Best Picture Nominees — The Favorites


I conclude my look at this year's Best Picture nominees with the two films most likely to win the big prize — "The Artist" and "The Descendants." Both are great movies, but you'd be hard pressed to find two more different films.

The Artist
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bernice Bejo, and John Goodman
Synopsis: This is a silent film about a silent film star coming to grips with the end of the silent film era. If that sounds like a strange concept for 2012, it is. It's also a wonderful concept and a wonderful film. Writer/director Michel Hazanavicius has created a love letter to a bygone era of filmmaking. This is something that Martin Scorsese did with "Hugo" as well, but "The Artist" is a more daring artistic creation and a more even film. That's part of what makes it special. It is a throwback in an era of loud, noisy, and technological filmmaking. It takes great pains to feel authentic in terms of being part of a different era, which makes it a unique artistic achievement. What's even better, it has a beautiful story and warm, rich performances. Dujardin and Bejo are a delight on screen, and this is a movie that holds your attention and keeps you hooked all the way through. It's a marvel to behold, all of which makes it a front-runner to claim the year's top prize.
Rating: PG-13 for a disturbing image and a crude gesture.
Verdict: Four stars out of four
Where You Can Find It: "The Artist" is now playing in limited release nationwide.

The Descendants
Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, and Nick Krause
Synopsis: This is a beautiful movie too, but in a totally different way. Writer/director Alexander Payne has crafted a beautiful story of love, loss, and family with this film. And in it, he has revealed a different side of Clooney, who offers perhaps the best performance of his career. And the best part is that it's a million miles away from the typical, polished, professional characters he's known for. Another gem of a performance comes from Woodley, who was criminally left off this year's Best Supporting Actress list. This is a film that has been a major contender all season, and for good reason. It isn't the same kind of artistic achievement of a movie like "The Artist," which bucks the modern filmmaking trend by going retro, but it offers an emotional catharsis that is just as riveting and satisfying. It, too, would be a more than worthy choice as Best Picture.
Rating: R for language including some sexual references. Enter with Caution.
Verdict: Four stars out of four
Where Can You Find It: "The Descendants" is now playing nationwide.

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