20 Best & Worst Movies From 2019 Oscar Nominees

Basically, do not watch Cook Off!

By Simon Gallagher /

Lionsgate Premiere

2019's Oscar story might be one defined by controversies far more than acknowledgements of excellence, but at least they haven't given an award to the wrong person or something. Yet.

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Sure, there's been the issues with the Popular Film category, the hosts and some awards initially being shunted into the ad breaks harshly, but we should also remember this as the year Roma was nominated. As the year Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was nominated. As the year Black Panther got a Best Film nod. The times they are a-changing. Just don't let the sh*tstorm happening around it put you off.

As with every year, the Awards in 2019 are set to reward the very best performances of the year, with newcomers and awards veterans lining up together to admire Sam Elliott's moustache possibly. And while some of those actors will be rewarded for career best work, it's worth examining whether any have been better. Plus, for balance, let's also look at when they were terrible...

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20. Emma Stone

Summit Entertainment

Best: La La Land (2016)

Emma Stone is one of those double threats in that her charm is easily matched by her acting ability. She's infinitely watchable, accessible and relatable no matter the material, so hanging sympathetic characters on her works a charm. That's very much the case with La La Land, which soars on Stone's chemistry with Ryan Gosling (which we'd already seen in Crazy Stupid Love) and her ability to sell the pathos of her character's condition.

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She's an idealistic and a romantic who finds that her dreams cannot coexist with those of her love and watching that realisation - and then the fantasy of their life together - hurts so much because of Stone's reactions primarily.

Worst: Movie 43 (2013)

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Movie 43 might well go down as one of the worst movies ever made and honestly, anyone who chose to take any part in it deserves all the criticism they'll continue to get until something worse comes along. Stone is one of those unlucky participants, somehow roped into the disaster and it's awful to watch.