And The Oscar Goes To....

Once again, one of my most favorite television events is upon us - the Academy Awards.  Without really trying, I ended up seeing 5 of the 9 Best Picture nominees.  Some were good, some were great, and some - well, I'd rather I hadn't seen.  But here it is - my 2nd annual Oscar review of the movies I've seen.  Enjoy! :)

Midnight in Paris was one of my favorites of the year - one I could watch over and over.  I'm a sucker for anything set in Paris, and throw in Rachel McAdams and Owen Wilson and I'm a happy girl.  The story was intriguing (nightly time travel) and the sets were breathtaking.  It made me wish that I had lived in Paris in the 1920's. 

My brother and I went to see Moneyball in Wenatchee the last time I was in town.  He loves sports - I love Brad Pitt.  It was the perfect combination.  I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, but what can really beat a true underdog story?  Though quite serious at times, this movie made me smile in the end, and that's all you can really ask for in a film.

When I rented The Tree of Life, I had high hopes.  I mean, it stars Brad Pitt (see above) and Sean Penn and was nominated for an Oscar.  It has to be good, right?  WRONG.  Don't see this movie, unless you are a hopeless insomniac or are looking for the most boring way to spend 139 minutes.  I get that it's artsy and there's a message in there somewhere, but the movie put me in a bad and confused mood and made me think about all of the other things I could've done with that wasted time.  Sorry, Brad. 

After our dinner date at Revel, Stefanie and I headed over to the theater to see The Descendants, the movie I'd been anxious to see since it came out last year.  George Clooney was perfect as a loving but heartbroken father, but the two girls who played his daughters definitely stole the show.  Though slightly depressing, this movie was one of my favorites, and if George doesn't take home an Oscar, there is something seriously wrong with the academy.

I finally saw The Help this week, after what seemed like months of waiting for it to arrive in the mail.  I simply adored the original book, and the movie did not disappoint (note to self - "long wait" on Netflix = worth the wait).  While the whole cast was exceptional, the real scene stealers were Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer) and Celia Foote (Jessica Chastain).  At times a knee-slapper and other times a tear-jerker, this movie is a beautiful yet disturbing portrait of life in the the south in the 1960's.  It's my pick for Best Picture, but we'll have to wait until Sunday night to find out if I'm right!

xoxo,

stephanie marie