The carpets have been rolled up and the enthusiasm at the Kodak Theatre has died down. So why are we still writing about this year's Oscars? It's because some of the 2008-09 movies raised the bars of storytelling on screen by many feet. From riveting political drama to heart-warming, poignant stories, the Oscar nominated pictures are must-watch movies. If you haven't had a chance to catch up on them this might give you a feel of what you have missed.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This movie, starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Julia Osmond, is an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's highly acclaimed short story. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the story of a man, Benjamin Button, who ages backwards. Born as an old man, Button gets younger as those around him become older. This ambitious movie with spectacular cinematography is a must watch for its heart touching melancholia. Even though Button finds the woman he loves, Daisy, they can never be together except for the briefest transient moment when their opposite worlds meet. The sadness emanates both from unrequited love and the unsettling feeling that no matter where you begin or end your life, the consequences are the same. Life and love is ephemeral.
Frost/Nixon
Frost/ Nixon is a movie which centres around a series of interviews between former president Richard Nixon and talk show host David Frost. This is the first interview after Nixon's humilating 1974 resignation following the Watergate scandal. This event offers a whole new opportunity for both Nixon and Frost. For Frost it is the beginning to establish himself as a serious journalist and for Nixon, a chance to redeem himself in the political arena. This is a smart yet subtle movie. It's compelling to watch and the political drama is fascinating. Also, Frank Langella's performance as Nixon is brilliant. He portrays Nixon as he was - intelligent, powerful, witty but extremely quick tempered.
Milk
This radical movie portrays the life of Harvey Milk, a man who revolutionised the emerging Gay Pride movement in 1970. Milk was an activist who campaigned to become the country's first openly gay man elected to public office. This movie is completely relevant to the time today which makes it even more fascinating to watch. It's poignant and heart touching as it comes at a time when the gay community faces more struggles and challenges such as the legalisation of gay marriages in America. And, in spite of the tragic end of Harvey Milk, this movie gives hope about ending prejudice. Sean Penn won best actor for this movie as he completely out does himself - he is profound and spectacular as this fun-loving, determined activist.
The Reader
An adaptation of the Bernhard Schlink's semi-autobiographical novel, The Reader is a haunting tale that delineates the wound left by the tragic holocaust. In late 1950s in Germany, fifteen-year-old Michael Berg begins a secret affair with Hanna Schmitz, a 36 year old woman. Somehow the affair ends and the two only meet years later. The circumstances of their reunion, however, are shattering as Michael learns a whole new side about the woman who has left an undeniable scar on him. Michael, a law student goes to court to find that one women being tried for Nazi war crimes is Hanna. This movie is heartrending as it makes you think about accountability and responsibility of crime and about the generation that grew up in the shadow of the holocaust. Kate Winslet won the best actress for her role as the illiterate and determined former SS guard.
Slumdog Millionaire
The winner of the best picture category, Slumdog Millionaire is a simple movie that became a phenomenal hit in spite of its rather conventional plot. The movie is a series of flashbacks of eighteen-year-old Jamal Malik, a boy from the Mumbai slums who finds himself competing on the game show 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.' As he answers the questions in the show, Jamal looks back to his own life for the answers. Based on Vikas Swarup's Q & A, Slumdog though unrealistic even corny, is a feel-good rags to riches movie. Its appealing aspect is that it offers hope. It shows that even from the slums, even from the poorest, hardest life can someone survive. However, how it managed to sweep up all the big Oscar awards is still a shocker.
