LOS ANGELES, January 22, 2026
Coogler Crowned: ‘Sinners’ director Leads Oscar Contenders
Table of Contents
A look at the year’s most compelling filmmaking and performances, with Ryan Coogler taking the top directing spot.
- Ryan Coogler is recognized for his direction of “Sinners.”
- Michael B. Jordan is lauded for his leading role in “Sinners.”
- Tessa Thompson is recognized for her leading role in “Hedda.”
Determining the “best” film of the year ofen comes down to the director’s vision.Last year, the conversation centered on whether to separate the honors for directing and overall film quality, allowing for broader recognition. This year, the lines blur further as many standout films are helmed by hyphenates-writers and directors combined-making the task of isolating directorial artistry a nuanced one. However, ryan Coogler, as the creator of “Sinners,” emerges as the year’s most accomplished director.
while “Sinners” dominates, Kelly Reichardt’s “The Mastermind” offers a contrasting style. Intimately scaled, even during action sequences, and eschewing heavy digital effects, the film relies on long takes and close settings.Reichardt transforms seemingly neutral scenes into finely calibrated interactions, even in moments of solitude, embodying the power of on-set creation through fundamental cinematic tools.
Acting: Performance by an actor in a leading role
Michael B. Jordan (“Sinners”)
Timothée Chalamet (“Marty Supreme”)
Wagner Moura (“The Secret Agent”)
Josh O’Connor (“The Mastermind”)
Denzel Washington (“Highest 2 Lowest”)
The acting categories are often a reflection of strong directorial guidance. the question of actor agency arises, but a truly compelling performance is invariably a product of the collaborative filmmaking process. Great performances demonstrate the merits of the film’s creation and the director-actor relationship.
Michael B. Jordan’s dual performance in “Sinners” is a delicate calibration of physical and mental force. He’s deeply responsive, attuned to the characters’ pasts, the pressurized world around them, and their future visions. This expressive depth elevates his performance above that of Josh O’Connor in “The Mastermind,” where the character’s experience is deliberately narrowed by the script, despite O’Connor’s physical finesse and Reichardt’s discerning direction.
denzel Washington, mirroring his industry stature as his character reaches the peak of the music business in “Highest 2 Lowest,” infuses the role with swagger and poignant vulnerability. However, Wagner Moura’s performance in “The Secret Agent” is arguably the most striking. Playing a man on the run, constantly changing identities to evade Brazilian authorities, Moura embodies the role of an actor within the film, his charisma both captivating and hazardous. He commands the frame, his presence radiating both empathy and the threat of exposure.
Ethan Hawke’s transformative portrayal of Lorenz Hart in “Blue Moon” is a notable omission. Meanwhile,Timothée Chalamet’s performance in “Marty Supreme” marks a turning point,sublimating his characteristic eagerness into substance. It’s his frist role where he conveys the complexities of adult concerns, though the film’s pacing doesn’t allow for deep reflection.
Acting: Performance by an actress in a leading role
Tessa Thompson (“Hedda”)
