[StrayBullet]

So I finally saw Frost/Nixon yesterday and it's official, I've seen every Best Picture nomination for this year's Oscars - Before the actual show. This marks the first time I've ever done so and I actually feel as though I can finally decide for myself who should win. I understand that the Oscars have really just become this marketing tool and an over-hyped, ized award show, but what isn't these days? I just think it's fun to talk about the nominations and get involved with the "Who should won?" debates. Now these aren't reviews and I don't want to delve into the plots at all... They're just a quick blurb.

The Curious Case of Benjamin button truly has no business being nominated. It's an interesting movie with some great parts, scenes and performances, but it constantly felt like another Forrest Gump. Cate Blanchett was mesmerizing as usual, but the film did drag on after the 2 hour mark. It's good, it's watchable, but definitely not great and not Best Picture worthy.

Changeling was equally as interesting as Benjamin Button and the movie took a turn that was unexpected. Throughout watching the film, I did not keep in mind that it was "based on a true story" and never once did I think to myself that it was incredible just because Eastwood did it. It maintained it's intensity and you find yourself building such a hate for some of these characters (Jeffrey Donovan) that you can't help but think that they're doing an incredible job on the screen. The one thing that did agitate me was Angelina Jolie constantly yelling out the same lines: "WHERE IS MY SON!", "GIVE ME BACK MY SON!, "FIND MY SON!". Seriously... those are her only lines.

Slumdog Millionaire is alot of fun and I will encourage people to go out and see it. It's probably my personal pick to win the award, but understanding the Academy, it will likely lose to the next two I'm about to mention. If it doesn't win, I wouldn't be disappointed, but I am happy to see that it had it's hype and people have gone out to see it.

Frost/Nixon is one that caught me by surprise. I remember watching the trailers all summer and thinking to myself, "There is no way I am sitting through that.". I also felt as though the film industry was ramming this movie down our (everyone, not just Americans) throats to crucify Nixon one more time - I was wrong. I was compelled and interested and Frank Langella's performance was that of equal to Jamie Foxx in Ray... simply incredible. I could see it winning Best Picture and wouldn't be mad if it did.

The Reader. Let's see... So it's about this woman who befriends... well, a 14 year-old boy. They end up having this... affair and... she begins asking him to do his homework and read books to her. Boy grows up... She leaves... Boy becomes a law student and finds her on trial for being a Nazi. It's an incredible movie!!! This is the way I've been describing this movie to everyone and all I get is blank stares. Perhaps it's how I describe it or perhaps you can't actually sell this movie to anyone, but it's seriously a great film and is the one I think that will win. Kate Winslet deserves whatever noms or wins she gets for this and the young fellow in the film is great too.