Oscars 2025 Watchlist #1

Best Motion Picture of the Year:
Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe & Denis Villeneuve

Best Sound:
Gareth John, Richard King, Ron Bartlett & Doug Hemphill

Best Achievement in Visual Effects:
Paul Lambert, Stephen James, Rhys Salcombe & Gerd Nefzer

Best Achievement in Cinematography:
Greig Fraser

Best Achievement in Production Design:
Shane Vieau (set decorator) & Patrice Vermette (production designer)

Very much took this as an excuse to finally pop in my 4K Blu-ray. As of now, this is my favourite Best Picture nominee, but I'm still a few shy from seeing them all. 'Dune: Part 2' is feat of spectacle and storytelling. Where the first feels very slow, this feels like the reward; after sitting through all the set-up, here is the magnificent pay-off. And while it certainly is a middle chapter of a larger story, it functions very well as it's own standalone piece. For all the nominations, I think it's wholly deserving and should've gotten more. Best Original Score, Best Lead and ing, Best Film Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay and most notably, Best Directing. It's outrageous how overlooked this was because it wasn't released in the last months of the year. I love this film, will continue to champion it throughout the season.