Tempest's Oscars 2012 Watchalong

 

So the long list of Oscar nominees and nominated movies was released yesterday morning and as I haven't got as much time on my hands this year as last, I thought I'd better get straight down to working out how I'm going to see as many of the films as possible (last year I made February my 'Month of Movies', this year I'll be glad of an extra week and a half).

This year there are 61 movies nominated - last year there were 56 and I managed to watch 31 of them (55%).

How many can I get watched before the Oscars Ceremony on Sunday 26th February 2012?

I'd like to try for at least 50%, so my target is 30 or more.

Whatever happens, my maximum number will be 60 as many of you will know from my rants on Twitter, I ain't seeing nowt about the evil harridan Thatcher. Grumble grumble destroyed our country grumble grumble ruined thousands of lives without a care grumble grumble started a war just to keep herself in power grumble grumble sacrificed Argentinians and British soliders for her own ends grumble grumble....see, this is why I can't watch The Iron Lady, I'd be thrown out of the cinema for standing up and hurling abuse at the screen.

Aaaaaaanyway..... (calm calm deep blue ocean)....

Want a list of the 61 nominated movies, what they're nominated for and hints on how your can watch them? I've made a checklist on Google Docs for my own tick-offs that you can print out and use too - just click here for Tempest's Oscars 2012 Watchalong checklist or click on this pic for a link to the doc:

 

So far I've seen 6 of the 61 - Bridesmaids, Rango, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Muppets, Ku Fu Panda 2 and Jane Eyre. I'll do some reviews/thoughts of these in the next few weeks.

The reason I do this each year is because it makes me watch quite a few movies I wouldn't normally go out of my way to see. Without a 'watching the Oscar nominees' season I wouldn't normally watch any of the shorts, any of the documentaries, probably none of the foreign language movies.....and only a few of the more mainstream ones. Last year I watched (and was pleasantly surprised by) 127 Hours, I Am Love, Restrepo, Winter's Bone, Exit Through The Gift Shop and I wouldn't have seen these otherwise. I think doing things you don't normally do stretches you and keeps life interesting.

Plus having this season makes birthday present giving from my family easier ;) Harkins giftcards and iTunes giftcards are always welcome.....hint hint.

As you'll see if you access or print off the Tempest's 2012 Oscars Watchalong checklist, most of the movies can be seen either in US cinemas (movie theaters) or via iTunes (to rent or buy), Netflix, on digital tv On Demand, dvds etc. Each year nearer the actual Oscars ceremony (26th February 2012) the shorts are released on iTunes, On Demand on digital tv and in certain art cinemas as a back-to-back packages, and the same goes for one or two of the foreign languages movies.....so watch out for those if you're interested.

There are however some movies I haven't been able to find a way of watching.....yet - Glenn Close's Albert Nobbs (with a nomination for Brit Janet McTeer for best supporting actress), 2 animated films A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita.....and Anonymous isn't currently in cinemas but isn't released on iTunes until 7th February (approx). But I'll keep looking and let you know if I find ways of viewing them.

And yes, dear UK and probably rest of the world friends, I know that your cinemas aren't geared up for the Oscars season like US ones are - without a doubt films are released here in December/January with an eye on the Oscars.....and I know I'm now very lucky because I get to watch them..........but on the other hand you lot got to see Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy back in September and we had to wait until January 6th. So all's fair in love and watching.

Talking of which, the list is calling me....I think I'll start with some documentaries.....more, much more later.

Let me know what you plan to watch and what you think of them when you do!