Why Apple’s CODA deserves to win Best Picture at the 2022 Oscars

February 27th, 2022 Oscars Ceremony. 10 movies will compete for Best Picture. Belfast, CODA, Don’t Look Up, Drive My Car, Dune, King Richard, Licorice Pizza, Nightmare Alley, Dog PowerPlease see the following: West Side Story. Everybody has their strengths and weaknesses. However, any one of them could win big. In the lead-up to the Oscars, we’re making a case for why each of them might deserve to take the big prize. Next: Nightmare Alley.

WHAT’S THE MOVIE?

CODAThe adaptation of the French film “The Last Days” (2014) La Famille BélierSian Heder is the writer and director.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

Ruby (Emilia Jones) is in her last months as a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) student. A gifted singer who dreams of leaving home to study music, Ruby is also the keystone of her family’s fishing operation, lending her father Frank (Troy Kotsur), mother Jackie (Marlee Matlin), and brother Leo (Daniel Durant) a crucial ear and an extra pair of hands as they trawl for fish off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Ruby is faced with two options: either stay home and support her unit for the rest of her life, or invest in what she dreams.

WHAT’S THE CRED?

However CODA is the only true American indie on this year’s Best Picture slate, it arrives in the race with retro and recent awards power. Matlin was the Deaf’s first performer ever to win an Oscar, in 1987 for her performance with William Hurt. Children of a less powerful God. The prize launched her career in film and television, though she’s often typecast as the lone Deaf character or guest star. CODAShe is a Deaf actor in one of the most high-profile roles.

It has been more than 30 years since. Children of a less powerful GodThe needle has been moved for Deaf inclusion on Hollywood’s Hollywood set. CODAMade history at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. While the all-virtual fest may have dampened the fanfare, Heder’s drama was the first film Everyday to win Sundance’s grand jury prize, directing prize, audience award, and a special jury prize — an apt nod for best ensemble.

WHY SHOULD IT WIN?

Scale is an overvalued metric when it comes to determining the “best” movies. Sure, it’s hard to lead a massive project like this. Dune and leading a battalion of craftspeople in one unified vision is an achievement, but it shouldn’t be worth bonus points in the Best Picture category. Decoding relatable human experiences and reconstructing them as moments that play onscreen — where lighting, sound, editing, and an actor’s presence need to be harmonious — feels as daunting as a giant setpiece with a thousand extras.

Heder, however, plays an incredibly dusty role in the coming-of-age story for as many laughs, tears and emotions as viewers can imagine. It adds an extra layer to the story by allowing the action to continue in English and ASL. Maybe it’s Lifetime’s fault, or the churn of Netflix originals, but at some point, “family drama” became a pejorative. Heder is a true authentic filmmaker who aims to reclaim the prestige genre. Jones is an intelligent young woman, who knows her limits but also has the ability to see and hear what she needs. The supporting cast are tough and quirky — like real family — and they all have little moments that don’t force the plot forward, a rarity in the indie runtime economy. CODA is everything a small movie should be, and it’d be too ease for it to be eclipsed by the Oscar heavyweights.

WHAT’S THE CATCH?

A recent oral history Mamma Mia!Mamma Mia!’s see-it-to-believe-it ending, director Ol Parker lambasted Stateside critics for ragging on the tone he intended to achieve as if it were a mistake. ​​”American critics pissed all over it,” he says. “I remember ‘crowd-pleasing’ was used as an insult, ‘heartwarming’ an insult. And it’s like, ‘You fucking try it. It’s not that easy to please a crowd, to warm a heart.’”

CODAThis film may not be suitable for every type of Oscar viewer or viewer. It’s sweet: Ruby performs a song for a crowd, and her Deaf family begins to understand her passion as the people around them becomes palpably moved by the performance. ThisIt’s kind of delicious. Heder charts breakthroughs or familial catharsis, and while there are moments of tragedy, it’s not Tragedy. A movie this light on its feet may float away when it comes to Oscar “Best Picture” talk.

Photo by Apple TV Plus

One great thing that no one should miss

CODA’s peaks are the quieter scenes between Jones, Matlin, and Kotsur (who also scored an Oscar nomination for his work in the film). Each are paired off in different heart-to-hearts, and the way Heder’s script dips between speaking, sign, and silence hits hard.

But so do the moments of straight up comedy — months after seeing CODARuby arriving home at school in the early hours of morning to listen to Jackie and Frank make sweet, loud, unspoken love. The only way to end it is to just walk up and tap their shoulder. My God.

WHAT DO I WATCH?

CODAStreaming is available on Apple TV Plus. The film will also return to theaters for free — thank you Giant Tech Corporation That Wants People to See Its Oscar-Nominated Film! — starting Friday, Feb. 25 through Sunday, Feb. 27

Previously:

What is the point? Don’t Look Up Everyone deserves the Best Picture
What is the point? Dog Power Should be the Best Picture
Why West Side Storydeserve to be the Best Picture
Why? Belfastdeserves the Best Picture
How can this be? Nightmare Alleydeserves to be the Best Picture
What is the point? King Richarddeserves the Best Picture
You ask? Dunedeserves to be the Best Picture
Why Licorice PizzaThe Best Picture deserves to be a Winner

And last but not least:

Why Drive My Cardeserves to be the Best Picture