As the Oscar race heats up, Dom Lenoir (Winter Ridge) shares his favourite films from the lens of Director with a passion for quality drama and meaningful creative storytelling!
The favourites and the low down.
This year creativity and originality felt at the forefront of an eclectic season, from fast pace soundtrack driven mood journeys, to slow thoughtful meditations on life and its big questions, to funny, poignant, punchy indies. Ultimately film taste is a subjective exercise, tastes and preferences change, voters vary, generations change with time and sometimes wins are cumulative achievements rather than the films we think should win doing so. Sometimes the pioneers are rewarded, sometimes they aren’t. I personally love when September hits every years and the saturation up to the Baftas and Oscars in the spring when we get to eat, drink and breathe the best Dramas, the leading Directors visions and the most impactful performances.
For me there are movies I watch and can appreciate originality, there are films where the craft feels revolutionary, and there are films that hit you in the gut or leave you thinking long after the credits. I love process, and we need innovative filmmakers which is why many are in this list, but at my top has to be which films had the most impact on me. Some films try something new but push too far out of reality, or lose my immersion with pacing as an overall choice pick.
When I think of the great films that made a lasting impression on me, it was the ones with Directors who took you along with them seamlessly into huge themes, heartfelt performances and great storytelling. 3 Billboards, Manchester By the Sea, A Complete Unknown, Inception, Million Dollar Baby, The Green Mile, Memento to name a few, and going back further, Butch Cassidy, The Natural, Magnolia, Good Will Hunting and What Dreams May Come, some examples of profound drama that left their mark on me.
It’s the reason for becoming a Director, and always in the back of my mind choosing the films I think deserve most praise.
Without much further ado, my top 14 of the 2026 awards contenders is below!
1. Train Dreams : A soulful journey into the years of love, grief and renewal of a quiet stoic man. Almost a sibling piece to me alongside the masterful “Assassination of Jesse James”, Director Clint builds a beautiful visual language capturing silhouettes, nature and the expansive nature of railroad workers setting up lives and families in the vast landscapes of expanding America. Joel Edgerton commands the screen with a stripped back dialogue and a profound use of inner life. Felicity Jones effortlessly plays against him as an equally moving display of strength and presence, with Kerry Condon splitting her lively charisma against a touching sense of prior loss under the surface. It’s a film full of subtleties and a beautiful score to boot.
2. Life of Chuck : Sometimes films get overlooked for being at the wrong time, or perhaps release timing. This is the kind of film that to me is pure cinema, elevated massive themes about the people we meet and the impacts of them on us throughout our lives. The themes of the universe – how our universe exists inside our head and everyone else’s and the thematic way death is handled is the kind of writing and filmmaking that really delivers after the credits. Tom Hiddleston is great, amongst a sterling cast, and Karen Gillan also shows her drama chops in a brilliant character. Life affirming, beautiful.
3. I Swear : This years “The Kings Speech”, it is an absolutely brilliant independent film success story. From the journey of how Director Kirk Jones laid it all on the line to get it made, to the hard working producers and team who worked to make it, it only makes this remarkable true story of John Davidson’s life with Tourette’s and his campaigning all the more impressive. Scottish humour, heart on sleeve performances and a reflection on how labels and paths in life can define or trap us are all handled so well.
4.[Joint] Sentimental Value – Faultless performances underpin a brilliant character piece. It spans a complicated and often toxic relationship with two daughters and a father as well as a fascinating deep dive into “process” , as well as the aging of the filmmaking characters at the stories heart. The link between the story of the film to the script “inside” that the characters work on, is handled expertly with a closing scene that knocks its ending out the park.
4. [Joint] Marty supreme – Lean, raw, brilliant storytelling. A “Filmmakers film” with a pumping soundtrack, frenetic energy and do or die characters. Timmy Chalamet charges through the film with his natural dominating charisma, supported by some unique supporting roles and numerous unique and expertly executed scenes.
5.Rental family : A Heartfelt journey into a less explored cultural theme of Rental Families in Japan. The way that Director Hikari balances the expectations and complications of children looking for parental connection, against Brendan’s waning career and faded life aspirations, against the beautifully nostalgic scenes of its aging character on a last quest to remember his past, is stunning.
6.Chronology of Water : A Trauma exploration masterclass by Kristen Stewart, brilliantly acted by Imogen Poots who goes all in with her characters highs and lows, and where every moment of growth is felt as much as seen. The directing is both utterly unique and despite some strong arthouse touches it still manages to be a well formed story and arc. Innovative, accessible and never slow. Powerful storytelling and a great debut.
7.Goodbye June : An underrated gem reflecting on death and uncomfortable family dynamics. There may be a few lighter moments early on and few humorous character traits but the central depth of its characters is brilliant and there wasn’t a dry eye in the Bafta screening.
8.Jay Kelly: A standout from Sandler, and a candid reflection of the highs and lows of the movie industry and loneliness among fame. The film draws interesting attention to the difference between employee and friend and the blurring of those lines for the rich and famous.
9.Nuremberg : A unique take on psychology, and frailness among ambition. Leo Woodall commands the screen opposite Rami Malek in this fascinating deep dive into the confusing and conflicting politics of the Nuremburg trials. A sobering look at how war criminals see the world, and that they might not be your typical cardboard cut out villains either.
10.The Smashing Machine : An underrated nostalgia bromance gem, Dwayne’s performance really deserves more attention, as does Benny and his Directing. It captures an era and a mood and keeps a tight pace. It may not be as flashy as Marty Supreme or quite as awards tailored but it is a brilliant and sincere effort of filmmaking and exploration of MMA’s darker side.
11.Steve : Cillian is on form in this well handled exploration of those neglected & written off by society. Tim Meliants uses some unique camera moves and filmic moments, but it is his drama chops – teachers pushed to the edge and the effect of trauma on the young men in the school – that is his crowning achievement.
12.Eddington : A smart blend of cutting social commentary and character study. The film manages to walk a subtle and absurd humour that unfortunately often feels quite believable. The drama and character study of highly flawed individuals turns expertly into a high paced and entertainingly outrageous thriller that was tremendous fun at its climax.
13. One Battle After Another : Some of the most unique performances of the season, whilst the tone wasn’t my all-time favourite PTA film (the start perhaps a little absurd at times) it is still the effort of one of the most talented and brilliant Directors of a generation. DiCaprio is brilliant, Chase Infinity excels and Benecio Del Toro delivers a truly enjoyable and memorable character. Sean Penn is deservedly getting recognition as the brilliant actor he is for his hilarious portrayal. The chase sequence at the end is a masterclass.
14. Tuner : A unique exploration of hearing impairment, told in a way that feels thoroughly original and has expert sound design and music use. Leo Woodall gives my favourite performance of this year and is utterly compelling. The film starts as a smart charming character drama and easily moves into high stakes thriller towards its finale. It really deserves more recognition as an excellent movie.
Top picks for great Thriller Dramas
Relay : Another absolute classic from Director David MacKenzie. Tense, with his usual grasp of brilliant and flawed heroes. It is a mood heavy drama filled with great chemistry from Riz Ahmed and Lily James who are excellent together. The kind of classic smart thriller we don’t see much these days.
Roofman : A brilliant true story told well, Channing Tatum sometimes overlooked for his dramatic ability and in this case he really brought the nuances to life well. Its a great exploration of both a very real feeling community (Director Derek showing his documentary experience), as well as a polarizing character who means well, with a good heart but conversely is also a serious criminal. A classic antihero yarn.
And that is IT!
Let’s see who comes out on top at this years Oscars. But either way, it’s been a great 12 months for film!
Listen to the filmmakers podcast for more insights from director Dom Lenoir www.thefilmmakerspodcast.com
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