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Hamnet (2025)


Hamnet (2025) is directed by Chloé Zhao, known for Nomadland and The Rider, and produced by Steven Spielberg, whose legacy includes Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan. Zhao’s quiet, human-centered style blends unexpectedly well with Spielberg’s sweeping emotional sensibilities. The result is a film that is intimate yet cinematic, grounded yet overwhelming in its emotional impact. It is easy to see why many are calling it a frontrunner. The writing, pacing, and visual storytelling come together with remarkable precision.

Jessie Buckley, known for I'm Thinking of Ending Things and Women Talking, delivers the best performance of her career. She is raw, expressive, and heartbreakingly human. Every scene she’s in is layered with emotion, and she elevates the material far beyond what even great writing could accomplish. Her portrayal is the emotional anchor of the film.

Paul Mescal, known for Aftersun and Gladiator II, is equally powerful. While his performance in Gladiator II left something to be desired, here he shines with nuance and vulnerability. He brings a grounded strength to the role and meets Buckley beat for beat, creating a partnership that fuels the film’s most devastating moments.

Hamnet is beautifully acted and exquisitely crafted. I teared up three separate times in the theater, and people around me were openly weeping. It is one of the most emotionally moving films of the year and might genuinely sweep the Oscars if momentum holds. Result: A

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