The musical biopic genre has become oversaturated, with every famous musician seemingly getting a film. James Mangold's A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, may be the last one that truly captivates audiences. While well-crafted, the film's climax—Dylan's controversial shift to electric music—lacks high stakes.

The 97th Academy Awards are celebrating a bold shift in storytelling, honoring films that push creative boundaries. From body horror and sex worker dramedy to a trans-positive mob musical, this year’s screenplay nominees reflect an evolving cinematic landscape. As the industry embraces fresh narratives, these standout films ignite conversation.

Few films in 2024 have sparked as much conversation as The Brutalist. Brady Corbet’s sweeping epic is a triumph of ambition, blending history, identity, and artistic struggle into a visually striking narrative. While its first half is near flawless, its latter portion stumbles, leaving us with a film both breathtaking and frustrating.

Anora aims for a dark fairytale but stumbles into a vapid spectacle, with a passive protagonist, underdeveloped stakes, and an identity crisis. Sean Baker’s signature improvisation can’t save its hollow core. Ivan runs, Ani flounders, and we’re left wondering—was there ever a story worth chasing?

The Big Lebowski flips the noir genre on its head, sending a laid-back slacker, The Dude, on a bizarre quest over a peed-on rug. Mistaken identities, nihilists, and ransom schemes unravel into absurdity, proving that ambition is overrated, friendship is priceless, and sometimes, you just gotta abide.

Peter Haughan’s Conclave (2024) brilliantly turns papal politics into a high-stakes chess match, with Cardinal Lawrence caught between faith and ambition. Sharp and suspenseful, the film builds intrigue with precision—until a last-minute twist feels more like divine intervention than deft storytelling.

David Lynch doesn’t just tell stories; he dreams them, leaving us to stumble through the haze of meaning. Mulholland Drive is a triumph of contradictions—Hollywood glamour and noir grit, dream logic and cold reality, plot threads abandoned like pearls in a car crash. Lynch insists it’s a coherent tale, but let’s face it: it’s more fun as a cinematic Rorschach test. You don’t solve Mulholland Drive; you surrender to it.

Challengers masterfully transforms a niche tennis drama into a poignant exploration of love, rivalry, and obsession. The clever in media res structure, layered subtext, and morally ambiguous choices create a narrative that is urgent, messy, and profoundly human—proving that great stories thrive on characters, not rules.

Horror fans, take note: Heretic, A24’s latest psychological thriller-turned-slasher, takes bold swings—and misses just as boldly. Its opening act hooks you with taut, cerebral tension, only to unravel in a finale that swaps smarts for blood-soaked mediocrity. A lesson to be learned: a strong setup means nothing without a satisfying resolution.

A Real Pain isn't just a movie; it's a masterclass in weaponizing awkwardness and existential dread for peak entertainment. Jesse Eisenberg takes the "odd couple on a journey" trope and injects it with razor-sharp wit, emotional gut punches, and secondhand embarrassment that makes you want to curl up and die (in the best way). It's like if Seinfeld and Schindler's List had a deeply neurotic baby—and somehow, it works.

Explore the highs and lows of Gladiator II in this detailed breakdown of its screenplay and storytelling choices. From its strengths, like Pedro Pascal's compelling performance as Acacius, to its shortcomings, including the protagonist's lack of agency, discover why this sequel struggles to live up to its legendary predecessor.

Explore how Celine Song's 'Past Lives' screenplay breaks traditional screenwriting rules to create an emotional narrative. Learn why its unconventional structure, minimal cast, and dialogue-driven scenes earned an Oscar nom.

A scene-by-scene analysis of how John Hughes' "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" became the definitive Thanksgiving movie, comparing the original script to the film and exploring why this odd-couple journey still resonates after 37 years.

Deep dive into 'The Substance' (2024) screenplay, as we compare it to the theatrical release. Explore the $14.5M body horror film starring Demi Moore, with analysis of script changes and style innovations.

Brought to you by Kinolime, this article celebrates these pioneering women who are scripting a revolution, creating a tapestry of stories that are as diverse, complex, and authentic as the voices behind them.