MOVIE TIME OF YEAR: OSCAR BAIT

Categories: Blog,Uncategorized

by IAFT/LA Mentor Russell P. Marleau

Are you like us here at IAFT-LA this time of year as we get caught up in the slew of high-quality films being released throughout the holidays that vie for our eyeballs – not to mention all the awards to come in early 2013?  It seems like the studios constantly hold back their best – and most prestigious films – for the end-of-year Oscar races.  With that in mind, we’re going to periodically weigh in on the new films coming out over the next few weeks.  If you’re looking for recommendations (or what to avoid), keep checking in with us.  Or if you see some winners, let us know!

We recently checked out both Argo and Silver Linings Playbook.  Both of these movies are getting heavy Oscar buzz so we were curious.  After becoming an actor, Ben Affleck has taken up directing and Argo may be his most accomplished film to date.  Telling the story of a 1980 hostage crisis, in which the CIA sends an agent (disguised as a film producer) to rescue Canadian citizens in hiding, the movie is both tense and entertaining from the get-go.  It also pokes some good-natured fun at the film business while ratcheting up the suspense until the very last frame.  We doubt you’ll be disappointed by this movie and it’ll most likely garner several Oscar nods.

Up next is Silver Linings Playbook starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro.  It’s sort of a quirky modern-day love story centering on two mentally imbalanced (but extremely good-looking) people.  What might sound like a depressing 2 hours is actually very funny, thought provoking and emotional.  It’s one of those films where you’re never quite sure where it’s going, but the ride works from start to finish.  The two leads are outstanding and we think Cooper is one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood – maybe this is the film where he starts getting the recognition he deserves.

Author: dave