Must-watch films of 2022 that were snubbed at the Oscars

The Oscar nominees announced for this year by the Academy featured some stellar names and a few surprise omissions. Films such as Aftersun, despite receiving rave reviews garnered only a single nomination, whereas a few other films such as The Woman King, The Northman, and Nope were shockingly deprived of any nominations this year. So for today’s List hai toh hit hai we have curated a list of critically-acclaimed films that were overlooked by the Academy but surely deserve a watch.

The Northman (Prime Video)

The Viking saga by Robert Eggers The Northman released in early 2022, was well received by critics for its unique cinematography and unconventional screenplay. It’s quite reasonable why it may have been snubbed for Best Picture and other major categories, considering the immense number of compelling films released in 2022. However, it is almost incomprehensible why the film, featuring a stellar cast of Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Claes Bang, and Ethan Hawke, has been snubbed for all Oscar categories such as sound design, costume design, visuals, and cinematography.

Nope (Prime Video)

Comedian Jordan Peele has firmly established his credentials as a filmmaker of considerable craft in recent years with critically-acclaimed hits such as Get Out and Us. His third film, Nope, yet again impressed audiences and critics alike with its eerie sci-fi tones, elevated by its remarkable sound design and visuals. And for some reason which we cannot comprehend, the Academy has entirely snubbed Peele’s film, starring Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer. Surely deserved to be considered for atleast the technical categories, what do you think?

Barbarian (Disney+ Hotstar)

Zach Cregger's directorial debut feature, Barbarian, is arguably the best horror film of 2022. The film explores themes such as abuse and trauma with nuance, and more importantly, without negating the horror/thriller aspect of the narrative. While the Academy has always been reluctant to recognise horror/thrillers for their annual honours, they could’ve made an exception for the Barbarian. They could have considered the film for Best Original Screenplay or even Best Original Score as it is the film’s score that actually contributes to its overall eerie mood.

Decision to Leave (Mubi)

Korean films and K-dramas have become a rage across the globe in recent years. Despite gaining a cult following, for some, Korean films and TV shows are often dismissed as little more than those that cater to our guilty pleasures. However, Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, considered a master of his craft with universally acclaimed films such as Joint Security Area, Oldboy, and The Handmaiden surely deserves more credit. His latest film Decision to Leave, a gripping romantic drama against the backdrop of a murder mystery, was universally well-received. However, the film failed to receive a single nomination for the Oscars this year.

Prey (Disney+ Hotstar)

The Predator franchise went from being a cult classic to translating to forgettable B-grade action flicks that don’t deserve a second watch over the years. But the latest soft reboot Prey has revitalised an ailing franchise with its unique setting and engrossing narrative. Set in 18th century America, the film revolves around a young warrior of the Comanche Nation named Naru. She inadvertently becomes the protector of her tribe against a highly evolved extraterrestrial hunter. The film explores themes of feminism, colonialism, imperialism, and self-discovery, and cinematographer Jeff Cutter’s sharp lens ensures the proceedings pack the precise mood required in every scene. So it comes to us as a shock that the film failed to garner even a single nomination even for its remarkable technical prowess.

Thirteen Lives (Prime Video)

The Thai cave rescue mission of 2018 was widely covered by the global media and it should come as no surprise that the events were later adapted into a film. But unlike several films about real-life events, Thirteen Lives directed by Ron Howard is a compelling film that offers incredible insight into the remarkable rescue mission. But unfortunately, it was not enough to impress the Academy as the film starring Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton, and Tom Bateman did not receive a single Oscar nomination for any of the categories.

Moonage Daydream (Zee5 rental, Prime Video rental)

Moonage Daydream, the documentary based on the legendary musician David Bowie and directed by Brett Morgen is undoubtedly one of the most incisive documentaries about any musical artiste in recent years. The fact that it features unreleased footage of Bowie and some of his final performances is reason enough for it to be a compelling watch. However, for some reason it wasn’t considered worth celebrating by the Academy and it did not receive any nominations this year.

The Woman King (unavailable)

Hands down, the biggest Oscar snub of the year has to be The Woman King. The film is about an all-female warrior unit in West Africa in the 1800s and features a riveting performance by Viola Davis. Most critics believed that the film was destined for major awards when it first released. However, the Gina Prince-Bythewood film failed to impress the jury at the Academy and did not receive a single nomination for the Oscars.

Well that's the OTTplay List hai toh hit hai episode , until the next time it's your host Nikhil signing out.

Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho

• Written by Ryan Gomez