Oscar Weekend

These past few months, I've been slowly but surely getting my butt to the theater to check out the awesome Best Picture nominees for the Oscars this year.  I've gotta say - I have no idea who's going to win.  I have a lot of faves and can't wait to see who takes the statue this Sunday!

 I was in tears from minute one of this film.  While it's a film about war that hits very close to home, American Sniper is also a study in mental illness and the difficulties of life after war.  While heartbreaking and incredibly realistic, it's a must see for our generation.

 I had high expectations for Birdman after seeing it win the SAG awards, and after watching the movie this week, I totally get it - the acting is superb.  I have a new obsession with Michael Keaton after watching this movie and seeing him collecting various accolades lately, and while at times hard to follow, it was intriguing and entertaining the entire time.

 I was completely prepared not to like Boyhood, thinking that a movie filmed over 12 years about a family sounded incredibly boring.  But I totally fell in love with the truthfulness of the story and the normalcy of the cast - you felt like they could be your family {well, if your family was slightly depressing}.  My only problem?  The ending.  I wanted more :)

 While not really the top contender of the bunch, The Grand Budapest Hotel is one I feel like I could watch over and over again.  I love Wes Anderson films, and this one for me is his best yet.  The story of Gustave H. and his companions leads you on a fun and wild journey you don't want to end.

 I loved The Imitation Game, the true story of a team of mathematicians cracking the enigma code to end World War II.  Benedict Cumberbatch was amazingly convincing as Alan Turing {definitely Best Actor potential} and the heart-wrenching conclusion had me shocked and saddened.  Go see this one - so good.

I saw Selma this week, and am so glad I did.  It chronicles Martin Luther King's historic march from Selma to Montgomery and the horrific realities of the treatment of blacks in the 1960's.  Once again, I was in tears throughout most of the movie, but I think it's a necessity that everyone see this one as soon as possible.

Ever since I saw the first preview for The Theory of Everything, I knew I wanted to see it, and it did not disappoint.  I hands down think that Eddie Redmayne deserves the Oscar for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking and the progression of his battle with ALS.  It is a beautiful film and a wonderful story of love and triumph.  Definitely one of my faves :)

Which are you rooting for on Sunday??

xoxo,
stephanie marie