For this year’s 84th annual Academy Awards, nine films are nominated for the coveted Best Picture award. I don’t envy the Academy, as choosing just one is quite a challenge. All of them fit the bill as “best picture” worthy, but three strike me as top contenders. The Descendants has moved audiences and crit- ics alike, and placed George Clooney as the early favorite for Best Actor. The Artist has proven you don’t need color or words to provide substance for a movie, just strong characters and a great score. And Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen’s in- stant classic, takes nostalgia to a whole different level by engaging readers and art lovers alike. These movies have re- ceived particular acclaim for their high- caliber direction, strong acting, and above all other things, originality.
The Descendants, directed by Alexander Payne, follows one father, Matt King (Clooney), on an emotional journey of family setbacks that include the troubles of being a single parent of two uncontrollable daughters while their adulterous mother remains in a hopeless coma. Never has Clooney seemed so natural on screen. His performance, along with the exceptional Shailene Woodley as his eldest daughter, is sure to help the film’s bid for Best Picture.
Midnight in Paris is a classy, time-traveling venture. Audiences will follow Owen Wilson on his journey into 1920’s Paris and mar- vel at the artistic movement Woody Allen recreates. Aside from Wilson, Midnight in Paris has an ensemble cast that includes Marion Cotillard, Kathy Bates, Adrian Brody, and Rachel McAdams. It follows the struggling author Gill as he seeks inspiration in a more joyous past. The movie is carried by lovable characters and a strong script, and is sure to be in contention for the Best Picture award.
I was amazed to see so much acclaim for the French black-and-white silent film The Artist. I mean, this is an age where cinema seems to be dominated by big budgets and 3D visuals, and frankly The Artist doesn’t have either. The charm of The Artist is undeniable, but its real strengths are in the acting of Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo, who, without saying a word, tell a compelling story of the rise and fall of two actors in Hollywood. It won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical so The Artist is a must see for any movie lover.