Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) (2nd time)

Faced with both her hot-tempered father's fading health and melting ice-caps that flood her ramshackle bayou community and unleash ancient aurochs, six-year-old Hushpuppy must learn the ways of courage and love. [imdb]

Nominated for 4 Oscars:

Best Picture
Best Director: Benh Zeitlin
Best Actress: Quvenzhane Wallis
Best Adapted Screenplay

I must admit I didn't think this film will go this far with the Oscars. I expected a screenplay nomination, and that's it. But then came nominations' morning, and it scored big. I also admit to liking it more the 2nd time I saw it: it really is, if anything, a well-directed film, the vision of someone who knows what he's doing.

No point in going into the Quvenzhane debate, I've done that HERE, though it's Dwight Henry who should've been noticed by the Academy. Same for the Original Score, which is a beautiful piece of music that unfortunately went unrecognized.

My rating for the film: 8/10. Yeah, I really ranked this film higher the 2nd time around.

Zero Dark Thirty (2012) (2nd time)

A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terroristleader Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May 2011. [imdb]

Nominated for 5 Oscars:

Best Picture
Best Actress: Jessica Chastain
Best Original Screenplay
Best Editing
Best Sound Editing (WINNER)

Here is what you'd call a film for grown-ups. Some people over the Atlantic complained it's controversial - it's not, it's just a realistic portrayal of what torture is. It NEVER goes too far in what it shows. The whole negative campaign was pure bullshit. This is an amazing film, that was very captivating even the second time.

Those last 30 minutes are quite unmatchable and a perfect example of what amazing directing looks like. Kathryn Bigelow not getting nominated is beyond ridiculous: she did an incredible job in putting this together, I really believe there's no one who could've done it better. I love how it dares NOT to go into commercial mode. It's a great auteur piece.

My rating for the film: 9/10. The technical aspects are just what the film required. Zero Dark Thirty shares the top spot for 2012 with Amour, for me.

The Impossible (2013) (2nd time)

The story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. [imdb]

Nominated for 1 Oscar:

Best Actress: Naomi Watts

Red alert, red alert, WHERE is Ewan McGregor's Oscar nomination, already? He should've been nominated for this, because he gives a superb, very emotional supporting performance. Naomi is just as amazing: never have I seen her so lost in a character, "lost" in the best possible way. She had me once the tsunami hit, and never let me go. Beautiful, realistic acting.

The film has flaws, that's for sure, most of them in the screenplay, which turns very Hollywood in the second half. But those poor choices are corrected by a good director and beautiful acting.

My rating for the film: 7.5/10. A shout-out to the visual effects team, also.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012) (2nd time)

After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own. [imdb]

Nominated for 8 Oscars:

Best Picture
Best Director: David O. Russell
Best Actor: Bradley Cooper
Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence (WINNER)
Best Supporting Actor: Robert De Niro
Best Supporting Actress: Jacki Weaver
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Editing

Now here's a romantic drama that actually works. I liked this film even the second time: it's easy to watch, very well-acted, nicely directed and put together, and with enough emotion to make it memorable. It should've won Adapted Screenplay. Though, what I didn't like was... well, the change in the character, towards the end. I didn't think that was so believable. But ok: let's go with it. 

Talk about the acting: Jen Law is good, but she shouldn't have won (and HERE is why) and she's not the star of her film. Bradley Cooper is quite amazing and, also, never looked better. De Niro is fine, and I'm happy he stopped being so lazy in his acting choices (he's still far from his old glory, though). And Jacki Weaver... well, Jacki is the heart of the film, so her nomination was a well-received surprise.

My rating for the film: 8.5/10. Happy Oscar fell for it.

The Great Gatsby (1974)

**Seen in June 2013**

A Midwesterner becomes fascinated with his nouveau riche neighbor, who obsesses over his lost love. [imdb]

Nominated for 2 Oscars:

Best Music, Scoring Original Song Score and/or Adaptation (WINNER)
Best Costume Design (WINNER)

Since I was planning on seeing the 2013 version, I thought it would only seem fair to give this a try also. I had never seen it. I had read the book in high-school, but I was not really a fan. So I saw it: and, honestly, it fails.

After seeing it, it makes sense why it didn't receive any major Oscar nominations: the film moves very slowly, and it's quite boring for most of the time. It has no rhythm, and too little excitement. The acting coming from the two actors feels very stiff. Karen Black is best in show (and won the Golden Globe for it), but Oscar didn't bother to include her in the Supporting Actress line-up.

The costumes are very beautiful, but the film is very forgettable.

My rating for the film: 5/10. Mia, I expected better.

No (2012)

**Seen in April (?) 2013**

An ad executive comes up with a campaign to defeat Augusto Pinochet in Chile's 1988 referendum. [imdb]

Nominated for 1 Oscar:

Best Foreign Language Film (Chile)

No was a great competitor to Amour in the Foreign Language Film category. This film has a whole lot of elements that I shouldn't like, but they all work so well together: the way it is filmed (with the quality of a 1970s-1980s TV broadcast) didn't bother me at all. Neither did the topic, which I expected to be heavier, more boring than what I saw - because what we have here is an exciting small film, interesting, with a lot of heart and a feeling of authenticity. 

I still find myself humming Chile la alegria ya viene. In ends up feeling important.

My rating for the film: 8.5/10. Try it.

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

**Seen in February 2013**

A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives. [imdb]

Nominated for 1 Oscar:

Best Animated Feature

This film was by far one of the most pleasant surprises of 2012. I expected something quite commercial (by that I mean more superficial in approach to the story), but I was so-so wrong. It's one of the most heart-warming, emotional, overall fun films of 2012. That this lost the Oscar to that terrible Brave (worst of the nominees) still feels ridiculous.

My rating for the film: 8.5/10. A nomination for Original Screenplay would've also been a fair choice.

Ted (2012)

**Seen in February 2013**

As the result of a childhood wish, John Bennett's teddybear, Ted, came to life and has been by John's side ever since - a friendship that's tested when Lori, John's girlfriend of four years, wants more from their relationship. [imdb]

Nominated for 1 Oscar:

Best Original Song

It's gets funny at one point, but late in the game. At other times, it's just an eeewwwww experience, with some disgusting scenes along. Seth has an unusual perception on what's funny.

Nothing more to add.

My rating for the film: 5/10.

Anna Karenina (2012)

**Seen in January 2013**

Set in late-19th-century Russia high-society, the aristocratAnna Karenina enters into a life-changing affair with the affluent Count Vronsky. [imdb]

Nominated for 4 Oscars:

Best Cinematography
Best Original Score
Best Production Design
Best Costume Design (WINNER)

One of my favourite books of all time gets a new adaptation and they opt for the least inspired casting choices for the 2 leads. What to do that to actively dislike?

Joe Wright (director of two films I LOVE: Atonement and Pride & Prejudice), you are free to do whatever you want, but I CAN'T approve of the "world is a stage" idea... Maybe out of budget reasons, but it's Anna Karenina, damn it. Give me Russia, or don't give me anything.

But the stage-thing is not its biggest downfall. Keira is... fine. But not "woman enough" to play Anna. The guy who plays Vronki... please, let's not even go there. And, as if it needed saying, you can't do Anna Karenina in only 2 hours.

My rating for the film: 6/10. With all that put aside, I very much approve of the win for Costume Design.

The Sessions (2012)

**Seen in January 2013**

A man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest. [imdb]

Nominated for 1 Oscar:

Best Supporting Actress: Helen Hunt

This is the one where Helen Hunt gets very naked. I kid because I love. Almost. No, really, I love that films like this are getting made, with actors you wouldn't normally see leading their films. Happy that Helen Hunt is in the spotlight again. Which means I am happy about her nomination and she should've probably won (I don't know, I'm confused about that category). John Hawkins gives a great performance himself, but... if him not getting nominated allowed for Joaquin to be there, then I can't get upset. 

It's a film that is easy to watch. Nothing spectacular, but an interesting, well acted story.

My rating for the film: 7.5/10. Real indie done right.

Les Miserables (2012)

**Seen in January 2013**

In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after breaking parole, agrees to care for a factory worker's daughter. The decision changes their lives for ever. [imdb]

Nominated for 8 Oscars:

Best Picture
Best Actor: Hugh Jackman
Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway (WINNER)
Best Original Song
Best Production Design
Best Costume Design
Best Sound Mixing (WINNER)
Best Makeup and Hairstyling (WINNER)

I like the story, I couldn't finish the book. I like (some of) the songs, I don't like the film. Hard for me to write about it, since it's been a while - well, that's not the problem. The problem is I didn't like it, and it's hard to say why. Some of the acting is good; regardless of what they say, Hugh Jackman is best in show, and not Anne Hathaway (she is fine, if not difficult to judge because the performance relies so much on the wings of that famous song). But I like Hugh, quite a lot, he is very touching in that final church scene.

The rest of the performances range from cartoonish to ok to not so good to ignorable. I didn't like anything connected to that "revolution", and the screenplay is messy because of all the plot holes & such. The directing is pretty bad itself.

My rating for it: 5.5/10. Though it's quite unrankable, really. A tough film to read, because it goes to all sorts of extremes.

Django Unchained (2012)

**Seen in January 2013**

With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. [imdb]

Nominated for 5 Oscars:

Best Picture
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz (WINNER)
Best Original Screenplay (WINNER)
Best Cinematography
Best Sound Editing

An interesting case where, even though I liked the film quite a lot, I don't agree with any of its wins. But it stands there as one of my favourite Tarantino film, as it exquisitely combines an important theme with the popcorn culture. 

Of course, it has its own set of issues (mostly in the ending), but it was nice to sit through and very engaging. Christoph Waltz was good, but not as fabulous as Philip Seymour Hoffman (who should've won) and definitely not as amazing as Leo (where is his nomination????), who creates a deliciously charming villain. One of his best performances, I'd say.

My rating for the film: 8.5/10.  How is it that Tarantino films don't get nominated for Costume Design? What's up with that? The technical stuff is great throughout here.

Hitchcock (2012)

**Seen in January 2013**

A love story between influential filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and wife Alma Reville during the filming of Psycho in 1959. [imdb]

Nominated for 1 Oscar:

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

A film that lacks depth, imagination and exciting performances. The acting ranges from extremely forgettable to average, and I'm surprised they came up with such a dull screenplay when "psycho" was the topic for discussion.

What could've been an exciting biopic ended up as a waste of money, with no visition to it. I question this Oscar nomination itself, since there were worthier contenders in the mix.

My rating for the film: 4.5/10.  I'm happy Dame Helen Mirren didn't get nominated, though she was this close. She brings too little to an already poorly written part.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

**Seen in January 2013**

A younger and more reluctant Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out on an "unexpected journey" to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of Dwarves to reclaim their stolen mountain home from a dragon named Smaug. [imdb]

Nominated for 3 Oscars:

Best Production Design
Best Visual Effects
Best Makeup and Hairstyling

I liked it more than others did, though it clearly can't reach the success of Lord of the Rings. But I am subjective, since I love such fairy tales. I have no complaints about the length - I wish the story would've lasted for hours. :) I find it pleasant to watch, relaxing, its only small problem being the story itself - the stake of the journey doesn't feel important enough. 

I really enjoyed the Gollum scenes.

My rating for the film: 8/10.  Though I get it why some don't approve.