Hugo – 4 stars – Based on a children’s book about a boy working to finish what his late father started. The story is captivating; wondrous discoveries are made as Hugo tries to solve the mystery of an automaton. Sacha Baron Cohen does a fine turn as the station inspector. Fantastic visuals of a train station in wintry Paris, only enhanced more by 3D. A pleasant surprise, and one I look forward to watching again with my daughter.

The Help – 5 stars – Powerful film about the African-American women who served as maids to white families in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s, and the aspiring novelist who collaborated with them to tell their stories from their point of view. Memorable performances all around, including that of Viola Davis (Best Actress nominee), Octavia Spencer (Best Supporting Actress winner), Jessica Chastain (Best Supporting Actress nominee), and Bryce Dallas Howard. No movie has made me think twice about pie since, well, American Pie.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close – 4 stars – The story about a boy on an exhausting search through post-9/11 New York City. Oskar tries to solve the mystery he believes was left by his late father, whom he lost when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center fell the year before. Thomas Horn is spectacular as Oskar, and it’s any wonder why the boy was not nominated for his amazing performance. This movie is filled with emotion, and I found it very difficult to relive what Oskar will only refer to as “the worst day”.

The Artist – 4 stars – A silent film about a silent film star struggling with the rise of “talkies” in late 1920s Hollywood. Best Director winner Michel Hazanavicius does a fine job of bringing the audience back to an era long forgotten. Presented in black and white, made in the 1.33:1 screen ratio (like those from the golden age of cinema), and combined with a great score, the winner of Best Picture had the look and feel of a classic silent film. “Full” credits were even displayed at the beginning of the movie, another common trait of older films (note the word “full” is in quotes, as not all credits these days can be displayed before the movie begins, hence the reason they were moved to the end). Several “rules” were “broken”, which I thought helped the story along (you must see the movie to understand). Entertaining and a nice change of pace.

Midnight In Paris – 3.5 stars – A writer visits Paris with family, and thanks to some midnight encounters in the City of Light, he has to come to terms with the divergent paths he and his fiancée are taking. Wonderful dialogue from Best Original Screenplay winner (and Best Director nominee) Woody Allen. I referred to this as Woody’s stab at “sci-fi”, but it’s more “Fantasy Island” in France. Funny film, and an enjoyable end to a long day.

Since I’m late, it’s senseless to predict what the Academy would select as Best Picture (I honestly would have predicted “The Artist”). But MY choice would have been “The Help”.

War Horse – 3.5 stars – Sweeping epic from Steven Spielberg about a bond between a young man and his horse during the First World War. Break out the tissues (an AMC employee actually offered tissues to moviegoers when it was done). Think “Lassie Come Home” but with a horse instead of a collie. This tearjerker may have been too sappy for my friend, but it certainly tugged at the heartstrings of animal lovers, including my own.

Moneyball – 4 stars – Based on Michael Lewis’ book about the Oakland A’s and GM Billy Beane’s sabermetric approach to building a competetive team with limited payroll. Brad Pitt (Best Actor nominee) is pitch perfect as Billy Beane, and Jonah Hill (Best Supporting Actor nominee) complements him as the assistant GM. Fascinating look at the numbers game and how it impacted baseball in 2002.

The Tree of Life – 2 stars – Wikipedia describes this film as a drama with “experimental elements”. Sometime in the 1960′s, Mr. and Mrs. O’Brien (Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain) receive news of their 19-year-old son’s death. Their eldest son Jack is then seen modern day, just having had an argument with his father about his brother’s death. I don’t think anyone in the theater expected what happens next. A lot of ethereal imagery appears on the screen: galaxies, volcanoes, microbes, dinosaurs, earth, water, fire (not necessarily in that order). We are then transported back to 1950′s Texas where we see Mr. and Mrs. O’Brien live, witness the birth of their 3 sons, and the boys’ childhood seen mostly through Jack’s eyes. I could relate to this part of the film where a story was being told: fearing one’s father, minding my manners, respecting my elders, learning to be a man yet trying to be a kid at the same time. But then director Terence Malick’s screenplay had to go trippy on me again. I have to say his experiment on life, evolution, religion, and what not just didn’t work for me.

The Descendants – 3 stars – I have to admit that I have a man crush on George Clooney. I pretty much enjoy everything he’s in. With that said, I had high expectations for this film. This is a bittersweet dramedy about a lawyer reconnecting with his daughters after his wife ends up comatose from a boating accident. Some hilarity ensues as he deals with greedy family members, a bitter father-in-law, his own daughters, and the notion of infidelity within his marriage. Humorous and sad with fine performances by Clooney (Best Actor nominee) and Shailene Woodley as his eldest daughter Alexandra. I believe this film was nominated for Best Picture on the merit of Clooney’s performance alone (like Black Swan in 2011); that is why I gave it 3 stars.

Day 2 of the Best Picture Showcase is next Saturday. Follow me on Twitter, GetGlue, or follow the Twitter hashtag #amcbps as moviegoers tweet during the showcase. I’ll have another post a week from today to review the last five films, and I’ll also give my prediction. After four films in, Moneyball is atop my leaderboard.

Winter’s Bone – *** – This movie started out slowly for me, but the lead performances helped drive the story of a teenage girl’s search for her meth-making father after he put up the family house as collateral for bail. Jennifer Lawrence (Best Actress nominee) is great as Ree, a strong-willed girl left to raise her younger siblings and care for her ailing mother. John Hawkes (Best Supporting Actor nominee) is excellent as her father’s brother Teardrop.

Black Swan – *** – Like with 127 Hours, Black Swan is all about the lead actor’s performance. Natalie Portman (Best Actress nominee) plays Nina, a ballet dancer who lands the lead in Swan Lake. Her obsession with perfection causes her to lose her mind as the big opening nears. Darren Aronofsky (Best Director nominee) does an excellent job of making the audience see, feel, and hear what Nina experiences as she heads into a downward spiral; he did it effectively with drug addicts in Requiem for a Dream. Because of this, I was disturbed by what I was witnessing and confused as to what was really happening. This movie drained me.

Inception – ***** – WOW! This movie was AWESOME, and it was well worth the wait. You have to see it to believe it, and you must give it your full attention to understand it. I had no problem understanding the idea and method of extracting information from one’s mind while the target is asleep and dreaming (but like my friend said, it’s so complex, I couldn’t tell it to you). A fantastic story by Best Director nominee Christopher Nolan (also nominated for Best Original Screenplay) and amazing visuals (nominated for Visual Effects and Cinematography) all executed to near perfection.

The Social Network – **** – The story of how Facebook came to be. Jesse Eisenberg (Best Actor nominee) is outstanding as Mark Zuckerberg, and his delivery of Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay (Best Adapted Screenplay nominee) is flawless as we watch his rise from Harvard nerd to billionaire. I am not a fan of Facebook, but I do use it to connect with other people. To see its conception, its development and growth, and the legal battles that ensue is absolutely fascinating.

The King’s Speech – **** – This is the period piece that most people expect to win Best Picture. Colin Firth (Best Actor nominee) plays Prince Albert, the Duke of York, who struggles with a stutter when speaking publicly. He’s introduced to Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush, Best Supporting Actor nominee), a speech therapist who helps him through to his eventual, albeit reluctant, ascension to the throne at the beginning of World War II. Firth will most likely win the Oscar for his moving performance as King George VI. Rush is excellent as Lionel, loose and relaxed to Firth’s stiff and tempered “Bertie”.

Recap of the 10 nominees and what I think will happen:
Toy Story 3 – **** – It will not win Best Picture because it will win Best Animated Feature.
127 Hours – *** – James Franco may win Best Actor, but that’s all that this movie would get.
The Kids Are All Right – **** – I’d like to see Annette Bening win Best Actress for this because she was great.
True Grit – **** – Hailee Steinfeld should win Best Supporting Actress. She is the driving force in this film.
The Fighter – ***** – The “Rocky” of this generation? Possibly, given it’s a true story. Look for this to pull an upset.
Winter’s Bone – *** – Another sleeper. Don’t know that it can win the big prize.
Black Swan – *** – Too freakishly disturbing to win Best Picture. But Natalie Portman should get Best Actress.
Inception – ***** – My favorite of the bunch. But most successful blockbusters don’t win Best Picture, unless you’re Lord of the Rings.
The Social Network – **** – This could very well win. Best Adapted Screenplay, if not Best Picture.
The King’s Speech – **** – The heavy favorite, and deservedly so. It’s got a lead who struggles to become triumphant in the end, it’s a period piece, and it’s won a bunch of awards already: traits of Best Picture.

Toy Story 3 – **** – Everyone’s favorite toys return in this third go-round from Disney and Pixar. Andy’s getting ready for college, and Woody, Buzz and the gang contemplate life without their owner. This one tugs at the heartstrings. This is the only film I saw prior to the showcase (Sophia got the blu-ray for Christmas). I’d be surprised if this didn’t win Best Animated Feature.

127 Hours – *** – The true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s (James Franco, Best Actor nominee) near-death experience while climbing Blue John Canyon in Utah. Outstanding performance by Franco, but the graphic details of Ralston’s extrication was too much for most of us in the theater (especially me).

The Kids Are All Right – **** – Dramedy about a lesbian couple, their two teenagers, and the sperm donor who is the father of the kids. Funny and sad as this motley crew tries to figure things out. Fine performances all around from this ensemble cast (including Best Actress nominee Annette Bening and Best Supporting Actor nominee Mark Ruffalo).

True Grit – **** – The Coen Brothers adaptation of the novel by Charles Portis (as opposed to a “remake” of the 1969 film that won John Wayne an Oscar for Best Actor). This western follows Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld, Best Supporting Actress nominee) on a quest for justice for the killing of her father. Jeff Bridges (Best Actor nominee) is great, but this show belongs to Steinfeld. Probably the most surprising thing about this movie was how straight it was; it was very un-Coen-like. Except for maybe the mountain man and his bearskin rug.

The Fighter – ***** – Based on the true story of Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and his struggles to make it in professional boxing while keeping his family together. Christian Bale (Best Supporting Actor nominee) is outstanding as Micky’s older brother and trainer Dicky Eklund, and the other nominees (Melissa Leo as the mother/manager, Amy Adams as Micky’s girlfriend, both for Best Supporting Actress) are great as well. A great film to end a long day.

Day 2 of the Best Picture Showcase is next Saturday. Follow me on Twitter or follow the Twitter hashtag #amcbps as moviegoers tweet during the showcase. I’ll have another post a week from today to review the last five films, and I’ll also give my prediction.