The Cube Cinema Series continues on March 13 with The Quiet Girl, a beautiful and touching film you don’t want to miss. Doors open at 6:30pm, and the film starts at 7pm. Bring nonperishable food donations for the MSU Denver food pantry, if you can. Tickets are available at mca80238.com.

We move on to our annual Oscar column. I have reviewed the following films nominated for Best Picture in previous columns: One Battle After Another, Train Dreams, and Hamnet. I review a few others here, and several more will follow in the coming months. Read to the end for my prediction.

Sinners

This stunning film from director Ryan Coogler (Black Panther, Judas and The Black Messiah) has a great chance to take home the big prize. It has all the elements I look for in a great film, starting with a unique screenplay that echoes through solid technical aspects, including beautiful cinematography, eye-popping sets and costumes, wildly fun editing, superb acting, a fantastic score, and virtuoso directing from Coogler—one of the best current directors in the world. Michael B. Jordan gets the frontline publicity (deservedly so), but the film is the very definition of a collaboration. You’ll want to see this for many reasons.

Marty Supreme

This is a very good film with a great performance from Timothée Chalamet in the leading role. Chalamet may win the Best Acting Oscar for his frenetic performance of a bizarre and enigmatic table tennis player in the 1950s who cycles through a Forrest Gump-like odyssey. Sort of. Expertly directed by Josh Safdie and loosely based on the life of Marty Reisman, the film is a wild ride and wildly entertaining. I don’t think it’s a serious contender for Best Picture, but Chalamet is the front-runner for the acting award.

Bugonia

This is the obligatory entry from director Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things, The Favourite), with Emma Stone in the lead role. While this one may not have a shot at the big prizes, it is still a must-see for the wackiness of the story, the brilliant off-center performances, and the stinging resonances of the contemporary themes. If you are a fan of this duo, you will not be disappointed. Now streaming.

Frankenstein

Has there ever been a director more perfectly suited to film Mary Shelley’s classic book than Guillermo del Toro? The enigmatic helmsman of such horror and sci-fi blends as The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth, and Cronos lends his fairy-tale-esque touch to Shelley’s always relevant story, shaping innovative cinematic aspects intertwined with a breakout performance from Jacob Elordi as the monster and stalwart Oscar Issac as the titular doctor to craft a winner on many levels. A must-see for fans of the novel. Now playing on Netflix.

F1

This high-octane testosterone fest is a favorite for many of the technical awards, including the top prizes for cinematography, editing, and sound. The redemption story is nothing new; Brad Pitt is supported by a professional cast, including Damson Idris, Javier Bardem, Kerry Condon, and Tobias Menzies. The plot is familiar, but the sights and sounds are worth a trip around the track. Now playing on Apple TV.

I will review The Secret Agent and Sentimental Value in the coming months. Both are front-runners for Best International Feature and not expected to win the Best Picture category, although a double win is not out of the question. Watch this space for reviews of both, which are worthy contenders paying homage to different historic national cinemas and directors.

Overall, this year’s list is a diverse mix, if not the strongest batch of Oscar contenders. The Academy loves to give out “lifetime achievement awards” masquerading as Best Picture or Best Director, and that may be the case this year. The caveat is the awards will be deserved.

My predictions:

What will win: One Battle After Another

What should win: One Battle After Another

It doesn’t always work out where these two opinions match up, but it does this year. Paul Thomas Anderson will be the star of the show in the opinion of this critic.

Vincent Piturro, PhD, is a professor of film and media studies at MSU Denver. Email him directly at vpiturro@msudenver.edu. For more reviews, search The Indie Prof at FrontPorchNE.com.