Oscar Season

Every year around Thanksgiving I start the annual task of trying to see as many of the critically acclaimed movies as I can. I do watch some of the movies throughout the year before Thanksgiving, but for the most part, most of the movies I need to see are released at the end of the year. All at one time. As if the holidays aren't hectic enough, I am often scrambling to see movies the entire time, but I (of course) never see them all. That's what January/February is for.

My interest in seeing these movies and watching the Academy Awards, specifically, dates back to my days working at a video rental store, but it has really intensified in the years since working there. I probably talked about this on the blog last year, so see here if you missed it last year.

I have already seen most of the nominated films (including all of the best picture nominees), and I saw three more this weekend: The Wrestler (Mickey Rourke nominated for Best Actor), Man on Wire (nominated for Best Documentary and expected to win), and WALL-E (nominated for Best Animated Film and expected to win). The Wrestler was painful to watch on every level, and though I think it was good, I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. Man on Wire was very fascinating and I highly recommend it--it's on DVD, but I watched it online through Netflix. WALL-E was very cute; I spent most of the movie saying 'Awwwwww.'

Movies that I still need to see: Doubt, Revolutionary Road, and a few more obscure movies that are on DVD an should be in my mailbox soon. I have seen more of the nominated films this year than ever before, and I don't think I'll have too much trouble seeing the ones remaining on my list before my third annual Oscar Party on February 22nd. Once I see those few I have left, maybe I'll post my own picks here, and we can all laugh together at how few I get right.