The Oscars are coming on February 27th. (Yikes, that’s today!) Are you ready? Have you seen the films up for the awards? Here’s a run-down. Remember, if they’re not out on DVD yet, we’ll have them as soon as they’re released, sometimes weeks before Netflix and Redbox!
Best Motion Picture of the Year:
1. Black Swan (DVD release date TBA)
A ballet dancer (Natalie Portman) wins the lead in “Swan Lake” and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan –Princess Odette – but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odette’s evil sister, Odile, the Black Swan. Directed by Darren Aronofsky.
2. True Grit (DVD release date TBA)
A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father’s murderer. The Coen Brothers direct a loaded cast led by Jeff Bridges.
3. Toy Story 3 (Now available for check-out or reserve @ your library!)
The creative genius behind Disney-Pixar’s groundbreaking animated blockbusters invites you back inside the delightful world of talking toys.
4. The Social Network (Now available for check-out or reserve @ your library!)
This is a story about two friends – one a computer genius, the other a business expert – who began a website that became the fastest growing phenomenon in Internet history.
5. 127 Hours (DVD release: March 1)
A mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive.
6. The King’s Speech (DVD release: April 19.)
The story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch become worthy of it. Stars Colin Firth.
7. The Kids Are All Right (Now available for check-out or reserve @ your library!)
The son of a same-sex couple seeks out the sperm donor who made his birth possible in this comedy drama. (Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo)
8. Inception (Now available for check-out or reserve @ your library!)
Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is the best there is at extraction: stealing valuable secrets inside the subconscious during the mind’s vulnerable dream state. His skill has made him a coveted player in industrial espionage but also has made him a fugitive and cost him dearly.
9. The Fighter (DVD release: March 15.)
A look at the early years of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s.
10. Winter’s Bone (Now available for check-out or reserve @ your library!)
Day-to-day life is tough in the economically depressed, unforgiving harsh rural landscape that’s home to the extended Dolly clan, but it’s made much tougher thanks to their deep involvement in the local drug culture. Winner of Best Picture in the dramatic film competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
Best Feature Documentary
1. Exit Through the Gift Shop (Now available for check-out or reserve @ your library!)
An amateur film maker attempts to locate and befriend the famous graffiti artist Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner. The film contains footage of Banksy, Shephard Fairey, Invader and many of the world’s most infamous graffiti artists at work. Narrated by Rhys Ifans. Rated 98% “fresh” on RottenTomatoes.com!
2. Gasland (Now available for check-out or reserve @ your library!)
Josh Fox, a theatrical director and filmmaker, was offered $100,000 for the gas rights to family property on the Delaware River Basin in Pennsylvania. He was curious about the possible effects of drilling, so he traveled to 34 states and talked to dozens of property owners and environmental experts on the under-reported menace of fracking and the truth about the dangers of natural gas. Official selection at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
3. Inside Job (DVD release: March 8 )
Academy Award winner Matt Damon narrates this unflinching look at the deep-rooted corruption that has left millions of middle-class Americans jobless and homeless as the major corporations get bailed out while paying millions in bonuses.
4. Restrepo (Now available for check-out or reserve @ your library!)
Chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley. The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost, “Restrepo,” named after a platoon medic who was killed in action. This is an entirely experiential film: the cameras never leave the valley; make viewers feel as if they have just been through a 90-minute deployment.
5. Waste Land (DVD release: March 15)
Filmed over nearly three years, this film follows renowned artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world’s largest garbage dump, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.
Best Animated Feature
1. Toy Story 3 {G} Now available.
2. The Illusionist {PG} (French) Release date TBA.
3. How to Train Your Dragon {PG} Now available.
This librarian’s picks are pictured.
I also like Colin Firth for best actor and Natalie Portman for best actress.
What do you think?
That’s remarkable, given our town population is under 1000 and not growing. This works out to us serving 30 patrons each day we’re open! Considering our small building footprint, limited hours, and no full-time staff, you might say we’re doing a lot with a little. Here are some other stats you may find interesting:
