Oscars 2021 – Best Picture Nominees Ranked
4. Promising Young Woman
Promising Young Woman is written and directed by Emerald Fennell. It features Carey Mulligan as Cassie, a woman on a revenge mission who lures predatory men into expository positions.
It’s an important film, with disappointingly topical themes and subject matter. It’s not always the most comfortable watch, but that’s the point. Designed to provoke self reflection, it offers a commentary on today’s world whilst never forgetting to tell an engaging story.
Mulligan is excellent, displaying her character’s constantly changing emotional state with utter believability. It’s very likely she’ll win Best Actress at the Oscars on Sunday, and if she does it will be well deserved.
Fennell’s particular music choices also work to great effect, punctuating her point with panache in any given scene. Every creative choice feels meticulous and carries weight to it. Throughout the film she consistently challenges our expectations of behavior with her casting too.
Promising Young Woman is a powerful, timely film with excellent performances all round.
