This is a film which follows the story of a talented motorcyclist (Gosling) who learns he’s father to a young son he didn’t know.  He then uses his talent and embarks on a life of bank robberies and quick getaways to help support the child and mother (Mendes) until a brave police officer (Cooper) intervenes in dramatic circumstances.  The remainder of the film follows the aftermath and consequences of what happens.

This was a decent enough film but I just think that if the editor had left some more on the cutting room floor it could’ve been a good bit better.  Essentially it’s a film split into three distinct parts which almost become mini-films in their own right with the third segment probably the most important.  Obviously the other segments are crucial to understanding a lot of what happens but perhaps flashback scenes would have been a better story telling mechanism here.  Worth watching as it is a good story and well acted throughout but get comfy as you’ll be there a while and feel like you’ve been there far longer.

Oh and I’ve been informed that the combination of Gosling and Cooper was not the eyecandy-fest that it really could’ve been.

Best Supporting Actress

• Amy Adams – The Master
• Sally Field – Lincoln
• Anne Hathaway – Les Miserables
• Helen Hunt – The Sessions
• Jacki Weaver – Silver Linings Playbook

This is a tough category but the bookies have Anne Hathaway as a huge favourite here.  I think Sally Field put in a great performance alongside Day Lewis in Lincoln so I’m gonna stick my neck out against the odds and go for Sally Field here.

Best Supporting Actor

• Alan Arkin – Argo
• Robert De Niro – Silver Linings Playbook
• Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln
• Christoph Waltz – Django Unchained
• Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master

This is the toughest of the main categories as all 5 contenders put in excellent performances.  Waltz though edges it for me as his performance in Django was superb.  My only reservation is him winning the same award only 2 years ago for Inglorious Bastards and I’m not sure the Academy will reward him again so quickly.  I think it was deserving a performance enough though so I’ll stick with Christoph Waltz.

Best Actress

• Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty
• Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook
• Emmanuelle Riva – Amour
• Quvenzhane Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild
• Naomi Watts – The Impossible

Only managed to see Silver Linings Playbook from this category so this one is tricky for me.  Although Amour gives us potentially the oldest ever recipient and Beasts of the Southern Wild the youngest ever recipient I just don’t think either will scoop the award.  I think Jennifer Lawrence will win as her slightly unhinged yet comedic display was very very good.

Best Actor

• Daniel Day Lewis – Lincoln
• Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook
• Hugh Jackman – Les Miserables
• Joaquin Phoenix – The Master
• Denzel Washington – Flight

This category is a shame as all the contenders stood a real chance (Cooper in particular) until Mr Day Lewis entered the frame.  I’m a little biased here I as I’ve enjoyed every role he’s taken on but Daniel Day Lewis will take the win and set a new record for being the first to win the award for a 3rd time.

Best Director

• Michael Haneke – Amour
• Ang Lee – Life of Pi
• David O Russell – Silver Linings Playbook
• Steven Spielberg – Lincoln
• Benh Zeitlin – Beasts of the Southern Wild

The most controversial category with Ben Affleck’s abscence.  He’s been winning lots of other awards up to this ceremony so I think the Academy missed out here by not including him.  My choice would be Ang Lee as he’s taken a story which on paper reads impossible to recreate onscreen and delivers it brilliantly – and then goes further to enhance it with extraordinary 3D effects.

Best Picture

• Amour
• Argo
• Beasts Of The Southern Wild
• Django Unchained
• Les Miserables
• Lincoln
• Life Of Pi
• Silver Linings Playbook
• Zero Dark Thirty

And the big award of the night begins with my usual gripe of “Why 10 nominees?”.  It just smacks of Hollywood trying to extend the DVD sales of “nominated for best picture” films rather than be ruthless and limit the list to 5 like all the other categories.  I would love Django Unchained to win as I think it was excellent and although Argo has been clearing up with wins in the majority of the ceremonies leading up tonight I actually think that Silver Linings Playbook will win.  It delivers a comedic, engaging rom-com covering a very difficult subject of mental health which I defy anyone to come away from not having enjoyed thoroughly.

So that’s my guesses and we’ll see in about 12 hrs how many I’ve got right.  In any case the winners will be very deserving as this year’s cinema has been much better than last year.  I also hope I can catch a few extended clips of the ceremony itself as the very funny Seth McFarland is hosting this year so I’m sure there will be some very funny and close-to-the-bone comments.

I missed this film when it was out in the cinema at the tail end of last year which has since received a raft of award nominations including several Oscars.  The excellent Queen’s Film Theatre gave us a great opportunity to address this by reshowing this movie this week.

This film follows the story of a man who’s parents discharged him from a psychiatric hospital to finish the last few stages of recovery at home.  During this time he embarks on a journey to repair his marriage with his wife of whom now has a restraining order against him caused by the bipolar episode which got him to enter psychiatric care in the first place.  During this time he meets and begins a relationships with an equally disturbed local widow who needs his help to win a dance competition.

Ultimately this is a very enjoyable romantic comedy with some very funny scenes, an excellent plot and some very good acting performances – namely Bradley Cooper as the main lead “Pat” and Jennifer Lawrence as the equally disturbed “Tiffany” whose onscreen relationship is as believable as their portrayal of mentally disturbed individuals is.  A very good film which I’m glad I had the opportunity to see again.

Daniel Day Lewis is one of my favourite actors.  He’s always so picky about the roles he chooses and puts so much effort into his performances.  I was so looking forward to this film after seeing the trailer and following some of the hype.

This story of how one of the greatest American presidents Abraham Lincoln presided over the US civil war had such promise.  The film focuses entirely on Lincoln’s political journey to fight his way through US legislation and pass a bill to end slavery – and ultimately the war it was being fought over.

Spielberg sadly does not have an engaging screenplay here which is far too political for most mainstream audiences and verges on boring at times.  But for the excellent acting throughout from Day Lewis as the likable president, Lee-Jones as a fiery republican and Strathairn as Lincoln’s secretary of state I’d be giving this 3/5.  This will still be an award winning film but I just think it could have been so much better and with such strong acting performances probably deserved to be.