Entertainment Weekly: Part II - Oscar Contenders

Unfortunately for this post, time got the better of me and the Academy Awards happened while I tried to sleep, folded up like a lawn chair, on a night bus back to Tübingen from Paris.

But maybe you're not a huge fan of the Academy and instead want to hear the opinion of an unqualified 21 year old.

Clint Eastwood approves this post.

Of course you do!

Before I left for Paris, I had the pleasure of seeing two the nominees for Best Picture (As a opposed to last year when I saw none of them. Go me!).  Jake had wound up with an English copy of The Help and luckily for me, I live right across the street from a small movie theater called Museum, which was showing The Artist.

I guess I'll tackle The Help first.

Now, in case you've been living under a rock, the book by Kathryn Stockett was published quietly in 2009 and out of nowhere became that book that everyone was reading (much like Girl With the Dragon Tattoo or even Twilight (much as I hate to admit it)).  I was in the middle of reading it last summer before I came to Germany and I was torn between taking it or One Day on the plane.  I ended up taking One Day, which is also excellent, but I plan on reading the book when I get home.  Because I'm one of those people who want to know if the book is better than the movie. (Answer: it usually is.)

Curiosity got the better of me and I ended up watching the movie before I read the book. Gasp!  Now beyond the rumors that the book's plot was fantastic and moving, I must admit I may have seen the movie for other more selfish reasons....like my love of costumes (by the way, the new Jane Eyre was robbed of the Costume Design Oscar. Did you see those bonnets?!) and my love for the rising star Emma Stone. I think she's an amazing actress with wonderful facial expressions. (If you're looking for witty teen comedy that's actually smart, check out Emma Stone in Easy A, one of my favorite movies) Plus, I just want to steal her red hair.

Check out some of the gorgeous costumes in the movie:

Octavia Spencer (as Minny) and Viola Davis (as Aibileen) play
"the help" who raise white children in the Deep South.
Spencer's Oscar for Best Supporting Actress was truly well deserved!

Jessica Chastain as Celia Foote, the
incompetent, but sweet new wife of Jackson's
richest bachelor.

The movie afforded glimpses into the trapped lives of
both African American workers and white women
in the 1960s.

Bryce Dallas Howard as the evil Hilly, who might be
one of the best female villains in cinema.

And finally, Emma Stone as Skeeter, the sassy wannabe
journalist.
Gah. She is just fantastic. 

Anyway, watch the trailer.

On the surface and judging by the trailer alone it would be simple to dismiss this movie as another film that shows the courage needed to overcome racism in the Deep South in the 1960s.  And part of that is true.  But the movie was truly moving, equal parts funny, sad, and infuriating.  I cried at a couple of parts in the movie (though that really means nothing, I cried at March of the Penguins). Of the heroic main protagonists, I think every viewer will be able to find someone to sympathize with.  My only compliant with the movie was actually the ending, which I felt seemed almost unfinished.  But other than that, it was a great movie with a lot of heart, amazing scenes and acting, plus some wonderful cinematography and costumes. I'd definitely recommend it.  But bring some tissues.

Now, if you've been on my blog long enough, you probably know that this humble blogger has a soft spot for old, black and white movies.  The classics are my cup of tea and I could literally sit and watch TCM for hours, even through the not-so-great old movies. So when I heard the Oscar buzz around a silent film called The Artist, I was ready to go and see it.  Luckily, Emily and I share a passion for old movies so we woke up super early over one weekend and caught a morning matinee at the movie theater (kino, if you want to be all German).

This movie is a must see for anyone who loves old Hollywood or who revels in cinematography.  But even if you don't like old movies or you don't know anything about how a camera works, let alone what counts as cinematography, YOU SHOULD SEE THIS MOVIE.

Instead of raving about it like I want to, I'll just leave the trailer here and let you decide for yourself if you should see it.

Just a couple of warnings for the movie - yep, it's a silent movie and you do have to read a couple of lines. (I didn't go the movies to read?! WHY?!) Most importantly, you have to actually watch the movie and interpret the scenes and the acting for yourself.  Luckily, The Artist's acting and script is perfect so any audience member can follow along.  

Plus, it features this adorable dog named Uggie, who won an award at Cannes for acting. (I am not making this up.)

So do yourself a favor and go see it.  Or least go see it so you can talk about it at family gatherings or at work so you don't look like an idiot who hasn't seen the Best Picture winner for the year.