2015 Oscar Nominations
By S.D Wentworth
Oscar season is upon us all, and there is nothing like feeling as if you are a part of the judging panel when it comes to the greatest movie releases of 2014. Aside from the major snub of SELMA with only receiving 2 noms for best original song (hip hop artist Common & r&b crooner John Legend recently won a Golden Globe for the track “Glory” for the film) and best picture, there are plenty of other worthy flicks, like Birdman starring Michael Keaton and Nightcrawler starring Jake Gyllenhaal. If you are the avid film watcher and are wondering as to why SELMA isn’t truly represented on the Oscar list, there is just no short answer. From the film casting a harsh light on the Lyndon B. Johnson presidency (which was active during the Civil Rights movement), to the directors/producers not sending out dvd reviews to Oscar judges, to the film simply entering late into the nomination game, the list of reasons why are as thick as the controversy that surrounds the subject of the film itself. That, my darlings, is to be for another article, for another day.
The following is both a short list of Oscar nominees as well as a listing of a few #GGOscarPics that you can enjoy from the comforts of your home as we brave the New England winter season.
Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel tie for first place with each carrying 9 nominations, and The Imitation Game comes in second with 8 nominations. Following close behind is Boyhood with 6 nominations and American Sniper also with 6 noms (including Bradley Cooper with a nod for his performance in the lead role). Taking the bronze are Whiplash, Interstellar, and Foxcatcher, all are tied for 5 nominations. If, though, you are like myself and wish to watch any of these and other flicks that were granted the opportunity to be nominated for Oscars from the comfort of your California King beds, then darlings, here is that very list of GG Recommended “Watch at Home” Oscar nominated movies:
Gone Girl, starring Ben Affleck (available on Amazon Instant, Netflix DVD, Redbox)
The Judge, starring Robert Downey Jr & Robert Duvall(available on Amazon Instant)
Guardians of the Galaxy, starring Chris Pratt (available on Netflix DVD, Redbox)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier, starring Chris Evans (available on Netflix DVD, Redbox, Amazon Instant)
X-Men: Days of Future Past, starring James McAvoy (available on Amazon Instant, Netflix DVD, Redbox)
Begin Again, starring Mark Ruffalo & Keira Knightley (available on Netflix DVD, Amazon Instant, Redbox)
Virunga, a documentary set in the Congo. (available on Netflix Instant)
The Grand Budapest Hotel, starring Bill Murray & Tilda Swinton (available on Amazon Instant, Netflix DVD, HBOGo)
Boyhood, starring Patricia Arquette & Ethan Hawke (available on Amazon Instant, Netflix DVD, Redbox)
Again folks, this is just a short list of the #GGOscarPics of films that we think are good enough to watch at home. There are plenty of other films such as Foxcatcher, Unbroken, Selma, Nightcrawler & Interstellar that are worthy of braving the weather simply for the magnificent performances by the actors and the skills of the directors; all the reasons (and more) as to why they have been nominated for an Oscar. Or, you can be just like me (one of the GG writers) and wait until the Oscar winners are announced to decide which movies are actually worth seeing (again, aside from Selma, which EVERYONE SHOULD SEE because the historical precedence that is set during this film is exactly what is needed in this tension-filled world today). Stay warm, my darlings, and don’t forget the wine!
