Oscars 2022: Every Best Picture Nominee Ranked
2. Drive My Car
The Academy nominating a three-hour Japanese drama about grief and theatre for Best Picture was definitely not what anyone expecting this year, but it's happened - and rightly so - thanks to Ryusuke Hamaguchi's haunting Drive My Car.
The story of a sombre theatre actor who must grapple with a series of increasingly devastating personal losses, Hamaguchi's thesis on trauma, regret, and mourning is far from an easy watch, what with its imposing runtime and confrontational themes, but it's one that's executed so seamlessly that its horrors envelope you.
Anchored by its patient script and a harrowing performance from its star Hidetoshi Nishijima, Drive My Car makes for a unique exploration of love and loss, and one destined to stay with you long after its unforgettable conclusion.
Despite the harrowing beauty of Hamaguchi's vision, though, his tough-to-follow masterpiece Drive My Car still isn't quite the strongest Best Picture nominee of the year...