The Oscars are officially over and they were just as chaotic as expected. But unlike the Academy Awards themselves, all the nominated/winning films were top-tier. If you didn’t get a chance to catch the films in cinemas (because we were in a literal pandemic) then you’re probably wondering where to watch them. Luckily, many of the Academy Award winning films are available in Australia to stream.
Nomadland
Following the economic collapse of a town in rural Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and explores an unconventional life in the vast landscape of the American West, forming unbreakable bonds with fellow nomads along the way.
Nomadland is a story of hope and resilience, which took home the Oscars for best director (Chloé Zhao), best lead actress (McDormand), and best picture.
Stream Nomadland on Disney+ when it arrives on April 30, 2021.
Promising Young Woman
Emerald Fennell rightfully took home the gong for best original screenplay for Promising Young Woman.
The dark comedy thriller stars Carey Mulligan as Cassie, a woman who everyone said was a promising young woman… until a mysterious event abruptly derailed her future.
Nothing in Cassie’s life is what it appears, though, and now an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs of the past.
Promising Young Woman is available for rent or purchase on YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.
The Father
The Father earned veteran actor Anthony Hopkins the Academy Award for best actor, as well as the Oscar for best adapted screenplay.
In this devastating film, Anthony (Hopkins) is living defiantly alone and rejecting the carers that his daughter Anne (Olivia Colman), encouragingly introduces.
But as stubborn as Anthony is, his grip on reality is beginning to slip.
The Father is showing in selected theatres across Australia now.
Another Round
I recently read Vulture‘s interview with Mads Mikkelsen about Another Round, which ends with Mads breaking out into dance. That alone is reason enough to watch film.
You can rent or buy Another Round on Google Play, Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
Judas and the Black Messiah
For his outstanding performance in Judas and the Black Messiah, Daniel Kaluuya was awarded best actor in a supporting role. During his speech, he thanked God, and his mum and dad for having sex, while his mum and sister watched on from London.
Judas and the Black Messiah is available to rent on YouTube, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom took home the gongs for the best makeup and hairstyling and best costume design.
In the film, Viola Davis starred as the legendary Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, otherwise known as the Mother of Blues. The movie is set in 1920s Chicago as tensions and temperatures rise over the course of an afternoon recording session.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom became Chadwick Boseman‘s final film after his death last year.
You can find it on Netflix.
Sound of Metal
Sound of Metal won a tiny, albeit heavy gold man for best sound and best film editing.
The film introduces us to a heavy-metal dummer, whose life is thrown into free fall when he begins to lose his hearing.
Sound of Metal is currently on Amazon Prime Video, or you can rent it on Apple TV.
Two Distant Strangers
In Two Distant Strangers, which won the Oscar for best live action short film, a man trying to return home to his dog becomes stuck in a horrible time loop that forces him to relive a deadly run-in with a cop.
Two Distant Strangers is streaming now on Netflix.
If Anything Happens I Love You
In this gut-wrenching animated film, grieving parents journey through an emotional void as they try and cope with the loss of a child after a tragic school shooting.
If Anything Happens I Love You was named best animated short film at the Oscars, and is streaming now on Netflix.
Soul
What is with animated films being sadder than live-action ones? Honestly.
Soul did pretty well at the Oscars, winning two out of its three nominated categories: best animated feature and best original score. Two big ones, hey?
You can watch (and cry over) Soul on Disney+.
Colette
When Colette Marin-Catherine was just a young girl, she fought the Nazis as a member of the French Resistance. Now in her 90s, Colette examines her past as she returns to the concentration camp where the Nazis killed her brother.
Colette won the Academy Award for best documentary short, and you can watch it in full on The Guardian.
My Octopus Teacher
In no surprise whatsoever, My Octopus Teacher won the Oscar for best documentary feature after copping rave reviews from every corner of the industry.
In it, a burnout filmmaker forges an unusual friendship with an octopus. Sounds light and fun, right? WRONG.
My Octopus Teacher is streaming now on Netflix.
Tenet
Again, in no surprise whatsoever, Tenet was awarded the Oscar for best visual effects. Shocked, I tell you, shocked!
I do not know, nor will I ever know how to describe this film. And let’s leave it at that.
Rent it on YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, or Amazon Prime Video.
Minari
Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream in the 1980s. But their new family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother.
That grandmother was played by Youn Yuh-jung, who won the best supporting actress Oscar for her performance and managed to shoot her shot with Brad Pitt during her acceptance speech. Not to mention, she’s also the first Korean actor to win an Oscar. Love her work.
Minari will be available for purchase on Apple TV come May 19.
Mank
Director David Fincher turns the spotlight on 1930s Hollywood in Mank, which won the Oscars for best cinematography and production design.
Mank is streaming now on Netflix.
