Katelynn McGinley
Staff Reporter
The Academy Awards are just around the corner, in case you’ve forgotten that Brad Pitt has actually been doing things with his life other than raising a brood of ridiculously good looking children with Angelina Jolie. So whether you’re shelling out the $8-12 to see them in theaters, waiting to catch them on Netflix, or illegally downloading them (?which the Free Press absolutely does not condone?); here’s everything you need to know about the five films nominated for Best Picture this year
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This heartbreakingly gorgeous film, which spans from the close of World War I to the arrival of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, stars Brad Pitt as Benjamin; a man born old, who ages in reverse, becoming younger with the passage of time.
It is a bizarre concept, but it’s also a fascinating one, and Benjamin Button draws you in from the very beginning. Benjamin’s life, though extraordinary, is not dissimilar to any other life ? there are moments of great happiness coupled with deep sorrows. Benjamin often feels lost and at odds with the world he lives in, and spends much time searching for the meaning in his life. Cate Blanchett is especially compelling in her role as Benjamin’s childhood friend, Daisy, the love of Benjamin’s life.
The supporting cast is equally wonderful. Taraji P. Henson (Hustle and Flow), who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress, turns in an incredibly heartfelt role as Benjamin’s surrogate mother, Queenie, the only person in the world who seems to understand him and truly loves him from the very start of his life.
At 160 minutes, the movie is definitely quite an undertaking ? but the lush cinematography and the excellent performances make it well worth your time.
Frost/Nixon
Three years after his resignation, disgraced former President Richard Nixon is a man desperate to save his legacy, and David Frost is a jet-setting television personality trying to make a name for himself in the world of journalism. In the summer of 1977, these two men come together in a collision of egos and wits, when Nixon agrees to one all-inclusive interview to answer the allegations about his time in office, and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon shocks everyone by selecting Frost as his televised confessor, intending to outfox the breezy British showboat and redeem himself in the hearts of the American people. However, when the camera rolls, a legendary battle of wits between these two flawed, shrewd, and egotistical man begins.
An impeccably pedigreed cast and a tight script are the strongest points of Frost/Nixon, which is based (very loosely) on a real interview that took place with Nixon. The strongest acting accolades go to Frank Langella, who portrays the disgraced former president as more than a one dimensional villain. Langella brings depth and genuine emotion to the character of a deeply conflicted and complex man, who spent the rest of his life carrying the burden of his failures with him. The interview scenes between Langella and Michael Sheen, who plays David Frost, are impeccably timed and gripping to watch.
Milk
Sean Penn stars in the heart-wrenching, true life story of San Francisco’s first openly gay public official, Harvey Milk, who was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. The following year, Milk and the city’s mayor, George Moscone (Victor Garber), were both assassinated by former city supervisor, Dan White (Josh Brolin).
Milk is a strong movie with a powerful message about a man who unabashedly broke down boundaries ? and did so with a unique style and humor. Penn immerses himself completely in the role, and never tries to portray Milk as a saint ? he is a real man with flaws of his own, trying to accomplish something against all odds. The movie is transcendent of societal standards ? it is not about the dichotomy between gay and straight. It is a movie about everyone: every minority, anybody who has ever been bullied, or has been made to feel ashamed for simply being themselves will relate to this movie. At the end of the day, Milk is about the ability of the human spirit to endure, and overcome.
The supporting cast is the perfect accent to Penn’s tour de force performance. Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, and especially James Franco, who plays Milk’s lover, are all breathtaking in their respective roles.
The Reader
This chilling, deeply disturbing movie centers around a young man named Michael who carries on an illicit affair with an older woman. The woman, Hanna Schmitz (Kate Winslet), is a former Nazi concentration camp guard living and working as a trolley car conductor in Berlin in the 1950’s. When a Holocaust survivor publishes a book including the details of Hanna’s war crimes, the result is a public trial that results in the sordid revelation of her past.
The story is told from Michael’s perspective through a series of flashbacks, beginning with his first encounter with Hanna in 1958. The character of Michael ? played by David Kross in his youth, and Ralph Fiennes as an adult ? is a callous character that never seems to mature or develop into anything beyond the person telling the story. It’s a shame that Kate Winslet’s role is limited to being only that of the ‘supporting’ actress, because it’s easily the most mesmerizing part of the movie, it may possibly even be the role of Winslet’s life. Her take on Hanna, a woman who lives her life day to day, unrepentant about the choices she’s made in her life, is a character study in the banality of evil. That she can even cause a viewer to summon sympathy for her character speaks volumes about her abilities as an actress.
Slumdog Millionaire
Jamal (Dev Patel), an orphaned teen from the slums of Mumbai is a contestant on India’s version of the television show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”. After an extraordinary streak of correct answers, he is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and during his interrogation, events from his life history are revealed to show how he came to know the answers to the questions.
It’s a fairy-tale, fantastical roller coaster of a story juxtaposed with the harsh realities of life in India. Alternately gut-wrenching and tender, Slumdog grabs hold of the viewer from the very first frame, and doesn’t let go until the end. The weight of the film lies squarely on the two lead actors, Patel and Frieda Pinto – who plays the love of Jamal’s life, Latika – and they don’t disappoint. Patel brings confidence and swagger to his character, as well as unashamedly showing his fears and insecurities ? which the audience can completely relate to.
The movie moves along at a breakneck speed, and yet none of the movie’s cinematic flair ever seems unnecessary. Every aspect of the movie makes sense, and there is no doubt that you will leave the theater feeling uplifted and inspired.