Top 10 Most Anticipated Films for the Upcoming 2022 Oscars

In the independent film CODA, the four members of the Rossi family can't hear each other's voices, but their emotions have never faded. Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones), born into a unique family where both parents and her brother are deaf. As the only one who can hear, she becomes the interpreter, using sign language to communicate with her family.

The Rossi family makes a living by fishing in the city of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Every morning before going to school, Ruby goes out to sea with her father and brother, then she negotiates prices with local traders. At school, due to her liking for a boy, Ruby joins the choir. Recognizing her talent, the singing teacher encourages her to pursue the arts at Berklee. This means Ruby has to leave her family, the only connection they have to the outside world. Similar to Sound Of Metal (2020), but the film is not heavy on tragedy. The script, written by director Sian Heder, is a remake of the French film La Famille Bélier (2014), incorporating many humorous situations and dialogues to guide the story. In the 111-minute duration, the director blends various genres from coming-of-age to family melodrama, a bit of High School Musical music, and high school romance from The Kissing Booth. Based on familiar elements in American cinema, Sian Heder shapes it into a work with a unique touch, surprising from start to finish. The title CODA is an abbreviation for child of deaf adults, referring to a normal child raised by at least one deaf person, in the film, Ruby.

King Richard, starring Will Smith, is based on the true story of the legendary tennis efforts of Venus and Serena Williams.

King Richard has received six Oscar nominations in 2022, including Best Picture, Outstanding Lead Actor (Will Smith), Outstanding Supporting Actress (Aunjanue Ellis), Outstanding Original Screenplay, Outstanding Editing, and Best Song in a Film (Be Alive - Beyonce). The project marks the return of Will Smith, a strong candidate for the Best Actor category, since Gemini Man (2019). King Richard follows the journey of Richard Williams, the father who nurtured and trained two talented athletes to become tennis champions. Set in the 1990s in Compton, South Los Angeles, a predominantly African-American neighborhood, the film captures the early years of Venus and Serena Williams' tennis careers. During the day, Richard and his two daughters train on public tennis courts. At night, he works as a security guard at a local market to cover the living expenses for the seven members of the household. He spends time going to wealthy tennis courts to showcase his daughters' talents to coaches but faces rejection and even mockery. Holding onto his belief, the father takes his two girls to the training court of coach Paul Cohen (Tony Goldwin) for guidance. However, only Venus receives a nod from the coach, eventually winning the Junior Tennis Championship.

Disagreeing with Cohen, Richard seeks out Rick Macci (Jon Bernthal), the coach of professional tennis player Jennifer Capriati. From there, Richard and Rick provide skill support for Venus. Richard's wife, Oracene Williams (Aunjanue Ellis), is a strong support system, providing encouragement for her husband and daughters.

Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) and Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett) form a deceitful duo, manipulating the minds of others in Nightmare Alley. The latest work of director Guillermo Del Toro, the mastermind behind the success of The Shape of Water, which won four Oscars in 2018. At this year's Oscar ceremony, Nightmare Alley has received four nominations, including Best Picture.

Nightmare Alley follows the journey of Stanton Carlisle (played by Bradley Cooper), a charming young man. Leaving behind a mysterious past, Stanton joins a peculiar circus, where he learns and hones his skills through keen observation and eloquence. After leaving the circus, fate leads him to Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett), a psychiatrist. Together, they plan and execute daring schemes using their ability to manipulate the minds of others. Stanton is not entirely portrayed as a villain; he carries within him wounds and traumas from the past. Driven by insecurities, Stanton desires control over everything, especially the human mind, using the sense of dominance to soothe himself. Starting with reading psychological cues, subtle tricks evolve into more scheming and dangerous performances, leaving behind severe consequences. Unaware or possibly indifferent to the deceit, Stanton's actions will haunt his victims and wreak havoc on them.

In Nightmare Alley, Stanton once sympathized with fates worse than his own, but that wasn't enough for him to abandon greed. Ultimately, he loses himself, plunging into demonic schemes.

With seven Oscar nominations, Harmony Haven clinched the award for outstanding original screenplay at the ceremony on March 28th (Hanoi time). The movie portrays the lives of people in a small town in Northern Ireland in the late 1960s, during the eruption of religious conflicts.

Despite the wartime setting, Harmony Haven is not a war film but a story of coming-of-age and the early milestones of the main character, young Buddy (portrayed by Jude Hill). Based on director Kenneth Branagh's childhood memories, the film offers audiences a romantic, bright perspective beyond reality. Buddy's family resides in a working-class neighborhood where both Catholic and Protestant followers live harmoniously. However, after a few peaceful minutes at the beginning of the film, extremists arrive with petrol bombs and outrage. The 360-degree shot focuses on Buddy in the midst of confusion, bewildered and unaware of what is happening. Through the lens of a child, the danger and intensity of the conflict are significantly softened. Instead of delving into religious conflicts and violence, director Kenneth Branagh guides Harmony Haven in the footsteps of young Buddy. He continues to happily attend school, develop a crush on a classmate, play football with his cousins in the small alley behind his house, and share everyday trivialities with his grandparents. The way a child confronts injuries and losses is always different from an adult's growth, appearing cheerful, optimistic rather than melancholic or sorrowful.

Regarding performances, receiving the highest praise are Ciarán Hinds and Judi Dench, both nominated for the Outstanding Supporting Actor/Actress Oscar this year. Their roles as Buddy's grandparents may have limited screen time but leave a lasting impression on the audience.

Enigma of Macbeth, a cinematic adaptation of Shakespeare's work, marks Joel Coen's directorial debut. The storyline revolves around a Scottish lord persuaded by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of the realm.

His ambitious wife supports him in this quest for power. Denzel Washington, a two-time Oscar winner, will take on the role of the lord, while Frances McDormand, a recent two-time Oscar winner for Nomadland, portrays Lady Macbeth in The Tragedy Of Macbeth. Other cast members include Bertie Carvel, Alex Hassell, Corey Hawkins, Kathryn Hunter, Harry Melling, and Brendan Gleeson. Renowned composer Carter Burwell, a longtime collaborator on most Coen brothers' projects, shared that Ethan Coen did not participate in The Tragedy Of Macbeth as he decided to take a break from filmmaking to focus on stage-related projects. Joel and Ethan Coen are known as the directing duo with a distinct brand of filmmaking.

Therefore, Joel Coen's solo direction of The Tragedy Of Macbeth has stirred curiosity among film enthusiasts. Nevertheless, he collaborates with other talents such as cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, costume designer Mary Zophres, and composer Carter Burwell in crafting The Tragedy Of Macbeth.

The Forgotten Daughter portrays Leda, who abandons her family to pursue literary dreams, leading to years of inner turmoil. Maggie Gyllenhaal's directorial and screenplay debut is one of the most notable film projects pre-Oscar season 2022.

The Forgotten Daughter premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2021, winning the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay. It was publicly released on Netflix earlier this year. The project features a powerful cast, including Oscar-winning star Olivia Colman, the versatile Dakota Johnson, and more. The screenplay is based on the novel of the same name by Italian author Elena Ferrante. The story revolves around middle-aged literature professor Leda (played by Olivia Colman), living and working in Cambridge, near Boston (Harvard University). During the summer break, she travels alone to a seaside area in Greece, seeking tranquility, and meets Nina (Dakota Johnson), a young woman with a three-year-old daughter, Elena. One day, during an argument with her husband, Nina accidentally loses her daughter. Leda helps her find Elena but secretly steals the girl's doll and hides it in her hotel room. In the following days, Nina's family tries various ways to recover the toy to cheer up Elena. Meanwhile, Professor Leda silently observes and uncovers many private secrets of the locals. The professor's vacation gradually becomes a mental struggle, revisiting her past decision to leave her husband and children for a life of independence. The Forgotten Daughter is a work rich in female essence, from its narrative to characters and cinematic language.

The Forgotten Daughter delves into the controversial theme of women's roles. The two characters, Leda and Nina, differ in background, education, and personality. Yet, they share a commonality—exhaustion from nurturing their children.

In cinema's gloom, Fellini once said, 'Cinema diverts reality.' The elder brother tries to deter the younger one as he discovers the latter's desire to become a filmmaker, seeking liberation from the sorrows following their family's tragedy.

This is a scene from the film The Hand of Destiny directed by Italian filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino. It won the top prize from the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 2021 and has recently been nominated for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. The director, who previously won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film nearly a decade ago (The Great Beauty, 2013), returns to this year's race with The Hand of Destiny, a deeply personal and semi-autobiographical film about his youth in the central Italian city of Naples in the 1980s. In both films, we see the significant influence of Fellini on Sorrentino. If The Great Beauty recreates a decadent Rome in both a metaphorical and literal sense, drawing much from Fellini's masterpiece La Dolce Vita (1960), then The Hand of Destiny inherits the maestro's legacy regarding the theme of memories and the sentimental attachment ingrained in the minds and hearts of artists. We also catch a glimpse of I Vitelloni (1953) and Amarcord (1973), two other iconic Fellini films, though presented in a distinctly different manner because Sorrentino's film, at its core, remains a deeply personal work.

The Hand of Destiny guides viewers back to Naples, a chaotic and vibrant city, rich in both secular and sacred elements, overflowing with vulgarity yet still exuding a sense of nobility. There, we witness the story of a family, much like any other family in this world.

Upcoming, The Gaze Of Tammy Faye will officially debut worldwide. The film is garnering attention for the presence of the acclaimed actress Jessica Chastain and the captivating story of Tammy Faye's life.

Specifically, The Gaze Of Tammy Faye is set to premiere in the US and the UK on September 17. Subsequently, the film will be released in several European countries such as Spain, Portugal, or the Netherlands in early 2022. Earlier, the film successfully premiered at the 46th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Canada on September 12. The Eyes Of Tammy Faye is a biographical drama based on the documentary of the same name released in 2000. Directed by Michael Showalter and written by Abe Sylvia, the film's producers include Jessica Chastain, Kelly Carmichael, Rachel Shane, and Gigi Pritzker. Set in the 1960s, The Gaze Of Tammy Faye tells the controversial story of the American televangelist couple, TV host Tammy Faye Bakker (portrayed by Jessica Chastain) and Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield). The Bakkers, married in 1961, began working at the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) in 1966. They made significant contributions to CBN, hosting popular shows such as Come On Over and The 700 Club.

However, two shocking public scandals led to the downfall of PTL in 1987. Jim Bakker was accused of sexual misconduct by church secretary Jessica Hahn, resulting in his resignation. Illegitimate use of funds from the Assemblies of God congregation led to a 45-year prison sentence for Bakker.

Among the two representatives of Asian cinema nominated for the 2022 Oscar for Best International Film, the presence of the film Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom from Bhutan has attracted considerable attention, as Bhutanese cinema is relatively unfamiliar to the world.

The inclusion of Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom in this year's Oscar race can be considered a miracle, as it is the debut work of an amateur team, from the director and actors to other positions in the film crew. The film is also unique in that it was shot in the Lunana valley, located at an altitude of nearly 5,000m above sea level, where there is no electricity, phone signal, or internet. Filming in such remote and harsh conditions, without electricity, is almost unbelievable, but the film's director and screenwriter, Pawo Choyning Dorji, turned the seemingly impossible into reality. To reach the Lunana valley, the film crew had to trek for eight days since there is no road for cars. 75 yaks and mules were mobilized to transport batteries, solar panels, 2,000 liters of fuel, along with a large amount of equipment, provisions, and food to support the crew during two months of filming. Director Pawo Choyning Dorji mentally prepared for the possibility that the film might not be completed if, unfortunately, the solar panels did not provide enough energy to finish the scenes. Therefore, he refrained from reviewing the scenes shot to save energy and had to wait until the post-production process in Taiwan (China). Fortunately, the 39-year-old director's concern did not come true, and the crew successfully completed the film with a modest budget of $300,000.

The story of the film Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom revolves around Ugyen, a young man with dreams of becoming a singer in Australia but is forced to fulfill his duty by going to the remote Lunana school in the Himalayas to teach. The lack of amenities makes Ugyen want to leave this place quickly, but the children's affection, the villagers, and their love for singing and art keep him grounded.