I love going to The Movies. I especially like movies that make me think. Oscar Night is my guilty pleasure. Sooo… as soon as the nominations come out, I’m off on a catch-up movie watching marathon.
I did see a whole bunch more movies than these, but these are the ones nominated. You might notice that I’ve seen all but one of the Animated Screenplay nominees. I L-O-V-E, love the artistry of animated films; plus, now that I have lots of grandchildren, I have some ready companions. (Note: “Frankenweenie” is the one nominee in this category that I did not view, due to parental discretion.)
So far I saw 13 nominated films this year.
- “Life of Pi”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZEZ35Fhvuc
I L-O-V-E, loved this movie. I read the book a few years ago, and worried that filmmakers would muck up the ending. They did the author proud. The book was thought-provoking and I found the movie even more so. Beautifully done. I’m surprised no nomination for Best Actor. How many can pull off a one-man-show, I ask you. Great use of 3-D; usually I think I’m not that impressed, except for snow and rain effects. Still, Loved-One REALLY likes 3-D. (Best Picture, Best Director, Best sound mix, Best sound editing, Best Production Design, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Musical Score, Best Song, Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing)- “Dejango Unchained”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUdM9vrCbow
Loved-One and I saw this last night. A great western meets comic book movie. I’m not too crazy about violent movies, but Taratino’s over-the-top-this-can’t-possibly-happen makes it so unreal, it hardly bothers me. I did look away several times and just stare at Love-One watching. That was a bit unsettling, too. It’s long, and of course, with all that soda and popcorn, I had to take a break. Usually, I’m anxious to get back, but during “Dejango,” I felt like I could go home, and pretty much know how the story ended. Plus, I during the movie, I kept thinking about how the actors felt about the roles they played. Probably not a good sign. (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing)- “Silver Linings Playbook”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj5_FhLaaQQ
Thought provoking and compelling. I keep wanting to talk to people about this movie. I wanted to find out more about the characters: what happened before and what will happen next. A month later, I still think about these characters. (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Film Editing)- “Moonrise Kingdom”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MemkzzlQJ6Y What? Just one nomination. This is the most captivating movie I saw to date. I recommend it to everyone I know, and some people I just met. It will go down in history as one of my favorites – along with “Lars and the Real Girl – such a sweet film. (Best Screenplay)- “Wreck-it Ralph” httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btB8tb8fLYM
Cute, but a confusing message: do your best, even if you are bored out of your mind, it’s what you’re meant to do, or stay in your box, it’s the best thing for everyone. Someday, you may be appreciated for who you are. Yes, I think about message, even with animated films. (Best Animated Screenplay)
- “Paranorman”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1RXm81AsNo
Fun, especially for my ten-year-old grandson. I barely remember the story. Still, I do remember the message: We each have important gifts to share with the world. (Best Animated Screenplay)- “Brave”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnGNe3SB9Fk
Ah yes! A feisty girl hero who doesn’t end up sacrificing it all for the guy. Plus, I read in Wired Magazine that animating all those bouncy curls was quite a technological feat. Hurrah for the curly, red-headed girls. (Best Animated Screenplay)- “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xpcwquIpRQ
I remember thinking ‘there’s an awful lot of the story to cover in the last 15 minutes,’ followed by ‘What! It’s a two-parter. ‘ No way. The whole trilogy, which is way more complex only took three movies. Okay, granted, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ shortcut the important part, the fellowship, in favor of the battles. Still, do we really need two movies for the much simpler “Hobbit”?(Best Visual Effects, Best Make-up & Hairstyling, Best Production Design)- “The Avengers”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hPpG4s3-O4
I don’t even remember what this movie was about, except a lot of action. Loved-One assures me we did, indeed, see it. (Best Visual Effects)- “Snow White and the Huntsman”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-UMNSVX7_I
I remember liking it. And I liked houw the mirror melted out of the wall and onto the floor.That’s about it. (Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design)- “Skyfall”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeumyOzKqgI
It took me several years to appreciate the over-the-top aspect James Bond movies. Thanks to the NPR movie review alert, I watched for nods to previous movies. I picked up on more than Loved-One did, making me feel like a real Bond aficionado. I’m a big Adele fan, so of course, I’m already routing for her in the Best Song Category. (Best Cinematography, Best Musical Score, Best Song, Best Sound Editing. Best Sound Mixing)- “Pirates! Band of Misfits”
httvp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqtcj20Z778
I do love the claymation and the British humor, so what’s not to love about “Mistfits?”(Best Animated Screenplay)- “Mirror Mirror”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgbH05rQx1s
Oh yeah, another Snow White movie. That’s about all I remember. That and Julia Roberts did not appear barefoot in any scene. (Ever since “Pretty Woman” her bare feet are in at least one scene. Don’t ask me why I started keeping track. What is it with Hollywood and it’s recent preoccupation with fracturing fairy tales? (Best Costume Design)
That leaves me quite a few for me to take in during the next five weeks and three days:
- “Beast of the Southern Wild” (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay)
- “Anna Karenina” (Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Musical Score, Best Production Design)
- “Zero Dark Thirty” (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing)
- “Lincoln” (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Musical Score, Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing)
- “Les Miserables” (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Hugh Jackman, Best Costume Design, Best Make-up & Hairstyling, Best Song, Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing)
- “Amour” (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Screenplay)
- “Argo” (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Musical Score, Best Sound Editing)
- “The Master” (Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor)
- “The Sessions” (Best Supporting Actress)
- “Flight” (Best Actor, Best Screenplay)
- “The Impossible” (Best Actress)
- “Frankenweenie” (Best Animated Feature)
- “Prometheus” (Best Visual Effects)
- “Hitchcock” (Best Makeup & Hairstyling)
- “Chasing Ice” (Best Song)
- “Ted” (Best Song)
I’ll keep you posted, as I see the last 16. In the meantime, I’m in training: eating popcorn for dinner, checking the on-demand schedule, and rationing my extra-large soda sips, so I can stay in my seat longer. All for the gala event on February 24: “The Academy Awards” (known to me as The Oscars.)
I’ll get back to you before February 24 with my final picks in each category, and you can tell me your final picks, too. (Just don’t tell me too much about the plot or characters.)
Related articles
- 2013 Academy Award Nominees Light on Reading (omnivoracious.com)
- 2013 Golden Globes Winners List! (gossipcop.com)
- Oscar Nominations 2013 (screen-watch.com)
- Oscar Nom Noms! (28candles.wordpress.com)
