Argo
Plot Overview: Story of 6 Americans who escaped from the embassy just before the Iran Hostage Crisis begins. They take refuge at the Canadian ambassadors house. The CIA needs to get them out safely and secretly during this hostile time. They devise a plan to create a science fiction film as a cover story to get these individuals on a plane and home safely while all entry in and out of Iran is closely scrutinized.
This gets my vote for the best picture of the year. And obviously the Golden Globes agree. This film is also a nominee for Best Picture Academy Award. Ben Affleck also won best director at the Golden Globes after a snub from the Academy. Obviously a mistake. This film was amazing and super intense! I saw this movie late on a Saturday night and my heart was pounding the entire time. This movie is gripping from beginning to end and while it's pretty easy to guess how it ends (otherwise they probably wouldn't have made the movie), you're on the edge of your seat the entire time. There is a mix of big name actors like Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, and John Goodman, there are also plenty of nobodies that you kind of recognize but don't know from where. Hint, American Horror Story: Asylum, Dazed and Confused, and Legally Blonde will get you started.
If you see no other movie this season, go see Argo. You will not regret it! Best movie I've seen in a while.
Django Unchained
Plot Overview: A bounty hunter buys a slave who can identify three targets after which they enter into a business arrangement. Django works to buy his wife so they can live free together.
Well this is near the bottom for me but got a nod for best picture from both the Golden Globes and Academy Awards. If you don't know, this is a Tarantino film. And if you've never seen a Tarantino film, his movies are know for being bloody and violent and over the top. If have you seen a Tarantino film, this is a WHOLE new level. Insane amounts of blood and violence beyond a normal Tarantino. If you didn't like Pulp Fiction or even Inglorious Bastards, you might pass on this film. It's not for the weak stomached. It was entertaining when I wasn't looking away and even funny at times, but its just hard to get past the violence and the overuse of racial slurs.
Flight
Plot Overview: A flight crash lands killing only 6 people on board (I say only because there was over 200 people). After an investigation of the flight, the pilot is found to have been under the influence of alcohol and narcotics at the time of the crash. He must now fight to avoid jail time while battling a substance abuse problem.
This is no best picture but Denzel Washington is nominated for best actor (Golden Globes and the Academy Awards). His performance is typical Denzel, moving, strong, and emotional. My boyfriend called this a 90 minute public service announcement. It was entertaining but if you're already scared of flying I say skip this one. It's a definite for a Denzel fan.
The Hobbit
Plot Overview: Prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This is also a trilogy, something I did not realize until we were 2 hours into the movie and the journey had barely begun.
Clearly this was not award worthy. Not sure what made Return of King a best picture candidate and not this. Maybe its an aversion to the RealD 3D technology. I personally really enjoyed this movie once I got past the fact this was a trilogy and I have to wait 2 years to see the end! See it in RealD for some great shots. The cinematography does not disappoint following in the path of the original Lord of the Rings movies.
Les Miserables
Plot Overview: This is a classic and often done in live theater. This is the story of a man convicted for stealing bread to feed his family who upon release runs away to rebuild a life free of his past. Throughout the movie he is hunted by an officer for running away. During this time he adopts a young girl cares for her as his own until adulthood when she falls in love with a rebel fighting against the French reign.
So this is a musical. And not a Grease variety musical, a every word sung musical. My family and I did not realize walking in that this was 99% singing. There were about 20 words in 3 hours that were not sung that's because it was only one or two words at a time. This was a good movie and great story. Some catchy music, but it was long. You get used to the singing at some point. I am so-so on this one, good story but probably not wouldn't see it a second time.
Lincoln
Plot Overview: This movie focus on final months of Lincoln's presidential term and life. The Civil War is raging and the nation is pushing for an end to the war while Lincoln is pushing for passage of the 13th Amendment banning slavery and enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation. This movie follows the politics and emotions beyond this tumultuous time.
The acting in this movie is phenomenal. Probably the best acting all year. I like Argo the movie better but the acting in Lincoln was far superior. Daniel Day-Lewis is spectacular and makes you believe he is Lincoln. He won the Golden Globe for best actor and is a favorite for the Oscar. Sally Field was also extremely impressive as his volatile and mentally unbalanced wife. She sets the stage perfectly for the insanity Mary Todd Lincoln became notorious for at the end of her life. This is a must see, not only for the great acting, but also the depiction for such an important and defining moment in American history.
Zero Dark Thirty
Plot Overview: After 9/11, Osama Bin Laden becomes the #1 target on America's Most Wanted list as the terrorist behind the attacks and leader of Al-Qaeda. The CIA spends years follow leads in search of Bin Laden through prisoner interrogations, torture, and secret intelligence. As I hope everyone knows, Bin Laden was killed in 2011 after a secret operation in the middle of the night. This movie follows the chain events that lead up to this time.
This is another intense film and a must see this season. I would put this as a mix between Argo and Lincoln. The acting is great and Jessica Chastain is phenomenal. This is also a hugely important time in American history and follows the political and government moves in this highly sensitive situation. This movie is certainly intense, but less so than Argo. Also there are some scenes of torture and violence but nothing to hard on the stomach. Jessica Chastain is certainly deserving of the awards for this performance. She does a great job of growing as a character throughout this film starting as shy, reserved, and even a bit scared and growing into a confident, strong, and forceful character.
So that covers my seen-so-far list of award movies. I hope it helps your selections at the theaters this month. Argo is a definite followed by Lincoln and Zero Dark Thirty.
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