One of the best ways to learn the English language is to watch films. It helps you to understand different dialects and accents, helps with pronunciation and allows you to hear how some words are used colloquially. You are able to see how people use the English language in different situations and you begin familiarise yourself with ‘slang’ terms.

Now is arguably the best time of the whole year for film watching as it’s the award season. We have already had the Golden Globes and on the 24^th of February the 85^th Oscars ceremony will take place. One of the most prestigious awards of the night is the ‘Best Film’ category. It’s the only category that allows up to 10 nominations. This year there are 9 films nominated for the Oscar, also known as the Academy Award. I’ve been slowly making my way through the list and have currently watched 6 of the 9 films nominated. So here’s what I thought of those films. ..

*Don’t worry if you struggle with some of the vocabulary, there is a guide at the bottom explaining all of the words that are highlighted in red.

 

Argo

I personally like political thrillers and films that have an unusual plot. A CIA operative thinks up an ingenious way to help 6 Americans, who had escaped a hostage situation in Iran, return undetected to the USA. I don’t think the acting is as great in Argo as it is in some of the other movies. I do think it is very well filmed and I really like what Ben Affleck has done as a director. Although it’s a long film, the plot is fast enough that you never get bored.

My marks out of 10: 8

 

Lincoln

This film is long and it feels even longer when you are watching it. The acting is amazing, It was always going to be with Oscar legends Daniel Day Lewis and Sally Fields in major roles. The story tells of Abraham Lincolns determination to push through the 13^th amendment which banned slavery in the USA. The first hour of the film isn’t needed in my opinion and I actually understand very little of what is said. I know very little about the American democratic and judicial systems. The last hour and a half is much better and I even shed a few tears at the end. It’s a very American film and it was released apt’ly on a year when Americas first black president was re-elected into office. I think for these reasons it is destined to do well on the big night.

My marks out of 10: 7

 

Django Unchained

One of my favourites. I have always enjoyed Tarantino movies and was excited to watch this Western offering. Great acting, apart from Tarantino, from a great cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Samuel L Jackson and Leonardo DiCaprio. The film is about Django, a slave that is freed by a bounty hunter. The bounty hunter trains him and gives him a horse and a gun. After making a little money together, they set out to try and free Django’s wife from her life of slavery at Candyland, a place owned by Leonardo DiCaprios character. Apart from the blood and gore which is a bit excessive, this is an awesome film.

My marks out of 10: 8

 

Beasts of the Southern Wild

I had no idea what was happening for most of this movie. I got the general storyline but all of the deeper meanings were lost on me. There is a little girl who lives in the “The Bathtub” which seems to be swampland somewhere in the USA. She lives with her dad who is an ill alcoholic. Occasionally we see shots of fantastical beasts running…. It’s weird. I’m sure for people who like these kinds of movies it’s great and the film has won lots of awards. It’s also beautifully shot, however, I’m a sucker for a good storyline and this film didn’t offer me that.

My marks out of 10: 6

 

Life of Pi

This film was made to be shown in 3D. I saw it at the cinema and was blown away by the stunning effects the film offers. On the surface, Life of Pi is about a young boys struggle to keep himself alive aboard a lifeboat he is sharing with a Bengal tiger. On a deeper level the film is about religion and faith. Ang Lee is an amazing director but the film didn’t really effect me as much as I wanted it too. I almost wanted it to be more over the top and fantastical than it was. Its definitely not a bad movie and I would watch it again but for me it wasn’t the best movie of the year.

My marks out of 10: 7.5

 

Silver Linings Playbook

I was surprised when I heard that the first movie to having someone nominated in all four acting categories in over 30 years was a romantic comedy movie. You rarely see ‘rom-coms’ in the Oscars at all. Silver Linings Playbook also got nominated for Best Film and now that I’ve seen the movie I understand why. It’s brilliant! Great acting, great script, great concept and even though it had a predictable happy ending, it didn’t feel too cheesy. The film is about the quest of a guy with Bi-Polar disorder, who has recently left an institution for people who have mental disabilities, to win back his wife. He tries to do this with the help of a girl he meets who suffers from a similar disorder. It’s sweet and funny and yet honest. It was refreshing to see a romantic comedy where the main characters have issues aside from their terrible love lives. I highly recommend this movie to anyone and hope that it does well and wins something on the night.

My marks out of 10: 9

 

Well that’s my opinion on some of the most popular films of the year. I hope to see Les Misérbales and Zero Dark Thirty before the day of the awards so I can make some predictions for the night. What do you think about the nominated films and which film do you think will win the ‘Best Film’ award?

 

Glossary of terms

apt’ly: short for ‘appropriately’, to be relevent, to be suitable.

bounty hunter: someone who is pursues criminals for a reward, usually money.

colloquially: informally, in a chatty and conversation manner.

democratic: often related to politics, a democratic system is one that relates to the interests of the people. e.g. democratic vote, democratic government.

excessive: it exceeds/goes beyound normal limits or expectations. It is more than what is needed.

familiarise: to become acquainted with something/someone, to make (something) generally known or accepted. e.g. I familiarised myself with the surroundings.

fantastical: strange in form, concept or appearance, existing only in fantasy; unreal.

gore: blood, something you expect to see in horror movies when people are stabbed or tortured.

hostage: someone innocent who is being held by a criminal during a crime.

ingenious: if something is ingenious it was done showing brilliance and creativity e.g. the invention was ingenious, an ingenious idea.

judicial: relating to courts of law or to the justice system.

plot: (film context) the series of events that make up the story.

predictions: a prediction is a guess as to what is going to happen. e.g. I predict the football score will be 1-0.

prestigious: to have status and glamous, to be seem as important with a good reputation.

quest: the act  of looking for or seeking, to go searching for something. e.g. a quest for buried treasure.

refreshing: (in this context) Something pleasantly fresh and different, often unexpected and not often done.

stunning: to be striking in appearance, attractive.

swampland: a land consisting of swamps, low land that is often flooded.

 

Phrases/Idiomas

‘Im a sucker for…’ – If you’re a sucker for something you can’t help but enjoy it or want it. e.g. I’m a sucker for a film with a happy ending.

‘Cheesy’ – something done in poor taste, often outdated and of predictable. Similar to ‘tacky’ or ‘corny’.

 

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