Once viewed, it’s easy to see why writer/director Kenneth Branagh's Belfast is a frontrunner for Best Picture. Beautifully photographed in black and white, the semi-autobiographical, coming-of-age tale is deeply sweet and often quite funny while featuring great performances across the board (Caitríona Balfe is a lock for an Oscar nomination). However, there are frequent opportunities in the film for Branagh to comment on larger conflicts, but these moments are mostly just background noise, seemingly important context that remains unexplored. Nonetheless, the subtle charms of the film’s main narrative are undeniable.