So the Oscars are coming up this month on February 22, which is pretty exciting! Stars are gonna bring their fashion A-game (or totally flop), and people like Rita Ora and Tim McGraw are performing at the awards show. But most importantly, all the actors, actresses, directors, producers, writers, composers, costume designers, and such are going to be recognized for the work they have put into their respective films. Every year, there are many different films nominated for an Oscar, from big blockbusters like American Sniper and How to Train Your Dragon 2, to smaller and/or lesser-known films, such as Whiplash and Song of the Sea. If you’re looking for a good movie to watch, one of the Oscar-nominated films would be a good place to start! Here are a few recommendations:
1. Big Hero 6
Big Hero 6 is about a young genius inventor named Hiro. Following in the footsteps of his brother, Tadashi, he enrolls in the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, where he meets several of Tadashi’s friends, as well as Baymax, a first-aid robot made by Tadashi. After a series of events, they decide to use their science skills and fight crime. That’s the best plot synopsis I can give without spoilers, but what I can say is that this film rightly deserves its Best Animated Feature nomination. The art is well-done, the story is well-developed and engaging, and the characters are great, both on their own and when together. Also, it does a great job of cultural representation without relying on tokenism or stereotypes. If you’re anything like me and grew up watching anime and Power Rangers and/or playing Japanese fighting video games, you’ll appreciate the subtle nods to Japanese pop culture throughout the film and credits. Finally… it’s a better film than Frozen. Just sayin’.
(Image from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/)
2. Boyhood
Boyhood (nominated for Best Picture) follows a boy over a 12-year period as he grows up and deals with various obstacles in life. Unlike most movies, where the filming is completed within a year and they just hire similar-looking kids of different ages to portray the same character, the filming actually took 12 years to make, with the same boy and all the same actors. Not only does the film manage to achieve this kind of previously-unheard feat, but it also tells a story that’s simply amazing. I worked in a movie theater over the summer, which is when Boyhood came out, and I cannot tell you how many guests raved about this movie and insisted I see it. Seriously, it’s amazing how much time and effort went into this movie, and to see it all come together… just watch it. It’ll be worth it.
(Image from: http://ia.media-imdb.com/)
3. The Tale of Princess Kaguya
Another nominee for Best Animated Feature, The Tale of Princess Kaguya is based off a Japanese fairy tale, in which a poor woodcutter discovers a small child in a stalk of bamboo. She grows up rapidly and ends up bringing her family great fortune. This movie was done by Studio Ghibli, which is known for films such as Spirited Away and Ponyo. While this movie does tell a fantastic and unique story, which is to be expected of Studio Ghibli, the animation is different; while beautiful, the style is more like traditional Japanese art and can be rougher at times, a stark contrast to the clean and bright animation that’s typical of Studio Ghibli. If you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli or looking for something different to watch, then The Tale of Princess Kaguya just might be the film for you.
(Image from: http://lh4.ggpht.com/)
4. The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Grand Budapest Hotel is about a hotel concierge who ends up being framed for a murder and tries to prove his innocence. While that sounds like the premise of a serious mystery film, I assure you that it’s not. This film, while being serious at times, is first and foremost a comedy. It also features a large, star-studded cast (Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Bill Murray, etc.). I don’t really know what to say about this movie, except that it’s a slightly quirky movie that is wholly enjoyable, and practically every movie critic loved it. If that’s not enough for you, this film ended up getting 9 Oscar Nominations (including Best Picture), the most out of all the other nominated films.
(Image from: http://online-filmer.org/)
5. Wild
Wild follows Cheryl Strayed (played by Reese Witherspoon), a woman who decides to hike more than a thousand miles while reflecting upon her life so far and all the events that occurred. While this movie didn’t get nominated for Best Picture, it still garnered positive reviews from critics, mostly praising Witherspoon’s performance (which got her a nomination for Best Actress). If you’re used to seeing Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde and other rom-coms, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at her transformation in Wild.