The Academy Awards air February 24 at 5:30 p.m. on ABC. Before the golden men get passed around, we revisit our critics’ takes on this year’s Best Picture nominees.
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Amour
Josh Bell:
Mike D’Angelo:
From our review: “Amour is in some ways more humane and compassionate than [writer-director Michael] Haneke’s previous work, but it retains the cold, detached style of his more provocative films, framing its simple domestic story almost like a clinical study of human frailty.” —JB
See it: At Regal Cinemas Village Square.
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Argo
Josh Bell:
Mike D’Angelo:
From our review: “It’s the kind of movie that wins Oscars, sure, but it’s also consistently entertaining and socially conscious without being heavy-handed.” —JB
See it: In theaters and on DVD.
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Beasts of the Southern Wild
Josh Bell:
Mike D’Angelo:
From our review: “Just because something is different doesn’t make it successful, and all of the unique elements here never add up to a cohesive or satisfying whole.” —JB
See it: At Regal Cinemas Village Square and on DVD.
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Django Unchained
Josh Bell:
Mike D’Angelo:
From our review: “Django is undoubtedly one of the most creative and striking movies of 2012, but it’s also one of the most exhausting.” —JB
See it: In theaters.
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Les Misérables
Josh Bell:
Mike D’Angelo:
From our review: “There’s bombast a-plenty in the film’s gargantuan sets and the camera’s CGI swooping, but [director Tom] Hooper can’t establish a simple cinematic rhythm to save his life.” —MD
See it: In theaters.
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Life of Pi
Josh Bell:
Mike D’Angelo:
From our review: “The story lacks emotional engagement, especially whenever [director Ang] Lee returns to the clumsy framing sequence, and the fanciful tone is eventually at odds with the seriousness of Pi’s circumstances.” —JB
See it: At Regal Cinemas Village Square.
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Lincoln
Josh Bell:
Mike D’Angelo:
From our review: “Even if Lincoln isn’t quite the mesmerizing figure the movie would like him to be, he’s still an essential part of this entertaining and engrossing story.” —JB
See it: In theaters.
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Silver Linings Playbook
Josh Bell:
Mike D’Angelo:
From our review: “Nothing rings true, least of all the crowd-pleasing notion that manic depression magically vanishes if you find the right partner.” —MD
See it: In theaters.
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Zero Dark Thirty
Josh Bell:
Mike D’Angelo:
From our review: “The film is ... unemphatically gripping—a data-driven procedural that acknowledges the needle-in-a-haystack nature of intelligence work.” —MD
See it: In theaters.
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