The time I watched all the movies Oscar Nominated for Best Picture and then gave my reviews on them. (Part 3)

Three more to go!

Philomena
Cast: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan
Brief Plot Description: A reporter helps a woman find her son she hasn't seen in almost 50 years.
My Thoughts: This was the other movie on the list that I surprisingly and thoroughly enjoyed. The story seemed so simple at first but there were details that came along the way that completely took you for a loop. Not only that, but the chemistry between the main characters was so charming and endearing you couldn't help but to adore both of them in their quirkiness. I laughed (a lot) and cried in this movie and when it was over I wanted to tell people all about it. This movie is wonderful and its one you should definitely watch. I don't think it will snag any of the awards tomorrow but it absolutely deserved to be nominated.

Nebraska
Cast: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb
Brief Plot Description: An old man, who is slowly losing his mind, wants to go from Montana to Nebraska to claim the million dollar sweepstakes he has supposedly won. His son takes him.
My Thoughts: First of all... I DON'T GET WHY THIS MOVIE WAS IN BLACK AND WHITE??? Was it supposed to take away the colors so you see that characters more? Because it didn't work? Was it supposed to make it seem darker? Because it didn't? If anything I found that fact that it was in black and white really annoying. I kept watching scenes thinking that it would have had so much more detail and character that you could relate to if it was in color and it distracted me from the story a few times. Anyways... besides that I thought this movie was just okay. Will Forte played a type of character that we have never seen him in before. It was a little strange to see someone who is normally so funny and outgoing play someone very dry and muted. Bruce Dern and June Squibb weren't anything superb in my opinion. I didn't hate this movie but I wasn't overwhelmingly excited either. If this movie wins any of the awards tomorrow I will be quite surprised.

The Wolf of Wall Street
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
Brief Plot Description: A lot of drugs, sex and corruption while scamming the stock market in the 80's.
My Thoughts: Hands down... BEST MOVIE!! Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill were AMAZING in their roles. Leo absolutely played his best role (and that says a lot coming from me, a HUGE fan of him in Romeo & Juliet and Titanic), you can tell he put every ounce of his energy and creativity into playing this part. His charisma jumps right through the screen and grabs you from the beginning. Its almost three hours long but doesn't even seem like it because you are completely enthralled by this movie the entire time you watch it. This movie also supposedly had over 500 f-bombs in it, neither my boyfriend or I noticed them at all. We were so impressed with this movie that we are planning to go see it for a second time in the theatre. GO SEE THIS MOVIE! Just be prepared for watching a lot of (entertaining) drug use.

Final Recap
It was a lot of fun to watch all of these movies. These are my predictions for the big wins tomorrow:

Best Picture Nominees:
     American Hustle
     Captain Phillips
     Dallas Buyers Club
     Gravity
     Her
     Nebraska
     Philomena
     12 Years a Slave
     The Wolf of Wall Street

My Pick to Win:
     The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Actor in a Leading Role:
     Christian Bale (American Hustle)
     Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
     Leonardo DiCarprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
     Chewitel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
     Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

My Pick to Win:
     Leonardo DiCaprio (but if Matthew McConaughey wins I won't be mad)

Best Actress in a Leading Role:
     Amy Adams (American Hustle)
     Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)
     Sandra Bullock (Gravity)
     Judi Dench (Philomena)
     Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

My Pick to Win:
     This isn't really fair for me to vote on because I haven't seen Blue Jasmine or August: Osage County yet so if I had to pick it based on the movies i've seen I would say Judi Dench but chances are Meryl is gonna steal it because... hello... its Meryl!

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:
     Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
     Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)
     Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
     Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)
     Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

My Pick to Win:
     This is a really tough one... I'm seriously torn between Jonah Hill and Jared Leto. Both are equally deserving of the award. Can we just give it to both of them? Just this once?

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
     Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)
     Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)
     Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)
     Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
     June Squibb (Nebraska)

My Pick to Win:
     Again, I haven't seen Blue Jasmine or August: Osage County so I cant vote on those nominees but based on the movies I saw, I would give this one to Jennfer Lawrence, although I think that Lupita Nyong'o will win it because the media/hollywood is totally loving her right now.

There you have it! All my thoughts and opinions on the big movies at the Oscars tomorrow. Will you be watching too? Live tweet with me! (@whoismich) Let me know your thoughts! Either on the movies, the dresses or what I've had to say.

The time I watched all the movies Oscar Nominated for Best Picture and then gave my reviews on them. (Part 2)

Let's continue, shall we?

American Hustle 
Cast: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner
Brief Plot Description: This group eventually comes together to con people and steal their money.
My Thoughts: What... a... disappointment. Maybe I expected too much from this movie because of the cast (I mean, hello... Jennifer Lawrence is totally my girl crush right now! And Bradley Cooper, he stole my heart in Silver Linings Playbook last year) but this just didn't work. There were good elements of this movie like the fashion (holy plunging necklines batman) and Jennifer Lawrence (she can do no wrong) and the scene with Christian Bale's combover, but the rest was lacking. I was actually so bored in this movie that I wasn't even paying attention anymore and instead played Candy Crush on my phone. For a movie that has SUCH a great cast... it should have kept me pulled in more than it did. Its not the WORST on the list but its absolutely in the bottom few.

Her
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson
Brief Plot Description: A lame ass loser falls in love with his phones operating system.
My Thoughts: When I saw previews for this movie I thought it was the most ridiculous and stupid concept I had ever heard. I tried to have an open mind when I watched it, and I hoped I would connect with the story and understand his infatuation but my prediction was dead on. This WAS the most ridiculous and stupid concept ever. I couldn't comprehend the fact that this guy was seriously having a relationship with his Siri. I had to turn it off. I got about 45 minutes in and I couldn't take it anymore. Absolutely the WORST on the list. I don't know why its nominated for any awards at all. Don't even bother.

Dallas Buyers Club
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner
Brief Plot Description: In the 80's, a man is diagnosed with AIDS and eventually finds ways of bringing unapproved medications (that actually help) to fellow patients.
My Thoughts: This was the first of two AWESOME surprises this year. I didn't know what this movie was about going into it and boy was I pleasantly surprised. Matthew McConaughey was fan-tas-tic. He took this role and put every bit of his energy into it. And then there was Jared Leto who, when you were watching him, you completely saw a different person than the face we all know in hollywood. I laughed in this movie, I cried, I felt angry and upset and happy and all of the emotions that they want you to feel. These two were superb and 100% deserve all nominations as well as the nomination for Best Picture. I don't think it will win the actual award for Best Picture but if it does win, I wont be disappointed at all. Go watch this movie and thank me later.

Reviews coming up in the next (and last) post on this topic:
Wolf of Wall Street
Philomena
Nebraska
(and a recap of who I believe should win)

30 Before 30... The List.

Last week I turned 29. Which means that I have one year to complete this list I created over the last few months. So lets get to it shall we? 

30 Before 30

1 – Host a dinner party for 6 people.

2 – Lose at least 30 lbs

3 – Lay on a beach in the sun while drinking margaritas

4 – Blog 30 days in a row

5 – Sing karaoke

6 - Have $_____ in savings (I know the number but I don't think I need to put it onto my blog) 

7 - Celebrate my 30^th b-day in style!

8 – Write a good chunk of my book.

9 – Host a theme party

10 – Have a completely Sober October

11 – Do something that is completely selfless.

12 – Do something that scares me.

13 – Send 5 people cards for no reason in particular except to make their day.

14 – Forgive my sister…

15 – Wear red lipstick (not on Halloween)

16 – Write a poem that I’m proud of.

17 – Fly a kite.

18 – Play hooky from work and get day drunk.

19 – Watch every movie that has won an Academy Award for Best Picture. (already started this one! If you want a copy of the list let me know) 

20 – Create a funny youtube video.

21 – Try 10 foods I’ve never had before.

22 – Sign up for a fitness class and attend all classes. No excuses.

23 – Cook a new recipe every month – one that I’ve never tried before.

24 – Go on a vacation, somewhere hot. 

25 – Put a tag/sticker on ALL articles of my clothes and shoes. If I don’t wear it by the end of the year, get rid of it.

26 – Try to only wax my legs for the whole year, no shaving.

27 – Buy coffee for the person behind me in line at Tim Horton’s.

28 – Teach someone something new.

29 – Figure out the “art” of liquid eye liner. 

30 – Drink tea everyday. 

I will let you know how it progresses! 

p.s. - I totes need to blog about my birthday... it was truly the most magical day! And about Christmas. And about my 2012 in review. Oye... I just need to blog in general!