Five Reasons to Love This New York Indie Mainstay
Sony Pictures Classics has racked up more than 150 Oscar nominations in the three decades since its formation
Thirty years ago, former Orion Classics heads Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and Marcie Bloom created the independent arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment with full autonomy to produce, acquire and distribute films from cinema’s notable auteurs. In the decades since, Sony Pictures Classics has picked up 158 Oscar nominations and 41 statuettes. It has also made history: Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000) earned 10 Oscar nominations. It also racked up $214 million at the global box office.
Aside from “Crouching Tiger,” the studio has amassed eight other best-picture-nominated films: “Howard’s End” (1992), “Capote” (2005), “An Education” (2009), “Midnight in Paris” (2011), “Amour” (2012), “Whiplash” (2014), “Call Me by Your Name” (2W017) and “The Father” (2020).
Here are my top five SPC films. Visit Variety.com to see more.
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”
(2000)
Before “Parasite” (2019) became the first non-english-language film to win best picture, Ang Lee’s martial arts masterpiece came close, receiving the prestigious DGA Award and walking away with four Oscars, including foreign language feature for Taiwan. Among Oscar travesties: the lack of nominations for Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang and the film itself in the best picture category. Nevertheless, with its beautiful music, beautiful sets and rich narrative, the movie stands tall as Sony Pictures Classics’ most remarkable achievement.
“Talk to Her”
(2002)
Pedro Almodóvar has been a mainstay of SPC; many of his most exemplary efforts have been distributed by the indie arm. In “Talk to Her,” a story that blends love and obsession, he plays with tone masterfully, seamlessly bringing together quintessential color palettes and bold choices. “Talk to Her” received a surprise nomination for best director, and its win for original screenplay represents one of the best choices that Academy voters have made.
“A Separation”
(2011)
Asghar Farhadi’s complex look at the ending of a marriage is a somber and tautly orchestrated beauty marked by incredible performances from its cast, particularly Payman Maadi as Nader and Leila Hatami as his wife, Simin. The single best cinematic endeavor of Farhadi’s career thus far, the film won the foreign language feature Oscar for Iran. In addition, it nabbed Farhadi a much-deserved nom for original screenplay.
“Capote”
(2005)
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s turn as novelist Truman Capote is a work of art and one of the aughts’ best feature debuts from director Bennett Miller. Dan Futterman’s riveting script portrays the author’s relationship with convicted killer Perry Smith (played exquisitely by an Oscar-snubbed Clifton Collins Jr.). It offers viewers morally complex questions as they are transported into the period drama. Nominated for five Oscars, including best picture and supporting actress for Catherine Keener, the biopic remains undeniably great.
“Rachel Getting Married” (2008)
Jonathan Demme may be best known for helming the horror best picture winner “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991). However, his masterful direction is evident in every frame of this moving drama about Kym, a recovering addict who returns home for her sister’s wedding. With Anne Hathaway’s Oscar-nominated turn leading the charge, the film and its luxurious script by Jenny Lumet helped usher underappreciated character actors like Bill Irwin and Rosemarie Dewitt to the fore.