We are now in full swing Academy Award FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION season, but you don’t have to be a member of the academy to screen some of the contenders at home this year.
Many of the Oscar contenders are no longer in theaters exclusively.
Get an early start on your award-season Geek with these titles now available on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital…
Jack Black is certainly the star of this one, but not in any way you’ve ever seen him. Even if you think you know what to expect going in, prepared to be surprised. Also surprising is director Richard Linklater’s fake-documentary style, which works in abundance.
If you like your comedy dark, put this at the top of your queue. It’s at the top of my list as one of this year’s best pictures.
Also available now on NETFLIX Instant.
Unfortunately, and strangely enough, this one didn’t get the usual awesome Criterion Collection dusting off for fans, but that shouldn’t discourage you from checking out this latest West Anderson masterpiece.
It’s a solid contender for original screenplay, but I’d love to see either of the two lead kids nominated for actor awards.
Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Brit Marling and Tim Roth headline this juicy return to the adult thrillers that were oh so common in the 80s. It’s getting buzz for Gere’s performance, but also young director/writer Nicholas Jarecki’s script.
Available on Demand and iTunes.
There has been a little buzz on Joe Carnahan for director with this Liam Neeson action film.
The jury is still out on any nominations, but don’t be surprised if The Grey is thrown around as a contender in even the acting or writing categories.
Also available now on NETFLIX Instant.
A long shot for Best Picture, but Oscar should get serious about handing out more than just the craft awards to this wowser of a superhero film from the summer.
Watch it again with an eye on Best Score, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, Bets Sound Mixing and Best Production Design, but pray for a Best Director nom for Joss Whedon.
Not exactly the feel good contender of the year, but this documentary now on Amazon and iTunes and in select theaters is an investigation into a chilling fact: 20% of all active-duty female servicewomen are sexually assaulted.
It has already been unanimously hailed by critics this year as a breakthrough movie, and sure to be on the short list of its category.
Past Pixar efforts have been more Oscar sure-bets, but Brave will most definitely end up a nominee for Best Animated Picture.
Expect other solid contenders though to upstage this Pixar entry, like ParaNorman, Rise of the Guardians, Frankenweenie and Disney’s own Wreck It Ralph.
* Author’s Note: All movies available on DVD, Blu-ray, Netflix and Digital at the time of initial post.
