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Top 10 Films to Watch for During Oscar Season

The moment you realize the holidays are around the corner is the moment you realize it is Oscar Season. Most of the movies that are entering theaters between August and December are usually advertising to be in the Oscar running in February. Entering the season are the top 10 films to look out for:

Foxcatcher- Directed by Bennett Miller. In theaters November 14. The film is gaining buzz on the acting standpoint, anytime you see actors go further than their comfort zone in an Oscar buzzing film you will see the possibility for the Academy recognizing their efforts. The film is based on a true story (only to bring more attention to the Academy) about the Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz and his sponsor. Starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Anthony Michael Hall, Mark Rufallo.

Boyhood-  Directed by Richard Linklater. This film is most defiantly been on watch for years. Sorry Avatar but Boyhood has been in the making for 12 years, using the same actors and watching them age. The story is about a boy from age 5 to 18 years old. The film is the first of its kind and has more authentication then any film ever made. Already nabbed best Picture, Actress, and Director in Seattle’s Film Festival. ONly more to come from the star-studded cast. Starring Ethan Hawk, Ellar Coltrane, and Patricia Arquette.

The Grand Budapest HotelDirected by Wes Anderson. A film about a concierge and lobby boy who become good friends at the legendary hotel. The film is a Anderson Classic with humor and his regular cast. The film has won the Silver Berlin Bear at the Berlin Film festival. Anderson does not fall short with his witty humor or attention to detail. This is a must see for this years Oscars. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jude Law, Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman, and the list goes on. 

Gone Girl- Directed by David Fincher. The film is based on Gillian Flynn novel, about a mans who is the center of attention in his wifes disappearance. Fincher has directed many mind-blowing suspense films including Oscar-winning Social Network, and Emmy Winning House of Cards. This film has the attention of audiences for its twist and darkness, and has the Academy looking right at Affleck and Fincher for acting and directing. Dont let us down!  Starring Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, and Neil Patrick Harris

InterstellarDirected By Christopher Nolan. Batman in space. Just kidding. This film is about the experience explorers take toward a newly discovered worm hole. So it is Gravity meets Armageddon. An intense action film in space with all the wonderful actors and new film technology you could want. The film is a buzz because of its originality and having Nolan’s name on it doesn’t hurt. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain.

Mr. Turner Directed by Mike Leigh. Timothy Spall will most likely get nominated for best actor already winning Cannes Film Festival 2014 for his role as British Painter Mr. turner. Spall has played some iconic characters in such films as Harry Potter and Sweeny Todd.  Now he has his chance to express range as he reenact the life of. Leigh has been nominated 7 times for an Oscar, so maybe Mr. Turner will turn number 8 into some luck. defiantly a film on your watch list this Oscar season. Starring Timothy Spall, Paul Jesson, and Dorothy Atkinson.

Unbroken- Director Angelina Jolie. The film tells the story of another Olympic star, Louis Zamperini, who in World War II was taken prisoner by the Japanese. And no one can deny that they aren’t slightly interested in seeing Jolie’s directing skills. The Film is currently in post production. the Oscar buzz is not far away with the Coen brothers having written the screen play, you can be sure to find a poetic and symbolic story line.  Starring Jack O’Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, and Jai Courtney.

Big Eyes- Director Tim Burton. Amy Adams plays Margaret Keane the 1950’s painter who was famous for her painting of a eyeless girl. Burton has had many nominations and well as Adams, seven together but no wins yet. Many are excited to see the collaboration come to life. The film has not yet been released. Also starring Krysten Ritter, and Oscar Winner Christoph Waltz.

Into the Woods- Directed by Rob Marshall. A Disney musical brought to life with an Oscar-winning cast such as Johnny Depp, Anna Kendrick, Emily Blunt, and the forever queen of the Oscars  Meryl Streep. They made a movie from the depths of storytelling, a lot like ABC’s Once Upon A Time series, the film mends different fairytale plots together. The costume design, music, and directing skills will be buzzing in the next few months, Academy can you hear it?

Fault in Our Stars- Directed by Josh Boone. Shailene Woodley is certainly a top candidate for best actress this year, if not for this film it will be for White Bird in the Blizzard. This film is defiantly a fan favorite among a younger audience, as well as a buzzing feed for the Academy. Anytime a plot has a current social dilemma and love together you will see the flair, and the nominations for Oscars flowing in. This film has all the flair to be on the must watch Oscar ballet list.

 

Watch out for these films as they come out for rental or come to a theater near you. These are sure to have great true story line plots, intense twist, and amazing acting as they all will be in the running for February’s Oscars.

Top 5 Films Based on a Book

As stated previously, Film is the art form of story telling, as is literature. Sometimes these two outlets collide and create an amazing journey that we enjoy watching and become addicted to reading.

The Top five all time ‘Book-Made-to-Movie’:

1) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)– Based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald

2) The Green Mile (1999)– Based on a novel by Stephen King

3) Pride and Prejudice (2005)-Based on a novel by Jane Austen

4) Dances With Wolves (1990)– Based on a novel by Michael Blake

5) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)- Based on the novels by J.R.R Tolkin

Looking for that great summer project that will entertain you for months? Find out what films are coming out that are based on a book, read them, and anticipate for the films release. Compare the entertainment value of the two stories (because they are always contrasting) and have the knowledge over your friends.

Get a head start with these films soon to be released:

Cowboys Verses Aliens Starring Craig Fergeson and Harrison Ford “Based On: The graphic novel from Platinum Studios created by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg”

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows- Part II released in July 2011, book written by J.K. Rowling.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan- Novel by Lisa See, coming to theaters in July 2011.

One Day- Novel by David Nicholls, the film stars Ann Hathaway, and is to released this summer.

Radcliffe Finding His Flair

Radcliffe in The Woman in Black

Daniel Radcliffe is Harry Potter. Radcliffe has been under the incredibly large limelight of J.K. Rowling’s masterpiece for 10 years.  How can an actor escape? Are Radcliffe’s fans his or do they remain loyal exclusively to Harry Potter?

In order to independently establish a singular fan base for himself Radcliffe must ease his way out of Hogwarts and into more films. The audience needs to notice Radcliffe’s flair in a film, without Potter being a guide. As of now Radcliffe is ‘flair-less’ because Harry Potter holds a strong clientele that supports it’s unique style in a majestic world.

Curious to see what Radcliffe’s next project is?

The Woman in Black will be released in February 2012. Director James Watkins, a fresh face to the horror department, will be sure to leave a lasting impression having Daniel Radcliffe tackling the leading role with this thriller-drama. The movie includes a captivating ghost story that a lawyer discovers while investigating a woman’s death.

Is this film, for Radcliffe, enough to linger away from the Harry Potter world while keeping an already firmly mark footprint in the film industry? Will his impression fade and just become a memory in this generations childhood?

This is a the risk that many actor must take in their careers in order to get where they want to be. Some are content being just being ‘that guy who played that character in those films’. Others like Daniel Radcliffe, jump, and continue to establish their flair.

For Radcliffe and millions of fans, the Potter series is coming to a close. His career now has a chance to leap into greatness. Harry Potter could be Radcliffe’s trampoline and catapult him into other movie opportunities, or it could be his one hull-a-hoop and fall after 10 years of managing that one great moment.