As we buckle up for the February ride to the Oscars, many nominated films tend to find their DVD releases in the calendar year's shortest month. Attempting to maximize buzz by reaching as wide of an audience as possible before the big dance, I've got plenty of Oscar-nominated suggestions and even some lesser known titles definitely worth checking out.
Argo - 4 stars out of 4 (Read my full review here)
Needing absolutely no introduction whatsoever is director Ben Affleck's masterpiece Argo. The Academy Award Best Picture Nominee and confident frontrunner to win the big prize follows a CIA exfiltration specials named Tony Mendez who helped develop a covert operation to rescue six Americans taking shelter in the Canadian Ambassador's residence during the 1979 Iranian Hostage Crisis. As my favorite film of the year, Argo perfectly blends together all the elements of classic Hollywood films such as drama, suspense and comic relief. For pure entertainment value and quality filmmaking, Argo is a must-see movie by any stretch of the imagination.
The Sessions - 4 stars out of 4 (Read my full review here)
When I throw some of my lesser known recommendations into the ring, such as Ben Lewin's emotional and touching drama The Sessions, I can only hope that these films are given the full attention they deserve. Receiving an Oscar-Nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category (Helen Hunt), The Sessions tells the remarkable real life story of Mark O'Brien (played by John Hawkes), a 38 year old polio-stricken writer who wishes to experience sex before he passes from this earth. This emotionally charged and often hilarious film addresses the taboo topic of sex with an enormous amount of heart. Landing in the #4 spot on my Top Ten Films of 2012, The Sessions is independent filmmaking at its finest.
Flight - 3 stars out of 4 (Read my full review here)
Forrest Gump director, Robert Zemeckis, returned in 2012 with his Oscar-Nominated film Flight starring Denzel Washington. Flight tells of the ugly side of substance abuse addiction as a plane's malfunction forces a pilot to attempt a daring landing that ultimately saves dozens of lives. However, during the investigation we discover that the pilot was impaired at the time of the flight. Stirring up a smorgasbord of emotions, Flight has its flaws but ultimately succeeds on the back of its talented leading star and an eye-opening journey of redemption.
Robot & Frank - 3 stars out of 4 (Read my full review here)
Although it failed to receive an Academy Award Nomination, Robot & Frank is an award-winning indie film from the extremely crowded 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Set in the near future, Frank Langella stars as an aging con-man who spent years in prison for his crimes. But in the twilight of his life, Frank's son purchases the latest model robot to help aid his father with everyday tasks like cooking, cleaning and physical exercise. Yet, instead of using the robot for its intended purposes, Frank teaches the machine how to crack a safe. The two friends put their talents to work and embark on a jewel heist that lands local law enforcement on their trail. Heartfelt and flat out fun, Robot & Frank is clearly one of 2012's Most Underrated Movies.
HONORABLE MENTION: If there was ever a month to sit in and rent some movies, it's this one. Catering to all the horror fans out there, you can't go wrong with the insanely demonic Sinister starring Ethan Hawke. But if horror isn't your cup of tea, perhaps the coming of age film The Perks of Being a Wallflower might be your thing. The film tells of a teenager's transition to high school life after the suicide of his best friend. Despite possibly being the only person on the planet to find the newest James Bond film to be completely mediocre, it's worth noting that Skyfall is also available on DVD this month. Action fans will definitely want to sign up for Sam Mendes' vision of the Bond franchise.
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