescendos while The Secret Agent doesn’t seem concerned with building to a climactic moment.
Sinners brings the energy and delivers its message passionately. It won me over 11 months ago and never let up.
Winner: Sinners
Semifinal
Sentimental Value vs. Hamnet
I like pairing these two together: Dads who fail to express themselves adequately except through art. Dads who miss major events in their family’s lives because they’re out making art. The women who are holding it all together.
These are portraits of grief and healing that don’t have easy answers and are impossible to sum up in a few paragraphs. I adore them both. I’m being forced to choose one.
Winner: Hamnet
Sinners vs. Marty Supreme
Sorry, Marty Supreme. You’re extraordinary but you’re no Sinners.
Winner: Sinners
Championship
Sinners vs. Hamnet
I feel great about this final matchup. Ryan Coogler is a modern Shakespeare who keeps his heart open. Chloe Zhao is a brewer of cinematic alchemy making sure everyone has their mojo.
“There are legends of people born with the gift of making music1 so true it can pierce the veil between life and death, conjuring spirits from the past and the future.”
That line comes from Sinners, but it can also be said of Hamnet. Both speak directly to my soul and connect me to higher, spiritual powers.
Tiebreaker: Which film has the higher body count of racist Klan members?
The best picture of 2025 is Sinners.
What is your Best Picture pick?
Thanks for reading,
Kyle
To me, “making music” doesn’t have to be literal music, but can be any art or collaborative act of creation.
Amazing. That early match up between Hamnet and OBAA hurt.