OSCAR WATCH 2026 – HAMNET

What a beautiful movie! This movie is not just about William Shakespeare, but about the happiest and most tragic moments in his life that eventually inspired the creation of the play that became his most famous creation.

Honestly, I’m not a big fan of Shakespeare or the Shakespearean plays. And familiarity with or fondness for them is not necessary to enjoy this film. It is simply a historical portrait of the famous playwright as he falls in love, creates a family, endures hardship for them, suffers tragedy with them, and finally finds a way to trudge through the melancholy to salvation.

Near the end of the movie we finally witness the scenes of the most famous play, spoken in the verse of the time, of which I was completely baffled. The things is, you don’t have to understand a word of it to understand exactly what is happening. Jessie Buckley’s performance as Agnes (Anne) Shakespeare was absolutely breathtaking. I’d be very surprised if she did not win Best Actress for this portrayal.

Of all the Best Picture nominees I’ve seen so far, this is my favorite to win.