Oscars!

I will willingly admit that prior to this year, I had never seen more than one Best Picture nominee when Oscar season rolled around, and I really only watched to see the fashions or to see if the Disney film of the year would win anything. {The Tony Awards, on the other hand, I will watch every single year, beginning to end.} But I'm taking a film class this semester, and one requirement is watching every film nominated for Best Picture. I cringed at first, since I haven't historically been a fan of the Best Picture nominees, but this year wasn't so bad!

The Grand Budapest Hotel: Kind of an odd film. The cinematography is absolutely stunning, but the plot is strange. It reminds me of Moulin Rouge in that the storyline is interesting enough, but the way the characters are portrayed and the way the film is directed really has an impact on how the story comes across. I give it an overall 8/10.

Birdman: This is such an indie film, but the thing that sets it apart is that it seems to be all one shot. Since it's a movie about a play, it kind of makes sense to never cut away, and gives it a really two-dimensional feel. It's got a lot of dark and dry humor, but also has some absolutely incredible acting. Overall, 9/10.

Boyhood: This movie took 12 years to make! They filmed once a week every year for 12 years, so you actually see the characters grow up in front of you. It's not got much of a plot, but it does go through the ups and downs of an ordinary family and is a good commentary on family life. Overall rating is 8/10.

Imitation Game: I liked the story, but the film was a bit too slow for my taste. Benedict Cumberbatch absolutely earned his Best Actor nomination, and his performance alone makes the film worth seeing, but make sure you pick a day where you aren't tired or preoccupied, because your mind will probably wander during the slower moments. Overall, 7/10.

American Sniper: This was a hard one for me to sit through. It was so realistic that watching people get killed, even though they are just actors, tugged on my heartstrings. I was super hesitant to watch this movie because I knew I would end up crying, and I think my cry count was 3 by the time the movie was over - if you count crying through the last 10 minutes as one cry. Definitely a good pick for my fellow troop-supporting, America-loving, freedom-appreciating, proud Americans. But it's not for the faint of heart, and I was a little disturbed by how many kids there were in the theater. Rating is 9/10.

Selma: Another film where I liked the story but was bored through most of the film. It's obviously a very historically important film, and a story that needs to be told, but I couldn't get into it until the last half hour or so. The use of footage from Martin Luther King's speeches and marches at the end really helped bring it home for me. Rating is 7/10.

The Theory of Everything: Before I saw this movie, I didn't really know much about or care much about Stephen Hawking. All I knew was that he's the super-smart guy in the wheelchair who's been on The Big Bang Theory a couple of times. I am so glad that I had to watch this film for class, and it's in my top 3 favorites from the Oscar contenders this year. The movie is beautifully done and Eddie Redmayne knocks it out of the park as Hawking. Even if you think you won't like it, because I didn't, I would recommend you give it a try. It's a great love story, if nothing else! Rating: 8/10.

Whiplash: This is a tricky one, because it's about a drummer at a music conservatory. Being a musician and being married to a musician who professionally teaches music, the husband and I had a lot of issues with the accuracy of this film. We spent a lot of time scoffing at little things and rolling our eyes at big things. But putting our music snob tendencies aside, it really is worth watching. It's beautifully done and the end makes you feel happy in your soul. Rating: 9/10