The award season officially kicked off with the People’s Choice Awards on CBS, with the Golden Globes, which were held on January 15. Before you know it, the Academy Awards will be just around the corner, and we want you to be prepared for movie’s biggest night!
The Oscars 2012 to be held on February 26 and meanwhile there are some 25 movies you have to see.
To get you ready for the star-studded Oscar night, check out the 25 must-see movies of the year to watch before the award show!
You better get started in order to squeeze in all these movies before Oscar showtime begins on Sunday, Feb. 26 on ABC!
Movie no.1: The Artist - an exuberantly charming black-and-white silent melodrama about the birth of the talking pictures.
Oscars 2012: 'The Artist' has received 10 nominations
Movie no.2: The Descendants – Garnering five nominations (Best Directing, Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Picture), this touching tale of a family’s transformation is a surprising mix of humor and tragedy.
Movie no.3: War Horse – This story talks about the remarkable friendship between a horse and a young man called Albert during the World War I. The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse-an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure.
Movie no.4: The Help – An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African-American maid’s point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.
Movie no.5: Hugo – This adaptation of Brian Selznick’s groundbreaking young adult novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret earned more Oscar nominations than any other film (11).
Oscars 2012: 'Hugo' , directed by Martin Scorsese, received the most nominations -- 11.
Movie no.6: Midnight in Paris – Even if you’re not a big fan of Woody Allen, you will almost certainly find this film charming and whimsical. It tells the tale of a young Hollywood writer who is trying to finish his novel and find his passion in Paris and gets some magical assistance from some very familiar folks.
Movie no.8: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - It’s loud and violent, but riveting. The hipper Academy crowd could rally to push David Fincher for Best Director and Rooney Mara for Best Actress.
Movie no.9:. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – A nine-year-old amateur inventor, Francophile, and pacifist searches New York City for the lock that matches a mysterious key left behind by his father, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Movie no.10: The Tree of Life – The Tree of Life is the impressionistic story of a Midwestern family in the 1950′s. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father.
Oscars 2012: Brad Pitt stars in ‘The Tree of Life’ as the patriarch of a troubled 1950s family raising three boys.
Movie no.11: Beginners - Veteran star Christopher Plummer leads the Supporting Actor pack as a widower who comes out of the closet.
Movie no.12: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – The final Harry Potter film certainly will be recognized in the visual effects and sound categories.
Movie no.13: The Iron Lady – The Iron Lady is a surprising and intimate portrait of Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep), the first and only female Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. One of the 20th century’s most famous and influential women, Thatcher came from nowhere to smash through barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male dominated world.
Movie no.14: Rango - It’s not your typical cartoon, but Gore Verbinski‘s Western adventure with Johnny Depp should make the Animated Feature cut on uniqueness alone.
Movie no.15: My Week with Marilyn – The movie is largely based on a slim 2000 book that a British documentary filmmaker, Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne, in a role of many smiles and little depth), claimed was a true account of an intimate interlude he spent with Monroe in 1956 while they were making The Prince and the Showgirl.
Oscars 2012: Michelle Williams portrays Marilyn Monroe in a scene from "My Week With Marilyn." Williams won the Golden Globe for actress in a motion picture, comedy or musical.
Movie no.16: Shame – Breakout star Michael Fassbender delivers a much-talked-about performance as a sex addict that should secure him a Best Actor nod.
Movie no.17: Albert Nobbs – Glenn Close plays a woman disguised as a man in order to work and survive in 19th century Ireland. Some thirty years after donning men’s clothing, she finds herself trapped in a prison of her own making.
Movie no.18: The Ides of March – The Year of Clooney begins with this Golden Globe nomination. An idealistic staffer for a newbie presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail.
Movie no.19: Kung Fu Panda 2 – The highest-grossing animated film of the year also scored the most nominations from the Annie Awards. Can Po top Tintin?
Movie no.20: Bridesmaids – I highly recommend this movie to anyone looking for entertainment that just makes you laugh. And do keep an eye on the actress playing Megan, she is amazing.
Oscars 2012: McCarthy was nominated for an Oscar as best supporting actress for her performance in the comedy “Bridesmaids.”
Movie no.21: J. Edgar – J. Edgar explores the public and private life of one of the most powerful, controversial and enigmatic figures of the 20th century.
Movie no.22: We Need to Talk about Kevin - It’s not easy to watch, but 2007 Supporting Actress winner Tilda Swinton‘s portrait of a psychopath’s mom is nothing short of riveting.
Movie no.23: Drive – Ryan Gosling‘s violent drama has emerged as a stealth contender. Its best shot: villain Albert Brooks for Best Supporting Actor.
Movie no.24: Young Adult – 2003 Best Actress winner Charlize Theron could return to the race — as could Adult‘s 2007 Original Screenplay winner, Diablo Cody.
Movie no.25: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory – Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky‘s controversial doc about three teens from West Memphis, Ark., who were convicted (some say wrongly) of murder is the one to beat.
Oscars 2012: 'Albert Nobbs', starring best actress nominee Glenn Close.
For all you Oscar prognosticators out there. This list is a good mix of movies that have nomination possibilities across most categories. Enjoy!
