There are less than 2 weeks until the 2006 Academy Awards (12 days to be exact). If you’re a lunatic like me than the 7 week stretch between the Golden Globes and the March 5 Oscar telecast has been BORING. So I ask a simple question. What have you been doing with your time?
I know, most of you have just been going about your normal business, work, school, etc. But not me. I have entered into what I like to call “psychotic Oscar mode”. In other words I try to watch every movie nominated for an Academy Award, usually avoiding the technical and short features categories. This year is not looking so good. But enough about me and my OCD.
Here are the 25 movies to watch before the Oscars on March 5. This list was complied by Entertainment Weekly and it is arranged based on potential awards impact.
1. Brokeback Mountain
2. Good Night, and Good Luck
3. Crash
4. Capote
5. Munich
6. Walk the Line
7. Cinderella Man
8. Syriana
9. A History of Violence
10. The Constant Gardener
11. Transamerica
12. North Country
13. Memoirs of a Geisha
14. Pride and Prejudice
15. Match Point
16. Mrs. Henderson Presents
17. King Kong
18. Hustle & Flow
19. The Squid and the Whale
20. Junebug
21. The Upside of Anger
22. The 40 Year-Old Virgin
23. Cache (Hidden)
24. Shopgirl
25. The Chronicles of Narnia
@Cinefille 
I really enjoyed Crash, Walk The Line, Cinderella Man and The Upside Of Anger.
I was very disappointed in The 40 year Old Virgin, Shopgirl, and A History Of Violence.
I thought that Hustle & Flow was extremely unique and it was the language that helped make it that way. That said, I abhored the language.
For me, most of the other ones were middle of the road, but I still have yet to see 5 or 6 of them…
I’m a little disappointed that no documentaries made the list…
very very sad :-(
I’ve taken the list and taken out what I have seen…I’ve got MOST of the top 10 covered…
I plan on seeing: Brokeback, Memoirs, History of Violence, The Squid and The Whale, & Junebug before the award show…not on the list, I also want to see Murderball and March of the Penguins before the show also.
1. Brokeback Mountain
9. A History of Violence
11. Transamerica
12. North Country
13. Memoirs of a Geisha
15. Match Point
16. Mrs. Henderson Presents
18. Hustle & Flow
19. The Squid and the Whale
20. Junebug
21. The Upside of Anger
23. Cache (Hidden)
24. Shopgirl
–RC of strangeculture.blogspot.com
Well, I’ve seen 14 of the 25. Most I liked. The Constant Gardener, Crash, Good Night and Good Luck, and Match Point blew me away. Probably the best movies on the list. (Sorry Brokeback Mountain lovers)
Arlen – I completely agree with your comment about “A History of Violence”. It had its good moments ie William Hurt and Ed Harris, other than that it was semi-boring and predictable. I also expected more from “The 40 Year Old Virgin”, but that didn;t stop me from liking it.
I LOVED “Hustle & Flow”. Language usually doesn’t bother me during movies, unless it is completely unnecessary and not important to the context of the movie. The setting and the context of the film required the language. The story itself and esp. Terrence Howard was awesome.
rc – Thanks for posting. I am also upset that there weren’t more docs on the list especially because 2005 was a year for great docs. If you haven’t already, watch “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”, “Grizzly Man”, and “The Aristocrats”. “Murderball” and “March of the Penguins” were amazing, completely worthwhile films.
I must be the only person on earth who hasn’t seen Crash.Keep meaning to rent it but….
Cine I can tell you’re very excited about the upcoming Oscars. You’re just flipping aren’t you? LOL! Now relax and take a deep breath. And my predictions? Shoot as long as Reese wins I don’t care about anything else. Well, I don’t want Terrence Howard (he’s up for Best Actor right?) to win with his arrogant self but… Reese is my girl! You know this. I loooooove Reese Witherspoon. Loved her for years, even when she was a kid.
I refuse to see Memoirs of a Geisha. But I am dying to see Junebug, if only Netflix would finally ship it to me! My favorite movies of this list have got to be A History of Violence and Goodnight and Good Luck. I imagine, however, that Brokeback Mountain will win the Best Picture award at the Oscars.