Written and Media by Tyler Lamb.
[clear]
It’s that time of year again, the Academy Awards are right around the corner. Airing on March 2nd, this year has a fantastic set of films to choose from for best picture and also the acting categories. Just like last year, I will be reviewing all the nominees for best picture, and may touch some other nominations along the way. At the end, I will reveal what I believe to be the best picture of the year from the given movies, not what I believe what will actually win the award.
[clear]
Last year David O. Russell’s efforts got him the best picture in my book(not the Academy’s). However, this year the effort wasn’t as well executed. Russell is great with characters and leads an all star ensemble into some great moments. Bale himself stole the show, with the weakest parts coming from Lawrence, who again shows how powerful writing and directing is to an actor’s performance. The story can be confusing at times, but in the end it all makes sense. This makes the movie less cohesive at times, and you are taken out of the picture trying to figure out what is going on. Certainly not as great as his last effort, but American Hustle still manages to be a very enjoyable film and Bale really shows his talent.
3/4
[clear]
This was a story that when you heard about it happening, you may have thought a movie would eventually be made out of it. Well, it was finally made, and surprisingly enough it was not just Oscar bait, and was a well made movie. You really get to feel for Captain Phillips while he’s dealing with the pirates who boarded his ship. It really is an interesting story that you get drawn into, but nothing real impressive happens in the way it is told as far as directing and acting. With that being said, one of the last scenes in the movie is brilliantly acted by everyone, especially Hanks. Here he shows just why he’s still considered one of the best actors and you feel more for the character than you have the entire movie. With that in mind, as I said before there really isn’t much else that caught my attention.
2.5/4
[clear]
Who would have thought just a few years back that Matthew McConaughey would be in movies like this and nominated for an Academy Award? No one, that’s who. His performance is completely amazing, and so is Jared Leto’s. I really think Leto will be walking away with best supporting actor, as he should. I believe McConaughey deserves the award for best actor as much as the rest of the nominees, but unfortunately it is a tough year for deciding the winner in that category. The story of his character is such a moving one, seeing how his life changes from being the selfish person he is to trying his best to help everyone else. This is one of the movies from this year that will be continually watched by people for years and years without a doubt.
4/4
[clear]
I have a review of this movie up already, and still stand behind it. I am curious as to how it will hold up outside of an IMAX 3D experience. If they had an award for “sole reason to see a movie in IMAX”, this movie should win.
3/4
[clear]
Her:
Where Gravity is beautiful in it’s special effects showing us space and all it’s beauty, Her is beautiful in showing us this near future world everyone lives in. Even if you come out of this movie hating everything about it, it is impossible to dislike the production design. The sets, costumes, everything immerses you in this world Spike Jonze has created for us. The story happens to make you laugh, move you, and make you think all at the same time. Bringing up topics of relationships, and in the end more specifically about humans dependency on electronics. Phoenix and Johansson do a great job, and it is even more impressive knowing Phoenix shot all his scenes before Johansson did her voice overs. The direction is amazingly executed, the acting is on spot, and the script is original and just plain good. Spike Jonze proves he can make great films without the writing efforts of Charlie Kaufman.
4/4
[clear]
Another movie that was not only just plain beautiful to watch, but it was also fun. Filmed in all black and white, the cinematography stays consistently stunning through the whole film. All acting was great, especially by the main two Bruce Dern and Will Forte. It’s great seeing Forte mix up the kind of roles he takes, and I hope to see him in similar roles in the future. Overall, the story was engaging, acting was on point, and directing was great.
3.5/4
[clear]
Another great story with fantastic characters. This true story of a woman looking for her son who was taken from her when she was a teenager is heart-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time. It was great watching the characters grow with one another and learning about each other. On the surface it seems like a simple story, but is executed in a manner that works perfectly. Great acting, good story, and good directing, there isn’t much else to say about this movie other than it is a date movie both the guy and girl will enjoy.
3.5/4
[clear]
Wow. Just, wow. Talk about amazing stories, this is one you’ll be shocked was never told in a film before. Brad Pitt’s character says it best near the end when he says “your story, it is amazing, and in no good way”. Some may criticize Pitt’s appearance, but I feel it fit with the way the movie was heading and helped shed some good over the dreary outlook. Steve McQueen, director, shines brightest of all in this film. The long shots he’s known for work brilliantly in painting such a devastating picture of emotion and dread. Two specific long shots come to mind, with one being around 5 minutes long. This movie, like Dallas Buyers Club, will be watched for years and years to come, changing our thoughts of the past and hopefully learning more from the mistakes made then. It will also be a great showcase of achievement in film making from directing to storytelling. This is one of the best.
4/4
[clear]
Here we have a film that got a lot of controversy when it came out. There is a lot of graphic language and nudity. However, it is used in a somewhat appropriate sense in painting this picture of a world where these people live. Unfortunately, that world is our world, and these things happens on a daily basis whether we are unaware or not. The amount of social commentary layered into this film is fantastic with imagery of Belfort’s exuberant lifestyle and the contrast of an FBI agent scrapping to get by. The way Scorsese discredits Belfort’s stories as being 100% true is brilliant as well, giving us false information from the get go of the color and model of his car. At times, the movie seems to jump around in odd places due to some spotty editing, but overall it is one of Scorsese’s best works yet. Leo is brilliant here as well, bringing more to the tough category this year that is best actor.
3.5/4
[clear]
This was a great year for movies, especially ones nominated for Academy Awards. Unlike last year every movie was a great watch(I’m looking at you Les Mis, Life of Pi, and Beasts of the Southern Wild). There are even a few that will age very well and will most likely be a template for discussions in years to come. It was really hard to decide what my favorite of the year was, and I have been flipping back and forth constantly since finishing all the films. However, the moment has come for me to finally make a solid decision. The winner of this years “This is what I think should win the Oscar solely based off of my opinion and nothing else” is….
12 YEARS A SLAVE!!!!!!
Media by www.eurweb.com
Believe it or not the film set to take the actual award this year truly is the best film from the list. I had been bouncing between this, Her, and Dallas Buyers Club, but at the end of the day 12 Years A Slave is the movie that did the most. It moved me, had amazing acting, fantastic directing, and the story itself is just one that everyone needs to experience and will surely be discussed for years and years to come. It truly is a masterpiece work of art in every way, shape, and form.
