20 Best & Worst Movies From 2018 Oscar Nominees

The wheat and the chaff of this year's auspicious crop...

Woody Harrelson People Vs Larry Flynt
Columbia Pictures

As it always does, the world of film will pause this weekend to look towards an Academy of old men entrusted with unofficially annointing the "best" of the last twelve months. Or at least watch them make outrageous mistakes that will make everyone wonder why we get so excited every year about their little golden statues.

They're moving in the right direction, at least, but it would be fair to say that we need to see more diverse categories in the coming year and more acknowledgement of some less obvious films and performances. The Academy needs to recognise its place in encouraging difference and progress.

This year's crop of nominated actors is as talented as ever, with regular faces like Daniel Day-Lewis, Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep mixed with newcomers like Timothée Chalamet and Daniel Kaluuya, and there is at least slightly more diversity than the past. But crucially, the performances are all worthy of inclusion as well. That remains the paramount concern for the Academy.

There's a good chance that some of these actors will win for the best performances of their careers to date, but at this time of year it's also nice to bring them all thudding to Earth with a reminder of their worst work as well...

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