Oscars 2012: Wondering whether to catch up on some films?

With the full Oscar nominee list just out, you may be glancing over it wondering whether some of the movies you missed are worth checking out on DVD or OnDemand via your cable channel. For instance, if you’re a guy, maybe you’re wondering whether The Help or Bridesmaids (which you ignored in the theaters) has any appeal for you. If you’re an adult without kids, maybe you’re now considering seeing Scorsese’s much-nominated Hugo.

Below, I’ve included a list of links to a few earlier Reel Answers columns which can help you make up your mind whether to see a nominated movie or not. Happy watching!

A Better Life A moving little film that has garnered a Best Actor nod for Demian Bichir, a huge star in Mexico.

The Help Some say Octavia Spencer’s Best Supporting Actress performance was too broad, but I thought she managed to convey and evoke a wide range of emotions.

Midnight in Paris I probably need to watch this one again since (disclosure) I slept through some of its second half.

Bridesmaids I don’t think Melissa McCarthy was the funniest thing about Bridesmaids, but am nonetheless glad to see her acting get some recognition.

Margin Call This riveting film earns a well deserved Best Original Screenplay nomination for writer/director J. C. Chandor.

The Artist This movie is worth seeing on the big screen, for the gorgeous soundtrack alone. Am very glad both the memorable lead actors got acting nods.

The Descendants Still in the theaters. I’m surprised to hear that The Descendants is considered the leader in the Oscar race, but am happy for Alexander Payne who brought a complex contemporary family story to life in this movie.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy Still in the theaters. As my review notes, Gary Oldman is very good as George Smiley. Such a recessive character is not your typical lead role, but the Academy obviously recognizes the acting (and good writing) behind it.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Still in the theaters. Yeah, Rooney Mara’s nominated performance is interesting enough to pay $12 for.

Hugo Still in theaters (if you can find it). It definitely has a style and tone that sticks with you, long after viewing it.

I also saw these two Oscar nominees way too late to review them, but enjoyed them both (although they are SO different) and recommend them: Moneyball and Beginners. The very quirky Beginners is well worth seeing for Christopher Plummer’s joyous and moving performance as Ewan McGregor’s elderly father. (Those two Brits both play Californians, in case you’re wondering.)

Finally, there are tons of great behind-the-scenes Academy Award stories being posted on the Entertainment Weekly site through Oscar night, Feb. 26.

My Reel Answers column aims to boil down film reviewing to its essence: answering questions (without divulging key plot points) you might have about a popular movie before plunking down your hard-earned money to see it. Please visit http://reelanswers.net to see past movies and DVDs I’ve reviewed, and let me know what questions you have about upcoming movies that I can answer.

Let’s hear it for “the Lonely Man”

Love this rousing 1967 retirement speech by adman Leo Burnett: http://bit.ly/xDnwpt

Susan Cain, author of QUIET: The Power of Introverts has gotten a lot of attention for her recent article in the Times on groupthink. This particular section of Leo Burnett’s speech (the background music and crowd noise make me think of Mad Men) resonates with the thesis of her essay:

“When you lose your respect for the lonely man, the man at his typewriter, or his drawing board, or behind his camera, or just scribbling notes with one of our big black pencils, or working all night on a media plan….When you forget that the lonely man—and thank god for him—has made the agency we have possible…. When you forget he’s the man who, because he is reaching harder, sometimes actually gets hold of one of those hot, unreachable stars…. That, boys and girls, is when I shall insist you take my name off the door.”

Saw 2 good movies this weekend: Tinker, Tailor & Girl with Dragon Tattoo

Reviews to come…

GLEE is still fun—if you just watch the music

I basically stopped watching GLEE because the storylines were so PC and ridiculous, but have been missing all the great musical bits by amazing B’way performers like Matthew Morrison, Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, and Lea Michele. So was very happy to find that BroadwayWorld.com is featuring just the Glee musical highlights on their site. Of course, I miss the context of all the “meaningful looks” between the characters during the songs, but don’t really care.

I do wonder about what all the young performers and audience members think about the constant barrage of 25-year-old 1980s songs on the show, though. Yeah, we liked “Happy Days” when we were growing up but would we have sat through a constant stream of musty old 1950s songs? Hard to imagine….

My favorite song from the last episode is the acoustic duet between Matthew Morrison and Idina Menzel. I have no idea by what contrivance these two are singing together on the show, but would love to see more of this!!

We need to get more “Enlightened”

Loved this recent shout-out for HBO’s “Enlightened” in Entertainment Weekly: “Why ‘Enlightened is the best show nobody’s watching.” Here’s my two cents: This HBO show is a great example of how 30-minute television should be: quirky but complex characters (some of whom I feel I KNOW, but I’m not naming names), smart heart-felt writing, and wonderful acting by everyone involved. In a TV landscape dominated by bad one-liner machines like “Two Broke Girls” and “Two and a Half Men” it’s too bad, per EW’s Fall 2011-12 Rankings article, that this show is not even on the radar for the vaunted 18-49 demographic.