The 9 Best Quotes From Every Best Picture Nominee

What can we learn from the year’s top films?

It’s remarkable how much of our beliefs are influenced by fairy tales.

As children, you hear fantasy stories of witches and dragons, of fights and glory. This desire for dreaming does not fade away, although at times we foolishly stuff it down.

In this world of productivity and hustle, the nonfiction self-help books are held up as the savior of our consciousness. That’s a shame. Fiction is far more effective at actively moving the direction of the human race. It’s a subtle move, one which may not show up for years, but slowly, culture change is due in large part to the creative work done by people with big hopes and ideals for the world.

All of this year’s Academy Award best picture nominees can teach us about the world we are living in today. More importantly, they can shine a light on where we might be headed… and whether that is good or bad news.

Parasite

“They are nice because they are rich. If I had all this, I would be nice too.” (Shoves dog out of the way. Dog whimpers)

This quote takes place almost exactly in the middle of the Korean-language movie. The poor Kim family is admiring the massive home of the wealthy Park family. It’s easy to miss this quote, as it’s thrown on the back of a 5-minute scene of nothing but dialog between the family members.

As they sit around the table, the father of the Kim family is complimenting the Parks: “They’re rich, but they’re nice.” That’s when the mother — Choong Sook — fires this quote back at her husband.

Her comments are immediately infused with irony, as she shoves the family dog out of the way. Both the quote and the indifference to animals show us a side to the character we haven’t seen before. From this moment in the film, everything you thought you knew about Choong Sook turns upside down. In fact, the whole film turns upside down.

Parasite is like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s the top of my list for best pictures. If you don’t watch any other nominee, watch this one.

Joker

“ Sometimes I don’t know what to do, y’know. I don’t think I can take any more of this.”

Speaking of mid-movie transformative quotes, this doozy spewed from Joaquin Phoenix as the classic Batman villain turns out to be one of the more telling of the film.

At this point in the movie, Arthur Fleck is trying to lay on a bit of charm to get a medical file from a clerk. He is awful at charm. In fact, he is awful at most normal human interactions. Though Arthur has not yet gone “full Joker,” this scene will be the turning point. There is a gaping silence after this line, in which both the character on screen and we as the audience understand bad things are on the horizon.

1917

“Tell them I wasn’t afraid.”

Okay, so this is spoiler-ish, but it’s a war movie. Have you ever watched to the end of those without someone dying?

I won’t tell you who said it, but the character who utters this could not have ended his time on screen on a note more true to his character. He believes in valor, bravery, medals, honor. Unlike so many of the others on screen, he does not doubt the purpose of the war. In fact, he doesn’t even do so in his final scene, hoping instead he will be remembered as courageous.

1917 is a beautiful movie in many ways. Where it paints a grim reality is a reminder that many of these men at war weren’t men at all, but boys.

Once Upon a Time In Hollywood

“He’s not the best anymore. In fact, far from it. And he’s coming to terms with what it’s like to be slightly more useless each day.”

Director Quentin Tarantino is lauded as the king of gore. If you think that knowing who directed a film doesn’t impact how you watch it, think again.

“When are the buckets of blood coming?” you’ll think to yourself for nearly two hours before the big climax.

Because of this reputation, every drop of dialog is bait to the audience. This line was impossible to miss. It’s worth noting that Hollywood itself could be considered to be “slightly more useless each day” with the advent of competitors, streaming giants, and mass content.

Think that is a mere coincidence? Doubtful.

Quick aside: Tarantino is so crazy-obsessed with film, you have to respect him for it, regardless of style preference. I highly recommend watching this video to see the depth of his passion.

Little Women

“Write something for me. You’re a writer. Even before anyone knew or paid you. I’m very sick and you must do what I say. Do what Marmee taught us to do. Do it for someone else.”

Little Women is not a story about women. It is a story about life, about community, about faith in family. It is the story we need in a world that always seems to value the achievements of an individual above those of a team.

Beth says these words because she knows her sister, Jo, is an incredible writer. With these words, she reminds Jo that selfless work always trumps selfish efforts.

Quick aside: If you are a creative person, make sure to read the second and third sentences of this quote again.

Ford vs. Ferrari

“We can make it faster”

I was entirely prepared for Ford vs. Ferrari to be this year’s Greenbook — a movie that was perfectly average in every way. Instead, the movie was a solid example of storytelling that drives home a good message.

Ford vs. Ferrari is an embodiment of the good parts of America, both as an acknowledgment of what we have done right in the future and instructive on how we can grow in the future. This five-word line, uttered by Christian Bale toward the latter part of the movie, is the whole spirit of Ford vs. Ferrari. It’s also a mantra worth taking into 2020.

Jojo Rabbit

“Dancing is for all people who are free.”

Taiki Waititi is becoming one of the world’s best screenplay writers. After all, not just anyone can get away with writing a satire about Hitler… and then playing the character of Hitler.

Jojo Rabbit rockets around from zany to intense, from hilarious to heartbreaking. This quote comes from the mother of a 10-year-old boy who is a Nazi fanatic. She flies in the face of his misguided beliefs throughout the film, but always with motherly charm and concern. When the boy — Jojo — is in a particularly bad mood one day, she stands up on a rock wall, dances, and then utters this line.

Like all good pieces of writing, this quote comes full circle by the end of the film.

Marriage Story

“Let’s face it, the idea of a good father was only invented like 30 years ago.”

Laura Dern lets this one fly in the middle of one of the few high-emotion moments in the film. Where the rest of the film is mostly concealed tension and inner conflict, Dern’s character rips through this line and several others when she is reminding her client (Scarlett Johansson’s character) that she must be perfect on the stand, in court, and even in front of her ex-husband. Why? Because women are held to a different standard.

This quote captures the sentiment of Marriage Story — a raw, unashamed look at why love grows sour, and what happens afterward.

The Irishman

“I’m going to church.”

“Church?”

“One day, you’ll see…you’ll see.”

It’s one thing to end a mafia movie with Al Pacino closing a door at the height of his power. We can leave the theater knowing he will be forever in control. If you watch The Godfather today, he will still be there: shooting bad guys, shouting commands, raking in money.

Irishman searches beyond the thrill of crime life. What happens when a mafia man outlives his purpose? What happens when he isn’t gunned down in his prime? What happens to his family? What happens to his friend?

This question —What happens when a story ends?— is an important one. In the next decade of film, I can’t wait to see what directors pose as answers.

Long live cinema.

Did you watch any of the Best Picture Nominees? What was your favorite? Respond to this post and let me know :)

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