Elizabeth Fish, The Linc

With the Oscars coming up on the 22nd February, The Linc picks out the films with the highest chances of taking away any Oscars, as well as ones to watch during the cold winter nights.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Nominated Categories: Actor in Leading Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Film Editing, Makeup, Music (Score), Best Picture, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects, Writing (Adapted from a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button centres around the life of a man who ages backwards, taking bizarre twists as the plot deepens. The film opens during Hurricane Katrina, and while Daisy Williams (Cate Blanchett) lies on her deathbed, she asks friend Caroline (Julia Ormond) to read aloud the detailed diary of an old friend, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt). Born with several ageing disabilities, there was little hope that Benjamin would survive, but miraculously lives, ageing backwards through his life. Abandoned by his parents, he is brought up by Queenie (Taraji Henson), a careworker. Daisy’s grandmother lived in the carehome, which is where they first meet. Despite their relationship being fraught with difficulties, they remain in contact all their lives, especially in their forties, where their ages finally match up.

Slumdog Millionaire

Nominated Categories: Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing, Music (Score), Music (Song),  Best Picture, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Writing (Adapted Screenplay) 

In cinemas now, Slumdog Millionaire is not so much a tale about money, but of life and love. Eighteen year old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is one question away from becoming a millionaire on the game show “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” when he is accused of cheating and is taken in for questioning. It soon emerges that each question takes Jamal back to a part of his past in the slums of Mumbai, from seeing his mother murdered, to alongside his elder brother, Salim (Madhur Mittal), begging on the streets, gang warfare and falling in love with another orphaned child, Latika (Freida Pinto). When Jamal loses touch with the girl he loves, Jamal is prepared to try anything to find her again.

Milk

Nominated Categories: Actor in Leading Role, Actor in a Supporting Role, Costume Design, Directing, Film Editing, Music (Score), Best Picture, Writing (Original Screenplay)

A political film with a twist. When openly gay Harvey Milk moves to San Francisco, he becomes a gay activist in the Castro district. Milk soon ends up the voice of the gay community in politics when he runs for office. After a few losses, he becomes the first gay man to be elected to political office in the States. However, Milk is in a constant battle with supervisor Dan White, a social conservative against homosexuality and the movement to bar gays from public school jobs. The film documents Milk from his move to San Fran right up to his untimely death. 

The Reader

Nominated Categories: Actress in a Leading Role, Cinematography, Directing, Best Picture, Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

The Reader is based around teenager Michael Burg (David Kross/Ralph Fiennes), in post-WWII Germany. When he suddenly becomes ill with scarlet fever, Hanna Schmitz (Kate Winslet), a stranger to Michael, finds him and helps him home. After he has fully recovered, Michael goes on a search to find the girl who helped him and thanks her. The two begin a wild, secretive love affair, where he discovers Hanna is fond of being read to, and reads her many books such as “Odyssey ”. One day, Hanna mysteriously disappears and Michael is left heartbroken. It’s only eight years later, when Michael is a barrister in court, he comes face to face with Hanna again, but only as a defendant.

By Elizabeth Fish

Elizabeth Fish is based in Lincoln, UK and is the current Deputy Editor of The Linc Magazine, and Culture Editor. Also in her final year studying a degree in Journalism. Writing interests include entertainment (especially music) and tech. Follow her on Twitter .

One thought on “Films to watch on Oscars Night”
  1. […] The Linc created an interesting post today on Films to watch on Oscars NightHere’s a short outlineElizabeth Fish, The Linc With the Oscars coming up on the 22nd February, The Linc picks out the films with the highest chances of taking away any Oscars, as well as ones to watch during the cold winter nights. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Nominated Categories: Actor in Leading Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Directing, Film Editing, Makeup, Music (Score), Best Picture, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects, Writing (Adapted from a shor […]

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